D&D 4E So why does the 4e DMG costs the same as PHB?

[Piratecat]

Here's the real answer: DMs are suckers. They could double the price and sell just as many. We buy the DMG, the MM, the MM 2, 3, 4, 5 and all sorts of books, minis and dice while we are lucky if the players buy their own copy of PHB.

Being a consumer doesn't make you a sucker. You become a sucker when you buy a book that costs (substantially, I'd argue) more than its perceived value to you. If the information in the DMG isn't worth its cost to you, you shouldn't buy it. If it is, you should. Being a sucker doesn't enter into it.

Let's face it, folks who bought the leather-bound elite versions of the core rules for a whole lot of money presumably found that edition worth their money. They aren't suckers. I didn't; if I bought them anyways, then I might qualify.

 

[Darkwolf71]

Let's face it, folks who bought the leather-bound elite versions of the core rules for a whole lot of money presumably found that edition worth their money.

What if we got them on Amazon for signifigently less than MSRP. In fact just slightly more than the normal HB versions of the same books.

 

[Storminator]

What if we got them on Amazon for signifigently less than MSRP. In fact just slightly more than the normal HB versions of the same books.

Sucker.

PS

 

[Greg K]

Here's the real answer: DMs are suckers. They could double the price and sell just as many. We buy the DMG, the MM, the MM 2, 3, 4, 5 and all sorts of books, minis and dice while we are lucky if the players buy their own copy of PHB.

Speak for yourself. I wouldn't purchase MM 3-5 (or most of WOTC's 3.x books) even if they were reduced to $5 each. I also haven't purchased minis (the few that I have I won or were given as promotional items)

 

[dmccoy1693]

The simplest and most important reason.

because they can.

the logical reason is economics as others have said, but the ultimate reason is that they can

QFT.

All other RPGs fit the entire base game in a single tome. Why does D&D still use 3? Well there's tradition (and they're throwing out tradition wholesale with 4E), and there's because there's to much info for a single tome (oh like that stopped them releasing an infinite number of supplements required to play the same game as in every previous edition, why should this stop them), but ultimately, the reason is because they can.

 

[Nikosandros]

Another agreement. It cost as much, because they can price it that way and still sell it.

I'm annoyed at the price, but guess what? I'll be buying it anyway. I have a sneaky suspicion that I won't be the only one...

 

[Darkwolf71]

Sucker.

PS

 

[ThirdWizard]

All other RPGs fit the entire base game in a single tome. Why does D&D still use 3? Well there's tradition (and they're throwing out tradition wholesale with 4E), and there's because there's to much info for a single tome (oh like that stopped them releasing an infinite number of supplements required to play the same game as in every previous edition, why should this stop them), but ultimately, the reason is because they can.

Can you even imagine the outrage if they only published one book?

And you thought leaving the Frost Giant out was bad.

 

[Ranger REG]

Personally, I would pay an extra $10 if the DMG also includes all the rules from PHB. That way in a group, the players pay for the cheap PHB, while the DM only need his DMG ... not the current usual combo of having to buy both PHB and DMG.

 

[JoeGKushner]

QFT.

All other RPGs fit the entire base game in a single tome. Why does D&D still use 3? Well there's tradition (and they're throwing out tradition wholesale with 4E), and there's because there's to much info for a single tome (oh like that stopped them releasing an infinite number of supplements required to play the same game as in every previous edition, why should this stop them), but ultimately, the reason is because they can.

Rolemaster Classic and RMSS use four books (Arms Law, Spell Law, Monsters and Treasures and Character Law)