Regarding DnD Classics PDFs

[Shin Okada]

WotC is selling older editions in PDF format via driveThru RPG.

http://www.dndclassics.com/

It seems that some of the rulebooks and supplements are not sold here. For example, while I can buy Keep on the Borderlands, I cannot by Return to the Keep on the Borderlands. Also, most editions (except for BECM D&D) lack core rule books (PHB, DMG, MM).

Do anybody know why those books are not sold? Is there any chance those books will be added in future?

 

[Jan van Leyden]

WotC is selling older editions in PDF format via driveThru RPG.

http://www.dndclassics.com/

It seems that some of the rulebooks and supplements are not sold here. For example, while I can buy Keep on the Borderlands, I cannot by Return to the Keep on the Borderlands. Also, most editions (except for BECM D&D) lack core rule books (PHB, DMG, MM).

Do anybody know why those books are not sold? Is there any chance those books will be added in future?

Well, producing PDFs from books which were not prepared to be handled in this way is no small feat. Each week several books are added to the online catalog, but it will still take time to complete the offering.

Furthermore, many core books were made available via the Collector's Editions, therefore I fully expect the core books to be last in line.

 

[KirayaTiDrekan]

New PDFs are added every Tuesday morning. Anywhere from 3 to 8 new items show up on Tuesdays. Currently, they are working on the 4th Edition era Dragon and Dungeon Magazines, along with the "Powers" books from 4E and the class books from 3.0.

As for core books, as noted above, in starting in 2011 and going through the end of 2013, the core rulebooks for most editions were reprinted in special Premium Collector's Editions. Specifically -

1E - PHB, DMG, MM, Unearthed Arcana, Dungeons of Dread (compiling the S series modules), and Against the Slave Lords (compiling the A series modules)

2E - PHB, DMG, and MM

3.5 - PHB, DMG, MM, Magic Item Compendium, Spell Compendium

OD&D - A fancy wooden boxed set with the OD&D rules plus the first four supplements.

 

[trancejeremy]

I think pretty much everything already exists in PDF form. Bastion Press did it for them about what, 15 years ago? But then WOTC pulled them from online stores for some reason, then a couple years ago started making them available again, but with newer scans.

(And actually even before Bastion Press was involved, there were PDFs directly from them, you used a special download program to get them)

 

[Random Bystander]

I think pretty much everything already exists in PDF form. Bastion Press did it for them about what, 15 years ago? But then WOTC pulled them from online stores for some reason, then a couple years ago started making them available again, but with newer scans.

(And actually even before Bastion Press was involved, there were PDFs directly from them, you used a special download program to get them)

Scanning technology has advanced considerably even in the last few years, and a poor scan done early can result in less sales than a good scan done later. They may also be deliberately trickling in the releases, so as to keep interest alive and purchases constant.