why would companies spend additional money (how little it might be) to include unique codes for such things instead of using this method?
To prevent requiring consumers to mutilate their books.
The overhead costs alone of handling this type of system would be far more money and time than any company is going to willingly take on. The digital systems are vastly easier, cheaper, and more secure. Regardless, WoTC doesn't own the content on DDB; they own the license that Curse pays for regarding the content creates. So both Curse and WoTC would need to strike a price-sharing scheme to support a digital redemption city.
so glad we cannot comment on that change.org, that guy would be toast. It's $19.99 for the digital version, less than the physical book no matter what price point you put it at.
As for those saying they would cut up their books for the $20, it wouldn't be $20, it would more likely be in the in the $9.99 range as that is probably what they pay in licensing to WOTC, the other $10 goes to DDB to create the content or vice versa. I agree, no one knows the exact amount except staff and they probably can't say due to licensing restrictions, but i am sure it is not the full $19.99.
As for a rip off, i would complain about FG and Roll20 who were charging full book price on their sites till DDB came along. Sounds like price fixing to me, but i do not use their services, so i do not care.
I already have a physical handbook. Just want to unlock all the content that the handbook provides. If i buy the hand book through the marketplace will it send me a physical copy?
Public Mod Note
(subsistcyber):
Posted merged with thread explaining Physical vs Digital differences.
why would companies spend additional money (how little it might be) to include unique codes for such things instead of using this method?
To prevent requiring consumers to mutilate their books.
You misunderstood me, and in doing that validated my point, I dare say. My point on the 5$ thing (a provocative question, obviously) is to say that it is not a viable method for costly/pricey products.
As for the last question, I am a pretty sure they do not do the "send me your barcode" option exactly for the reason that is not viable, economically sound or in any way secure.
VERY easy solution... Have one book with a code ($100 version) and another at normal price... problem solved.
teak
Even easier solution - just have one hardcover book.
Then buy the physical and digital books separately and just buy what you want.
It feels to me that the main disconnect here in this discussion is that some people feel that there should be a saving for purchasing the physical and digital book together as a "bundle" but with multiple business partners involved, creating such a bundle would add cost, rather than remove it, resulting in a "bundle" that doesn't save money for the consumer and makes less money for the company.
VERY easy solution... Have one book with a code ($100 version) and another at normal price... problem solved.
teak
Even easier solution - just have one hardcover book.
Then buy the physical and digital books separately and just buy what you want.
It feels to me that the main disconnect here in this discussion is that some people feel that there should be a saving for purchasing the physical and digital book together as a "bundle" but with multiple business partners involved, creating such a bundle would add cost, rather than remove it, resulting in a "bundle" that doesn't save money for the consumer and makes less money for the company.
What would you prefer... Purchasing the content (PHB, MM) once and then paying for tools like DDB / Roll20? Or the current system? Let me be very precise... DDb and Roll20 need to be paid for their excellent services, this is NOT about them... Its about paying for the exact same content twice (or three times, depending on what electronic tools you use).
It is the exact same content, but formatted for use in various mediums.
If I buy Skyrim for PC, I don't get a discount when I buy it for PS4 or XBox. All 3 versions are priced completely independent of one another, as it is assumed that a person will buy the version that suits their needs the most.
Now to relate that to current frustrations. They recently released Skyrim VR right after I had already spent money on the non-VR version. But if I want the new version with the fancy new features, even on the same console, I still have to pay full price.
Is it frustrating? Sure.
Am I being ripped off? Absolutely not. I still have a fully functional game that I can play. Not having the new features, or not having copies on every console doesn't stop me from playing the version of the game that I purchased in any way.
When I bought my version of Skyrim, I wasn't promised VR features. The version of the game I paid for is the version I expected.
It is the exact same content, but formatted for use in various mediums.
If I buy Skyrim for PC, I don't get a discount when I buy it for PS4 or XBox. All 3 versions are priced completely independent of one another, as it is assumed that a person will buy the version that suits their needs the most.
Now to relate that to current frustrations. They recently released Skyrim VR right after I had already spent money on the non-VR version. But if I want the new version with the fancy new features, even on the same console, I still have to pay full price.
Is it frustrating? Sure.
Am I being ripped off? Absolutely not. I still have a fully functional game that I can play. Not having the new features, or not having copies on every console doesn't stop me from playing the version of the game that I purchased in any way.
When I bought my version of Skyrim, I wasn't promised VR features. The version of the game I paid for is the version I expected.
VR version required the content to be updated... PS3 to PS4 required the content to be modified.
The content here at DDB is updated by them and I believe that DDB SHOULD get paid for their excellent service. But, WoTC is getting paid twice for the exact same content. WoTC needs to be financially stable so we can still have fun, but I believe their model might need tweaking in the internet age.
I mean, there's no exact example that's going to completely match up, but it doesn't invalidate my point.
As someone who has created content, I can tell you that the whole purpose of licensing it out to other companies is to expand sales. WotC isn't doing it out of sheer good will.
VERY easy solution... Have one book with a code ($100 version) and another at normal price... problem solved.
teak
Even easier solution - just have one hardcover book.
Then buy the physical and digital books separately and just buy what you want.
It feels to me that the main disconnect here in this discussion is that some people feel that there should be a saving for purchasing the physical and digital book together as a "bundle" but with multiple business partners involved, creating such a bundle would add cost, rather than remove it, resulting in a "bundle" that doesn't save money for the consumer and makes less money for the company.
What would you prefer... Purchasing the content (PHB, MM) once and then paying for tools like DDB / Roll20? Or the current system? Let me be very precise... DDb and Roll20 need to be paid for their excellent services, this is NOT about them... Its about paying for the exact same content twice (or three times, depending on what electronic tools you use).
teak
Going back to previous replies as well: how would pay 100$ for a bundle version and, say, 50$ for the physical-only version plus having to pay for the tools be better than paying 50$ for a physical version, 20$ for the digital version and having the tools free?
It is a genuine question, because I fail to understand the logic, to be honest...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
Getting paid multiple times for the same content is the entire business model of publishing. You produce the content once, and it costs a lot to do, then you sell it over and over again to recoup the money. I feel like people get caught up on the idea of buying "content", but content isn't just words or even game mechanics (the core game mechanics are free, after all). We're also talking about the way that the information is packaged and delivered.
Which is a roundabout way of saying that when you buy a book, you're buying a book. Not every potential delivery system of what's in the book. Now, I'll grant that "If you buy this book you also get access to this online tool at a reduced rate" is a great value proposition — Amazon reduces the price of a Kindle eBook if you've bought the audiobook on Audible, so I wouldn't be shocked if Amazon started offering a reduced price "Book + Beyond" bundle, since they own this joint. But considering Amazon sells the books for $30 and they cost $30 on Beyond, they've already got a pretty good value proposition compared to buying the book in a shop.
why would companies spend additional money (how little it might be) to include unique codes for such things instead of using this method?
To prevent requiring consumers to mutilate their books.
The overhead costs alone of handling this type of system would be far more money and time than any company is going to willingly take on. The digital systems are vastly easier, cheaper, and more secure. Regardless, WoTC doesn't own the content on DDB; they own the license that Curse pays for regarding the content creates. So both Curse and WoTC would need to strike a price-sharing scheme to support a digital redemption city.
If you already have the digital system in place all you'd need on top of that is a minimum wage worker to open the envelopes and modify the accounts. Pennies. Did I miss something?
I still don't understand why WotC would want to do that.
Or how many users would want to deface their books to make paying someone even minimum wage to handle that worth it.
I'm not trying to fault you for being creative, but I'm still not convinced there's a realistic workable solution other than the one in place.
I think we've landed on that it will only work if D&D grew out of a niche market user base. I argue that this is something that is holding them back from growing out of it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I hope everyone clamoring for this one license for all platforms is happy with their $100 6e books if they decided to go with it.
DM for the Adventures in Erylia Podcast
Where five friends sit around the table and record themselves playing Dungeons and Dragons
so glad we cannot comment on that change.org, that guy would be toast. It's $19.99 for the digital version, less than the physical book no matter what price point you put it at.
As for those saying they would cut up their books for the $20, it wouldn't be $20, it would more likely be in the in the $9.99 range as that is probably what they pay in licensing to WOTC, the other $10 goes to DDB to create the content or vice versa. I agree, no one knows the exact amount except staff and they probably can't say due to licensing restrictions, but i am sure it is not the full $19.99.
As for a rip off, i would complain about FG and Roll20 who were charging full book price on their sites till DDB came along. Sounds like price fixing to me, but i do not use their services, so i do not care.
I just want to tell everyone "happy gaming" and actually mean it. Whatever your game is, just have fun with it, it is after all, just a game.
A little bit of nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men...
- Willy Wonka
I just want to tell everyone "happy gaming" and actually mean it. Whatever your game is, just have fun with it, it is after all, just a game.
I already have a physical handbook. Just want to unlock all the content that the handbook provides. If i buy the hand book through the marketplace will it send me a physical copy?
It will not send you a physical copy. There's a disclaimer to that effect near the top of the page in there somewhere.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
A little bit of nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men...
- Willy Wonka
Pun-loving nerd | Faith Elisabeth Lilley | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
Nope
A little bit of nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men...
- Willy Wonka
It is the exact same content, but formatted for use in various mediums.
If I buy Skyrim for PC, I don't get a discount when I buy it for PS4 or XBox. All 3 versions are priced completely independent of one another, as it is assumed that a person will buy the version that suits their needs the most.
Now to relate that to current frustrations. They recently released Skyrim VR right after I had already spent money on the non-VR version. But if I want the new version with the fancy new features, even on the same console, I still have to pay full price.
Is it frustrating? Sure.
Am I being ripped off? Absolutely not. I still have a fully functional game that I can play. Not having the new features, or not having copies on every console doesn't stop me from playing the version of the game that I purchased in any way.
When I bought my version of Skyrim, I wasn't promised VR features. The version of the game I paid for is the version I expected.
A little bit of nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men...
- Willy Wonka
I mean, there's no exact example that's going to completely match up, but it doesn't invalidate my point.
As someone who has created content, I can tell you that the whole purpose of licensing it out to other companies is to expand sales. WotC isn't doing it out of sheer good will.
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
Getting paid multiple times for the same content is the entire business model of publishing. You produce the content once, and it costs a lot to do, then you sell it over and over again to recoup the money. I feel like people get caught up on the idea of buying "content", but content isn't just words or even game mechanics (the core game mechanics are free, after all). We're also talking about the way that the information is packaged and delivered.
Which is a roundabout way of saying that when you buy a book, you're buying a book. Not every potential delivery system of what's in the book. Now, I'll grant that "If you buy this book you also get access to this online tool at a reduced rate" is a great value proposition — Amazon reduces the price of a Kindle eBook if you've bought the audiobook on Audible, so I wouldn't be shocked if Amazon started offering a reduced price "Book + Beyond" bundle, since they own this joint. But considering Amazon sells the books for $30 and they cost $30 on Beyond, they've already got a pretty good value proposition compared to buying the book in a shop.
I still don't understand why WotC would want to do that.
Or how many users would want to deface their books to make paying someone even minimum wage to handle that worth it.
I'm not trying to fault you for being creative, but I'm still not convinced there's a realistic workable solution other than the one in place.