| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Sightless |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 03:07:47
This pole is designed to determine what individuals prefer in regards to which future material could be presented with the development of the fifth edition of D&D. It is in part a project that was begun when fourth edition came out, and has been prompted by Erik’s thread on how the realms could be improved. This pole is one of several that will be posted as a consequence.
From the list of options provided, please select the one that you would like to see in the future regarding the release of game materials related to the Dungeons and Dragons game line. Material would include such features as game mechanical source material, additional rules sources, game related fiction, etc. Your participation in this pole is greatly appreciated.
Options :
(A) I would prefer all printed material to also
exist in a purchasable PDF format, which I can buy along side, or in place of printed material.
(B) I would prefer that all printed material
to have a code in it that would allow me to also access the same material online. Additional new source material related to the book (i.e. modifications, additional information that was left out, etc) to be located here as well. Thus through purchasing the book I would have access to all the information related to
that source, within one section in an electronic format.
(C) I would prefer that printed material not be transferred into an electronic format,
but would like a code that would grant me access to Additional new source material related to the book
(i.e. modifications, additional information that was left out, etc), in an online and electronic format.
(D) I would prefer that all printed material not be transferred into an electronic format and would also prefer that Additional new source material related to the book (i.e. modifications, additional information that was left out, etc), be placed on the Wizards of the Coast website, without a code. This information would be freely and easily accessable to anyone that went to their
website.
(E) I would prefer all printed material to also exist in a purchasable PDF format, which I can buy along side, or in place of printed material. I would also prefer that Additional new source
material related to the book (i.e. modifications, additional information that was left out, etc), be placed on the Wizards of the Coast website, without a code. This information would be freely and easily accessible to anyone that went to their
website.
(F) I don’t like electronic formatting
and do not want Wizards of the Coast to produce anything in that format.
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| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| idilippy |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 16:11:10
I voted A, but I really want A and B. I want the option to buy just the pdf of some books, but I also would love for WotC to take a page from Paizo and reward the people who buy the hardcover with a pdf copy for those times when lugging around a half dozen hardcovers is impractical.
Edit: also, I should have read more carefully. E looks like the option I really want, if that means we get things like the wonderful 3e era realmslore and other tidbits that was posted on WotC's website again. I think that is a pipe dream, however, after going to DDI I have no hope that WotC will change to a format that sees them releasing things for free, rather than only releasing things to subscribers. |
| Hawkins |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 15:45:46
quote:
Originally posted by sfdragon
I chose I hate e formats and dont want wotc to do anyof it.
I however made a choice out of blunder.
I hastily read through it thinking that the op meant ebooks verses non ebooks.
I dont like e novels, I stare at my pc too long as it is. as for dragon and dungeon emags. thats up to them. I wont buy them until there is enough to warrant my money to purchase a month subscription and back download or its soemthing I want enough to warrant it.
online pdf as downloadable books from the rulebooks, I'm iffy on that. I'd rahter have it in my hands( dont own a ereader).
I got a Kindle for Christmas, and can tell you that I find eInk eReaders as easy on the eyes as reading a normal dead tree book. I was very skeptical as well, because I too hate reading stuff on back-lit computer screens. |
| sfdragon |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 04:50:57
I chose I hate e formats and dont want wotc to do anyof it.
I however made a choice out of blunder.
I hastily read through it thinking that the op meant ebooks verses non ebooks.
I dont like e novels, I stare at my pc too long as it is. as for dragon and dungeon emags. thats up to them. I wont buy them until there is enough to warrant my money to purchase a month subscription and back download or its soemthing I want enough to warrant it.
online pdf as downloadable books from the rulebooks, I'm iffy on that. I'd rahter have it in my hands( dont own a ereader). |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 04:09:03
quote:
Originally posted by Therise
One of the things I loved most were the Realmslore articles by Ed Greenwood that would be posted on the old pre-Gleemax WotC site.
Not just the Ed stuff, either... There was a ton of really good material on the WotC site, back in the day.
I miss having regular sourcebooks, Dragon magazine, and that free content to read. |
| Therise |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 02:16:57
I chose E. One of the things I loved most were the Realmslore articles by Ed Greenwood that would be posted on the old pre-Gleemax WotC site. Much of that survived up to the end of 3.5E, but is being cut off through link failure and site redesign. Now, we only get to have that kind of thing via DDI... and I refuse to do that.
Updates, errata, and fun tidbits should be free. They whet the appetite for buying big supplements. The current DDI model feels way to much like an exclusive club, with benefits that I actually want coming way too infrequently. I miss browsing the old magazines and then choosing whether or not to buy. Now, the wall is just off-putting.
I also want the option of pdf purchases for everything.
|
| The Sage |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 01:47:30
quote:
Originally posted by Sightless
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Make everyone happy. Some prefer ebooks; some want printed only; others want both. So give them the option to choose.
That can be a very costly strategy, though, which is kind of the problem Catalyst Game Labs is facing with their PDF and print policies.
Often, most game companies look to the bottom line to make a profit in a hard competitive industry. So it's understandable that they'll likely always go with the most cost-effective distribution strategy -- rather than incur potential losses by producing material for both electronic and print mediums.
It's my understanding though that Catalist has to funnel all of it's hard copy publications out toan outsider that isn't dedicated in the same manner as WOTC. At least this is something I read online, but I'm not sure if it's true or not. I'm less likely to take online publications that aren't reviewed as fact in the same way as other materials. So, I can't varify this as accurate. Please keep that in mind, if you know otherwise, then please say so. It will help in varification.
I've not heard anything about a publishing outsider, but you've got me curious about this, so I'll look further into it. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 01:36:27
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Make everyone happy. Some prefer ebooks; some want printed only; others want both. So give them the option to choose.
That can be a very costly strategy, though, which is kind of the problem Catalyst Game Labs is facing with their PDF and print policies.
Often, most game companies look to the bottom line to make a profit in a hard competitive industry. So it's understandable that they'll likely always go with the most cost-effective distribution strategy -- rather than incur potential losses by producing material for both electronic and print mediums.
Of course, the flipside is that you also have to sell something your customers want. Ebooks are certainly more cost-effective to distribute, but if your readers don't want them, they're not going to buy them.
For the most part, I'd agree.
But at the same time, if a consumer of a particular game company's products wishes to see the future of their hobby continually developed, then it falls to that consumer to make the hard choice about what's more important to him/her -- supporting the game and buying the products in a format that he/she may not like, or enacting a policy whereby he/she refuses to purchase any new products in protest over the format of distribution.
I know it's largely unfair to paint the situation with such broad colours, but it's becoming such a truth, nowadays, with so many companies -- and not just strictly PnP-based game companies -- turning to digital distribution.
|
| Jeremy Grenemyer |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 21:10:36
I voted B.
I like the idea of a print product being a sort of key with which to access additional product, since I don't think online-only is quite the way to go yet. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 20:57:32
-I vote E. I would prefer content to be accessed for free because, looking at 3e rulebooks, I don't own most of them. In the only game I am in currently, I use the DM's rulebooks when I want to peruse spells/items/PrCs/etc. that aren't in the rulebooks that I have. If I needed to check if an errata existed for something from one of the books that I don't have, I'd either have to have him do it for me or I'd have to get the code from him before I do it myself- moderate-to-minor annoyances depending on how WotC actually set-up the system. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 20:42:20
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Make everyone happy. Some prefer ebooks; some want printed only; others want both. So give them the option to choose.
That sounds reasonable, as well -- so long as the ebooks aren't selling for the same price (or a comparable price) as hard copies.
Most publications sell e-books and hardbound for nearly the same price, so that readers would not be more inclined to buy just the former. I can't say I agree or disagree to that. But I see where they're coming from. I understand that printed books cost considerably higher than their e-format counterpart...But if someone can buy a copy for, say, a dollar (e-book), then he may be disinclined to buy one that costs twenty times the price. |
| Eilserus |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 18:58:17
I'd go with B. At the very least, I'd like to see the option to download digital copies of maps, keyed and unkeyed and the like. Digital access to the books would be nice also, because then a person can load them into their IPad or whatever tool they use for such things and carry it with you instead of a pile of books. ;) |
| Kilvan |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 18:34:00
I went with A. I'll never use the digital format, so I don't want to pay for it. I want anyone who desires such format to be able to acquire it without having to pay for the paper book. |
| Dalor Darden |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 17:59:24
I'm a "B" man myself.
In an industry of gaming books...I like books. However, having updated material and ease of access is also nice.
Since an electronic format has to be used before they can even print the book...they aren't losing any money on the electronic book.
Simply having an access code strip in the book when it is sold (perhaps a VERY LONG CODE that can't quickly be written down by some hooligan bent on e-stealing a book!) or some such. For practicality, it would be best that the code simply not be available until the book is purchased. |
| Hawkins |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 17:47:10
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
"(B) I would prefer that all printed material
to have a code in it that would allow me to also access the same material online. Additional new source material related to the book (i.e. modifications, additional information that was left out, etc) to be located here as well. Thus through purchasing the book I would have access to all the information related to
that source, within one section in an electronic format."
This is my preference. I want the hardcopy, first and foremost. Digital copies are nice, but if I'm paying for the hardcopy, digital copies should either be free or seriously discounted.
I'll add that with my Paizo subscription, every print Paizo product I get from them is accompanied by a free pdf, and they send out emails when those pdfs are updated. That's the way to do it.
I'll echo what friend Wooly said, as well.
Echoing the Master Hamster as well. I will add that I think that RP products (excluding novels, which already do this) need to come up with formats compatible with most 6- to 7-inch eReaders. Full-size PDFs are a pain to navigate on a Kindle or Nook, and I hate reading leisure material on a computer monitor. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 17:34:04
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Make everyone happy. Some prefer ebooks; some want printed only; others want both. So give them the option to choose.
That can be a very costly strategy, though, which is kind of the problem Catalyst Game Labs is facing with their PDF and print policies.
Often, most game companies look to the bottom line to make a profit in a hard competitive industry. So it's understandable that they'll likely always go with the most cost-effective distribution strategy -- rather than incur potential losses by producing material for both electronic and print mediums.
Of course, the flipside is that you also have to sell something your customers want. Ebooks are certainly more cost-effective to distribute, but if your readers don't want them, they're not going to buy them. |
| Sightless |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 14:55:56
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Make everyone happy. Some prefer ebooks; some want printed only; others want both. So give them the option to choose.
That can be a very costly strategy, though, which is kind of the problem Catalyst Game Labs is facing with their PDF and print policies.
Often, most game companies look to the bottom line to make a profit in a hard competitive industry. So it's understandable that they'll likely always go with the most cost-effective distribution strategy -- rather than incur potential losses by producing material for both electronic and print mediums.
It's my understanding though that Catalist has to funnel all of it's hard copy publications out toan outsider that isn't dedicated in the same manner as WOTC. At least this is something I read online, but I'm not sure if it's true or not. I'm less likely to take online publications that aren't reviewed as fact in the same way as other materials. So, I can't varify this as accurate. Please keep that in mind, if you know otherwise, then please say so. It will help in varification. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 14:36:37
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Make everyone happy. Some prefer ebooks; some want printed only; others want both. So give them the option to choose.
That can be a very costly strategy, though, which is kind of the problem Catalyst Game Labs is facing with their PDF and print policies.
Often, most game companies look to the bottom line to make a profit in a hard competitive industry. So it's understandable that they'll likely always go with the most cost-effective distribution strategy -- rather than incur potential losses by producing material for both electronic and print mediums. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 13:21:56
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Make everyone happy. Some prefer ebooks; some want printed only; others want both. So give them the option to choose.
That sounds reasonable, as well -- so long as the ebooks aren't selling for the same price (or a comparable price) as hard copies. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 12:13:30
Make everyone happy. Some prefer ebooks; some want printed only; others want both. So give them the option to choose. |
| Thauranil |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 10:57:03
(E) Sounds ideal though its unlikely that WOTC will make so much material freely available.
While I prefer real books to ebooks , I do acknowlegde they have some advantages and that many people nowadays are more comfortable with electronic formats. So it would not make much sense to suggest that WOTC no longer publish ebooks , all i ask is that they also include the option to purchase a printed copy as well. |
| BARDOBARBAROS |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 09:22:49
(F) |
| The Sage |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 08:03:30
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
"(B) I would prefer that all printed material
to have a code in it that would allow me to also access the same material online. Additional new source material related to the book (i.e. modifications, additional information that was left out, etc) to be located here as well. Thus through purchasing the book I would have access to all the information related to
that source, within one section in an electronic format."
This is my preference. I want the hardcopy, first and foremost. Digital copies are nice, but if I'm paying for the hardcopy, digital copies should either be free or seriously discounted.
I'll add that with my Paizo subscription, every print Paizo product I get from them is accompanied by a free pdf, and they send out emails when those pdfs are updated. That's the way to do it.
I'll echo what friend Wooly said, as well. |
| Sightless |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 06:32:43
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
The second option sounds fine. Though I prefer all books to be printed in hardbound.
As you've probably noticed all the options have been scewed towards a hardcopy inclusion. the reason for this is that in my survey thus far, one I'm running through a local hobby store, I've found no one that believes that hardcopies should be excluded. I have found a couple that thought that electronic copies shouldn't be used at all, as represented in option 'F'. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 06:10:33
The second option sounds fine. Though I prefer all books to be printed in hardbound. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 04:33:52
"(B) I would prefer that all printed material
to have a code in it that would allow me to also access the same material online. Additional new source material related to the book (i.e. modifications, additional information that was left out, etc) to be located here as well. Thus through purchasing the book I would have access to all the information related to
that source, within one section in an electronic format."
This is my preference. I want the hardcopy, first and foremost. Digital copies are nice, but if I'm paying for the hardcopy, digital copies should either be free or seriously discounted.
I'll add that with my Paizo subscription, every print Paizo product I get from them is accompanied by a free pdf, and they send out emails when those pdfs are updated. That's the way to do it. |
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