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."

 

[darjr]

Because, as was said, public playtests are not about numbers and balance. They only care if we think its cool enough to spend money on it.

Monster books do sell well. At least for 3pp.

 

[ersatzphil]

Because, as was said, public playtests are not about numbers and balance. They only care if we think its cool enough to spend money on it.

As a DM, I very much care if the monsters are cool enough to spend money on.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Based on it not being treated as a new edition, that would actually make a lot of sense. It would also be easier to find a use for in a 5e-2014-version game. Despite the changes to how they are handling monster stat blocks, I can certainly use the new MM with my older PHP and DMG. Also, even those who might not be interested in buying a new PHP and DMG may still buy the new MM to use with the old PHP and DMG. Then WotC could show bigger numbers for early adoption of OneDnD.

I had forgotten that when 5e came out, it went PHB > MM > DMG. It wouldn't be completely alien to lead with the MM. I imagine there are going to be people saying "I want to use the old version of this class." But it's hard to imagine a DM saying "no, I want to use the versions of the monsters with the dicey CRs instead of the ones that are easier for me to run at the table."

The MM could be furthest along in development, too. They have probably been updating MM monsters since MMoM came out. The PHB may be what we've been playtesting, but it's totally possible that the MM could drop first.

I suspect that they have clearer ideas for what they want out of the monsters, whereas the PHB mechanics are getting more playtest time, more experimentation with UA.

 

[mamba]

Speed mostly. If I see something I like, I want it in my hands sooner rather than later. Same reason I might go to the theater to see a movie rather than wait for streaming. I also want to support companies I like, that make stuff I like.

Is there a reason you're being so pushy about this?

curious, not meant to be pushy.

I’d assume you can just preorder it and get it at the same time as the KS

 

[ersatzphil]

I had forgotten that when 5e came out, it went PHB > MM > DMG. It wouldn't be completely alien to lead with the MM. I imagine there are going to be people saying "I want to use the old version of this class." But it's hard to imagine a DM saying "no, I want to use the versions of the monsters with the dicey CRs instead of the ones that are easier for me to run at the table."

Wasn't the MM the first AD&D book to come out?

 

[Velderan]

Wasn't the MM the first AD&D book to come out?

Pretty sure, wasn't it the MM in 1977, PHB in 1978 and DMG in 1979?

 

[darjr]

Pretty sure, wasn't it the MM in 1977, PHB in 1978 and DMG in 1979?

Yea.

The three core rulebooks are the Monster Manual (1977), the Player's Handbook(1978), and the Dungeon Master's Guide (1979).

Editions of Dungeons & Dragons - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Micah Sweet]

As a DM, I very much care if the monsters are cool enough to spend money on.

Oh sure, me too. But WotC's history of playtesting indicates they assume that another book full of almost all the same monsters we already have will sell well.

 

[Parmandur]

Huh? Good point.

I now wonder why?

Whyso? I hadn't really thought about it before, but why not do a UA on monster design?

Not so crazy, think aboutnit: UA is to test if people want an option before they invest time in balancing it seriously. Player options or serious DM modules (like ship combat or advanced traps) are something that will be used a lot, potentially years for a PC option like a Subclass. Monsters are easy to make, and don't last long in combat, 1-3 Rpunds of combat. Minutes of real play time, rather than years. A 5E monster book can easily have hundreds of options thst will see a relatively short shelf life, simple enough to get a spread that enough DMs will want to play with, whereas a PC option has to appeal broadly and takes up more space.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Are they just flexing how big and important they are here? What's the purpose of this message?

Humble bragging about how successful they are. Thing is if they are printing in such massive numbers, they should be able to get a deal lowering prices, instead they are jacking up prices, not because they have to, but rather because they believe players will still pay it. Perhaps they are right.