D&D 4E Should WotC Release 4E Now?

[Family]

Solution: If you download the bootleg PDFs, (ALSO BUY THE BOOKS PLEASE), mail WotC (D&D Division) a check for the amount you are willing to pay for them, leave a note or letter telling them why. <---Seriously.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Solution: If you download the bootleg PDFs, (ALSO BUY THE BOOKS PLEASE), mail WotC (D&D Division) a check for the amount you are willing to pay for them, leave a note or letter telling them why. <---Seriously.

Seriously? You really think people who illegally download bootleg PDFs of the books should then provide WotC's legal team with an admission of doing so along with an identifying document such as a check? I don't really like people who pirate material as if it is thier right to do so and not have to pay, but piracy is a reality of the times and no matter what I think of these people, I wouldn't go so far as to suggest people who illegally download materials should then set themselves up to get into trouble.

 

[Westwind]

Wizards cannot shift the release date, or at least they can't do it without opening themselves up to massive legal consequences, none of them good. Having 500 or so copies floating around and having pirated .pdf's available isn't great, but they represent a tiny fraction of a % of the expected sales volume. Plus, getting your book from buy.com means that Wizards still gets their cut. So a handful of people get to be internet heroes for a week or so (hey, I got to leak Complete Divine tidbits back in the day--it's fun), which is great and Wizards still gets to have an "event" launch. I really don't see any upside to letting the books out early.

 

[FunkBGR]

Uh, no big deal.

This kind of thing happens all the time with other releases, like Harry Potter, or Final Fantasy X. Breaking street date is nothing new, and all that can happen is companies crack down on the retailers that broke things.

For a huge retailer like Buy.com, the worst they'll get is a slap on the wrist. For smaller retailers, they'll get harsher consequences (no product for x amount of time, etc.)

 

[Tzepish]

I intend to download a PDF of the books... but I also have orders in for two sets of the books that I intend to keep. Not only for supporting WotC, but because it's simply easier to play the game with (multiple) copies of the physical books at the table. It'd be nice to start my reading up early though, so I can start my campaigns sooner.

 

[Jack99]

Just the other day, the gift set was nr 6 on Amazon. WotC is going to be selling a lot of books. 500 or so is nothing.

I also firmly believe that most people who downloaded them did so out of anticipation (meaning they just couldn't wait to get their hands on them), not because they want to save a lousy $50.

Ergo, I think WotC should do nada, and proceed as planned.

Cheers

 

[hargert]

yes I doubt many people are going to not buy the books because they have downloaded the leaked copies. All this has done is create more buzz and hell it might even get them some more sales as the anti 4th edition crowd can see what the game is and not just snippets anymore.

 

[Underage AOLer]

Just the other day, the gift set was nr 6 on Amazon. WotC is going to be selling a lot of books. 500 or so is nothing.

I also firmly believe that most people who downloaded them did so out of anticipation (meaning they just couldn't wait to get their hands on them), not because they want to save a lousy $50.

Ergo, I think WotC should do nada, and proceed as planned.

Cheers

This

 

[LowSpine]

I intend to download a PDF of the books... but I also have orders in for two sets of the books that I intend to keep. Not only for supporting WotC, but because it's simply easier to play the game with (multiple) copies of the physical books at the table. It'd be nice to start my reading up early though, so I can start my campaigns sooner.

Same here. My crime isn't trying to steal or go without paying - it is impatience because I am an obsessed geek.

 

[malraux]

I also firmly believe that most people who downloaded them did so out of anticipation (meaning they just couldn't wait to get their hands on them), not because they want to save a lousy $50.

If I had access to a high quality large page sized color printer and reasonable binding equipment, then the pdfs might negate the need for purchasing the books. And even then, the cost to print and bind on my own wouldn't save me much over the amazon price.