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<blockquote data-quote="Steel_Wind" data-source="post: 6366237" data-attributes="member: 20741"><p>I must dissent from this view. If a customer is not in possession of that information, I expect that WotC is not in possession of all those "facts" either.</p><p></p><p>Still, for whatever reason(s), they have decided to not do it. We might fairly observe that:</p><p></p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Paizo sells .PDFs of their hardcovers for $9.99</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Paizo otherwise bundles PDFs for all subscription products with a subscription; and</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Paizo makes all of their core rules and rules expansions available online via the PRD.</li> </ul><p></p><p></p><p>Despite these heretical practices, Paizo seems to be selling a lot of print product -- and PDFs, too.</p><p></p><p>I think the major differences at play here are:</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Different corporate cultures between WotC and Paizo;</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Different relations with their retailers.</li> </ul><p></p><p></p><p>In this regard, there are more than a few hobby games retailers which increasingly view Paizo not as a partner but as a direct competitor. Those retailers do not like not being able to sell Paizo PDFs to their customers and very much resent that perk that Paizo provides gamers who buy directly from Paizo. The business relationship retailers have with Paizo has evolved over time, but I think it is fair that what was not always seen as a big deal is becoming an increasingly sore point with many retailers as time has marched on and product lines have expanded. </p><p></p><p>At the same time, WotC's principal business is selling <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> and FNM's in store OP program. That is the core of their business and beside that weighty entry on the balance sheet, every RPG $$ earned in the marketplace from every company, combined, is a mere footnote. </p><p></p><p>For WotC to re-antagonize their retailers by selling directly to their customers is something that WotC simply does not want to do -- and was a practice for which they were harshly criticized as part of 4E's online subscriptions. WotC "gets it" I think.</p><p></p><p>That doesn't mean that this is convenient for D&D players or for the D&D brand manager. But it may well mean that it is preferable for WotC's principal business, CCGs, which is obscenely profitable. </p><p></p><p>So there are other factors in play here other than the piracy issue. That probably is a significant factor, but it is not the only one. </p><p></p><p>Which leaves us with Captain Obvious: <em>if you want a .PDF, my guess is you will have one pretty fast anyway. </em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Steel_Wind, post: 6366237, member: 20741"] I must dissent from this view. If a customer is not in possession of that information, I expect that WotC is not in possession of all those "facts" either. Still, for whatever reason(s), they have decided to not do it. We might fairly observe that: [LIST] [*]Paizo sells .PDFs of their hardcovers for $9.99 [*]Paizo otherwise bundles PDFs for all subscription products with a subscription; and [*]Paizo makes all of their core rules and rules expansions available online via the PRD. [/LIST] Despite these heretical practices, Paizo seems to be selling a lot of print product -- and PDFs, too. I think the major differences at play here are: [LIST] [*]Different corporate cultures between WotC and Paizo; [*] Different relations with their retailers. [/LIST] In this regard, there are more than a few hobby games retailers which increasingly view Paizo not as a partner but as a direct competitor. Those retailers do not like not being able to sell Paizo PDFs to their customers and very much resent that perk that Paizo provides gamers who buy directly from Paizo. The business relationship retailers have with Paizo has evolved over time, but I think it is fair that what was not always seen as a big deal is becoming an increasingly sore point with many retailers as time has marched on and product lines have expanded. At the same time, WotC's principal business is selling [I]Magic: The Gathering[/I] and FNM's in store OP program. That is the core of their business and beside that weighty entry on the balance sheet, every RPG $$ earned in the marketplace from every company, combined, is a mere footnote. For WotC to re-antagonize their retailers by selling directly to their customers is something that WotC simply does not want to do -- and was a practice for which they were harshly criticized as part of 4E's online subscriptions. WotC "gets it" I think. That doesn't mean that this is convenient for D&D players or for the D&D brand manager. But it may well mean that it is preferable for WotC's principal business, CCGs, which is obscenely profitable. So there are other factors in play here other than the piracy issue. That probably is a significant factor, but it is not the only one. Which leaves us with Captain Obvious: [I]if you want a .PDF, my guess is you will have one pretty fast anyway. [/I] [/QUOTE]
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