I'll add more links to this as I find them.
Start with this one by pauper on hordelings.com:
http://www.hordelings.com/frontend/forums/postView.php?post_id=55945
Highlights:
"2006 was the best year ever for D&D; while not every product has been an overwhelming success, there have been many successes and some that even surprised the WotC folks. For instance, the Player's Handbook II is already in its third printing; other books like the Spell Compendium, Complete Mage, and Expedition to Castle Ravenloft were what were called 'instant reprints', in that they all quickly sold their initial print runs."
"Though about 50% of D&D 'books' are sold through larger chains, WotC remains committed to the independent game store; though the big stores are an efficient way to get lots of books into the market channel, game stores provide a lot of 'value add' in that they frequently give more personalized service, including the ability to recommend additional products that fit a player's or DM's needs and preferences. Organized play on-site is also seen as a big advantage for independent retailers."
For Greyhawk fans: "During the Q&A follow-up, there was something of a rant from a Greyhawk grognard who was upset at the number of Realms and Eberron products previewed while only one Greyhawk-specific product previewed was the Expedition to the Ruins of Castle Greyhawk. The response came in two parts: first (and I'm paraphrasing here, but this was the sense I got), he noted that while WotC knows there are thousands of Greyhawk fans out there - WotC does as much market research as any other company of any type out there - there are tens of thousands of Eberron and Realms fans, so 'deal with it'. At the same time, he also pointed out that the company is looking at the Expedition to Castle Greyhawk as a 'feeler' product: if it does very well, it absolutely suggests a greater demand for Greyhawk-specific material and would certainly motivate people within WotC to produce more of that kind of material."
Cheers!
Start with this one by pauper on hordelings.com:
http://www.hordelings.com/frontend/forums/postView.php?post_id=55945
Highlights:
"2006 was the best year ever for D&D; while not every product has been an overwhelming success, there have been many successes and some that even surprised the WotC folks. For instance, the Player's Handbook II is already in its third printing; other books like the Spell Compendium, Complete Mage, and Expedition to Castle Ravenloft were what were called 'instant reprints', in that they all quickly sold their initial print runs."
"Though about 50% of D&D 'books' are sold through larger chains, WotC remains committed to the independent game store; though the big stores are an efficient way to get lots of books into the market channel, game stores provide a lot of 'value add' in that they frequently give more personalized service, including the ability to recommend additional products that fit a player's or DM's needs and preferences. Organized play on-site is also seen as a big advantage for independent retailers."
For Greyhawk fans: "During the Q&A follow-up, there was something of a rant from a Greyhawk grognard who was upset at the number of Realms and Eberron products previewed while only one Greyhawk-specific product previewed was the Expedition to the Ruins of Castle Greyhawk. The response came in two parts: first (and I'm paraphrasing here, but this was the sense I got), he noted that while WotC knows there are thousands of Greyhawk fans out there - WotC does as much market research as any other company of any type out there - there are tens of thousands of Eberron and Realms fans, so 'deal with it'. At the same time, he also pointed out that the company is looking at the Expedition to Castle Greyhawk as a 'feeler' product: if it does very well, it absolutely suggests a greater demand for Greyhawk-specific material and would certainly motivate people within WotC to produce more of that kind of material."
Cheers!
