D&D 5E The Printers Can't Handle WotC's One D&D Print Runs!

One of the reasons why the three new core rulebooks next year will not be released together is because D&D is such a juggernaut that the printers can't actually handle the size of the print runs!

Jeremy Crawford told Polygon "Our print runs are pretty darn big and printers are telling us you can’t give us these three books at the same time.” And Chris Perkins added that "The print runs we’re talking about are massive. That’s been not only true of the core books, but also Tasha’s Cauldron. It’s what we call a high-end problem."

 

[Dyson Logos]

From unofficial sources, Tasha's initial print run for ONE of WotC's distributors was larger than the full print numbers for all of 4e combined.

 

[darjr]

From unofficial sources, Tasha's initial print run for ONE of WotC's distributors was larger than the full print numbers for all of 4e combined.

I have heard this. I wonder if there is any public info?
@Morrus

 

[UngainlyTitan]

A couple of thoughts spring to mind.

1) No wonder they like the current reduced splat book churn as compared to previous editions.
2)Now, I am even less surprised that Boomers are less than a rounding error in the market.

 

[darjr]

A couple of thoughts spring to mind.

1) No wonder they like the current reduced splat book churn as compared to previous editions.
2)Now, I am even less surprised that Boomers are less than a rounding error in the market.

Yea, it’s not so much that we’ve shrunk in numbers, though we have, it’s that it’s current new number of players dwarf our numbers.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Yea, it’s not so much that we’ve stunk in numbers, though we have, it’s that it’s current new numbers layers dwarf our numbers.

This is pretty much it. It is astonishing that a 50 year old game that is pretty arcane in it rules has seen such growth.

 

[Oofta]

A couple of thoughts spring to mind.

1) No wonder they like the current reduced splat book churn as compared to previous editions.
2)Now, I am even less surprised that Boomers are less than a rounding error in the market.

For #2 that's not a bad thing, I'd rather see growth than a game slowly dying.

 

[Weiley31]

Wait: are you telling me they AREN'T gonna do a three book set for the 50th anniversary of Dungeons and Dragons for the new core set next year?

 

[UngainlyTitan]

For #2 that's not a bad thing, I'd rather see growth than a game slowly dying.

Oh! Totally agree but the rate of expansion implied in the OP, it is huge. It is the right place in the timeline to see a boost from Critical Role.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Wait: are you telling me they AREN'T gonna do a three book set for the 50th anniversary of Dungeons and Dragons for the new core set next year?

"Not at the same time" ... due to logistics is not the same as no 3 books.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

Wait: are you telling me they AREN'T gonna do a three book set for the 50th anniversary of Dungeons and Dragons for the new core set next year?

3 books, but not all released at the same time. They did the same thing in 2014, but that was because everything wasn’t ready

 

[aco175]

Wait: are you telling me they AREN'T gonna do a three book set for the 50th anniversary of Dungeons and Dragons for the new core set next year?

Good thing that the rules are backward compatible!

Guess they will send out the PHB, then the others since you could use the old monsters and the DMG did not have much.

Will they all be released on DDBeyond together since they do not need printers for that. Might drive more numbers there for people that need to be first.

 

[Weiley31]

Good thing that the rules are backward compatible!

Totally true. as confirmed by WoTC.
We'll also have Tales of the Valiant and the C720 system as well!

 

[Morrus]

Totally true. as confirmed by WoTC.
We'll also have Tales of the Valiant and the C720 system as well!

Ahem!

 

[Weiley31]

Ahem!

No no, that's not the name: it's called Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition.

 

[R_J_K75]

I wouldnt be surprised if they are each released 2-3 months apart if the printers can't handle the orders.

 

[mamba]

Ahem!

yes, the last one is called C7D20, not C720, good for you to point this out

 

[sevenbastard]

Are is it just a ploy to sell more digital copies? I see conspiracy everywhere.

 

[darjr]

Are is it just a ploy to sell more digital copies? I see conspiracy everywhere.

Oh they see you. They see.

 

[Retreater]

They should consider increasing the prices to be able to put more resources towards printing these books.