D&D 5E (2024) Rate D&D 2024

[kermit4karate]

I assume they do, but not that this explains the difference. For 2014 there were around 1.8 PHBs per DMG, now there are 0.06, that is far too much of a swing.

Also, wouldn’t they buy the DMG and MM there too?

They were all made available for sale on Amazon at different times. Beyond members were also able to order the books a little sooner than standard retailers. My (un)educated guess is that since PHB was released first on Sep. 3, 2024 (early access via local game stores in Wizards Play Network and same time for D&D Beyond subs), a lot of those early sales weren't through Amazon.

Then later on Oct. 29 (DMG) and Feb. 18, 2025 (MM) came out, more people were just waiting and getting them on Amazon.

 

[mamba]

We know PHB sales much better than MM and DMG. Always has, always will. So I don’t know why the numbers on amazon are that way, but I know they are wrong.

they are the number of reviews, not sales. They are not wrong, just odd

 

[kermit4karate]

they are the number of reviews, not sales. They are not wrong, just odd

Exactly.

 

[mamba]

They were all made available for sale on Amazon at different times.

I assume in the same order as they were released, so PHB first…

My (un)educated guess is that since PHB was released first on Sep. 3, 2024 (early access via local game stores in Wizards Play Network and same time for D&D Beyond subs), a lot of those early sales weren't through Amazon.

that should be true for all three, they all had a two week early access phase

 

[Scribe]

6-8 is considered an average score, because 7 is a nice person’s 5

 

[Reynard]

I assume they do, but not that this explains the difference. For 2014 there were around 1.8 PHBs per DMG, now there are 0.06, that is far too much of a swing.

Also, wouldn’t they buy the DMG and MM there too?

I don't think most players buy more than the PHB.

 

[mamba]

I don't think most players buy more than the PHB.

which would explain its sales / number of reviews being higher, like the factor of 1.8 for 2014, not significantly lower (like the factor of 0.06 for 2024)

 

[kermit4karate]

I assume in the same order as they were released, so PHB first…


that should be true for all three, they all had a two week early access phase

I think I see what you're getting at, but I don't think it's that mysterious. I still say marketing, pricing and timing. There are always marketing campaigns of various types, short-term promotions, many different sales channels, maybe a new season of Critical Role, so many different things could influence the number of reviews. I really don't think the difference among the DMG, MM and PHB reflects any kind of actual sales trends either way.

 

[Reynard]

which would explain its sales being higher, like the factor of 1.8 for 2014, not significantly lower (like the factor of 0.06 for 2024)

Sorry, I was not clear: if people are buying the PHB on Beyond instead of physically, there would be fewer Amazon reviews for the PHB. In addition, since most people are probably just players, the DMG and MM would have bigger numbers because DMs are more likely to buy physical books and have less use for those books on Beyond.

 

[mamba]

I really don't think the difference among the DMG, MM and PHB reflects any kind of actual sales trends either way.

I don’t think so either, but I have no good explanation for this difference at all. It’s not a new CR season, I doubt it was marketing (none of the books were heavily discounted early on, WotC made sure of that by categorizing them as games)… it’s just an unexplained oddity, with the best ‘explanation’ I have being a reflection on sales, and even I don’t believe that