WotC PDF??? So Morrus Tweeted this

[Herobizkit]

I had no idea that The Lost City was connected to the Keep on the Borderlands. I want to update these (B1-4) to current gaming standards and give them a run.

 

[M.L. Martin]

Hmm, I wonder if those of us who bought the old versions will have access to the new ones or will have to rebuy them. Urgh, the latter's not a particularlly pleasing thought - I bought a bunch of them...

I've been able to 'backdoor' into the WotC section of the DriveThru site thanks to still having the Book of Challenges in my library, and can take a look at the current stats for the items on the bestseller list, although none of them are available. Points of information:

--All items appear to be using the original upload date--anywhere from 1/1/2001 for T1-4 to 9/16/2008 for the Adventurer's Vault--but have 'last updated' dates of January 15, 2013. Given that, I expect previous purchases will be made available once again.
--File size is varying. The largest item is the 1E Fiend Folio at 38 Megs, followed by the big 3.5 books--ELH, XPsiH, PH2--and T1-4 at about 36 Megs each. The two 1E products are scanned images, but the 3E and 4E items are original electronic files--no surprise there. (I was a little confused by Unearthed Arcana, but that appears to be the 3E version.)

 

[Torg Smith]

My updated files page at DriveThruRPG is no longer showing the DnD files. It was showing some DnD files with the 1/15/2013 update date. I wonder if they are scrambling to get ready for a Monday or Tuesday release. I am a hoping!!! XD

 

[M.L. Martin]

My updated files page at DriveThruRPG is no longer showing the DnD files. It was showing some DnD files with the 1/15/2013 update date. I wonder if they are scrambling to get ready for a Monday or Tuesday release. I am a hoping!!! XD

I'm seeing changes already today--prices changing (both upwards and downwards, but always below print cover price), clearer edition labelling. I think we may be good to go in a few days.

 

[Jester David]

I'm seeing changes already today--prices changing (both upwards and downwards, but always below print cover price), clearer edition labelling. I think we may be good to go in a few days.

What does the price seem to be for a PDF of a big hardcover book?

 

[M.L. Martin]

What does the price seem to be for a PDF of a big hardcover book?

It's varying based on edition. Price seems to be running at around 60% of cover for 4E items, 50% for 3.5 items, and 40% for 3E items. The only 1E items I can see--the Fiend Folio and T1-4--are a flat $10.

EDIT: U1 is now on the listing (the Adventurer's Vault has disappeared for some reason) and is at $5.

 

[mudbunny]

My updated files page at DriveThruRPG is no longer showing the DnD files. It was showing some DnD files with the 1/15/2013 update date. I wonder if they are scrambling to get ready for a Monday or Tuesday release. I am a hoping!!! XD

Given a choice, WotC tends to announce things in conjunction with conventions.

Winter Fantasy is coming up soon.

If there is information to be released about pdfs, and I have no idea either way...my usual contacts are being unsurprisingly unhelpful... would look for information around then.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

I really hope the prices get lower than that. I'm apparently a cheapskate, but I really can't see paying more than 25% of the hardcover price for an electronic book. And I really want some of those electronic books.

 

[Mark CMG]

I really hope the prices get lower than that. I'm apparently a cheapskate, but I really can't see paying more than 25% of the hardcover price for an electronic book. And I really want some of those electronic books.

I think 50% tends to be the general level of acceptance. Most folks realize that a lot more goes into the production than the actual printing despite how much stock (ahem) is put in the physical entity over the actual content.

 

[Iosue]

The site is up and running! B1 is free all this week! I just downloaded it and it looks pretty decent!