The guy who leaked the Core Books was a:

[KarinsDad]

What I find interesting is that an entire community devoted to pretending to be murderers and thieves are so harsh on a rogue who might have done WotC a favor.

 

[abeattie]

...until I saw the 'douchebag's' PDFs I had no interest in 4E. Now that I have seen them, I am placing my order on Amazon. Take that for what it's worth...

I informed my local group that the PDFs were up, I don't know if they did or not.. mysteriously all four of them told me they had added orders on amazon and started asking me about what builds I was going to approve and when we would start.

Two weeks ago they were flipping me off when I suggested I run KotS.

I don't let people use PDFs at my table -- what they do at home is their own business. Whoever leaked this PDF (and I agree that it was probably an intentional leak -- remember they're going to push an SRD sooner or later anyway) just made WotC 240$ off my gaming group.

I don't know that whoever did this should be /our/ hero, but WotC should sure as hell give him/her a medal.

 

[Ardulac]

The poll should have been "great man" or "greatest man". Seriously, this guy is a hero. Like many others I have had the box set and an extra phb preordered for as long as that has been possible. My group was negative to neutral on 4E before this. I told them all about where they could find the books and I'll see what they say.

Personally, I'm glad it was leaked whether it encourages or discourages purchases though. Companies that put more effort into advertising than making a good product deserve to be burned to prevent them from ripping off their patrons. For the record, I think this is a solid product and as many have already said it will probably see increased initial sales due to the leak. After all, people may use PDFs as my group is prone to do, but these are the friggin' Core Books. People want them at the table.

I seriously have to wonder about the 10' poles that will have to be removed from the people who are "physically ill" and morally indignant over this whole fiasco. This is what happens when the alignment system makes it look like LG is just a more goodier version of Good.

 

[frankthedm]

At least the leaker was not one of the wotc employees/associates mocking the fanbase because they had the books early.

 

[unan oranis]

Hero.

I've allready received my DMG and MM, am dieing to play 4th, have two laptops all ready to be pdf machines...

and i'm still waiting for my PHB. Why the heck would I introduce my players to fourth on a couple of laptops?


I even have a hook up at a printer company to print perfect quality pdfs FOR FREE... I'd still rather have a real PHB than a binder.

I agree with the earlier poster that this is in all likelyhood a black ops by wizards. Why have a crappy pdf floating around, when if it looks fantastic, people will want to play it... and buy it... and the accessories etc

--

unan

 

[SSquirrel]

I'm sure a number of WotC employees had access to the same file and I've seen a number of times where cds leaked early (by the band or someone who had a promo copy) turned into added buzz and bigger sales. This isn't a new idea.

 

[Scott_Rouse]

Hero.

I agree with the earlier poster that this is in all likelyhood a black ops by wizards. Why have a crappy pdf floating around, when if it looks fantastic, people will want to play it... and buy it... and the accessories etc

--

unan

Here's another bullet in your theory that this was marketing: the Monster Manual is the wrong file, was still full of errors, and has stuff that never made it to final print.

blam.

Is there another dead horse I can beat around here?

 

[Jack Colby]

Definitely a little of both, unless it was somehow intentional (which I kinda' doubt.) The poll is clearly too simple!

 

[Incenjucar]

I despise this and any other pirating action. As someone hoping to get into writing and content production, this just makes me feel I need to be that much more secretive about what I've been working on, because so many people just have no consideration for creators.

People who make it a bad idea to trust others with creative material simply deny more open access to said material. Really, in the long run, what is this going to do? Quite possibly make WotC more tight-lipped and less trusting with their materials, which could mean fewer playtesters and reviews for future products.

--

Scott: I can get the horse if you can get the Animate Dead ritual scroll.

 

[Scott_Rouse]

People who make it a bad idea to trust others with creative material simply deny more open access to said material. Really, in the long run, what is this going to do? Quite possibly make WotC more tight-lipped and less trusting with their materials, which could mean fewer playtesters and reviews for future products.

QFT