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Which book price is feasable and when does a book grow overpriced?
- Monsternomicon Vol. II consists of 240 pages in b/w and costs 39.99 $$.
- Monsternomicon Vol. I had the same page count and was also b/w - its price: 29.99 $$.
- The Witchfire trilogy of the same company consists of 320 pages in b/w - price: 34.99 $$.
- The two campaign setting books each cost as much as vol. II, but offer more than 400 pages of the same high quality (in other words: offer almost twice as much content for the same price).
- Five Fingers: Port of Deceit, the last publication before Monsternomicon Vol. II seems to have set a new price standard: 34.99 $$ for 208 pages in b/w!?!
So which price is still o.k. for you and which price is just too much?
I understand that high quality full colour books justify higher prices. But 240 pages in b/w? The content quality might be great, but I don't see a reason for a 33% price increase in comparision to vol. I (apart from raising the profit margin).
What is your opinion?
Greetings,
Günther
They're a smaller company, and I doubt their margin is that big on their probably limited (when compared to a larger company) print run. They're not going to be able experience economy of scale the way a larger company is. So yes, expect to shell out a few more doucats for the material.
I recall people saying that Privateer Press was one of the most successful companies out there, lately.
I still wonder why they would have to increase their book prices *this* dramatically... Were the economies of scale that much more favourable earlier? Why do other companies manage to keep their book prices stable?
Personally, I think that when Privateer Press originally released the Iron Kingdoms line they were taking a big risk. They priced their products reasonably (I might even say cheap, given the amazingly high quality of their work) and waited for the market data to roll in. Fast forward a few years later: Iron Kingdoms has been a fantastic success in the industry. Now, Privateer is able to be a bit more bold with its pricing because they know that their product is in demand and that they have secured themselves a reputation amongst the gamer population as a producer of high-quality material.
The regular D&D Monster Manual is about $30. The Monsternomicon vol. 1 has twice as much detail, flavor, and work put into it. The only thing it lacked was color ink (and honestly, I think coloring it would have damaged the 'feel' of the book). It sold for the same price. Now Privateer knows that they don't have to price themselves that low in order to turn a profit, so they won't.
Yeah, this book is more expensive. Am I gonna pay that much for it? Yup, because I know I'm going to get my money's worth. I think the pricing for Vol. 1 was a steal. This is closer to what I would expect for a high-quality product like this one.
Personally, I think that when Privateer Press originally released the Iron Kingdoms line they were taking a big risk. They priced their products reasonably (I might even say cheap, given the amazingly high quality of their work) and waited for the market data to roll in. Fast forward a few years later: Iron Kingdoms has been a fantastic success in the industry. Now, Privateer is able to be a bit more bold with its pricing because they know that their product is in demand and that they have secured themselves a reputation amongst the gamer population as a producer of high-quality material.
The regular D&D Monster Manual is about $30. The Monsternomicon vol. 1 has twice as much detail, flavor, and work put into it. The only thing it lacked was color ink (and honestly, I think coloring it would have damaged the 'feel' of the book). It sold for the same price. Now Privateer knows that they don't have to price themselves that low in order to turn a profit, so they won't.
Yeah, this book is more expensive. Am I gonna pay that much for it? Yup, because I know I'm going to get my money's worth. I think the pricing for Vol. 1 was a steal. This is closer to what I would expect for a high-quality product like this one.
Everyone his opinion: I do think that it is not true that "twice as much detail, flavour, and work" were put into vol. II. You are right about every single monster, but there are only 50 in this book! Vol. I offered in summa more monster content.
If you are into setting information, this is your book. If you just look for the very detailed monsters, 39.99 $$ for 176 pages of monsters are heavily overpriced. And yes: WotC books offer more graphical quality, even though the readability of vol. II drastically increased thanks to a different fonts choice.
So I enjoy every single monster entry and yet feel irritated about the second part of the book and the price tag.
Well, what do you think the reason is?
I guess, someone in this thread mentioned it. Or more simply: Milk the cow. People praise the product line and Privateer Press tests how much more money (in comparision to original books by WotC) customers are willing to pay without a significant decrease in demand.
Obviously I am one of those who are unwilling.
I ordered the book without checking the price tag - my mistake, I didn't expect a 33% price increase in comparision to vol. I. And I didn't expect to pay more than for an original WotC monster book!
The content quality of the monster section is top notch, but nevertheless this is the last Privateer Press book I purchased.
The economics aside (can you tell I got into writing because I hate math?), how's it look?! I wrote about 1/3 of this puppy and I haven't seen it yet! *Anxious!*
Son of a gun! I was on the fence about picking up Volume II. Now that I see a Pazonian dude wrote 1/3 of the book, I have no choice. Crafty very crafty.
The economics aside (can you tell I got into writing because I hate math?), how's it look?! I wrote about 1/3 of this puppy and I haven't seen it yet! *Anxious!*
It looks fantastic. I looked over my friend's and it keeps the feel from the first, which I think is the best monster manual out there. They added all the monsters from the HORDES armies, if you are into the fig. part of their product.
It's a little expensive for me right now, but I think it is a must buy for not only D&D fans but Iron Kingdoms as well.
After I read the book again (it's a really, really good book and I don't complain about it's price!), I discovered, that Paizonian F. Wesley Schneider is mentioned in the list of authors. So, I'm wondering which of the monsters included he did design.
Hey, how come they didn't offer an autographed version? I would have bought it from Paizo right away!
After I read the book again (it's a really, really good book and I don't complain about it's price!), I discovered, that Paizonian F. Wesley Schneider is mentioned in the list of authors. So, I'm wondering which of the monsters included he did design.
It's been a while now, so I don't remember all of it, but I think I tackled the majority of the Skorne monsters (it all gets a little fuzzy after two or three months back). The drakes, the ethon, the behemoth, the saber cat, the ancestral guardian, the chimera, the AWESOME hydra, the Skorne ghosts, and a few others I'm sure I'm forgetting (sorry, i don't have my copy here). Nate and Doug over at Privateer were pretty much like, "Here's a stack of awesome concept art. Wanta make some monsters?" So yeah, pretty cool!
Hey, how come they didn't offer an autographed version? I would have bought it from Paizo right away!
Yeah, since there was no names on the cover it was pretty much under the radar. Sorry about that! Track me down next time your in Seattle or at Gen Con and I'll scribble all over it for ya! (I can draw a little house, and a hapony, and a delver, and a...)
Nate and Doug over at Privateer were pretty much like, "Here's a stack of awesome concept art. Wanta make some monsters?" So yeah, pretty cool!
Wow, cool! I always thought the monster write-up would be first and then sent to the artist. The other way around makes sense, though. Is the way you describe it common business practice?
Nate and Doug over at Privateer were pretty much like, "Here's a stack of awesome concept art. Wanta make some monsters?" So yeah, pretty cool!Wow, cool! I always thought the monster write-up would be first and then sent to the artist. The other way around makes sense, though. Is the way you describe it common business practice?
[I realize this is ancient, but I also realize you never got an answer...]
I think of that method as the "Marvel Way," because Marvel Comics used to be big on doing the art first and working up the dialogue after.
At Paizo, the text usually comes first. Sometimes, though, you get a good illustration that ends up going spare for whatever reason, and then you might ask a writer to work it in somewhere.
Privateer may work differently—and given that a couple of the original owners were known first as artists, it wouldn't surprise me.
