WOTC doing away with free online content?

[Kunimatyu]

Without the previews/excerpts(esp the minis ones) and the Design and Development columns, I'd stop going to the site altogether. Nor would I pay for previews(they're supposed to get me excited about products I -will- pay for) and unless it was some massively updated thing, I doubt I'd pay for the Design column either.

Now, the D&D University thing sounds like a legit opportunity -- pay Wotc $10, and they teach you the basics of DMing.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

You can indirectly, if the free content is driving sales of other products.

The entire purpose of the RPGA as we know it today. Free membership with free content that is intended to drives sales of numerous expansion hardcover books... IMO the other purposes are minor compared this from WotC's perspective.

 

[ZSutherland]

We're also already paying for "free" content. As MarkCMG pointed out, "loss leaders" is a marketing strategy that drives sales. You are more confident in the validity of a purchase if you know that you will receive on-going support for that product; it's value-added. That enducement to purchase (and subsequent cost, since no one writes for WotC for free) is accounted for as part of projected sales, which affects pricing strategy. So, WotC products cost, at least partially, as much as they do because we know there's more value in the product than what is printed on the pages between the bindings. A move away from "loss leader" strategy reduces product value without reducing product price. In essence, they want you to pay for it twice. :\

As for D&D University teaching you the basics of DMing, I'm pretty sure I already paid for that when I bought the DMG.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Seems consistent with Wizards' other actions lately. They seem dead set on alienating the fanbase. First, it was only the Miniatures section, but they seem to have breadened their focus. It starts with them screwing online sellers (other than Amazon), and now they're starting to wonder whether they can make us pay for their ads.

 

[blargney the second]

I read the D&D homepage every day because there's always new content. I like what they put up there, and it leads me to purchase their products.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

A move away from "loss leader" strategy reduces product value without reducing product price. In essence, they want you to pay for it twice. :\

This assumes there is a finite amount of material WotC produces for free, plus that paying for a service you won't get more and/or better. That's a hell of an assumption.

 

[boerngrim]

I completed the survey also. The idea of having a pay content section of the wizards site, or a seperate pay site leaves me with mixed emotions. I like the sound of some of the content they hint at, but I too think it will be the end of the free enhancements, articles and the like. Why give it away for free if someone will pay for it?
Would this content add significant value say compared to Dragon and Dungeon magazines? I already subscribe to both of those. Why should I shell out even more of my money?
Charging DM's for access to online training and tools seems a bit dubious. After all, if they want to keep the game and the product going they need to encourage more DM's to pick up the dice, and not alienate those who are unable or unwilling to pay for the D&D U stamp of approval.
I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I'd pay as much for this online content as I would for a Dragon or Dungeon subscription. I have month-to-month subscriptions, and the mags cost about $5 each that way. While it seems there is more content listed above than is in the mags, the mags are actual paper magazines, which is a big plus to me.

 

[Dire Bare]

Now I am open minded and tend to let companies do thier thing and pay money like a good little addict But this strikes me as crossing a line. Now this sounds "Really Niffty®" with some of the things mentioned, but it also seems this encompasses a large ammount of the currently free content on the wizards website becoming pay-only. That would make me a sad bear.

What are others thoughts on this?

Once again, this appears to be another example of "the sky is falling" on the internets. If you read the entire list of possible content, you'll find a TON of stuff not available free or otherwise right now. Yes, some of what is described does appear very similar to what is now available for free now on wizards.com, but I fail to see why so many are getting up in arms already about this.

No where in the survey were we given any language insinuating free content would go away or be reduced on wizards.com. It might happen, it might not. We just don't know yet.

And of course, the whole point of this survey is not to announce WotC's new plans, but to gauge interest in a possible new service. If this service comes to fruition, it could be exactly what is listed above, or it could be very different . . . partly based on our responses to the survey.

The last part of the survey allowed you to type in freeform any comments you had. While I abolutely LOVE the idea presented in this survey, my answer was along the lines of "This sounds awesome, as long as it does not detract from Dragon Magazine, Dungeon Magazine, and the current practice of free content on wizards.com."

If a lot of level-headed folks did the same, we just might get this incredibly new cool service without reducing or eliminating free content and without stepping on Paizo's toes with the magazines.

Overall, all we can do is wait and see . . . and rampantly speculate disaster!

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Why give it away for free if someone will pay for it?

Because while some people will pay for it, others won't, and not only that, they'll stop paying for the stuff they bought before, like rulebooks. Is getting more money from some people worth losing other customers?