Will you be buying the 'Wizards Presents' previews?

[drothgery]

I voted yes to both.

There ought to be something interesting in the preview books, and it's not like a pair of $20 books is going to have any kind of real impact on my finances... And, well, it's possible for 4e to be something I wouldn't like without the previews being wildly misleading, but it'd be rather difficult.

 

[tlantl]

Originally Posted by WotC_Miko
What does "value" mean to you?

If you mean, "Can I use them as reference books when I'm playing D&D at the table?" the answer is no, because that was never their intent in the first place.

They're extensive first looks, first and foremost, but the essays written for these books are not going to be regurgitated in later products...so there might be world-building details that don't appear elsewhere, or only in shorter form. I can already think of a few mechanical details that have already changed from when I turned it over to typesetting, which will provide further insight into the process. Certainly the designer commentary is unique.

Value is relative. I bought the Absolute (super-deluxe) edition of Darwin Cooke's New Frontier comic book not because I expected more of the actual comic, but because for me, uber-comic geek that I am, the sketches and commentary and details about the process of making the comic are just as much a part of the reading experience. Would I be missing anything from the story without them? Maybe not. But those things add a huge amount of value to me.

We're hoping that these books are the same for you

I have no use for something like this. The two books are likely to cost $40.00 US and as they will be virtually useless for any real purpose they will remain on the store shelves. Others will have different feelings about them and rightly so.
I just cant see wasting my money.

 

[green slime]

No and no. If I play in a 4e game, I'll be using the 4e SRD. This company has squeezed its last dollar from this buffoon.

 

[Ruavel]

voted Yes & Yes, but I'm mostly referring my group as a whole. We don't usually have a copy of the PHB each, so it possible that the Race & Class preview could be a useful reference at the table... maybe.

Of course, being in Australia, I'll get a chance to hear everyones' moaning of praising of these products before they hit our shores so I should be able to judge whether or not they'll be worthwhile then... I hope.

edit: so having read other peoples' posts I'm guessing they won't be much use, so I'd happily change my vote to "No, but I will buy 4E"...

then again, as design student, I may buy for some insight into their processes. Who knows...

 

[ivocaliban]

No and no. If I play in a 4e game, I'll be using the 4e SRD. This company has squeezed its last dollar from this buffoon.

*cheers wildly and returns to grumping*

 

[CharlesRyan]

Man, I ain't paying for advertising.

If you look at these as a big advertisement that you pay for, you're absolutely right to avoid them. But I don't think that's really what they are.

The development of 3rd edition and Eberron both generated hundreds of pieces of concept artwork that never saw (or were ever intended for) publication. The same is true, I'm sure, for 4E (we've seen a few bits and bobs). I think it's brilliant that they're opening that up to us, and access to that alone is worth the price of admission to me.

I expect the writing to include candid "behind the curtain" type stuff about why they went in the directions they did; the sort of thing that's normally only available to a few score attendees of Gen Con designer panels. I welcome the chance to get a glimpse into the designers' intent and see what drove their philosophy.

Most importantly, as a D&D player, I like to go into the game shop every month or so and pick up something that will inspire my gaming life. Usually, that's a D&D supplement, but frankly, I don't really want another 3.5 book at this point, now that my 3E gaming is winding down toward its conclusion. What do I want? Something that will inspire my thinking about the game I'll be playing next Spring. These books sure look like they'll fit the bill.

So YMMV, but I don't look at these as "advertisements" at all. I think they'll be filled with content that's every bit as good a value as most of my D&D purchases--maybe more than some!

 

[wedgeski]

The previews were at no extra cost. I'd have had that magazine with or without previews.

And now you could potentially switch some of the money that you're no longer spending on the magazine over to the previews?

But hey, if you'd like to pay for the preview - more power to you!

Indeed!

 

[DaveMage]

And now you could potentially switch some of the money that you're no longer spending on the magazine over to the previews?

Nope - I switched it to Pathfinder - something I can actually use at the game table.

 

[Nikosandros]

Buying a preview? Thats just nuts.

Are you guys/gals that into WotC that now they can get you to pay for a preview of what might or might not make it into 4E?

Thats like paying for Nvidia Beta Drivers or a demo of an upcoming game or a travel brochure for that matter.
WotC should be making these for free, so that we can decide if we like whats possibly coming in 4E.

The books won't contain a beta of the rules. They'll contain essays on rules design. Kind of like watching a back stage or the making of a movie... not for everyone certainly, but very different from paying for a beta of the rules.

 

[Mercule]

I voted "No", but I reserve the right to change.

I can't imagine what would be in them that would really interest me. I'll thumb through them, but if it's concept art and some designer thoughts on 4E without any significant context of 4E rules, no way.

On the other hand, if it's a pretty deep discussion on designing classes and races that balance well without forsaking flavor and freedom of concept, and/or other nitty-gritty essays, I'm probably in.

Edit: When I say "deep" and "nitty-gritty", I really mean it. If it's aimed at the neophyte gamer, I'll pass. I've got almost 30 years of (mainly gming) gaming under my belt and have been poking at rules and balance issues for most of that time. I don't want "Game Design Theory 101". I want the 300 or 400 level courses.