tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post2361320779640773652..comments2024-02-16T22:05:32.773+02:00Comments on LotFP: RPG: The Economics of the Box SetJimLotFPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992397707040836366noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-11287710378471685962010-01-19T05:38:40.339+02:002010-01-19T05:38:40.339+02:00An OSR newbie here, and not in any way involved in...An OSR newbie here, and not in any way involved in publishing or design, but I fail to see why $30 or even $80 is unreasonable for these games.<br /><br />Forget the history - $30 or even $80 for a game is a steal. Certain modern games require 3 books - in rich technicolor - at $40 a pop. Total cost, roughly $120 (no box). A game like Mutant Future in hardback with some color is only $40 or so for the complete game. Still some room for boxed set goodies here, if the author were so inclined.<br /><br />I'm no publisher or designer, so maybe I've missed the boat. But my bottom line is whether the game is fun. The corporate games have set an exceedingly high price point just begging to be undercut. Boxed sets may be expensive, but there seems to be room at that price point for solid, if not luxuriously designed, products. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Are we buying antique glass artwork or an entertaining game?Rob Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15010160743074297211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-5808730090344922932010-01-15T23:02:09.148+02:002010-01-15T23:02:09.148+02:00I wonder if the OD&D 1974 box set ($10 in 1974...<i>I wonder if the OD&D 1974 box set ($10 in 1974) and Empire of the Petal Throne set ($25 in 1975?) wouldn't be better comparisons, actually.</i><br /><br />They are in some ways better and in some ways worse comparisons.<br /><br />The big down check is they include the double digit inflation of the late 70s. Because of the huge increases in scale of TSR publishing they were able to hold prices relatively constant over that period. By comparison war games from SPI doubled over that period.<br /><br />However, the smaller scale of publishing makes them a better comparison.<br /><br />A factor no one mentions is the ruthless supply chain optimization in retail that has occurred with the growth of large chain stores in formerly niche markets. As Toys'R'Us killed off most local toy stores and regional toy chains the ability to push through higher retail prices has dropped. While hobby chains are regional the local stores are still being killed by the internet.<br /><br />I'm not sure retail sales for RPGs are realistic anymore. That said, I think boxed sets are the way to go but they can't be mostly books. Jerk bait of some form is required. The more it looks like a game and gives the perceived value (based on the amount of stuff) of a game the more likely those not already in the hobby will pick it up.Pulp Herbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02486803457210325703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-54303224088572159922010-01-14T02:11:18.312+02:002010-01-14T02:11:18.312+02:00Another good strategy might be to assume they will...Another good strategy might be to assume they will throw them in the bargain bin until safer sales methods prove you wrong. I'm thinking sales through Amazon or something. When you start selling too many to keep up with the shipping personally, then you can outsource sales to a bookstore or something. <br /><br />It would be a pleasant surprise if you don't plan on selling many anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-83989055723565493092010-01-13T22:25:28.034+02:002010-01-13T22:25:28.034+02:00Two things:
1. I think that part of the reason re...Two things:<br /><br />1. I think that part of the reason retailers are avoiding digest-sized material is that there was a glut of little or smaller-sized 3rd party products for 3rd ed. and they didn't sell. I remember seeing them languish on the shelves until 4th ed. came out, and then they went into the bargain-basement bin. People saw them on the shelves, saw they were cheaply made, assumed some enterprising nobody had made them in his garage, assumed the internal quality matched the external and moved on. But remember, these weren't retro-products; they were modern products for a modern game. I don't think that BHPs White Box (or your box-set) would suffer the same fate for a variety of reasons. <br /><br />2. In the final analysis, as the original LBBs prove, it doesn't really matter what it looks like or how cheap it is - if it is awesome, they will buy it. So..just make sure what your offering is awesome, and not just another S&W with a few rules tweaks (as if you needed me to tell you that).nextautumnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05201978755112508204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-67819245777652224042010-01-13T20:45:52.970+02:002010-01-13T20:45:52.970+02:00The idea that these books need to be in colour mak...The idea that these books need to be in colour makes me sad. While <i>WFRP</i> 2e (for example) was indeed a very pretty book, at the end of the day, it's a set of instructions for playing a game, and black and white throughout would have been just fine. It makes it easier to see the additions and amendments you've made with pencil too, although I suppose you're not supposed to do that any more. :(thekelvingreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01928260185408072124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-36434404136580125312010-01-13T19:54:05.865+02:002010-01-13T19:54:05.865+02:00IMO, those may be better comparisons.IMO, those may be better comparisons.jgbrowninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16274622778419965618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-20112669745985299282010-01-13T19:48:13.746+02:002010-01-13T19:48:13.746+02:00>>$12 in 1980 is about $30 dollars today.
....>>$12 in 1980 is about $30 dollars today.<br /><br />... and they printed TONS of those things.<br /><br />I wonder if the OD&D 1974 box set ($10 in 1974) and Empire of the Petal Throne set ($25 in 1975?) wouldn't be better comparisons, actually.<br /><br />$43.88 and $100.53 respectively in today's dollars.JimLotFPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02992397707040836366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-64182032089126389832010-01-13T18:57:30.309+02:002010-01-13T18:57:30.309+02:00Book I is 28 pages, Book 2 is 25 pages, Book 3 is ...Book I is 28 pages, Book 2 is 25 pages, Book 3 is 36 pages, and Book 4 is 26 pages. Throw in a few more pages for the OGL and a few more for the blank spell/monster/notes templates. And really, 4 of these digest pages equal one US Letter sheet. So you're looking at between 29-35 actual US Letter sheets per each WB booklet set.nothinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07988753905326172273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-35285748866968702022010-01-13T18:41:56.742+02:002010-01-13T18:41:56.742+02:00$12 in 1980 is about $30 dollars today.$12 in 1980 is about $30 dollars today.jgbrowninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16274622778419965618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-9736475381814705942010-01-13T18:28:37.111+02:002010-01-13T18:28:37.111+02:00Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. My local stor...Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. My local stores stock several items with black and white covers, but not boxed sets, I suppose.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05646247954542936623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-24245566265216037822010-01-13T18:14:39.832+02:002010-01-13T18:14:39.832+02:00I was told black and white art wouldn't cut it...<i> I was told black and white art wouldn't cut it for retail.</i><br /><br />*cough* Cheap-Ass Games *cough*<br /><br />Their simple black-and-white covers really draw the eye when set against the explosion-in-a-paint-factory of elaborate coloured artwork that makes up a typical game store display. Sometimes simplicity is the answer.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04072272223837426211noreply@blogger.com