I agree with darkbard for the most part. *we* can afford to get our must have products and carefully consider the rest. The question remains though: If RPGs were cheaper would they attract an even broader market? Say like younger kids who may not get much allowance? Or married "big" kids (myself included) who pay bills and feed kids who do not get much allowance? I drop the dimes for the core rule books and most WoTC stuff but I find it very difficult to try out different products like SSS Scarred lands or the AEG Rokugan books. No one can really say who you've priced out of the market but judging from the surveys WoTC puts in thier books I can rest assured they have put a price on it.
Price-Sensitive Gamers
- Thread starter mmadsen
- Start date
Arcane Runes Press
First Post
Snoweel said:
Or, here's an even better idea. We can all spout off sarcastically, even though we have no idea what we're talking about. Just like Snoweel did.
It'll be super excellent.
After all, all of us game publishers just can't wait to rip everyone off. Goodness knows that's what we live for. Yes indeed, all of us LE Game Designers (because only LE has the capacity to trick you into doing the FREE MARKET RESEARCH that SEALS YOUR FATE) sit around in Fortress Dorkmonicus, also known as the pit of dorkness, on the 14.4th layer of the Abyss, cackling daemonically and lighting cigars (spliffs for the White Wolf guys) with $500 bills (Also, you should know that our cigars are made of rolled up $1,000 dollar bills).
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
Here's an interesting anecdote, one that will show you just how INSIDIOUS we are: To earn my Dark Wings(tm) and my cubicle in the 333rd tower of Fortress Dorkmonicus, I had to present an insidious plan that would triple the flow of our ill-gotten gains. My idea? Dancey's Dissappearing Binding(tm). The insidious result? 2 years to the day after you buy ANY game book, the binding vanishes, leaving you with a sheaf of LOOSE LEAF PAPERS!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA! My ascendance is complete!!!! None live who can halt the dark metastisis of the universe that will propel me to the exalted ranks of brand manager(tm)!!!!!
Patrick Y.
P.S: HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
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By the way, Wheel of Time was 50% off too. I didn't pick it up though; it was still $20. Maybe if I'd read the novels and it was more than a collection of alternative D&D rules to me...
You know, I have no interest in the Forgotten Realms, but I've almost bought that book a few times. I doubt it'll ever end up on the clearance shelf, but if it does...
I guess WotC needs to figure out how to systemactically produce products like FRCS. Is there a method to it?
Wow! You are price insensitive!
The real question is: If RPG publishers sold their products for less, would they make more money? I'm pretty sure the answer is "no".
Decipher has been selling the Lord of the Rings Adventure Game for $30 -- and evidently it's been selling quite well. That surprised me, since I wasn't about to pick it up myself at that price (even though I'm an adult with money who loves RPGs and the Lord of the Rings and bought the D&D Adventure Game and loved it).
A much bigger barrier to the younger market (or any broader market) is just getting people playing the game and learning the rules (and the notion of a roleplaying game). The D&D Adventure Game's a good start. It's cheap, it's easy to play, and it's beautiful (and tactile).
I still wish it included an appendix on making your own characters, and I think a more Mines of Moria-inspired cover wouldn't hurt sales...
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WSmith
First Post
ARRRRGGHH!!!! Why did I have to move away from an area with a WOTC store just minutes away, to a place where the nearest GAME store is 60 miles away?
I buy very little today. Reasons: Lack of funds, but when I do I choose by:
How much use will I get out of it. I agree with Henry that D&Dg is about useless to me. I would rather bust out my D&Dg 1e style and use that.
The quality and accuracy: Of the many "Complete Books of Everthing" The only one I ever used was CFH. I had hoped Sword and Fist would be the new edition successor, but had too many mistakes to consider buying it for $20. It might be useful, but it is no CFH.
Using the above and add "Will it be around later": If you can find a copy of Tomb of Abysthor, get it. The White Wolf warehouse doesn't have anymore. They are at the retailors.
Psion
Adventurer
I am price sensitive. I still buy a grunge of books, but if my perceived utility for a product does not justify the price, I won't buy it. I bypassed CoC d20 and F&P because for what I would actually use them for, the price just wouldn't be justified.
I have a hard time beleiving that most people aren't somewhat price sensitive. It should be obvious that everyone doesn't buy every product that interests them a little. And unless you have far more disposable income than I, everyone has a limit to how much they will spend on a given product.
The prevailing argument in these price argument threads seem to be that if we raise prices of products, the consumer will merely compensate and pay more, and writing games will be lucrative.
I don't think that would pan out in reality. I think the market has some price flexibility, but only so much. If you push up the prices so much, consumers (expecially gamers, who value their free time) aren't going to be able to match with their gaming. As a result, gamers will be forced to buy fewer products, or consider cheapter alternatives. Some writers might benefit, but others will suffer. And I don't always think it is going to be the best/most worthy writers who are going to benefit.
I have a hard time beleiving that most people aren't somewhat price sensitive. It should be obvious that everyone doesn't buy every product that interests them a little. And unless you have far more disposable income than I, everyone has a limit to how much they will spend on a given product.
The prevailing argument in these price argument threads seem to be that if we raise prices of products, the consumer will merely compensate and pay more, and writing games will be lucrative.
I don't think that would pan out in reality. I think the market has some price flexibility, but only so much. If you push up the prices so much, consumers (expecially gamers, who value their free time) aren't going to be able to match with their gaming. As a result, gamers will be forced to buy fewer products, or consider cheapter alternatives. Some writers might benefit, but others will suffer. And I don't always think it is going to be the best/most worthy writers who are going to benefit.
Thorin Stoutfoot
First Post
I'm not price sensitive
I am, however, extremely value sensitive.
What has low value: any of the splat books. 32 page modules (unless I have a specific use for them). Games that I can't find anyone to play with (i.e., just reading material) Yet Another Campaign Setting. (If you can't do better than FRCS, don't bother, and even that I bought on eBay for $20, shipping included)
High value: The 3e core books. Big adventures (really pre-made campaigns). Supplementary materials that I can use (Manual of the Planes, Monster Manual II, and the new monster book). Games that I can find others to play with (Acquire, Through the Desert, and CoC d20)
Stuff that I'll buy only if discounted: Nobilis, Strongholder Builder's Guide, Epic Levels Handbook. (The latter two will be discounted at Amazon.com), Godlike (needs insane amounts of discounts before I'd buy it though!)
I am, however, extremely value sensitive.
What has low value: any of the splat books. 32 page modules (unless I have a specific use for them). Games that I can't find anyone to play with (i.e., just reading material) Yet Another Campaign Setting. (If you can't do better than FRCS, don't bother, and even that I bought on eBay for $20, shipping included)
High value: The 3e core books. Big adventures (really pre-made campaigns). Supplementary materials that I can use (Manual of the Planes, Monster Manual II, and the new monster book). Games that I can find others to play with (Acquire, Through the Desert, and CoC d20)
Stuff that I'll buy only if discounted: Nobilis, Strongholder Builder's Guide, Epic Levels Handbook. (The latter two will be discounted at Amazon.com), Godlike (needs insane amounts of discounts before I'd buy it though!)
