When did DnD get so expensive?

Harlock · July 04, 2017, 10:44:11 PM

Quote from: Dumarest;973182Playing less popular games is obviously a factor but I've just never felt the call of D&D.

I've played a lot of less to flat out unpopular games myself. There's no shame in not having felt the call of the masses for "the most popular roleplaying game in the world" or however the retroclones phrase it. I've played many of games that were better than D&D for me and my groups. I've enjoyed some heavily homebrewed (read neutered) D&D campaigns as well. It just seems D&D is the gateway drug and some people are content puffing it while others look to mainline something harder.

Dumarest · July 04, 2017, 10:47:51 PM

In that case I've got a spoonful of crack melting over a lighter and my eyes are yellow and my skin is sallow and my buddy is dozing in a threadbare armchair next to the stack of stolen electronics.

Abraxus · July 05, 2017, 12:44:16 AM

The funny thing is that 13th Age that the Op extols the virtues of while fairly complete also has material spread over more than just the core. If one wants more classes with some rules clarifications and better explanations of some stuff in the core. Then one needs 13 True ways. The Bestiary in the core while decent is expanded upon in the 13th Age Bestiary. Both go for for 40$ in US funds on their site. So it's cheaper but by much.

Charon's Little Helper · July 05, 2017, 01:20:58 AM

As others have said - it's inflation - which has hit books somewhat harder than other products due to the increased cost of paper in the 90's. (I've read that it was mostly due to the late 80's & early 90's being when environmentalists were able to start limiting where lumber was harvested a lot more - which raised wood prices.)

It reminds me of my mom talking about how gas used to cost a buck or two to fill up her car & she could go to the movies for a quarter.

S'mon · July 05, 2017, 04:32:11 AM

Quote from: Omega;973164Another bonus of splitting the books is...

The players just need to buy just the PHB. Meaning entry level for a player is just 35$ (or 50 retail) This leaves the rest to the DM to foot. Though of course some DMs foot for all three.

One possible price-reducing approach is to just buy a PHB, and use the monsters and magic items from the SRD (the Basic rules also have lots of monsters but skimp on the items), printing out the bits you need. From the player POV they get the complete game, and it's 1/3 the price.

Biscuitician · July 05, 2017, 05:20:43 AM

Quote from: sureshot;973209The funny thing is that 13th Age that the Op extols the virtues of while fairly complete also has material spread over more than just the core. If one wants more classes with some rules clarifications and better explanations of some stuff in the core. Then one needs 13 True ways. The Bestiary in the core while decent is expanded upon in the 13th Age Bestiary. Both go for for 40$ in US funds on their site. So it's cheaper but by much.

If that's true then I
M not keen on that either

Biscuitician · July 05, 2017, 05:22:04 AM

Quote from: S'mon;973234One possible price-reducing approach is to just buy a PHB, and use the monsters and magic items from the SRD (the Basic rules also have lots of monsters but skimp on the items), printing out the bits you need. From the player POV they get the complete game, and it's 1/3 the price.

Not a bad idea. But I'm too vain for such common sense

Voros · July 05, 2017, 05:41:03 AM

How about we all come over and beat you unconscious with our D&D hardcovers? Maybe that would resolve your conundrum?

finarvyn · July 05, 2017, 07:20:52 AM

Quote from: Dumarest;973173I've never bought the idea that players need a copy of anything, really, or even to know the rules for that matter.

I agree with this. For years I ran various editions of D&D with players who didn't own the ruleboks and weren't ready to out-quote rules on me. I liked it a lot better than the early AD&D days where my players knew the rulebooks better than I did.

Nowadays when I go to play at 5E Adventurer's League games at the local store I find players who never DM but own the DMG just to memorize what all of the magic items do, and know the monsters in the MM by heart. I think that takes a lot of the fun and "wonder" out of the game because it's neat to discover some new magic item or to be surprised by some monster's unusual ability or weakness. These guys suck all of that fun out of the game, IMO.

GameDaddy · July 05, 2017, 07:27:02 AM

Quote from: finarvyn;973248I agree with this. For years I ran various editions of D&D with players who didn't own the ruleboks and weren't ready to out-quote rules on me. I liked it a lot better than the early AD&D days where my players knew the rulebooks better than I did.

Nowadays when I go to play at 5E Adventurer's League games at the local store I find players who never DM but own the DMG just to memorize what all of the magic items do, and know the monsters in the MM by heart. I think that takes a lot of the fun and "wonder" out of the game because it's neat to discover some new magic item or to be surprised by some monster's unusual ability or weakness. These guys suck all of that fun out of the game, IMO.

Which is why I still prefer running homebrew games and campaigns. I like to add in unique, varied, and interesting stuff that isn't in the books, just because. it's alot of work though. but often pays off with player immersion as they realize they are the ones calling the shots.

Biscuitician · July 05, 2017, 10:44:00 AM

I'm very tempted by 13th Age acually, might treat myself even though i've got loads more games I never play. I still haven't finished readign L5R 4e, and i brought Blades in the Dark last week.

Brand55 · July 05, 2017, 11:14:32 AM

13A is great at what it sets out to do, and the game is entirely playable with just the core book. It has excellent supplements and adventures but they are hardly necessary, and some of them are nearly useless if you choose not to use the game's default setting. If I had any complaints about it, they would be that the multiclassing system introduced in 13 True Ways is wonky and the Icons system could use better explanation and examples in the core rules. Personally, I'd probably just disallow multiclassing entirely and I prefer to use a simpler method for Icon rolls that downplays them a bit and gives me as the GM more control over how and when they come into play.

san dee jota · July 05, 2017, 11:53:14 AM

Quote from: Brand55;97329113A is great at what it sets out to do, and the game is entirely playable with just the core book.

This.

I have no interest in playing or running 13A, but it -is- a good read and filled with simple and inspiring ideas worth considering for other games (like "what if -this- PC was the only member of his class in the world", or "let's do something really weird mechanically with these monsters"). To me it's D&D for people who want games to come preloaded with -memorable- mechanics; which isn't to say it always works out or everyone should love it, but I give it mad kudos for having the designers actually call out why some of the things are the way they are in the text.

Abraxus · July 05, 2017, 12:23:23 PM

Quote from: Biscuitician;973244If that's true then I
M not keen on that either

The core is still very useable. The other books are optional. I'm just trying to show that finding all all in one complete inexpensive core fantasy book exist. Just that they are the exception and not the rule.

Quote from: Voros;973247How about we all come over and beat you unconscious with our D&D hardcovers? Maybe that would resolve your conundrum?

I'm starting to wonder if the OP is being dense and uncooperative on purpose at this point. Solutions and advice were given and simply ignored. I think the OP was never really interested in any advice or feedback. Just another "make me feel validated" slapping on the back "atta boy" style of thread. No intention of following any advice given. Rpgs are expensive and nothing short of a gun pointed at them and even then will change their opinion on that.

Gronan of Simmerya · July 06, 2017, 12:24:32 AM

People are buying it, so it's not "too expensive."

"It is more than I can afford or care to pay" <> "too expensive."