Paying for previews... sigh

[Wolfspider]

I found the designer notes to be quite worthwhile. Not for crunch about 4E, especially because said crunch could change, but the fluff was interesting. I liked reading about the evolution of the game. For me there is more to understanding the game than just knowing the rules. I want to understand why the changes are being made, and why they are choosing which changes to make.
I think the book is worth its price, but it isn't for everyone. The book is a good read, but low on rules and hard info which may change before the final product comes out. And that is what I tell my customers, too
But then I also liked 40 Years of Gen Con.

I'm sure the information is interesting, but wouldn't books like these be better released AFTER 4e is done? Of course, that wouldn't help fill the months with product between now and the release of 4e.

Of course, after 4e is released, they can then publish Races and Classes 2 and so on....

 

[thalmin]

I'm sure the information is interesting, but wouldn't books like these be better released AFTER 4e is done? Of course, that wouldn't help fill the months with product between now and the release of 4e.

Of course, after 4e is released, they can then publish Races and Classes 2 and so on....

After 4E is released, I would hope the production schedule would be too full to release these books.

 

[Wolfspider]

After 4E is released, I would hope the production schedule would be too full to release these books.

True. Then I guess we're stuck with the inaccurate preview we've got and maybe a retrospective when 5e is about to be released.

 

[Stoat]

I cant believe people actually pay for a preview of an unfinished product (like the 4E races preview).

Allow me to introduce myself. I'm an adult with my own job and I can well afford to spend $20 on a glossy book filled with pretty pictures and interesting commentary on the design choices behind 4E. I picked up Races and Classes on Friday and took it with me when I visited my parents for Christmas this weekend. It was a pleasant diversion, and I consider it well worth the price I paid.

By comparison, my family bought the Pixar movie Ratatouille on Saturday night and watched it to kill a little time. I think we paid about $15 for it. Like Races and Classes, the movie was a pleasant diversion, but it is unlikely that any of us will watch it again. We could've gone out to a movie instead. If we had, tickets, popcorn and Cokes would've set me back at least 30 bucks.

Summer before last, I bought Half-life 2 Episode 1, because it got good reviews and I enjoyed the other Valve games I'd played. I don't recall now what I paid for it, but I'd guess $20 - $30. When I got it home, I couldn't get the game to run on my computer because it didn't get along with my graphics card. I futzed with it for a day or two and gave up. All I got for my money was anger, frustration and disappointment.

In short. The price WotC has set for their book seems fair to me when compared with other products on which I might otherwise choose to spend my money. Whatever motivations WotC may have, its book entertained me, which is all that I ask.

 

[Alnag]

Actually, I find this marketing strategy to be very... well productive. First there will always be someone who will buy those books, right. They will get their chance to shine, when they share with the community. So the information will go online anyway.

The people are not in connection with Wizards, that might be a plus point for someone. They provide not only the information from the book but the emotions around it. That is nice kind of viral marketing in it. (Of course, if they are satisfied with the product. But only the people really looking forward to it will buy. And expectations will do the rest).

I think from the perspective of marketing, publishing of those books might be quite viable strategy.

 

[Kintara]

...

In short. The price WotC has set for their book seems fair to me when compared with other products on which I might otherwise choose to spend my money. Whatever motivations WotC may have, its book entertained me, which is all that I ask.

That was a very polite, well-reasoned and patient post. Please post here more.

 

[megamania]

That was a very polite, well-reasoned and patient post. Please post here more.

I agree.

My sarcasism is just that. His remark was accurate and on target. Kudos.

 

[Jack99]

Allow me to introduce myself. I'm an adult with my own job and I can well afford to spend $20 on a glossy book filled with pretty pictures and interesting commentary on the design choices behind 4E. I picked up Races and Classes on Friday and took it with me when I visited my parents for Christmas this weekend. It was a pleasant diversion, and I consider it well worth the price I paid.

By comparison, my family bought the Pixar movie Ratatouille on Saturday night and watched it to kill a little time. I think we paid about $15 for it. Like Races and Classes, the movie was a pleasant diversion, but it is unlikely that any of us will watch it again. We could've gone out to a movie instead. If we had, tickets, popcorn and Cokes would've set me back at least 30 bucks.

Summer before last, I bought Half-life 2 Episode 1, because it got good reviews and I enjoyed the other Valve games I'd played. I don't recall now what I paid for it, but I'd guess $20 - $30. When I got it home, I couldn't get the game to run on my computer because it didn't get along with my graphics card. I futzed with it for a day or two and gave up. All I got for my money was anger, frustration and disappointment.

In short. The price WotC has set for their book seems fair to me when compared with other products on which I might otherwise choose to spend my money. Whatever motivations WotC may have, its book entertained me, which is all that I ask.

Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner. I am quoting the whole text, in case the OP missed it. This is the case for myself as well.

Cheers,

 

[shawnsse]

There are people out here like me who don't table top D&D anymore simply there is no time to meet for a session.

I've been following D&D development through the books Wizards published. As crazy as it may seem to be I have almost all the rules books and splat books but really have no practical experience on playing D&D since 6 years ago.

These books are a way to keep wonderful memories alive and to remember a system and philosophy that had transformed my life since 12 years old. (i.e. year 1983)

That's the value Wizards has created for me through D&D. So I willingly paid them handsomely for what they have provided all these years.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Well, at this moment, there are basically three sources for previews and rules bit.

The Gleemax blog posts of the designers. They don't always contain useful information, but sometimes they do. It's free.

The online Dragon & Dungeon magazine on their website. That's free, and will stay so until D&D 4 really hits the shelves, and there is material each week.
If this material wasn't available online, it would have been in the paper magazine, which is not free.

The Preview Books. They're not free.

So, you have 3 ways to get information. The preview books are for those that have the money and are willing to spare it for the books. The rest is for everyone, and it's not too little. In some ways, it can be better, because the information is "fresh" and up to date.
The preview books have the nice advantage of being something you can hold in your hand and put in your shelves. If it was inside magazines, I'd might have dozens of magazines in its place, each containing only tidbits of the information I'd want to keep.

The preview books are not everyone. In some ways, you might consider them a "fan article". Some people buy T-Shirts from their favourite sports team or musician - that will also serve as a good "commercial" for the team or the band, and it is an important revenue stream for them. It's also a bit like buying the "Special Deluxe Version" of a movie that - aside from the movie - contains scenes that ended on the cutting floor, interviews and commentary. Nothing of that is necessary for the movie, but some people think it's worth paying extra money for (and in fact, some critics see them as an important part for rating the DVD for a movie - at least my favourite TV magazine does.)

What would be bad if WotC would _only_ sell the preview books and give no other information. But they aren't that stupid (yet ).
This wouldn't work anyway, because there just are never enough fans that are willing to buy it (compared to the "real deal"). But that doesn't mean they shouldn't put out something for these, too. A demand seems to exist, so why not serve it?

I think this also points out that the preview books are not a brochure or a commercial for D&D 4. It's extra material. It's the "Directors Commentary". You can't sell a commentary in hope of motivating people to see a movie or buy a DVD. But you can sell the commentary to people that are interested in the movie or DVD.