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<blockquote data-quote="JohnRTroy" data-source="post: 4758685" data-attributes="member: 2732">Subscriptions services can and do make sense regarding some goods.&nbsp; When you think about it, a flat fee to access everything (with the risk it could go away) might be better than a permanent investment.For instance, O'Reilly Media offers Safari subscription for their vast library, and in many cases, music subscription services might be better for some than trying to buy individual CDs.This might not work for RPGs, since the hobby is a collectors.&nbsp; (It makes more sense for Safari because computer knowledge changes all the time and I have doubts a 20 year old book on an edition of an older program or language no longer in active use makes much sense.)&nbsp;&nbsp; But some people may just want to read and then walk away--in today's day and age, people don't always want to resell--why do you see so many products with &quot;free&quot; signs left on the curb.&nbsp; I could see this having some value.Depends on how much your making.&nbsp; Some business may go under--sometimes it's not worth the fight.&nbsp; That's for the company to decide.&nbsp; My Dad had a business, but he ended up going back to work for other people--reason, accounts receivables--to hard to get people to pay you what they owe.&nbsp; I have a feeling if piracy is too rampant, some companies will go out of business or evolve into something where piracy won't be as much of an issue.T-Shirt revenue is widely bantered on by the people complaining about the music industry &quot;whining&quot; about piracy.&nbsp; T-Shirt sales are not that lucrative.&nbsp; And merchandising is an ancillary market compared to the primary.&nbsp; I want to buy books and supplements, not T-Shirts, stickers, logos, etc.&nbsp; The ancillary merchandise pales compared to what I want.&nbsp; Which is why they've also made the radical changes they did.&nbsp; (I don't particularly like those changes, but I understand them) Brand Identity is the only way for a strong product to stay strong.&nbsp; The novels, original creations, etc., are important.&nbsp; D&amp;D is not meant to be &quot;Generic Fantasy RPG&quot;.&nbsp; Public domain stuff is only part of the process.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="JohnRTroy, post: 4758685, member: 2732"] Subscriptions services can and do make sense regarding some goods. When you think about it, a flat fee to access everything (with the risk it could go away) might be better than a permanent investment. For instance, O'Reilly Media offers Safari subscription for their vast library, and in many cases, music subscription services might be better for some than trying to buy individual CDs. This might not work for RPGs, since the hobby is a collectors. (It makes more sense for Safari because computer knowledge changes all the time and I have doubts a 20 year old book on an edition of an older program or language no longer in active use makes much sense.) But some people may just want to read and then walk away--in today's day and age, people don't always want to resell--why do you see so many products with "free" signs left on the curb. I could see this having some value. Depends on how much your making. Some business may go under--sometimes it's not worth the fight. That's for the company to decide. My Dad had a business, but he ended up going back to work for other people--reason, accounts receivables--to hard to get people to pay you what they owe. I have a feeling if piracy is too rampant, some companies will go out of business or evolve into something where piracy won't be as much of an issue. T-Shirt revenue is widely bantered on by the people complaining about the music industry "whining" about piracy. T-Shirt sales are not that lucrative. And merchandising is an ancillary market compared to the primary. I want to buy books and supplements, not T-Shirts, stickers, logos, etc. The ancillary merchandise pales compared to what I want. Which is why they've also made the radical changes they did. (I don't particularly like those changes, but I understand them) Brand Identity is the only way for a strong product to stay strong. The novels, original creations, etc., are important. D&D is not meant to be "Generic Fantasy RPG". Public domain stuff is only part of the process. [/QUOTE]

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