Would you Swap 3.5e for Exalted?

[Asmor]

Sure given the right circumstances.

I will happily volunteer for any pilot program where you consider giving out the 4th edition boxed set, or any other product for that matter.

All due respect to "The Rouse," (sorry, I've just not had a chance yet to use that nickname and it sounds so fun to say [and it is!]) I think this wouldn't work quite so well if you didn't require people to give up something. It serves two big benefits.

First, it provides a barrier of entry. If they just, say, gave away 2500 copies to the first person to email a particular address, then there'd be nothing to stop anyone from emailing them and getting a copy with no intention of ever even looking at the book. By requiring them to turn in their PHB, it ensures that everyone who gets one of the free copies is at least marginally interested in it. It would suck to really want Exalted and not get a free copy because some jackaninny sent away for a free copy just for kicks.

Second, it provides a sense of investment. One of the reasons I've heard for Linux and other FOSS (free open source software) failing to catch on is the fact that it's free. As a result, people don't think it has much value, or something. I also vaguely remember some software or something which the maker would have given away, but he claimed that by charging a nominal fee it invested people in it. Not being a psychologist, I can't really speak to how true this theory is, and not being an economist I can't speak for how wise it is, but there ya go. Someone who's given up their (presumably) beloved PHB to get this weird Exalted book is going to have a desire to read it if for no other reason than the fact that they've invested in it.

 

[Scott_Rouse]

I will happily volunteer for any pilot program where you consider giving out the 4th edition boxed set, or any other product for that matter.

All due respect to "The Rouse," (sorry, I've just not had a chance yet to use that nickname and it sounds so fun to say [and it is!]) I think this wouldn't work quite so well if you didn't require people to give up something. It serves two big benefits.

First, it provides a barrier of entry. If they just, say, gave away 2500 copies to the first person to email a particular address, then there'd be nothing to stop anyone from emailing them and getting a copy with no intention of ever even looking at the book. By requiring them to turn in their PHB, it ensures that everyone who gets one of the free copies is at least marginally interested in it. It would suck to really want Exalted and not get a free copy because some jackaninny sent away for a free copy just for kicks.

Second, it provides a sense of investment. One of the reasons I've heard for Linux and other FOSS (free open source software) failing to catch on is the fact that it's free. As a result, people don't think it has much value, or something. I also vaguely remember some software or something which the maker would have given away, but he claimed that by charging a nominal fee it invested people in it. Not being a psychologist, I can't really speak to how true this theory is, and not being an economist I can't speak for how wise it is, but there ya go. Someone who's given up their (presumably) beloved PHB to get this weird Exalted book is going to have a desire to read it if for no other reason than the fact that they've invested in it.

So then charge some nominal amount to weed out the jackaninnys, $5 for example. On a $40 dollar book seems like a sweet deal to me and doesn't require me to shred a book I paid $30 for and still has use to me.
a

 

[Turjan]

So then charge some nominal amount to weed out the jackaninnys, $5 for example. On a $40 dollar book seems like a sweet deal to me and doesn't require me to shred a book I paid $30 for and still has use to me.

As I said, the promotion itself is a game. People don't really value free stuff that much. I don't mean some additional freebies to something you bought - you have already expressed your interest by buying the product in the first place. But giving out whole core books for free without making sure that there's actual interest doesn't make sense. Even $5 look somewhat suspicious and make you look desperate.

Which brings me to this promotional game. If you want to be malicious, you can compare it to a contract with the devil: Will you give me your soul for that treasure? It's the treat sitting on the counter, calling you. It's asking you for a decision for what you value more: the old thing you already have, or the new and shiny thing that you know nothing about.

As I said, I want to keep my old book, so that's my decision. But I don't feel outraged by the offer. I like games, especially when they ask for interesting decisions .

 

[frankthedm]

Hey, If WOTC is offering some 4E material for The Exalted 2E corebook, I'll be all in on that!

 

[JoeGKushner]

So then charge some nominal amount to weed out the jackaninnys, $5 for example. On a $40 dollar book seems like a sweet deal to me and doesn't require me to shred a book I paid $30 for and still has use to me.
a

So will WoTC be doing this?

 

[frankthedm]

The give away is a pretty smart one.

>Get rid of some competition.
>Get their book out there.
>Have the retailer do the work and pay the shipping, in exchange, the retailer gets a decent chance of selling stagnant Exalted splatbookage.

 

[Scott_Rouse]

So will WoTC be doing this?

No, not to sound smug but we don't need to.

 

[Nifft]

No, not to sound smug but we don't need to.

It'd be cool if you did, and then donated the product to schools / soldiers / whatever, and then got a fat tax write off for the full cover price of the books.

Cheers, -- N

 

[hong]

The no.2 guy in the business doing this to the no.1 guy in the business is cheeky. The no.1 guy doing it to the no.2 guy would smack of bullying.

 

[GammaPaladin]

I dunno. I've never had a chance to look over 2E exalted. I loved 1E, but I've heard they did away with my beloved dice pools...

Still, if they'd accept my 3.0 PHB...