I do not understand why you would pre-order a digital book. It cannot run out of stock like a physical book.
I'm still fairly new to D&D Beyond. I've bought half a dozen or so books which we use so I can have easy access.
When I look at other books in the Marketplace here, they are the same price as the pre-order for the new book. Is there some advantage I am missing to ordering in advance? I can order in advance for $30 or wait and buy it when it comes out and is reviewed in detailed also for $30.
I honestly do not understand the utility of ordering the digital book in advance.
The only benefit to preordering is if you want the dice skin and character sheet cosmetics, especially since preorders are no longer included when they have a book sale.
You get extra digital shiny things if you commit ahead of time to buying it.
I'm guessing this is offered because it provides extra motivation to buy it if someone is on the fence about it, and it probably also looks better for their sales numbers to have more purchases immediately at launch.
Yep, you get the little bonus stuff. But, for me, I usually pre-order when I have the extra money. If I have it now, no point waiting until later. Plus, bonus points when there is a sale that can apply. And it’ll be there in my account day one, so it’s convenient.
I guess it’s mostly I flip the question around and wonder why I should wait to pay for it later if I already know I’m going to buy it? :)
Some people, such as myself, pre order when they have the money as so to make it easier to budget by not having to float $30 with a mental note of "save for D&D book".
To the OP, every book has a pre order window. The CR Netherdeep adventure is in similar pre-order phase. So you're really asking "we pre-order anything." I'd say most D&D Beyond Users are of three types, pre orders, order upon release and confirmation of worth, and "maybe sometime." The pre-orders do so because it excites them and they know they'll be reading it and the incentive perks and/or makes sense to their gaming budget. The middle category wait for the release and impressions (though in this age, it's rare for a D&D book to come out with any surprises, almost everything isn't so much leaked as it is previewed before release). The last category are those who don't see latest releases as essential to their game, aren't the sort who collect virtual accents like dice or sheet themes to their D&D Beyond collection, and are more than happy to pick it up later down the line when it's on sale.
The only reason I preorder is if there's one of DDB's periodic sales on, since sale prices apply to preorder items. If there's something I want anyway, might as well get it for the cheaper price.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Pre-Order the book. Pay for the book. do NOT get the book till MONTHS after people who purchase it at a store or online. Wait and wait to get access to something you already paid for. WHY?
Pre-Order the book. Pay for the book. do NOT get the book till MONTHS after people who purchase it at a store or online. Wait and wait to get access to something you already paid for. WHY?
Had you bothered to read this relatively short thread, you would recognize there are a number of comments in this thread explaining precisely "WHY," as you put it, some folks pre-order books. I'd say chiefly the dice and other cosmetic perks, but some folks also do it for budgeting of sorts. As for what I think you're complaining about, the only people who have MMM now are people who bought the book as boxed set whose overall sales I've got a hunch were not all that great for a number of reasons discussed on this board. It's clear WotC knew many people would not be buying the boxed set and floated MMM as available to players who wanted to be sort of "early adopters" as opposed to waiting for its general release. MMM becomes available on DDB the same day it releases as an individual physical book "at a store or online" (as you put it, as if DDB is neither a store nor online, but I'll take your lack of accuracy or understanding as marks of the "angry" tone you seem to be trying to achieve for some reason that escapes me). Lastly, you know, those physical retails stores and Amazon also take pre-orders for the physical book, why don't you yell "WHY?" at them too. I could, as I usually do, go to the game store I usually buy my books at and order and pay for a copy right now ... either at the store or online. And in that situation, unlike DDB, I wouldn't be getting any digital dice or other aesthetic perks for may game play.
What are you mad about again?
For the record, I'm not really into the perks thing and usually only pre-order physical books if there's like a limited run/incentive cover sort of situation; but in no way has that perspective ever led me to cry an exasperated "WHY?" to a message board because other folks see a value in pre-ordering on DDB. Oh, I did order a DDB book ahead once and it was sorta cool to be part of the "first" crowd that had the book on the screen and talking about it the midnight before most folks would be picking up their physical copies ... but it wasn't that important an experience to me that I've made it a regular practice. Some people do though.
Just like there's lots of ways to play D&D, there's lots of ways to buy D&D.
AAA video games got us accustomed to preordering even digital content, by including little plastic collectibles or in-game skins, etc. As long as Beyond included something that resembled those bonuses, it was an easy sell. I really don't think the digital dice are worth anything though. I bought one that I thought was really pretty, and I never even use it. It just doesn't fit into the way I play.
At least with RPG books, you're unlikely to ever receive a truly broken product (i.e. glitches, server issues, stuff you can't easily fix), and the plague of deceptive promotional footage doesn't really apply, so the preorder isn't as dangerous. Even so, I tend to resist it on principle. Best case scenario, you have the time to read the book before full release, and you enjoy it. Worst case, you don't and you don't. You know? And even if you can read it early, can you use it early? I know my games don't move that quickly. If I bought a new book today, I wouldn't be able to bring it to the table until, like, June, probably.
It's hype culture, basically, and I have no use for it.
RIP if you didn't recognize that the MMM bundle was effectively the real preorder, though.
[...]At least with RPG books, you're unlikely to ever receive a truly broken product (i.e. glitches, server issues, stuff you can't easily fix), and the plague of deceptive promotional footage doesn't really apply, so the preorder isn't as dangerous. Even so, I tend to resist it on principle[...]
To be honest, the biggest barrier for preorder for me is the risk of disappointment. The one time.I got really burned was Mario Tennis Aces - where you could not play an actual set of tennis (at launch, they patched it in after the uproar), let alone a match (still can't). It's pretty unpredictable as to what you will get, even things as obvious as having sets and matches in a tennis game. Books, especially game books like D&D, are not immune to that.
That's why I generally won't preorder things now. I occasionally cave if there is a good reason to (and generally regret it), but preordering is just a bad habit in my opinion. Best to wait until others have tried it and revealed the good and bad points about it before judging if it's worth it. Fanbois might still ruin that plan, but you have a better shot.
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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.
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I do not understand why you would pre-order a digital book. It cannot run out of stock like a physical book.
I'm still fairly new to D&D Beyond. I've bought half a dozen or so books which we use so I can have easy access.
When I look at other books in the Marketplace here, they are the same price as the pre-order for the new book. Is there some advantage I am missing to ordering in advance? I can order in advance for $30 or wait and buy it when it comes out and is reviewed in detailed also for $30.
I honestly do not understand the utility of ordering the digital book in advance.
The only benefit to preordering is if you want the dice skin and character sheet cosmetics, especially since preorders are no longer included when they have a book sale.
You get extra digital shiny things if you commit ahead of time to buying it.
I'm guessing this is offered because it provides extra motivation to buy it if someone is on the fence about it, and it probably also looks better for their sales numbers to have more purchases immediately at launch.
Yep, you get the little bonus stuff. But, for me, I usually pre-order when I have the extra money. If I have it now, no point waiting until later. Plus, bonus points when there is a sale that can apply. And it’ll be there in my account day one, so it’s convenient.
I guess it’s mostly I flip the question around and wonder why I should wait to pay for it later if I already know I’m going to buy it? :)
Some people, such as myself, pre order when they have the money as so to make it easier to budget by not having to float $30 with a mental note of "save for D&D book".
Others pre order for the bonuses.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
To the OP, every book has a pre order window. The CR Netherdeep adventure is in similar pre-order phase. So you're really asking "we pre-order anything." I'd say most D&D Beyond Users are of three types, pre orders, order upon release and confirmation of worth, and "maybe sometime." The pre-orders do so because it excites them and they know they'll be reading it and the incentive perks and/or makes sense to their gaming budget. The middle category wait for the release and impressions (though in this age, it's rare for a D&D book to come out with any surprises, almost everything isn't so much leaked as it is previewed before release). The last category are those who don't see latest releases as essential to their game, aren't the sort who collect virtual accents like dice or sheet themes to their D&D Beyond collection, and are more than happy to pick it up later down the line when it's on sale.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
The only reason I preorder is if there's one of DDB's periodic sales on, since sale prices apply to preorder items. If there's something I want anyway, might as well get it for the cheaper price.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Pre-Order the book. Pay for the book. do NOT get the book till MONTHS after people who purchase it at a store or online. Wait and wait to get access to something you already paid for. WHY?
Had you bothered to read this relatively short thread, you would recognize there are a number of comments in this thread explaining precisely "WHY," as you put it, some folks pre-order books. I'd say chiefly the dice and other cosmetic perks, but some folks also do it for budgeting of sorts. As for what I think you're complaining about, the only people who have MMM now are people who bought the book as boxed set whose overall sales I've got a hunch were not all that great for a number of reasons discussed on this board. It's clear WotC knew many people would not be buying the boxed set and floated MMM as available to players who wanted to be sort of "early adopters" as opposed to waiting for its general release. MMM becomes available on DDB the same day it releases as an individual physical book "at a store or online" (as you put it, as if DDB is neither a store nor online, but I'll take your lack of accuracy or understanding as marks of the "angry" tone you seem to be trying to achieve for some reason that escapes me). Lastly, you know, those physical retails stores and Amazon also take pre-orders for the physical book, why don't you yell "WHY?" at them too. I could, as I usually do, go to the game store I usually buy my books at and order and pay for a copy right now ... either at the store or online. And in that situation, unlike DDB, I wouldn't be getting any digital dice or other aesthetic perks for may game play.
What are you mad about again?
For the record, I'm not really into the perks thing and usually only pre-order physical books if there's like a limited run/incentive cover sort of situation; but in no way has that perspective ever led me to cry an exasperated "WHY?" to a message board because other folks see a value in pre-ordering on DDB. Oh, I did order a DDB book ahead once and it was sorta cool to be part of the "first" crowd that had the book on the screen and talking about it the midnight before most folks would be picking up their physical copies ... but it wasn't that important an experience to me that I've made it a regular practice. Some people do though.
Just like there's lots of ways to play D&D, there's lots of ways to buy D&D.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
AAA video games got us accustomed to preordering even digital content, by including little plastic collectibles or in-game skins, etc. As long as Beyond included something that resembled those bonuses, it was an easy sell. I really don't think the digital dice are worth anything though. I bought one that I thought was really pretty, and I never even use it. It just doesn't fit into the way I play.
At least with RPG books, you're unlikely to ever receive a truly broken product (i.e. glitches, server issues, stuff you can't easily fix), and the plague of deceptive promotional footage doesn't really apply, so the preorder isn't as dangerous. Even so, I tend to resist it on principle. Best case scenario, you have the time to read the book before full release, and you enjoy it. Worst case, you don't and you don't. You know? And even if you can read it early, can you use it early? I know my games don't move that quickly. If I bought a new book today, I wouldn't be able to bring it to the table until, like, June, probably.
It's hype culture, basically, and I have no use for it.
RIP if you didn't recognize that the MMM bundle was effectively the real preorder, though.
To be honest, the biggest barrier for preorder for me is the risk of disappointment. The one time.I got really burned was Mario Tennis Aces - where you could not play an actual set of tennis (at launch, they patched it in after the uproar), let alone a match (still can't). It's pretty unpredictable as to what you will get, even things as obvious as having sets and matches in a tennis game. Books, especially game books like D&D, are not immune to that.
That's why I generally won't preorder things now. I occasionally cave if there is a good reason to (and generally regret it), but preordering is just a bad habit in my opinion. Best to wait until others have tried it and revealed the good and bad points about it before judging if it's worth it. Fanbois might still ruin that plan, but you have a better shot.
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.