TheRPGSite

Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: flyingcircus on August 17, 2012, 10:37:16 AM

Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: flyingcircus on August 17, 2012, 10:37:16 AM
I was looking at RQ6 today and noticed its retail cost is $62.95 or whatnot for a softcover book 458 page count, I have a 405 page count BRP book retailed at $39.95 originally, this means that an extra 53 pages costs you an extra 0.435 cents a per page or $23.00 more, is this reasonable?   Am I being picky or is this just a little steep to pay for a softcover book?  What do you think.

I wouldn't mind if it was a hardcover book.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: danskmacabre on August 17, 2012, 10:43:06 AM
Hmmm how much is that in real money, about £40, seems fair to me seeing as it's a small company with a small print run and a chunky book.

Personally I bought the PDF which I think was about £15. I didn't want the physical book enough to pay £40, but if I was going to actually run it, £40 isn't unfair really.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: flyingcircus on August 17, 2012, 11:06:57 AM
Quote from: danskmacabre;572382Hmmm how much is that in real money, about £40, seems fair to me seeing as it's a small company with a small print run and a chunky book.

Personally I bought the PDF which I think was about £15. I didn't want the physical book enough to pay £40, but if I was going to actually run it, £40 isn't unfair really.

Seems a little much compared to softcovers with around the same page counts and quality to me that have prices in the $39-45 ranges, $62+ seems to be gouging the RQ fan base thats all.  I picked up the PDF as well cause the print book was just too much but running a game from pdf is a pain so, this isn't gonna happen for me.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: SineNomine on August 17, 2012, 11:08:44 AM
I don't know what RQ6's production costs look like, but while $62 is on the high side for a softcover I can see it coming out that way for them. If they've got it in distribution the FLGSes are going to be expecting at least a 60% discount off the cover price, plus their distributor is going to take a cut. Out of what's left they pay the print and art/production costs. The ones they sell direct they can't very well discount, either, unless they want to explain to their retailers why they're undercutting them on the product they just bought. $40 is just about the floor for minimal core book profitability barring a really great print deal or (relatively) huge print run, and it's easy for production costs to drive that up.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: flyingcircus on August 17, 2012, 11:11:46 AM
Quote from: SineNomine;572393I don't know what RQ6's production costs look like, but while $62 is on the high side for a softcover I can see it coming out that way for them. If they've got it in distribution the FLGSes are going to be expecting at least a 60% discount off the cover price, plus their distributor is going to take a cut. Out of what's left they pay the print and art/production costs. The ones they sell direct they can't very well discount, either, unless they want to explain to their retailers why they're undercutting them on the product they just bought. $40 is just about the floor for minimal core book profitability barring a really great print deal or (relatively) huge print run, and it's easy for production costs to drive that up.

Ok well that makes more sense then.  But damn I wanted a hard copy but not at that inflated price point, so I guess I stick with my MRQ2 for now.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: Akrasia on August 17, 2012, 11:22:04 AM
If you act quickly (no later than August 22), you can get both a print copy and the PDF for $50.  

http://www.thedesignmechanism.com/products.php
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: Akrasia on August 17, 2012, 11:25:29 AM
Quote from: flyingcircus;572396Ok well that makes more sense then.  But damn I wanted a hard copy but not at that inflated price point, so I guess I stick with my MRQ2 for now.

Since the same authors wrote MRQ2 and RQ6, the two systems are very similar.  But RQ6 really is the superior version -- the authors ironed out the kinks in MRQ2, and added a lot to the game.

Unlike MRQ2, RQ6 includes a full bestiary, 5 magic systems, guidelines on using  the rules in different settings, etc.  In other words, unlike MRQ2, RQ6 is a genuinely complete game in one volume.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: flyingcircus on August 17, 2012, 11:26:04 AM
Quote from: Akrasia;572406If you act quickly (no later than August 22), you can get both a print copy and the PDF for $50.  

http://www.thedesignmechanism.com/products.php

I looked at that, but with shipping its still $60.00, still to much.  They have no option for media rate mail and if that's media it's overcharging as well.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: Akrasia on August 17, 2012, 11:27:24 AM
Quote from: flyingcircus;572411I looked at that, but with shipping its still $60.00, still to much.  They have no option for media rate mail.

Seems like a deal to me, for the best version of RQ yet, but YMMV obviously. :)
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: flyingcircus on August 17, 2012, 11:32:05 AM
Quote from: Akrasia;572410Since the same authors wrote MRQ2 and RQ6, the two systems are very similar.  But RQ6 really is the superior version -- the authors ironed out the kinks in MRQ2, and added a lot to the game.

Unlike MRQ2, RQ6 includes a full bestiary, 5 magic systems, guidelines on using  the rules in different settings, etc.  In other words, unlike MRQ2, RQ6 is a genuinely complete game in one volume.

Well the superiority of one system over another is debatable.  I haven't fully went through the pdf yet but the one thing I don't like is the character sheet, what I would have to change for sure that I don't like - the little figure silhouette for the hits/armor too generic, reminds me of Avalon Hills version too much.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: flyingcircus on August 17, 2012, 11:34:08 AM
Quote from: Akrasia;572412Seems like a deal to me, for the best version of RQ yet, but YMMV obviously. :)

What are you an employee or one of the writers?
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: beeber on August 17, 2012, 11:49:22 AM
Quote from: flyingcircus;572418What are you an employee or one of the writers?

lol, he's one of the biggest RQ/BRP fans i can think of (not necessarily a bad thing IMO, i love the system too)
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: flyingcircus on August 17, 2012, 12:02:30 PM
Quote from: beeber;572423lol, he's one of the biggest RQ/BRP fans i can think of (not necessarily a bad thing IMO, i love the system too)

He just sounded like a car salesman lol.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: AmazingOnionMan on August 17, 2012, 12:10:37 PM
At the risk of sounding like a shill, with RQ6 you'll basicly get what you pay for. Pretty darn good, it is.

The only negative is that it isn't hardcover. I just hope the game is still around to repurchase when my copy is battered and ugly...
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: flyingcircus on August 17, 2012, 12:13:10 PM
Quote from: baragei;572439At the risk of sounding like a shill, with RQ6 you'll basicly get what you pay for. Pretty darn good, it is.

The only negative is that it isn't hardcover. I just hope the game is still around to repurchase when my copy is battered and ugly...

This is one of my biggest fears for such an expensive book thats not hardback.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: Darran on August 17, 2012, 06:36:29 PM
Quote from: baragei;572439I just hope the game is still around to repurchase when my copy is battered and ugly...

My copy of RuneQuest II is still looking good after 30+ years! ;)
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: Philotomy Jurament on August 17, 2012, 07:38:37 PM
I couldn't quite bring myself to pull the trigger on the physical book at that price (not when I already have MRQII).  I did buy the PDF, though.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: crkrueger on August 17, 2012, 07:56:47 PM
My initial reaction was "Holy Crap! This is expensive!", but then I thought "Compared to what?"  No one can match the economy of scale of WotC, Paizo, or FFG.  Even Kenzer can produce full-color hardcovers for that price.

However, Loz and Pete are a much smaller shop and the fans of RQ are spread out over 5 previous editions, BRP and Heroquest.   For $50 now, you get a damn nice softcover at 450+ pages and the pdf, which ain't bad at all.  It's a lot, but you get a lot.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: The Butcher on August 17, 2012, 09:35:16 PM
Speaking as a slavering fanboy who also owns MRQII, yes, it is overpriced.

I jumped in on the preorder discount Akrasia mentions, though (only 5 days to go!) and got myself a print + PDF deal for $50 ($65 with overseas shipping). Still pricy for a softcover, but beats the $77 softcover post-release (and God knows how much I'll have to pay for the PDF).

But then, living overseas, I'm used to paying extra for gaming stuff. Hell, I still splurge when I find a game store overseas.

On the other hand, the OpenQuest 2 IndieGoGo (http://www.indiegogo.com/oq2) rewards look positively sexy.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: no one important on August 18, 2012, 03:22:18 AM
I sprang for the .pdf and softcover, and I'm happy with the purchase.  It has everything I was looking for, and as a complete game with monsters and all it's not too bad.  The cover texture is nice, too - not too slick, but more matte or something.

(My hard copy just got here yesterday.)

Is it necessary?  Not really, what with OpenQuest and especially MRQII/Legend.  But for a high-magic BRP/% system it's a good one (I think, so far).  (I like that there are five developed schools of magic, so that while most everyone has access to folk magic characters can still specialize.)

Compared to Pathfinder, it's a bit more expensive than the main book and monster manual combined (I think), but to me it feels more complete and provides more options.  It is the book I will use to run my next fantasy campaign, that's for sure.

I quite like it.  It's not cheap, but I'm happy I spent the money.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: Killfuck Soulshitter on August 18, 2012, 04:45:58 AM
Price is high, but if you broke down the money per hour the creators are getting, I don't think I'd begrudge it to them. They're valuing what they offer and there are cheaper alternatives if you don't feel like paying a premium price.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: crkrueger on August 18, 2012, 05:00:49 AM
Quote from: The Butcher;572802Speaking as a slavering fanboy who also owns MRQII, yes, it is overpriced.

I jumped in on the preorder discount Akrasia mentions, though (only 5 days to go!) and got myself a print + PDF deal for $50 ($65 with overseas shipping). Still pricy for a softcover, but beats the $77 softcover post-release (and God knows how much I'll have to pay for the PDF).

But then, living overseas, I'm used to paying extra for gaming stuff. Hell, I still splurge when I find a game store overseas.

On the other hand, the OpenQuest 2 IndieGoGo (http://www.indiegogo.com/oq2) rewards look positively sexy.

Damn 50 days to go and he's almost out of stretch goals.  :D
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: The Butcher on August 18, 2012, 07:29:05 AM
NB. I think it's expensive, but I also think it's an huge game book packed with awesomeness and written by two of the smartest and nicest people in our hobby, and the $50 preorder is more in line with the values I typically expect.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: Vile Traveller on August 18, 2012, 11:23:43 AM
Got the pre-order softcover + PDF deal and I haven't regretted it. This is about the third dead tree RPG book I've bought in the last 6 years so yeah, I think it's worth it.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: languagegeek on August 18, 2012, 08:33:38 PM
Well, I was shocked to see a 64 page Pathfinder Campaign setting book was CDN 25 at the local bookstore. It's like Paizo and Mongoose are like printer companies, the printer (corebook) is affordable but they ding you on the toner (supplements).
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: Loz on August 18, 2012, 09:29:09 PM
Hi all,

The price might seem high, but here at Gencon I've seen quite a few books that are:

Softcover
Less than 100 pages
Digest format
B/W interior (with either no, sparse, or dubious art)

priced at anywhere between $20 and $30. Compared with what you get from us - and remember that direct orders give you a free PDF too - we're offering very good value for money. In fact, I've been quite taken aback by the price of many games that offer a much lower page count and, frankly, lower production values, than RQ, and for a much higher price per page.

Oh, and some of these games are not indie or small press, either...
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: Lynn on August 19, 2012, 12:02:07 PM
Quote from: languagegeek;573272Well, I was shocked to see a 64 page Pathfinder Campaign setting book was CDN 25 at the local bookstore. It's like Paizo and Mongoose are like printer companies, the printer (corebook) is affordable but they ding you on the toner (supplements).

A lot of Paizo stuff is substantially cheaper on Amazon. When sticker price ends up close to $50, that's how I shop.
Title: Is it me or is RQ6 a little over Priced?
Post by: Akrasia on August 20, 2012, 11:54:15 PM
Quote from: flyingcircus;572415Well the superiority of one system over another is debatable.

Sure, but Loz and Pete wrote both systems, and it's clear that RQ6 is the version in which they had the freedom to write the game that they wanted to write.

And (for what it's worth) here is Greg Stafford's judgement:

Quote"What a wonderful game! A superb example of improving a game over the years. I especially enjoy the combination of the old and new: Strike Ranks and Luck points, Hit Points and Aging, Cults and "The Petersen Rules of Good Gaming," and runes, runes, runes! I love the clear layout, organization and art.

Thank you for this magnificent, updated rendition of our old classic."

(From here (http://www.thedesignmechanism.com/forum.php#/20120811/greg-sez-1831702/).)