If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Lame, my town lost its game store during the pandemic so screw everyone in my area i guess.
The point of alternate covers is to give local gaming stores an edge of big-box online retailers and digital marketplaces so they don't have to close down. Maybe you can find another gaming store that ships to you?
If only the alternate covers also included a DND beyond code. I want to buy them from my local store but still end up rather getting the bundles directly through DND Beyond so I can have both physical and digital.
If only the alternate covers also included a DND beyond code. I want to buy them from my local store but still end up rather getting the bundles directly through DND Beyond so I can have both physical and digital.
If only the alternate covers also included a DND beyond code. I want to buy them from my local store but still end up rather getting the bundles directly through DND Beyond so I can have both physical and digital.
I checked with my LARGE local store in Minneapolis, yesterday, and they have NO INFORMATION from WoTC/DnD Beyond regarding when or what alt cover sales will look like. Why put out a standard cover P&D bundle with discounts and not also publish alt cover intentions? Manipulation tactic?
Sidebar: IMO, buyers of any print book should automatically receive for free a PDF of that book. Creating the PDF is part of the print process and costs the publisher virtually nothing to include with purchase of print. DnD Beyond's digital is different than PDF -- ok, charge for that. DnD Beyond... GIVE US A PDF (with print purchase) so we can port to our VTT of choice!
Lame, my town lost its game store during the pandemic so screw everyone in my area i guess.
The point of alternate covers is to give local gaming stores an edge of big-box online retailers and digital marketplaces so they don't have to close down. Maybe you can find another gaming store that ships to you?
@Davyd I must respectfully disagree. If the "big-box online retailer" called DnD Beyond wanted to "give local gaming stores an edge" (or how about just a chance), local game store preorder timing/announcements would be timely with DnD Beyond pre-order sale announcements and provide for similar digital spiffs. Right?
You can "disagree" but what Davyd laid out for this thread is in fact WotC's rationale for the retailers incentive covers, it's a technique adapted from the comic book industry. It's been this way for the entirety of 5e, and looks like it will perpetuate with the 2024 core and beyond.
You may have to ask your local game store again, as the game stores in my area are just announcing pre-orders for the alt-covers, and regular covers. One announced pre-orders yesterday, and one announced today (and I live in a pretty big very gamer friendly metro), so it could just be the distributors catching up with their client stores. A third store hasn't announced any, but has had issues with ordering alt covers for other systems and their distributor, and may have decided not to jump through those difficulties. I believe stores carrying the alts have to be part of a particular WotC affinity network, but not sure. Not all "big" stores are.
WotC has never provided PDFs of its present D&D edition, and I don't see that policy changing any time soon. It's closest direct competitor, Paizo, doesn't either outside its store-cutting subscription programs, though really their scale is more to the size of the "rest of the TTRPG" industry, many of whom provide free PDFs, and quite a few do not. Folks have been militating for a free DDB unlock code, or "at least a PDF" at least as far back as the early development of DDB, and there's been no budge across all owners.
There was an experiment with unlock codes for FLGS purchased books with the Theros book. I guess whatever they learned with that one was enough that they didn't push the experiment further.
Lame, my town lost its game store during the pandemic so screw everyone in my area i guess.
The point of alternate covers is to give local gaming stores an edge of big-box online retailers and digital marketplaces so they don't have to close down. Maybe you can find another gaming store that ships to you?
@Davyd I must respectfully disagree. If the "big-box online retailer" called DnD Beyond wanted to "give local gaming stores an edge" (or how about just a chance), local game store preorder timing/announcements would be timely with DnD Beyond pre-order sale announcements and provide for similar digital spiffs. Right?
Note: No cloud kill used in this post.
D&D Beyond is not a "big-box online retailer" and Wizards of the Coast does not dictate if and when gaming stores announce their pre-orders. In fact, technically speaking they can start offering pre-orders whenever they want, even before release dates are announced. It's not something in the control of WotC.
I'm not sure what you mean by "similar digital spiffs" however
as a purchaser of the alt phb, i regret my decision. i dont get a pdf, i lose out on the slipcase for alt bundle that i had no idea about until 5 mins ago(a separate issue from what this thread is about, i know), and my purchase is not registered on my dndbeyond account. there is no upside to purchasing outside of dndbeyond. i want to support my local game store while getting the perks of purchasing through dndbeyond, not sure why these have to be competing considerations.
there should be a code generated on purchase at my LGS so that i can register it with my online account.
They didn't get any info, this is a sarcastic comment about how bad their luck is and how likely it will be that a slip case will be announced just after they've bought all three books. Nothing has actually been announced yet
This thread popped back up in my feed with the additional comments from loshjawrence and while I had let it drop last June, I now want to add clarifying thoughts, in the event that "big-box online retailer" and "digital spiffs" actually warrant clarifying. I am guessing they may not, but here goes for the sake of level thinking.
@davyd Your words: "...an edge of big-box online retailers and digital marketplaces". If you prefer to use "digital marketplaces" rather than "big-box online retailer" when referring to D&D Beyond knock yourself out. DnD Beyond is included in one of those titles. WoTC is a publisher with an online retail store / digital marketplace called DnD Beyond.
Now that we are past that, maybe, the point of my post was that D&D Beyond announcements should coordinate with, or better yet straightforwardly include, content regarding alt cover offerings at local stores. "check with your store near you." As I said in my post, my local store claimed to have not heard details from their source, their distributor, at the time of D&D Beyond's product announcements. A second store I stopped into said exactly the same thing. Oddly, even Gamenerdz took a very long time for alt cover information to become available, and in arrears of their own color cover offerings. Weird!
The second part of my comment was directly supportive of these most recent posts by loshjawrence describing the need for digital content access to be part of all print book purchases, and not only those made at DnD Beyond. My earlier reference to "digital spiffs" directly described this DnD Beyond practice of adding deeply discounted (-66%) digital content to book purchases. Here, SPIFF, normally used to describe extra incentives paid to sales staff to sell, describes the extra incentive offered to consumers to buy only through DnD Beyond. This is no help to local stores and could easily be called harmful to local stores, and, in a way, to WoTC itself in both reputation and profit.Were WoTC to offer digital product codes for products purchased anywhere for redemption at DnD Beyond (with account setup), WOTC WOULD GROW SUBSCRIBER BASE! (do I really need to say it?)
And lastly, now here comes the controversy, for those purchasing printed books anywhere, consider including a FREE PDF with the purchase. Deploy it in whatever secure manner deemed necessary, A.K.A as Paizo deploys its PDFs, but include it, never-the-less. Searchable "living" digital content such as that on DnD Beyond warrants a charge (which perhaps should only be the amount of the subscription), but to not include both the PDF and printed versions in the purchase of print is to not understand the print production process. Or worse, to take advantage of those who do not understand the PDF is produced in the production of the print and represents NO ADDITIONAL cost to the publisher to include, excepting for perhaps some capital cost in the creation of the delivery system.
WoTC, at a minimum, GIVE ALL OUTLETS DIGITAL CODES (for sale) AND PROPER REPRESENTATION IN PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENTS!
They didn't get any info, this is a sarcastic comment about how bad their luck is and how likely it will be that a slip case will be announced just after they've bought all three books. Nothing has actually been announced yet
Hey, that's me! You are correct, it was a doomed prophetic and sarcastic statement because I have rotten luck when it comes to purchases like that. It happened when I bought the physical copies of Tasha's and MotM, only to find out there was that incredibly attractive white-cover and slipcase bundle that I could have had if I had just had a bit more patience and done some looking. That white cover bundle would have been so sweet. ;_;
I wanted to preorder Digital/Physical bundle. But don't see alternative covers anywhere. Did they say when these would be dropping?
They're only available via game stores.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Lame, my town lost its game store during the pandemic so screw everyone in my area i guess.
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ModeratorThe point of alternate covers is to give local gaming stores an edge of big-box online retailers and digital marketplaces so they don't have to close down. Maybe you can find another gaming store that ships to you?
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If only the alternate covers also included a DND beyond code. I want to buy them from my local store but still end up rather getting the bundles directly through DND Beyond so I can have both physical and digital.
This.
I checked with my LARGE local store in Minneapolis, yesterday, and they have NO INFORMATION from WoTC/DnD Beyond regarding when or what alt cover sales will look like. Why put out a standard cover P&D bundle with discounts and not also publish alt cover intentions? Manipulation tactic?
Sidebar: IMO, buyers of any print book should automatically receive for free a PDF of that book. Creating the PDF is part of the print process and costs the publisher virtually nothing to include with purchase of print. DnD Beyond's digital is different than PDF -- ok, charge for that. DnD Beyond... GIVE US A PDF (with print purchase) so we can port to our VTT of choice!
@Davyd I must respectfully disagree. If the "big-box online retailer" called DnD Beyond wanted to "give local gaming stores an edge" (or how about just a chance), local game store preorder timing/announcements would be timely with DnD Beyond pre-order sale announcements and provide for similar digital spiffs. Right?
Note: No cloud kill used in this post.
You can "disagree" but what Davyd laid out for this thread is in fact WotC's rationale for the retailers incentive covers, it's a technique adapted from the comic book industry. It's been this way for the entirety of 5e, and looks like it will perpetuate with the 2024 core and beyond.
You may have to ask your local game store again, as the game stores in my area are just announcing pre-orders for the alt-covers, and regular covers. One announced pre-orders yesterday, and one announced today (and I live in a pretty big very gamer friendly metro), so it could just be the distributors catching up with their client stores. A third store hasn't announced any, but has had issues with ordering alt covers for other systems and their distributor, and may have decided not to jump through those difficulties. I believe stores carrying the alts have to be part of a particular WotC affinity network, but not sure. Not all "big" stores are.
WotC has never provided PDFs of its present D&D edition, and I don't see that policy changing any time soon. It's closest direct competitor, Paizo, doesn't either outside its store-cutting subscription programs, though really their scale is more to the size of the "rest of the TTRPG" industry, many of whom provide free PDFs, and quite a few do not. Folks have been militating for a free DDB unlock code, or "at least a PDF" at least as far back as the early development of DDB, and there's been no budge across all owners.
There was an experiment with unlock codes for FLGS purchased books with the Theros book. I guess whatever they learned with that one was enough that they didn't push the experiment further.
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ModeratorD&D Beyond is not a "big-box online retailer" and Wizards of the Coast does not dictate if and when gaming stores announce their pre-orders. In fact, technically speaking they can start offering pre-orders whenever they want, even before release dates are announced. It's not something in the control of WotC.
I'm not sure what you mean by "similar digital spiffs" however
D&D Beyond moderator across forums, Discord, Twitch and YouTube. Always happy to help and willing to answer questions (or at least try). (he/him/his)
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat On - Mod Hat Off
Site Rules & Guidelines - Homebrew Rules - Looking for Players and Groups Rules
as a purchaser of the alt phb, i regret my decision. i dont get a pdf, i lose out on the slipcase for alt bundle that i had no idea about until 5 mins ago(a separate issue from what this thread is about, i know), and my purchase is not registered on my dndbeyond account. there is no upside to purchasing outside of dndbeyond. i want to support my local game store while getting the perks of purchasing through dndbeyond, not sure why these have to be competing considerations.
there should be a code generated on purchase at my LGS so that i can register it with my online account.
Where can I find information about this slipcase?
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/general-discussion/201401-alternate-cover-bundles?comment=8
ok sry, not an official source, but maybe you can try asking them where they got this info.
They didn't get any info, this is a sarcastic comment about how bad their luck is and how likely it will be that a slip case will be announced just after they've bought all three books. Nothing has actually been announced yet
This thread popped back up in my feed with the additional comments from loshjawrence and while I had let it drop last June, I now want to add clarifying thoughts, in the event that "big-box online retailer" and "digital spiffs" actually warrant clarifying. I am guessing they may not, but here goes for the sake of level thinking.
@davyd Your words: "...an edge of big-box online retailers and digital marketplaces". If you prefer to use "digital marketplaces" rather than "big-box online retailer" when referring to D&D Beyond knock yourself out. DnD Beyond is included in one of those titles. WoTC is a publisher with an online retail store / digital marketplace called DnD Beyond.
Now that we are past that, maybe, the point of my post was that D&D Beyond announcements should coordinate with, or better yet straightforwardly include, content regarding alt cover offerings at local stores. "check with your store near you." As I said in my post, my local store claimed to have not heard details from their source, their distributor, at the time of D&D Beyond's product announcements. A second store I stopped into said exactly the same thing. Oddly, even Gamenerdz took a very long time for alt cover information to become available, and in arrears of their own color cover offerings. Weird!
The second part of my comment was directly supportive of these most recent posts by loshjawrence describing the need for digital content access to be part of all print book purchases, and not only those made at DnD Beyond. My earlier reference to "digital spiffs" directly described this DnD Beyond practice of adding deeply discounted (-66%) digital content to book purchases. Here, SPIFF, normally used to describe extra incentives paid to sales staff to sell, describes the extra incentive offered to consumers to buy only through DnD Beyond. This is no help to local stores and could easily be called harmful to local stores, and, in a way, to WoTC itself in both reputation and profit.Were WoTC to offer digital product codes for products purchased anywhere for redemption at DnD Beyond (with account setup), WOTC WOULD GROW SUBSCRIBER BASE! (do I really need to say it?)
And lastly, now here comes the controversy, for those purchasing printed books anywhere, consider including a FREE PDF with the purchase. Deploy it in whatever secure manner deemed necessary, A.K.A as Paizo deploys its PDFs, but include it, never-the-less. Searchable "living" digital content such as that on DnD Beyond warrants a charge (which perhaps should only be the amount of the subscription), but to not include both the PDF and printed versions in the purchase of print is to not understand the print production process. Or worse, to take advantage of those who do not understand the PDF is produced in the production of the print and represents NO ADDITIONAL cost to the publisher to include, excepting for perhaps some capital cost in the creation of the delivery system.
WoTC, at a minimum, GIVE ALL OUTLETS DIGITAL CODES (for sale) AND PROPER REPRESENTATION IN PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENTS!
I'll leave it there.
Hey, that's me! You are correct, it was a doomed prophetic and sarcastic statement because I have rotten luck when it comes to purchases like that. It happened when I bought the physical copies of Tasha's and MotM, only to find out there was that incredibly attractive white-cover and slipcase bundle that I could have had if I had just had a bit more patience and done some looking. That white cover bundle would have been so sweet. ;_;
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