Races and Classes cover on Amazon!

[DandD]

I what to know what material is actually exclusive and will retain value once the actual game books are out.

And if that material will be really of any value at all...

 

[JoeGKushner]

And if that material will be really of any value at all...

For me, that's not that big a deal if it's all art and behind the scenes looks.

I just don't want to buy a preview book and then get the 'real' book and go, "Oh wow, here's all reprinted art and I've been charged twice for it. Hope at least the artists got two checks for this."

 

[RandomCitizenX]

I will most likely have to flip through the books before I decide if they are worth the cover, but if they turn out to be an art esq book which gives insight into why certain 4e design choices were made it will most likely be enough for me.

 

[The Little Raven]

Looks cool.

 

[Atlatl Jones]

I would say now that this is the question that this product is presenting. It sounds great to have for a period of 5 months, and then afterwards the product may be worthless. So why buy it when one will have to buy the same content again?

For 98 pages of interesting reading. The same reason why people buy novels and magazines. Clearly, if you never buy books just to read them, then this book isn't for you.

 

[JoeGKushner]

For 98 pages of interesting reading. The same reason why people buy novels and magazines. Clearly, if you never buy books just to read them, then this book isn't for you.

Heck, instead of comparing this to buying Halo 3, I'd compare it to buying a paperback and then being expected to buy the hardcover.

 

[Mercule]

Had we received an answer like, yes, we know what all of the races and classes are, but we don't want to reveal all of that so soon. We will be releasing a book around Christmas that will look at the races and classes in detail and give you a first glimpse at 4th Edition, I think there would be a lot less of these posts.

Odd. The way you worded that, I could almost see getting the book. One of my favorite D&D sources is an old "Best of Dragon" that has a cultural look at all the PHB races. Not a lick of mechanics in there -- and I think mechanics would actually detract from it -- but I still refer to it.

If these preview books are more along the lines of describing the concepts of the implied/default setting, and go about it in a similar manner, I could very much see the ongoing value of such a purchase. In fact, it'd probably be of more interest than the racial books from either 2E or 3E (which pretty much all sucked -- mainly because of the introduction of new mechanics to add racial flavor instead of, you know, flavor).

What a difference a slight turn of phrase can make.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Doesn't this hold true for other one time use products? Adventures and novels come to mind as something you may only use once and then be done with it.

I've read The Hitchhiker's Guide over 20 times. It has lasting value. Go look to see all the people in the "shared experience" thread who have played through Keep on the Borderlands multiple times. Personally, I'm on my second run through the Age of Worms. Preview materials don't have replay value, because eventually they're replaced by the real McCoy.

Are you saying that these are not preview books? Because you're implying that they're not, but that contradicts what most people believe is the case. If they're not preview books, just go ahead and say they aren't, and solve some problems.

 

[The Little Raven]

Are you saying that these are not preview books? Because you're implying that they're not, but that contradicts what most people believe is the case. If they're not preview books, just go ahead and say they aren't, and solve some problems.

They seem to be preview books combined with "Making Of" information and a nice spread of concept art.

 

[Mercule]

Heck, instead of comparing this to buying Halo 3, I'd compare it to buying a paperback and then being expected to buy the hardcover.

Actually, I was more on the wavelength of "why would I buy the Cliff's Notes for a book I really want to read?" How many people would have bought the bullet-point version of "Deathly Hallows" plus Rowling's commentary back in January? I know I wouldn't have.

I also wouldn't pay $75 for a leather-bound PHB, but that apparently sold well enough that they're doing it again. I'm just in a different target audience, I guess.