Races and Classes cover on Amazon!

[RandomCitizenX]

nothing to see here.

 

[Dragonhelm]

On the contrary, they have been said to contain no actual mechanics.

Ah, didn't know that.

Are you telling us that selling a 96 page paperback for $20 is a sound way to generate interest?

I think it is a business model, yes. The best one...don't know. If it was me, I'd release a series of preview articles online or in Dragon magazine. Too bad there's no longer a Dragon magazine.

However, I do see WotC's point about needing to generate revenue in the interim.

 

[Aage]

Maybe the answer here is obvious, but anyways:

Will WP: Races and Classes, in fact, reveal the classes and races that are in phb1?

 

[JVisgaitis]

My thoughts from SteveC's comments are: Can we position the book differently, have we explained what the book is all about well enough?

I definitely don't think you have. I love everything you guys are doing with the new edition, but I do have a bit of an issue with the preview books. Just the way that they are marketed as 4th Edition Preview seems to have upset a lot of people. When the designers are saying we're not elaborating on things because they want us to buy the preview books, it comes off as a bit... I dunno, underhanded.

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.

I've already put my preorder in at Amazon and I'm looking forward to them. If you think everyone will buy them when they come out, that's great. Of all the releases that you guys have ever done, there needs to be a LOT of preview material and explanation as to what's between the covers. Right now they are being used as a shield to ward off questions on what's coming up. Make people want them for the information they'll contain other than the 4e preview.

I think O'Connor's art is a good place to start.

 

[hectorse]

Maybe I'm alone in this department, but I really like the concept of this book. It looks like it will have an inside look into the design philosophies of the game with a more complete view thatn the previews in the site. It will also have artwork with the new style.

This I can see lending to my players so they can read all about the new edition and get excited while we wait.

I don't know, maybe I just don't see the big deal here

 

[JVisgaitis]

Maybe the answer here is obvious, but anyways:

Will WP: Races and Classes, in fact, reveal the classes and races that are in phb1?

What does that matter? Do you think if that information was contained everyone will buy them? I'd rather see a nice long list of ALL of the classes and races in 4e and learn what they are doing to bring them up to the 4e standards. I doubt a list of what's in there will make a dramatic difference in sales and IIRC, I believe someone had said that they won't.

 

[Aage]

No, probably that wouldn't make people buy them... I just asked because I wanted to know whether or not it was the case

 

[Keefe the Thief]

* sigh * What a thread. No, the use of those books for an internet-savy, money-conscious D&D player is not readily apparent. No, it seems that most of ENworld is not the direct target market of these books. Yes, it seems that WotC tries to sell things you could get in some other fashion and more fractioned and with less art for free on the net. No, that does not mean that stealing the book is a good idea.

In threads like these i sometimes think that somebody opened a portal to the negative energy plane. :\

 

[Fifth Element]

So, like others, I'll ask - why do we want to buy these things? What is their value to us?

Some people place value on knowing this sort of thing earlier than others do. Some people just like reading about this kind of stuff. This book is clearly for them.

It is plain that many people will find little or no value in this book. They won't buy it. I know I won't buy it.

If you're not sure whether it's for you, have a quick browse in the bookstore or the game store when it's released, and then make your own decision.

But why do so many have to make a stink about something that doesn't interest them? Don't want to buy it? Don't. The end. The usual "but I'll have to buy 4E because no one else will still play 3E" arguments don't even apply here. This is not part of the rules, so you can freely ignore it and not miss anything. There's no reason to bitch about it.

 

[Imaro]

*sigh*

You know, people are complaining and whining because they feel like WotC is making them victims of sorts. The preview books are just a way to make revenue during the interim and to generate interest in 4th edition.

Nobody is a victim here. We are consumers. WotC is a business. They come up with a model on how to run their business. As consumers, we can agree or disagree with their business model. As consumers, we can either support them or use our money elsewhere. Vote with the dollar.

Thing is, this is being blown way out of proportion. There's no conspiracy here. Just simple business. So yeah, it's obvious to say to vote with the dollar, yet it seems to me that people would rather be a victim than a consumer.

I don't think majority of the negative posts are saying WotC is victimizing them, I think your giving in to a little hyperbole here. I think if anything most people are simply asking...why would I want these books. As potential consumers I don't see that as complaining or whinnig.

Every book is a way to make revenue, but it really is up to the company to make you want to purchase it. In fact I have to say that the simple fact that so many people are asking for a reason to buy the books is actually something that should be looked at as an opportunity to sell these products. At any rate I don't think it can be so easily dimissed as "people would rather be a victim than a consumer" just because they are hesitant about jumping on the bandwagon of these particular products. I would even go farther and say that a resposible consumer will seek out why they would want to purchase a product before laying their money down.

Your post above is really dismisive and, if it had been the answer given by a WotC representative (it would have, at least to me) been a tad offensive. Basically boilng it down to buy what we give you or don't, but you have no right to ask for a reason why you should buy it.

What does that matter? Do you think if that information was contained everyone will buy them? I'd rather see a nice long list of ALL of the classes and races in 4e and learn what they are doing to bring them up to the 4e standards. I doubt a list of what's in there will make a dramatic difference in sales and IIRC, I believe someone had said that they won't.

Wow. I don't think anything in the book will get everybody to buy it, but why is he wrong for seeking information about a potential purchase? I remember, and I might be wrong, that everything in the book won't necessarily be in 4e...so the book might be more akin to a brainstorming of the designers type thing, than an actual preview of all things 4e.


On another note,and this is directed at Scott, what exactly does "preview" of 4e entail? I mean I own Star Wars saga ed. and while it has been highlighted as a preview of 4e, I still am not sure exactly what is and isn't a part of 4e that is part of the saga rule system. The fact that these books may, or may not, have material that will actually be in 4e seems to put them in the same category. I think this thread can go one of two ways...either it will be a chance to enlighten, and perhaps win over, some of the people on the fence. Or it can be a wasted opportunity and a reinforcement of the negative light many already view this product in.