Your WotC spending: More on Minis or Books?

[Eye Tyrant]

Knock, knock.

Who's there?

DaveMage.

DaveMage's not here!

No, I'm DaveMage...

DaveMage's not here!!

No man! I'm DaveMage!

Well, you get it...

Dave! What's up? Where's my freakin' store?! I gotta go to BAM & Mega RichKids now?!

 

[DaveMage]

I got into the minis to support my D&D game. I am not interested in the skirmish game in the slightest.

What Monte brings up is my concern (and why I started this thread). On the one hand, maybe the great sales of the minis are delaying the need for a new edition of D&D (which is perfectly fine with me), but on the other hand, if the minis have become the driving force, and the book designers/authors are affected, does this make for a better or worse product? Will there no longer be a need for as many books?

This doesn't seem to be a problem in the short term as it seems WotC is realeasing more D&D books this year than any year since they've had the brand (I don't have the actual figures for each year, so if anyone does, please post). Also, now WotC is branching off into environment books and race books. I think they produce great products, so I'm looking forward to them, but I hope that with the increase of products that sales of each line don't disappoint the accountants...


Eye Tyrant: Go to Florida Bookstore Part II on 34th street! 10% off RPGs!

 

[Aristotle]

That isn't wuite what I got out of the initial question, but to answer that. I don't spend any less on books than I did before (in fact if anything I get more books now because I am more excited about the game). I simply spend more money on the hobby now that I buy minis too.

I think most of the people I know are the same way. They aren't really spending less money on books. Just spending more money on the game.

 

[mikey6990]

Monte,

Thanks for the quick, concise reply. You said pretty much what I figured was happening. I don't know what it all will mean for the future of D&D, but I think we will definately see the rules steered toward compatibility and promotion with the miniatures line. It is too early for me to even attempt to decipher where it could end up. This industry has defied a lot of 'conventional wisdom' several times.

Anyway, thanks for the reply. It is really nice to have a hobby where the 'heavy hitters' interact with the consumers in such an open, friendly manner. Just want to say it is appreciated, as it is with all the industry folks out there who reply. I don't post much, but do appreciate the responses.


Mike

 

[MerricB]

I don't even think you can say the miniatures will be "good" or "bad" for the RPG; there have always been many influences on the game, and rarely have most of them been benign.

When I start seeing polls that say 80%-90% of people use miniatures or counters with their D&D games, regardless of edition, it really makes me consider again the normal form of D&D. I seem to be in the minority with my games which have very rarely used miniatures at all!

Cheers!

 

[Mouseferatu]

I don't even think you can say the miniatures will be "good" or "bad" for the RPG; there have always been many influences on the game, and rarely have most of them been benign.

When I start seeing polls that say 80%-90% of people use miniatures or counters with their D&D games, regardless of edition, it really makes me consider again the normal form of D&D. I seem to be in the minority with my games which have very rarely used miniatures at all!

Cheers!

I'm right there with you, Merric. Those statistics took me by surprise as well. Until 3E, not only had I never used miniatures, I didn't know anybody who did use them. Now, I know that my own anecdotal experience doesn't mean much, since it's a limited sample size. But still, you'd think--if we're dealing with numbers like 80-90%--that I'd have run into some of them.

 

[MerricB]

I'm right there with you, Merric. Those statistics took me by surprise as well. Until 3E, not only had I never used miniatures, I didn't know anybody who did use them. Now, I know that my own anecdotal experience doesn't mean much, since it's a limited sample size. But still, you'd think--if we're dealing with numbers like 80-90%--that I'd have run into some of them.

I know, I know.

Those figures are what I've gotten from polls started on ENworld and Dragonsfoot. I think we mostly qualify as "hardcore gamers".

How it relates to the rest of gamerdom, I don't know.

I do think that the D&D Miniatures line will get a whole lot more people into using miniatures, though - and the D&D Basic set likewise.

Cheers!

 

[Henry]

I've definitely spent more on Books than Minis, and as the price of minis keep going up, this will likely continue.

 

[Eosin the Red]

I have not fallen to the minis craze though I like good minis.

 

[diaglo]

i have thousands of minis.... from the early days til today.

i have hundreds of books


i have even more dice than books and minis combined.

i would say my spending is... okay.