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WOTC doing away with free online content?
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<blockquote data-quote="ZSutherland" data-source="post: 3114815" data-attributes="member: 7638"><p>I don't really think it's quite the assumption that you think it is. Consider it in accounting terms. Writers of free web-content, web-enhancements, etc. are still paid by WotC. Those are still expenses that are deducted from sales to arrive at net income. Net income, in turn, is used in a hefty number of accounting ratios that are used (along with many other tools, including net income alone) to shape the strategy of investors. Investment is what allows the company financial capital to grow, create new product lines, broaden market appeal to attract new gamers, and all the other activities that we want and need WotC to engage in to remain a successful company that keeps our game going. The only way to offset the expense (writer pay, web-hosting costs, etc) is to tack it onto book costs. As consumers, we're willing to pay a bit extra for the books because we know we'll get on-going product support on their web-site.</p><p></p><p>If they start charging for that on-going service - generating revenue for value that was once covered by the purchase price of books sold - then there are only two ways to not pay for it twice. One, the cost of WotC books drops proportional to the value reduced. Possible, but doubtful since changing a pricing set-up that's working is a risky proposition. Two, don't subscribe to their website to get your formerly free support. Then you're just paying the same for reduced value, so you still get shafted a bit, but not as badly.</p><p></p><p>Now, I'm not saying the sky is falling or claiming WotC shouldn't include pay content on their site. Some of the features on the OP's list look like new content that would potentially be worth paying for, especially some of the DM tools. However, losing access to content which we are used to getting for "free" and which in reality we've already paid for with higher book prices, seems like a pretty underhanded thing to do. It's also a risky business move in that people who do subscribe (unless you have a money tree growing in your yard) will likely reduce monthly purchases of hard product (like books and minis). That's their bread and butter. The revenue may off-set, but book stores don't stock product that doesn't move, which will make it harder to find niche products like published adventures and other, non-necessary resources. It will also put a serious pinch on 3rd party publishers (those few who still actively put out D&D material) since they are most likely to bear the brunt of reduced store-front spending by consumers. Finally, it will drive consumers to Amazon.com and other on-line retailers to get those harder-to-find products that physical store-fronts can't afford to stock. That reduces the visibility of the product and the hobby, which I don't think any of us want.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ZSutherland, post: 3114815, member: 7638"] I don't really think it's quite the assumption that you think it is. Consider it in accounting terms. Writers of free web-content, web-enhancements, etc. are still paid by WotC. Those are still expenses that are deducted from sales to arrive at net income. Net income, in turn, is used in a hefty number of accounting ratios that are used (along with many other tools, including net income alone) to shape the strategy of investors. Investment is what allows the company financial capital to grow, create new product lines, broaden market appeal to attract new gamers, and all the other activities that we want and need WotC to engage in to remain a successful company that keeps our game going. The only way to offset the expense (writer pay, web-hosting costs, etc) is to tack it onto book costs. As consumers, we're willing to pay a bit extra for the books because we know we'll get on-going product support on their web-site. If they start charging for that on-going service - generating revenue for value that was once covered by the purchase price of books sold - then there are only two ways to not pay for it twice. One, the cost of WotC books drops proportional to the value reduced. Possible, but doubtful since changing a pricing set-up that's working is a risky proposition. Two, don't subscribe to their website to get your formerly free support. Then you're just paying the same for reduced value, so you still get shafted a bit, but not as badly. Now, I'm not saying the sky is falling or claiming WotC shouldn't include pay content on their site. Some of the features on the OP's list look like new content that would potentially be worth paying for, especially some of the DM tools. However, losing access to content which we are used to getting for "free" and which in reality we've already paid for with higher book prices, seems like a pretty underhanded thing to do. It's also a risky business move in that people who do subscribe (unless you have a money tree growing in your yard) will likely reduce monthly purchases of hard product (like books and minis). That's their bread and butter. The revenue may off-set, but book stores don't stock product that doesn't move, which will make it harder to find niche products like published adventures and other, non-necessary resources. It will also put a serious pinch on 3rd party publishers (those few who still actively put out D&D material) since they are most likely to bear the brunt of reduced store-front spending by consumers. Finally, it will drive consumers to Amazon.com and other on-line retailers to get those harder-to-find products that physical store-fronts can't afford to stock. That reduces the visibility of the product and the hobby, which I don't think any of us want. [/QUOTE]
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