D&D 5E What Books Would You Buy

[Li Shenron]

The core books obviously.

I had my shopping spree (well, not that big) in the 3e days, I don't think this will happen again. But of course, I might buy some additional crunch books to expand the offering of the core. At least in 3e my opinion was that the PHB was a bit slim to keep playing for years, and the first wave of 5 small splatbooks was the perfect complement.

Sometimes, renting content makes sense. TV and movie media, for example. There are few shows I really rewatch so frequently that I need to own a physical copy of the media. Netflix and On Demand content are fine. And yes, sometimes the show I was hoping to watch next month falls off Netflix. Boo hoo.

Game content is a little different. Typically, once I start using it, I expect to be referring to it for an extended period of time. Then, I really want my own copy.

Moreover, though, I find that if the game is so mechanically complicated or intractable on paper that I need a software tool to help manage it, then perhaps that game is not for me.

I'm totally with you on this.

I would really like some digital tool for creating NPCs and maybe monsters, but that's it. I personally can't play or run the game on digital content, I need physical books. For me, it's a major aspect of the whole RPGing experience. Playing or DMing without paper books would feel to me like fishing by pushing buttons on a panel instead of using a fishing rod - except I hate fishing anyway, but that's not the point

 

[Mistwell]

None of them anymore. Wizards is off the "buy sight unseen list". I do not mean it in a vicious way, just that what I want out of them now (settings, ideas, good adventures) does not seem to be in their product line.

So far the ONLY thing in their product line is adventures. And, given my read of them so far, GOOD adventures. The list above is not included products that are announced - it's just speculation as to what they might sell. They have announced several settings though. I don't see any evidence that "settings, ideas, good adventures" are not in their product line. Indeed, most speculation I see is that those ARE the likely things coming to their product line.

 

[Mistwell]

As for hardcopy vs. electronic - I can ready hardcopy books while in the restroom, but unless it's on a kindle I'm not going to read electronic books in the restroom.

And given restroom-reading is more than 50% of the time I get to read, that's actually relevant to me

 

[Kobold Stew]

One of the interesting things to get from the poll is that on average, people who buy the core three intend to buy just over 2 additional books (and the appeal of certain books is spread surprisingly (to key eye) regularly).

Some will have selected nothing beyond the core, and some will click everything, but I expect that the median number is 1 or 2 books beyond core. (For me, a Savage Species equivalent is most desirable, but everyone has their own favourites).

 

[Lanefan]

Unfortunately the polling system doesn't allow for a "maybe" option for each book.

I'll very likely pick up the core three. After that it'll depend on content and whether or not said content is an improvement or decent augmentation to what I either already have or can dream up on my own. The "maybes" would be Deities and Demigods, Magic Item Compendium (or equivalent), and Psionics Handbook.

If any of the setting books blow me away I'll pick it/them up as well, but truthfully I'm not holding my breath on that one.

And I'll always give published adventures a long look; good new adventures are always nice to have to replace good old adventures that my players have already seen.

Lanefan

 

[DMZ2112]

Nope... it's the realization that there's just too much crap lying around the house which never gets any use, that takes up too much space, and is too much of a pain in the tuchas to move around.

Oh, I absolutely hear that, but that isn't an adequate defense of the subscription model. Let Wizards release all of their material electronically -- I'm all for it. Just charge me once for it and let me keep it.

The difference between DDI and Steam is that with Steam, you're paying for content and the access is free. If Steam access goes away, I still keep my content. With DDI, you're paying for access and the content is free If DDI access goes away, the content goes with it.

 

[amerigoV]

So far the ONLY thing in their product line is adventures. And, given my read of them so far, GOOD adventures. The list above is not included products that are announced - it's just speculation as to what they might sell. They have announced several settings though. I don't see any evidence that "settings, ideas, good adventures" are not in their product line. Indeed, most speculation I see is that those ARE the likely things coming to their product line.

And I probably will pick up a few of them. Just saying that the days of buying them "sight unseen" is over. I enjoyed a number of the 3.x era modules (not all, but a good number - things like Red Hand of Doom were very good), but I have rarely seen anyone rave over the 4e modules other than Gardmore Abby. I picket it up and the material was pretty "meh" (I am not talking 3.x mechanics vs. 4e, just the adventure itself - but it may be that you cannot take dump without falling into the Shadowfell or Feyworld in the 4e adventures I did pick up that puts me off). I really enjoyed Eberron as well (pretty much would get anything that was released under the original line).

I do hope they are better - I can always use good material. But they have to prove it now.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Oh, I absolutely hear that, but that isn't an adequate defense of the subscription model. Let Wizards release all of their material electronically -- I'm all for it. Just charge me once for it and let me keep it.

The difference between DDI and Steam is that with Steam, you're paying for content and the access is free. If Steam access goes away, I still keep my content. With DDI, you're paying for access and the content is free If DDI access goes away, the content goes with it.

Except my point is that yeah, you're keeping content... but its content you're never going to ever use again, so what difference does it make whether or not you still have it?

I had AD&D and AD&D 2nd Edition books for the longest time, and kept lugging them around from apartment to apartment, before finally realizing I was never going to ever use them again... so why bother keeping them? So I junked them. And it's going to be the same way eventually with 4E. And at that point, it doesn't matter whether I just throw out or sell a hardcover book, or the server gets shut down-- I wasn't playing the game either way.

Which is why the concept of "renting" the game (as some people call the subscription model) doesn't bother me at all. Because the game's going to be collecting metaphorical dust for me long before I ever have to worry about the server being shut down.

Not to mention the fact that if by some chance in the distance future I decide I want the product again... I'll just buy it again in whatever new and better format has become available. People have done that with music for years-- buying the same albums on vinyl, then cassette, then CD, then MP3. So for D&D... if I feel the need to ever play AD&D again, I'll just pick up a new PDF of it on dndclassics.com.

For me, the ease of using the Character Builder, Monster Builder, Compendium et. al... more than makes up for the idea that at some time in the future they are all going to be shut down and thus I can't access that stuff anymore.

 

[the Jester]

Well, it depends on the quality of the books.

Assuming they are good, and assuming I like 5e enough to play, probably all of them, with a bit of hesitation over the Savage Species, Deities & Demigods and Oriental Adventures.

 

[DMZ2112]

Except my point is that yeah, you're keeping content... but its content you're never going to ever use again, so what difference does it make whether or not you still have it?

Fair enough! That concept makes me break out in hives, but I have to admit that it is logically sound.