So D&D Next is hitting the online retailers. The releases are July for the Basic and August for the core books. The phb is $50.00. That sounds like a lot of money, and, in a way it is. However, having been involved in the business for a time now, that price point does not sound at all outrageous - however much it may turn some potential customers away. Ohh, and that is just the phb. So a min of $150.00 for the three core books.
Why is it not too high?
Think of the hours of return one gets out of the books. Let's say one purchases the books for $150.00 and plays 1 game a week at 4 hours a game for six months and a half months. Let's say that 100 hours of gaming. The price per hour for the books is $1.50 an hour for entertainment. Compare that to a movie. Now lets say we stretch that to a year with 200 hours of gaming. $0.75 an hour.
Not a bad return on the money for entertainment.
The work that goes into making an rpg is staggering. From design, writing, layout, testing, art, distribution,, marketing etc, it’s a lot of work that has to equate to a margin of profit to cover all those hours of work. There is a lot of money and time being invested.
So, though sticker shock may set in when looking at some rpg products, look at the return.
Modules, also seem sorta pricey. But think of this. One person buys a mod for $10.00. Plays with 5 people for 4 hours. That's 20 hours of fun for $10.00 or $0.50 an hour per person. Not bad. Not bad at all. Even worth a risk at that point.
Davis
Why is it not too high?
Think of the hours of return one gets out of the books. Let's say one purchases the books for $150.00 and plays 1 game a week at 4 hours a game for six months and a half months. Let's say that 100 hours of gaming. The price per hour for the books is $1.50 an hour for entertainment. Compare that to a movie. Now lets say we stretch that to a year with 200 hours of gaming. $0.75 an hour.
Not a bad return on the money for entertainment.
The work that goes into making an rpg is staggering. From design, writing, layout, testing, art, distribution,, marketing etc, it’s a lot of work that has to equate to a margin of profit to cover all those hours of work. There is a lot of money and time being invested.
So, though sticker shock may set in when looking at some rpg products, look at the return.
Modules, also seem sorta pricey. But think of this. One person buys a mod for $10.00. Plays with 5 people for 4 hours. That's 20 hours of fun for $10.00 or $0.50 an hour per person. Not bad. Not bad at all. Even worth a risk at that point.
Davis
5 comments:
No argument on the overall pricing, but considering that D&D is on what, it's 4th rules change since 2000? THAT becomes pricey. In the meantime you guys have kept your core books in the $20 or so dollar range since 2004 with no need to buy new books for "updates". It's noticed and appreciated.
Yeah, its the numder of changes since 2000. So if you bought 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and are planning on 5.0. That is about 600.00. Spread out over the years its not much but, it is considering my 1st ed books lasted 24 years of gaming with no changes essentially.
It is, however, their plan. A plan that includes a distinct lack of desire to actively grow their market base.
We would like to, but don't really have the money for marketing or know-how. And we will keep out price point low. (steve and I always go back and forth. Steve wants to keep the business in business and I want a low price point. We have met in the middle).
Well, also keep in mind this could just be online retailers pulling dates and prices out the air. Until something official comes down the pike I'm holding off on my judgement.
To me it seems weird they'd release it in July, and not wait for GenCon in August to drop it... but we'll see.
Gaming is one of the least expensive forms of group entertainment I know of. What group plows through a published module in one sitting? If anything the cost estimate per player per hour is extremely conservative. Company wise businesses do need to stay in the black or who will produce the supplements for us time-harried game masters?
D&D 5th would have to be an incredibly strong product to lure me into making a purchase; even if the price point matched that of the Troll Lords.
Gaming is one of the least expensive forms of group entertainment? Have you seen the cost of board games? Have you seen how much it costs to buy a game like Pathfinder or Dungeon Crawl Classics?
People talk about FATE Core but they have a lot of books for each Genre you might want to play.
FFG has Star Wars and those books are not cheap.
Want to play a miniatures game? Sink money into it. Want to play a CCG? Magic is still cardboard crack.
Gaming is an expensive hobby.
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