CEO
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With the August 13 release date for the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook approaching, I'm reaching out to ask for your help. While there's a little over a month until the book is released, we're just a few short weeks away from shipping the books to our distributors. Why is this important to you?
With today's difficult economy, retailers and distributors have generally cut back on the amount of inventory that they are carrying. So if you plan to buy your copy of the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook from any place other than from Paizo, we ask that you inform your preferred retailer of your intention to buy from them before Monday, July 13, and encourage them to place an order with their distributor by that date. This will help ensure that their distributor will place an order with us, and that you'll have a book waiting for you on August 13. Nobody wants to see the distribution channel understocked on the Core Rulebook on the release date; restocks can take as long as two weeks to make their way through the distribution channel—and even longer internationally—so a retailer who sells out might not get more copies until September!
So if you're planning on buying from your favorite local game store, please talk to the owner before July 13 and let him know you intend to buy your copy of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook from him. If you're ordering online from a place other than paizo.com, please place your preorder by July 13 so they know how many copies to order. If we all work together, we can get the right number of books out there so that you can get a copy of the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook from the retailer of your choice.
Those of you who are planning to subscribe to the Pathfinder RPG line or preorder the book directly from paizo.com have a bit longer: you should place your order or start your subscription with us before August 3 to ensure that your book will arrive as close to the release date as possible. (We're also planning to bring plenty of copies to Gen Con in Indianapolis.)
So please take the time to let the retail venue of your choice know about your desire to purchase the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook from them as soon as you can.
We also wanted to let you know that the PDF of the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook will be available at paizo.com on August 13. We've priced it at just $9.99, which we hope allows those who want the book in both print and electronic form to feel that you can still support your favorite retailer and purchase the PDF without breaking your budget. (Of course, those who subscribe to the Pathfinder RPG line will get the PDF for free with your Core Rulebook.)
Finally, we'd like to let you know that Paizo is celebrating our 7th anniversary today, and we appreciate all the help that more than 52,000 of you provided by playtesting the Pathfinder RPG, and that even more of you have provided by supporting Paizo as a company with your purchases and friendship on our messageboards over the last seven years. Thanks!
Sincerely,
Lisa Stevens
CEO
Paizo Publishing, LLC
Already have mine preordered through my FLGS.
Lots of good stuff.
You'll be happy to know that not only have I already subscribed, I've ordered an additional copy from Paizo for myself.
I've also ordered two copies off Amazon for two of my players birthdays.
So that's four copies from one person. Hope that helps. :)
Happy 7th, Paizo. Keep making the good stuff.
And good luck with Pathfinder RPG. I know I can't wait for my copy.
I've managed to talk up Pathfinder RPG enough to my group that it will result in at least a couple of sales of the hardcover (besides mine). Just started Runelords on Sunday...and might switch if we can make the transition to the new system smoothly.
I'll let them know to check with their stores or place the order on Amazon early, if that's how they're going - though I already encouraged them to do it directly via Paizo.com (that's better for you, right?)
M
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I already encouraged them to do it directly via Paizo.com (that's better for you, right?)
M
We do make more money when someone buys direct from us, but we really want people to purchase the books wherever they feel the most comfortable. So buying from us is great, but buying from one of our retail partners is just as good, maybe not from a bottom line perspective, but from a getting the books into stores so other people can see them perspective.
-Lisa
I have just preordered it through the local game store :) Also Happy 7th Anniversary Paizo!!Thanks for all your love and effort in putting together some truly awesome and inspiring products!
Last week, when I heard that the pdf would be priced at $10 (okay, $9.99), the first thing I did was tell my local store owner that I would be able to buy the book directly from him.
With his discount to people who pre-order and pre-pay, I will end up paying just about the same for book and pdf that I would by subscribing at Paizo and getting the book for free.
But this allows me to support the store that I spend so much (too much) time in.
Thanks.
I can't help but notice that the August 13th release date coincides with the first day of GenCon '09, which I plan to attend. Is there anything special I can do ahead of time to make the process of buying the book from Paizo at GenCon smoother than showing up and waiting in line? (Normally I would pre-order through my local store, but I'd like to have the book at GenCon.)
~Doskious Steele
I ordered minutes ago at amazon, sadly almost no FLGS survived here in Germany, 15 years ago I knew more than half a dozen stores in the Frankfurt area, now I know 0 :-(
Can't wait to have the book !! !!!!! !!!
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Well, my FLGS is going to stock them in hefty numbers, at least according to them (4E has apparently sold miserably around here, so they're putting their faith in PF RPG :)). I personally know that at least 20-30 guys in my home town are getting the book, and most of them at our FLGS (including the store owners, who're all D&D fans).
They haven't stocked Paizo stuff before, but they said that after PF RPG is out, they'll have more confidence that other Paizo stuff will sell as well. :)
Done and done. Pre-ordered thru my FLGS!
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Done. My FNSLGS (Friendly not-so-local gaming store), Fanboy 3 say they will have plenty of stock, but that they don't know the release date yet....
Are UK stores likely to have the RPG by the 13th August? Would be nice if I could spend the afternoon there playing a PFS season1 game and flicking through the book!
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Lisa,
I've got a marketing idea for you:
Release the PDF for sale a week or two early.
Pros:
- Zero cost. All the work to create the PDF and sell it through paizo.com will have to be done anyway. Pure profit for the win!
- High demand. With the Wednesday previews, the fans are getting pretty stoked about the final version. Even the folks who don't like some of the changes from Beta to Final are still interested in seeing those changes.
- Players in GenCon PFRPG events are better prepared. Those events run more smoothly, and they leave the table with a more favorable impression of the product.
- Double your sales. People who have preordered the book may be willing to shell out another $10 for the early look, even though their book is already on its way.
Cons:
- Why do I need this heavy, expensive book? It is possible that once Player X's burning desire to see the rules is sated by the PDF, s/he may be less inclined to drop $50 more on the hard copy. It's better for the brand if people are lugging around books, but I'd be surprised if the sale of one book nets more profit than the sale of one PDF.
- It may hurt retailers. If a FLGS owner has a customer cancel their preorder because they already bought the PDF, that my sour Paizo-retailer relations. If Amazon sees a huge glut of preorder cancellations which just happens to coincide with the announcement of the PDF prerelease, well, that would be bad.
Summary:
I think releasing the PDF a week early would drive an increase in PDF sales and may potentially drive a decrease in book sales. I would expect the increased PDF sales to exceed any decreased book sales by a wide margin.
I'm not a marketing professional, but I thought I'd throw this out there.
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CEO
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Done. My FNSLGS (Friendly not-so-local gaming store), Fanboy 3 say they will have plenty of stock, but that they don't know the release date yet....
Are UK stores likely to have the RPG by the 13th August? Would be nice if I could spend the afternoon there playing a PFS season1 game and flicking through the book!
We are going to do our best to make sure that UK (and for that matter European stores) have the books in plenty of time to hit the August 13th release date. However, we aren't in control of when they ship their products from their US consolidation sight or how fast their transport is overseas. But we will be giving them weeks to get it done, so hopefully this will be as close to a world-wide release as we can get!
-Lisa
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CEO
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Lisa,
I've got a marketing idea for you:
Release the PDF for sale a week or two early.
Pros:
- Zero cost. All the work to create the PDF and sell it through paizo.com will have to be done anyway. Pure profit for the win!
- High demand. With the Wednesday previews, the fans are getting pretty stoked about the final version. Even the folks who don't like some of the changes from Beta to Final are still interested in seeing those changes.
- Players in GenCon PFRPG events are better prepared. Those events run more smoothly, and they leave the table with a more favorable impression of the product.
- Double your sales. People who have preordered the book may be willing to shell out another $10 for the early look, even though their book is already on its way.Cons:
- Why do I need this heavy, expensive book? It is possible that once Player X's burning desire to see the rules is sated by the PDF, s/he may be less inclined to drop $50 more on the hard copy. It's better for the brand if people are lugging around books, but I'd be surprised if the sale of one book nets more profit than the sale of one PDF.
- It may hurt retailers. If a FLGS owner has a customer cancel their preorder because they already bought the PDF, that my sour Paizo-retailer relations. If Amazon sees a huge glut of preorder cancellations which just happens to coincide with the announcement of the PDF prerelease, well, that would be bad.Summary:
I think releasing the PDF a week early would drive an increase in PDF sales and may potentially drive a decrease in book sales. I would expect the increased PDF sales to exceed any decreased book sales by a wide margin.I'm not a marketing professional, but I thought I'd throw this out there.
We actually had a discussion about the pros and cons of doing exactly this, but decided that we really needed to have a world-wide release day for this important product and didn't want to do anything that might jeopardize this with our retail partners as you mentioned in one of your con points. So the PDF will be available on August 13th like the hardcopy will.
-Lisa
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We are going to do our best to make sure that UK (and for that matter European stores) have the books in plenty of time to hit the August 13th release date. However, we aren't in control of when they ship their products from their US consolidation sight or how fast their transport is overseas. But we will be giving them weeks to get it done, so hopefully this will be as close to a world-wide release as we can get!
-Lisa
Thanks Lisa, that's good to know. I'll oin them nearer the time then }:)
We are going to do our best to make sure that UK (and for that matter European stores) have the books in plenty of time to hit the August 13th release date. However, we aren't in control of when they ship their products from their US consolidation sight or how fast their transport is overseas. But we will be giving them weeks to get it done, so hopefully this will be as close to a world-wide release as we can get!
-Lisa
I know for all of our loudness and jumping up and down, Australia is still a very small market - are we looking at August as well?
I will of course be purchasing the PDF on the 13th....
I have spoken with my group and at least 3 of them will buy the PDF and another 2 will buy the book.
Confirmed my pre-order earlier today - night to hear that the store was planning on maintaining stock/inventory, regardless of pre-orders.
AJC
You know what? I totally should do this. I was planning to use this as an excuse to go the the multi-story mecca of game stores, but with my luck they probably won't have any.
I was going to order online, but the shipping is worth more than the book! I know it's not your fault, Paizo.
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We actually had a discussion about the pros and cons of doing exactly this, but decided that we really needed to have a world-wide release day for this important product and didn't want to do anything that might jeopardize this with our retail partners as you mentioned in one of your con points. So the PDF will be available on August 13th like the hardcopy will.
-Lisa
Ah, you're in a much better position to judge the magnitude of that danger, of course. It's nice to see that y'all are willing to forgo the quick buck in favor of maintaining good relations.
I think I'll still spend the extra ten to tide me over while the book is in the mail. :)
Thanks for the response!
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We are going to do our best to make sure that UK (and for that matter European stores) have the books in plenty of time to hit the August 13th release date. However, we aren't in control of when they ship their products from their US consolidation sight or how fast their transport is overseas. But we will be giving them weeks to get it done, so hopefully this will be as close to a world-wide release as we can get!
-Lisa
I know for all of our loudness and jumping up and down, Australia is still a very small market - are we looking at August as well?
I will of course be purchasing the PDF on the 13th....
I have spoken with my group and at least 3 of them will buy the PDF and another 2 will buy the book.
We distribute through Walrus and Carpenter down under and they will be in the same boat as the rest of our overseas distributors. We will be getting it to them weeks early, but I don't know how often they ship stuff down to Australia. But we are doing everything we can from our side.
-Lisa
We distribute through Walrus and Carpenter down under and they will be in the same boat as the rest of our overseas distributors. We will be getting it to them weeks early, but I don't know how often they ship stuff down to Australia. But we are doing everything we can from our side.
-Lisa
Thanks Lisa :-) Cool Bananas
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Last week, when I heard that the pdf would be priced at $10 (okay, $9.99), the first thing I did was tell my local store owner that I would be able to buy the book directly from him.
With his discount to people who pre-order and pre-pay, I will end up paying just about the same for book and pdf that I would by subscribing at Paizo and getting the book for free.
But this allows me to support the store that I spend so much (too much) time in.
Thanks.
That's what I did as well.
With the August 13 release date for the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook approaching
I checked on borders.com [closest thing I have to a gaming store around here], and they show the Pathfinder core book's release date as 19 August. Barnes & Noble shows the same date on their site.
Is that an error on the part of these companies, old information they haven't updated, or will Borders/B&N be releasing Pathfinder a week late?
Maybe I should just order from Paizo directly?
My guess is that they've got a bit of a lag based on how their supply chain is set up. It's not too bad considering that pretty much any RPG other than those from WW or WotC have a very spotty track record of showing up "timely" through outlets such as Border/BN/Amazon, IME.
AJC
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Already pre-ordered my Pathfinder RPG book a couple weeks back from our FLGS and for doing so got 10% off PLUS the already 5% you get on all game products there.
That covers the cost of the PDF I'll be buying as well :D
Also as a note when I asked about it, she had told me there were several others that had reserved/pre-ordered as well to make sure they got it.
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CEO
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With the August 13 release date for the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook approachingI checked on borders.com [closest thing I have to a gaming store around here], and they show the Pathfinder core book's release date as 19 August. Barnes & Noble shows the same date on their site.
Is that an error on the part of these companies, old information they haven't updated, or will Borders/B&N be releasing Pathfinder a week late?
Maybe I should just order from Paizo directly?
That is the release date the the book trade is using. For some reason, they have to release on a Wednesday, and that is the first Wednesday after August 13th.
-Lisa
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That's what I did as well.Last week, when I heard that the pdf would be priced at $10 (okay, $9.99), the first thing I did was tell my local store owner that I would be able to buy the book directly from him.
With his discount to people who pre-order and pre-pay, I will end up paying just about the same for book and pdf that I would by subscribing at Paizo and getting the book for free.
But this allows me to support the store that I spend so much (too much) time in.
Thanks.
Same here.
Already done! K.C. at our local game store knows everyone in our Thursday group is buying one. Plus I've been stoking the fires with the Paizo product coming into the store with all the guys at our Wednesday 4e store game (most of these guys have never seen Pathfinder before). Heck, one ex-player of ours cornered me at the checkout line at the grocery store to hit me up for the website for Pathfinder a couple of days ago.
In fact, as soon as the books arrive, we're switching our store game over to a Pathfinder game! I'm so pumped.
Oh and in October, for Halloween, we're having everyone we can go to the store in Pathfinder costumes...
I'm thinking Hellknight, personally.
Oh,
Lisa. Just so you know, I stopped ordering books through my FLGS quite a while ago. I'd rather order them online. The reason being that my FLGS has lots of employee's who turn it into my NSFLGS (Not So Friendly Local Gaming Store). I see no reason to spend money at a place where pimply teens ignore me so they they can argue about their D&D character and then do the absolute minimum possible to get me out the door so I quit interrupting their talk.
I'd rather give my money to you guys, as you seem to be my FIGS (Friendly Internet Game Store).
MDT
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CEO
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Oh,
Lisa. Just so you know, I stopped ordering books through my FLGS quite a while ago. I'd rather order them online. The reason being that my FLGS has lots of employee's who turn it into my NSFLGS (Not So Friendly Local Gaming Store). I see no reason to spend money at a place where pimply teens ignore me so they they can argue about their D&D character and then do the absolute minimum possible to get me out the door so I quit interrupting their talk.I'd rather give my money to you guys, as you seem to be my FIGS (Friendly Internet Game Store).
MDT
That is why we are here. Like I said in the post, I want people to have the ability to purchase this book from where they wish, whether that is a local store or here on paizo.com. We are happy to have you on board MDT!
-Lisa
Right on. Will do.
I'll go to MDT's store and tell them punks what's what too.
Damn punk kids.
Where is they?
Damn shame when kids at the damn flgs start putting on airs like the kids at the damn record store.
Those dern whippersnappers won't get off my yard either!
Wow, you're making me feel old now.
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We are going to do our best to make sure that UK (and for that matter European stores) have the books in plenty of time to hit the August 13th release date. However, we aren't in control of when they ship their products from their US consolidation sight or how fast their transport is overseas. But we will be giving them weeks to get it done, so hopefully this will be as close to a world-wide release as we can get!
-Lisa
I know for all of our loudness and jumping up and down, Australia is still a very small market - are we looking at August as well?
I will of course be purchasing the PDF on the 13th....
I have spoken with my group and at least 3 of them will buy the PDF and another 2 will buy the book.
Definitely planning on purchasing the book!
I will even purchase the t-shirt! Is there a t-shirt?
Cons:
- Why do I need this heavy, expensive book?
Well I had this thought, heres this brand new idea.
We take PDFs into a format where there is no load time.Also they don't need a power source ethier.
Completely remote without controller needed or keypad and mouse.
It has an easy to interface control system called contents, it's so intutive that any user will pick it up they look at this 'contents' and then move to the page they want, with no load time!
You know I think there is a future for this interface.
Book, hmm sounds better than windows...
Sorry man I was just joshin' with ya'.
But thats why i ordered the book.
I can turn off every single eletronic device in my house, grap some models and terrian cards and off we go.
I like the ability to play without gaggets helps lowering the ammont of distractions.
I guess I am just blessed with OCD players...
One of the two stores in town is refusing to carry Paizo products because the owner feels that Paizo inappropriately competes with the brick and mortar stores. The other store is loading up on copies of the book.
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Lisa,
I'm planning on buying a hardback copy but I will be at GenCon when they come out. Being a GenCon veteran I know just how difficult it is to get anything that is in high demand within the Dealer's area. Lines that go forever and make a mess of the main traffic areas (really annoying other dealer's too).
Is there any possibility of Paizo allowing gamer's to pre-order and pre-pay before GenCon and then have a selected/designated "Will Call" booth for pick-up of the books? Maybe one set-up outside the dealer's area (or near the registration area) to lessen the load (and, dare I say it, maybe even available on the 12th to avoid the release rush).
I'm thinking this would reduce the delays inherent in dealing with payment and allow a faster, more gamer friendly attitude toward pre-orders and GenCon. Maybe make it a rule that all pre-orders must be picked up before Saturday evening. This way you can place any books that weren't picked up to be available "at-large" on Sunday morning and avoid the problem of bringing any home.
A database or just a logbook (think voting signature books) to be signed off upon pickup, plus proof of purchase and picture ID would be all that is necessary; no money changing hands, reduced time to pick-up, reduced impact on dealer's area.
Just my thoughts,
