Races and Classes cover on Amazon!

[Fifth Element]

Just a quick observation, but these books can be had for less than a dollar on ebay now. Maybe if there was a low print run or something these would be colletible, but I don't see them as collectible in any way right now.

Really? I just checked and there are currently none up for auction. There are several listed under Buy it Now, and the lowest price is over $19.

"Keepsake" does not imply "collectible" in the sense that the value will hold or increase. A keepsake is for the memories. It's the reason I still have my 1E books.

 

[Imaro]

I haven't seen the hardcover that cheap. But it's still something to collect, whether now or in the future. It doesn't necessarily have to maintain its monetary value to make you feel like you've added something to your shelf that's going to stay there for years to come as a keepsake.

So by this definition...anything is a collectible...yeah, ok I guess.

It's not dual value if they're not going to play the old edition at all.

Heck, sometimes I've bought magazines like Inquest and Scyre just for the preview articles of D&D Miniatures. Nothing wrong with that.

So none of the articles in Dragon during the release of D&D 3e helped to ease a player of 2nd edition into 3rd edition. You see Dragon actually had 3e mechanical information in it, according to previous posts these previews don't even have that.

It doesn't appear that way. The fact that they're charging people for a preview book says they're pretty confident that the new edition is going to make them more money than their current sales.]/QUOTE]

Or they're not making enough money for Hasbro on D&D and every little thing they can sell will help. Not being part of WotC's inner circle means this all boils down to how you look at it.

Who is it going to push? I think the overwhelming majority of gamers do not read the previews. It is for the hardcore fans alone. The average gamer, from my experience with face-to-face gaming, doesn't visit message boards and doesn't visit WotC.com. Most of them never bought issues of Dungeon or Dragon magazine either.

Well even though majority of players are casual...most DM's aren't. Now who runs games and decides what the group will play? I have five other people in my group that are casual, but in the end if I don't want to run D&D we all play something else. Right now were playing Runequest until I decide whether to go with 4e or stay with 3.5e.

You should be lucky they give hardcore fans the support they're getting today. The fact that a rep is on this thread speaks volumes.

Yeah, because Scott has really explained to us what this book is and why we would be interested. Wait, no he hasn't. He actually posted because someone was advocating piracy and that cuts into profits. In other words, I'm not lucky just because a corporation'rs representative posts on a thread...I'm lucky if they're willing to answer the questions and concerns I have as one of their consumers.

 

[Imaro]

Really? I just checked and there are currently none up for auction. There are several listed under Buy it Now, and the lowest price is over $19.

"Keepsake" does not imply "collectible" in the sense that the value will hold or increase. A keepsake is for the memories. It's the reason I still have my 1E books.

Here ya go...

http://product.half.ebay.com/30-Years-Of-Adventure_W0QQprZ30873957QQtgZinfo

a couple of them for .75...and it's the hardcover

 

[Dire Bare]

Well why did you bother to make the book at all?

WotC made the book for me. I'm buying it, in fact I've already pre-ordered both "Wizards Presents" books.

They didn't make it for you. Get over it.

Edit: Removed comments about piracy . . . need to stop commenting before reading the entire thread . . . .

 

[takasi]

So by this definition...anything is a collectible...yeah, ok I guess.

Of course anything is collectible. Stamp collections, leaf collections, bottlecap collections; they don't have to go up in price to be worth collecting. This is a reminder of the speculation period we're having right now. And judging from the amount of buzz 8 months before the game comes out, I think there is plenty of interest on these boards at least.

So none of the articles in Dragon during the release of D&D 3e helped to ease a player of 2nd edition into 3rd edition. You see Dragon actually had 3e mechanical information in it, according to previous posts these previews don't even have that.

I'm just saying I'm sure there were some people who bought Dragon just for the preview articles and had no interest in the 2nd edition material offered. That says there is value to selling preview material. I used the example of Scrye and Inquest earlier.

And if you don't know what's in the preview books yet, then how can you judge their value? Wait until they're on the shelf.

Well even though majority of players are casual...most DM's aren't. Now who runs games and decides what the group will play? I have five other people in my group that are casual, but in the end if I don't want to run D&D we all play something else. Right now were playing Runequest until I decide whether to go with 4e or stay with 3.5e.

I was speaking of DMs. In our area I lent out my copies of Dungeon and Dragon to several DMs and none of them visited WotC or EN World.

Yeah, because Scott has really explained to us what this book is and why we would be interested. Wait, no he hasn't. He actually posted because someone was advocating piracy and that cuts into profits. In other words, I'm not lucky just because a corporation'rs representative posts on a thread...I'm lucky if they're willing to answer the questions and concerns I have as one of their consumers.

He also posted asking us for feedback.

 

[w_earle_wheeler]

Don't you think all this speculation is worth spending $20 on a couple of articles to help WotC get by until 4th edition comes out?

WotC isn't a non-profit organization and I won't be handing out money to them so they can "get by" until 4th edition comes out.

They'll earn their money by putting out products people want to buy at prices they will tolerate paying.

The preview books will sell, but they won't sell well. As long as WotC does a small print run on this product, they should be fine (and then the books will sell well by comparison).

 

[Dire Bare]

Or, hypothetically, tell me why a potential customer's intelligence shouldn't be insulted at what they might perceive as a cash-grab.

Insulted? Man, I just don't get the mindset of some of the naysayers on this thread and others.

Let's pretend for argument's sake that the Wizards Presents books are such a bad idea that only people who've seen nothing but the cover in their local B&N actually purchase it.

How is this insulting? Bad business and artistic decision maybe, but insulting?

I'm excited for these books, I've already pre-ordered them. Am I so stupid that I can't see the "insult" leveled at me? Am I a sheep who purchases anything with the D&D logo on it? The insinuation of many of the grumpy complainers is that Wizards is once again "out to get us" and "care only for the money" and anyone who buys into their line of snake-oil products is a fool. I am insulted, but not by WotC!

I'm dangerously close to stepping into the realm of hyperbole myself here, but I just get so tired of all the baseless negativity and whining directed towards WotC.

WotC may not have "positioned" these books well, but I think it's fairly clear what these books are all about. If they don't excite you, if you are pretty sure you don't want to buy them . . . that's great! Don't! But learn to accept the fact that just because YOU don't see the value, others do and not every product is designed or marketed to YOU.

 

[Andor]

Out of curiosity I have to ask; what magazine gets you a 3 year subscription for $20?

/M

Motorcyclist. It was a show special at Bikeweek, but still...

 

[tenkar]

Motorcyclist. It was a show special at Bikeweek, but still...

Wow, so basically you got it on sale, significantly below regular subscription rate and that is what you base your cost comparison on?

I preordered at Amazon... does that compare to your deal?

If you don't think the product is worth the price don't buy it... no one here is being forced to purchase these books, let alone any 4th edition book. Consumers vote with their wallet.

As an aside I get MANY magazines for free, including Games for Windows (no-disc version), Maximum PC (again no-disc), US News and World Report among others... should I expect WoTC and other RPG publishers to follow suit?

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

edited