Quote from: imaro;427773Sooo, they're selling you an electronic version of their rules... that is searchable and book markeable... sounds pretty similar to DDI's compendium...

And yet is not. For example, open up your PDF of the core rulebook and find the new classes that were released with the Advanced Players Guide. Of course, they're not in there. And when a rule changes, errata is created, clarifications are made, etc., the PDF doesn't update itself.

Because it's a copy of a book.

WotC sells content. Information.

Quote from: imaro;427773Yes... google is your friend.

Absolutely. I went to Google to find out why it's so unpopular and, already having a sense from your initial statements, found out why.

Quote from: imaro;427773...so again, why haven't their printed books become obsolete?

Because they not selling their content of their game outside their books. You can call a PDF of a book something other than a book as much as you'd like, but it doesn't change it's nature.

For $5.99 a month, you can get every 4e rule released and a great deal of content beyond just the rules. You don't get a book or the rules from a particular book or just advanced classes or just specific mechanical elements - you get everything. You can use the tools provided (if necessary) to use and mash up that content however you'd like. New content is added almost daily.

When Paizo offers something comparable, people will have less use for their actual printed books and their sales will drop, too.

Seanchai

Quote from: Shazbot79;427785So...Castles & Crusades?

Not really.

Quote from: jgants;427688And yet that sort of thing happens all the time.

Popular college or even high school teams can have sellout games, but the White Sox are lucky to fill more than a half of the stadium on any given game even the year right after they won the series.

Yeah, but that's because they're the fuckin' White Sox

Quote from: Seanchai;427787And yet is not. For example, open up your PDF of the core rulebook and find the new classes that were released with the Advanced Players Guide. Of course, they're not in there. And when a rule changes, errata is created, clarifications are made, etc., the PDF doesn't update itself.

Because it's a copy of a book.

WotC sells content. Information.

Yeah, so does Paizo... the PFSRD has all the rules, including the classes from the Advanced Players Guide... so your point is moot... all the rules are free for anyone who wants them.

Quote from: Seanchai;427787Absolutely. I went to Google to find out why it's so unpopular and, already having a sense from your initial statements, found out why.

Totally irrelevant to my point... seeing as "why it's so unpopular..." is a totally subjective statement... but good try on avoiding the fact that there is a CB... and please let's not act like the new web based CB is anything but unpopular right now.

Quote from: Seanchai;427787Because they not selling their content of their game outside their books. You can call a PDF of a book something other than a book as much as you'd like, but it doesn't change it's nature.

For $5.99 a month, you can get every 4e rule released and a great deal of content beyond just the rules. You don't get a book or the rules from a particular book or just advanced classes or just specific mechanical elements - you get everything. You can use the tools provided (if necessary) to use and mash up that content however you'd like. New content is added almost daily.

When Paizo offers something comparable, people will have less use for their actual printed books and their sales will drop, too.

Seanchai

First, all the rules aren't in the compendium... second, Pathfinder already does... here look at this site  http://www.d20pfsrd.com/ , all the rules for free... yet the books still sells...why?

Oof, what a beating.

Imaro, meet Seanchai, a 4E Zealot. Paizo touched him in a naughty place when they decided to not support 4E after being fucked over by WotC and created Pathfinder instead.

Quote from: imaro;427742... so why haven't their printed books become obsolete?

Quote from: imaro;427773... so again, why haven't their printed books become obsolete?

Quote from: imaro;427819... yet the books still sells...why?

Why won't anyone tell Imaro why Paizo still sells books?!

I could never be assed to use an SRD.

The 4e CB was pretty easy, though.

Quote from: Peregrin;427901I could never be assed to use an SRD.

I personally used the original SRD a lot when talking about the game online. Whether it was in some general discussion or in actual play the way we use PDFs now, the SRD was a very useful resource for instant copy-paste reference, and still is, when you want precise quotations and the like. Creating characters, running games, referencing spells and feats online. It's good stuff.

I almost always use the SRD for 3/3.5 instead of wrestling with a stack of books at the table.

Well, to be fair, when I was deciding on the first game that I'd be running, ever, I looked at 3.x and was like "Hellll no!"

Quote from: imaro;427819Totally irrelevant to my point...

No. Whether people will use a tool or not is pretty damn relevant to the sale of that tool and other similar tools.

You point out that the SRD contains a bunch of information - and it does. I'll have to concede that point. I didn't realize their SRD was so up to date and comprehensive.

But, historically, the majority of people simply don't use them. They're too troublesome. Books are faster and easier.

Quote from: imaro;427819First, all the rules aren't in the compendium...

Which ones are you referring to?

Seanchai

Quote from: Seanchai;427913No. Whether people will use a tool or not is pretty damn relevant to the sale of that tool and other similar tools.

Not when you don't have a shred of evidence toback up just how popular or unpopular a tool is.  Please enlghten us with numbers on the CB's for either system...

Quote from: Seanchai;427913You point out that the SRD contains a bunch of information - and it does. I'll have to concede that point. I didn't realize their SRD was so up to date and comprehensive.

But, historically, the majority of people simply don't use them. They're too troublesome. Books are faster and easier.

So now you've changed your argument to rely on a subjective... "the majority of people simply don't use them..." that there is no way to prove or disprove... whatever man.

Quote from: Seanchai;427913Which ones are you referring to?

Seanchai

One example I believe would be the rules for familiars...as well as those for skill powers...and are backgrounds in there now?

So now books are faster and easier?

But way back on page 5, his claim was WoTC made their books obsolete, which is why their books aren't selling.

Imaro, you'll get a heart attack trying to keep up goalposts moving this fast.

Quote from: Cole;427548The "30 Minutes of Fun" is a load of hogwash born out of a non-gamer's zinger at watching a bunch of staffers play. What it developed to was an actively destructive motivational slogan when it assumed that only the portion of the game which was "kickin' ass with mechanical support" was the "fun." It's like arguing that movies need to be 90 minutes of CGI action sequences.

Oh, I agree. But the zinger was too good to pass up.

RPGPundit