D&D 5E What Would You Give Up For A Cheaper PHB?

[GMforPowergamers]

I chose all the artwork and some races and class's


They could use art from the last 40 years... Heck some of the little 1e cartoons could be fun

They could just go with human, elf, and dwarf for races then have. Phb 2 be half breeds half elf half Orc and mul

 

[DEFCON 1]

For me, the answer begins and ends with the number of spells on each class's spell list. With the reduced number of spells prepared and castable... no single spell level needs more than 10 spells. If a spell list includes more of those on a particular level, prune them. Having obscene numbers of choices at a particular level is no longer necessary because you'll never actually use them all.

The most page count in the PHB has always come from the pages of spell description. Edit that section down as much as possible and you'll be fine.

 

[orangefruitbat]

I care more about value than price

$50 doesn't bother me if I think I'm getting good value. Cutting stuff out to reduce the price also reduces the value.

I think WOTC picked $50 because the Pathfinder book is $50, and they are the obvious competitor. I don't think the D&D brand is automatically worth a significant price premium. Logically, if they are matching their competitor on price, they need to match Pathfinder on content as well. Full colour, great art. And page count - WOTC is not going to be able to get away with a slender 208 page book when PF is a phonebook. So they need all the core races and classes (which they've promised), and a good amount of options for each of those - which could easily be 400+ pages. A comprehensive PHB also has the advantage that it will sell much better than any expansion, so they might as well put most of the options in the first book.

For players who want a lighter D&D, that's what the starter set will be for (and hopefully it won't suck). I'm not sure if WOTC will fully abandon the standard 3 volume strategy and go to 2 like Paizo did. Really, the only DM content that needs to be in the PHB is some magic items, and the PHB would basically be a complete game (sans the monsters).

 

[BlueBlackRed]

A lot less artwork would be acceptable to me.
Having a picture on 2 out of every 3 pages is overkill.

 

[Thaumaturge]

I wouldn't buy a product with black and white art. I avoided all the 3rd party products with black and white art during the 3e era as well.

It's funny. I don't think of myself as a big art guy, but this is true for me as well. And I think it's because of your latter point—a book of black and white art is a book that is cutting corners. It makes me wonder what other corners were cut.

And I guess I like corners.

I should build a maze.

Thaumaturge.

 

[bogmad]

I wouldn't get rid of the color art entirely. I think there's something to said for enticing new players in with it. And you don't want people having the impression they're skimping on the budget.
But, save the color for the bigger pieces and chapter beginnings. For the smaller art mixed in with the text go with black and white.

Doesn't save as much money as going full B/W, but the pricetag isn't really an issue for me. I just prefer it that way for aesthetic reasons.
The way I see it, you have your big splash pages to put an image in the head, and some black and white line art doesn't make as strong an impression, but seeps into another part of the imagination.

 

[Wulfgar76]

I dont wan't to sacrifice quality for $10 in cost. Make it embossed leather and I'll pay $100. I like nice books on my gameroom shelf.

Now if I were to buy a 2nd 'budget PHB' for my son to wreck? Sure make it softcover and all black and white and cost $25. I'll even pick up a couple extras to give to the more unmotivated members of my group.

 

[Thaumaturge]

I dont wan't to sacrifice quality for $10 in cost. Make it embossed leather and I'll pay $100. I like nice books on my gameroom shelf.

Now if I were to buy a 2nd 'budget PHB' for my son to wreck? Sure make it softcover and all black and white and cost $25. I'll even pick up a couple extras to give to the more unmotivated members of my group.

For myself, I absolutely agree.

However, I have a player in my group I already suspect won't be able to swing the theoretical $50 variant. If WotC went the above route, a $10-20 pdf version would be quite nice.

I'd buy that, too.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Wyckedemus]

Here is the way I see it...

Based on the number of races and classes provided in previous editions, in *different* books, the fact that the designers are including all those races and classes in one book makes me feel like I would be paying $50 for 1 and a half books worth of content.

The 5E book will have support for the stuff introduced in 4E's PHB1 and 2. With class options (like features and spells) to support those classes.

The 5E book will have support for the stuff introduced in 3E's PHB1, and the Warlock. With (more robust) class options (like actual class features for fighters and more and spells to cover each spellcaster) to support all those classes.

I like that this book looks like it will let me play races and classes in (or spiritually recreate any character from) any previous PHB1, from the start of the edition. No waiting a year for the next splatbook to recreate a basic concept from my previous campaigns.

That is both inclusive, and a good value in my eyes.

I'd rather pay $50 for this book (and have the true baseline representing the starting point for anyone that has played an edition of D&D), than to pay $40 for part of that content, and have to wait a year to pay $40 to get the other half of that content.

You all know that if the designers did *not* provide all that content in the PHB, they would be viewed as liars and villains for not following through with that big promise that they made. Some people will complain either way, changing the goalposts of their expectations, or making unrealistic demands, hoping Wizards will fail. I hope those voices are identified and ignored, as they don't have the best intentions. They just want to see it all burn.

Also, if someone *likes* 5th Edition, but balks at the pricetag, perhaps they should reevaluate their entertainment values and priorities. Personally, depending on where you buy it (online or FLGS), I think that 1 PHB bought for $30-$50 as a player, or 3 Core books for $90-$150 as a DM, that lets me play a supported edition I like for years to come, is far more valuable than the same amount of money spent on video games or going out to the movies. If money was tight, I'd stagger the purchases in the following order: PHB, MM, DMG.

... in my opinion.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Heck... I'd pay an extra $10 just to guarantee the book included all eight school specialization sub-classes for the wizard and the eight primary deity/domains they had back in the playtest packets from last year.

The last thing I want is for them to try and cover all of the Forgotten Realms Greater Deities with just three domains to choose from. That would royally suck. Even if the book only cost $35.