What's Your Price Limit?

[John Dallman]

We used to see it with Runequest all the time back in the day, as we'd played through three editions which were close but not identical.

We used to say we played RuneQuest e - 2.71828. It was a group with a lot of mathematicians.

 

[kronovan]

I noticed that the Starfinder 2e Player Core DLC is now available for 1 of my VTTs (Fantasy Grounds), for $65 in my Canadian currency ($50 USD). That's much better than the best $80 CDN price I can find in my country for the hardcover. Considering Paizo offers the PDF for free when buying DLC which I can use for IRL table play, that's much more in my comfort zone. At $65 I can see myself eventually purchasing the GM Guide and Bestiary, provided their pricing is the same or close to the Player Core.

That would make the whole set come under $200 CDN, which just seems more affordable and comfortable to purchase.

 

[1QD]

I have set pricing for my book at 65$ once it comes to print and that is everything you need in 1 book. I agree that a book is an investment. I can spend 60$ at a movie theatre or at a restaurant for 1 nights worth of entertainment. Easy. I bought the magic encyclipedia for 60$ book back in the 90's.

 

[1QD]

I’ve moved to PDFs since a handfull of years, besides some core books for systems I really like. Part of the reason is shelf space, but price is a factor too - I would never pay current paper book prices just to check out a system like I did a decade ago.

As a soon to be publisher I can agree . There is a tonne of appeal to PDF's. After careful research I have decided to exchange the threat of piracy, for customer convieinece. Shipping is a nightmare. Printing eats up more than 50% and then my partner still gets 45%. I make a higher amount than most in my position due to careful planning. I also would advise if you plan on being anything more than a hobbiest, retain your PDF rights. DO NOT give them away or you are sunk.

 

[The Soloist]

I just spent $200 Canadian on the three Shadow of the Weird Wizard books. So about $65 Canadian per book.

As I've said before. After I buy a game it must be played. Every hour of play it is worth $25 in entertainment value to me. After 8-hours of play, I've reimbursed myself in entertainment value for a $200 RPG. After that I either keep it or I sell it on the used market.

There are too many good RPGs coming out and the price has gone up. Starting 2026, I will buy less RPG books. I'll only buy books for the RPGs I already own, but only if they get good reviews.

 

[TiQuinn]

As I've said before. After I buy a game it must be played. Every hour of play it is worth $25 in entertainment value to me. After 8-hours of play, I've reimbursed myself in entertainment value for a $200 RPG. After that I either keep it or I sell it on the used market.

Yeah, that's my stance too. I will buy a game when I know I have a very reasonable chance of playing it in the near future, or unless it's at such a deal of a price (like a HumbleBundle) that it's an easy pickup for me. But once I've reached that criteria, then a few hundred dollars is not exorbitant because I know how much enjoyment I'll get out of it. And I've sold many TTRPGs as well on the secondary market, and they do keep their value pretty well. (Heck, some even went up.)

 

[Scribe]

For physical product, my limit is pretty high. Way higher than the typical retail of an RPG book.

 

[1QD]

Yeah, that's my stance too. I will buy a game when I know I have a very reasonable chance of playing it in the near future, or unless it's at such a deal of a price (like a HumbleBundle) that it's an easy pickup for me. But once I've reached that criteria, then a few hundred dollars is not exorbitant because I know how much enjoyment I'll get out of it. And I've sold many TTRPGs as well on the secondary market, and they do keep their value pretty well. (Heck, some even went up.)

Hey quick question.... Let's say you bought a book, and then got to play online with the creator and some of his players. Would you find that appealing?

 

[TiQuinn]

Hey quick question.... Let's say you bought a book, and then got to play online with the creator and some of his players. Would you find that appealing?

I'm not going to buy your book.

 

[Cadence]

I'm not claiming it is consistent or makes sense, but...

I will easily drop $100 (USD) for a single physical book that I want sitting on my shelf even if I won't use it
I will be fine paying $50 for a physical book that I want to use in a game
I will easily drop $15 for a .pdf of something that piques my interest
I will probably not spend anything close to $50 for a physical book for a new system someone wants to run until I know the campaign will last

Something I view as a collectible
is > something I will run
is > something I will use as a player or something I want to mine for ideas
is > something I just want to check out

Physical >> .pdf

OGL or CC-BY > other license or no license

Interaction: The OGL or CC-BY >> anything else for a game I just want to check out
and >>>> for a game I want to mine for ideas.

Note1: I almost certainly want the .pdf for a game I just want to check out or mine for ideas

Note2: I do not have infinite bookshelf space