RPG books how much would you pay

[Ze'Manel Cunha]

Originally Posted by Kromm

I can't say it more politely: Please stop making these assertions on our forums. SJ Games is bothering to make sure that Amazon is stocked and informed.

I just want you guys to get as much exposure as you can, if I'm being too critical, my apologies in advance, but as an example see the difference in Editorial Reviews of the two following books:

http://www.amazon.com/GURPS-Dummies-...ef=pd_sim_b_10

http://www.amazon.com/GURPS-Martial-...7466723&sr=1-1


I don't know about anyone else, but I'd prefer seeing the type of Product Description for a GURPS book which more resembled what's on the first product, or on the W23 GURPS Martial Arts page:
http://www.warehouse23.com/item.html?id=SJG01-0105


The fact that the publisher/author of GURPS For Dummies updated their information on Amazon, and the fact that the publisher of GURPS Martial Arts didn't update their information on Amazon, is pretty clear from those two examples, or from the example of any other GURPS book on Amazon.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Ze'Manel Cunha

I just want you guys to get as much exposure as you can, if I'm being too critical, my apologies in advance, but as an example see the difference in Editorial Reviews of the two following books:

http://www.amazon.com/GURPS-Dummies-...ef=pd_sim_b_10

http://www.amazon.com/GURPS-Martial-...7466723&sr=1-1


I don't know about anyone else, but I'd prefer seeing the type of Product Description for a GURPS book which more resembled what's on the first product, or on the W23 GURPS Martial Arts page:
http://www.warehouse23.com/item.html?id=SJG01-0105


The fact that the publisher/author of GURPS For Dummies updated their information on Amazon, and the fact that the publisher of GURPS Martial Arts didn't update their information on Amazon, is pretty clear from those two examples, or from the example of any other GURPS book on Amazon.

I don't get it. What's the difference? Bullet Points?

[Ze'Manel Cunha]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I don't get it. What's the difference? Bullet Points?

Not just the bullet points, but what's in the bullet points. The GURPS for Dummies also lets you look inside, a great thing when you can't pick up a physical book, just like an e23 preview.

Compare nice readable text:

Originally Posted by W23 Martial Arts

Every culture has warriors who hone their strength, tactics, and aggression to a deadly edge. Legionaries, knights, samurai, fencers, wrestlers . . . all are martial artists. GURPS Martial Arts gives you the tools to create and play these dedicated fighters:

• Descriptions and statistics for over 100 fighting styles of all kinds.
• Nearly 100 combat techniques covering realistic and cinematic moves with bare hands and weapons. Customize a multi-attack Combination or a precise Targeted Attack or use the design system to invent new techniques.
• Detailed statistics for more than 70 weapons and notes on over 200 plus rules for improvising and customizing weapons.
• Expanded combat rules that double the options in the Basic Set.
• Dozens of flexible Style Perks that let you bend the rules to personalize your fighting style.
• Advice to players on how to create any kind of martial artist. Includes quick-start templates, innovative uses for existing abilities, and new cinematic skills.
• Biographies of famous martial artists and a timeline to assist historical games.
• Guidance for GMs on how to use all of this in an exciting campaign.

GURPS Martial Arts requires the GURPS Basic Set, Fourth Edition. The research on history, fighting arts, and weapons will enhance any game that features martial-arts action.

To the block of text:

Originally Posted by Amazon Martial Arts

Inscrutable masters from hidden temples. Special Forces soldiers. Swashbuckling pirates. Bare-chested brawlers.
GURPS Martial Arts brings fighting styles from throughout history to Fourth Edition. From popular Asian bare-handed techniques to European combat arts to fantastic non-human training, this book balances realistic historical schools with cinematic feats from Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Hollywood. Recreate the greatest fighters in the world, or create a style to fit a new campaign, Martial Arts has the techniques and guidelines you need.
Not all combat options map to techniques and styles, however. Many require extensions to the combat system itself, so Martial Arts expands on the combat and injury rules from GURPS Basic Set. Some of these additions are highly realistic, while others are extremely cinematic - but they're all optional, allowing the GM to decide which rules apply. Customizing the GURPS combat system has never been easier.
This book replaces and expands on the information and rules from the previous edition of GURPS Martial Arts for Third Edition.

[Earther]

If I want the book, I'll buy it. Simple.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Earther

If I want the book, I'll buy it. Simple.

Yeah, I'm not sure that blurbs on Amazon actually effect GURPS purchases much. On the other hand I've got zero understanding of marketing (frex, I've been trying to understand for years why spam works). Intuitively, I'd guess that the vast majority of people that buy a GURPS book from Amazon as opposed to W23 or their FLGS do it because of the discount, which is automatically on the page. I've never bought a GURPS book from Amazon, personally, though, I can usually get a reasonable discount from my FLGS.

[Ts_]

Well, a lack of a FLGS might matter. And even if it exists, it might not carry GURPS (especially in not english-speaking countries). But I also use the Amazon marketplace as a price check. Then I just go to the sellers' real stores and check prices there. They could be cheaper or at least shipping could be below the default marketplace value.

Back to the matter ... Yeah, collector's prizes are probably pointless, and this $900+ offer was the most absurd I've ever seen.

And Amazon going out of stock on Gurps books doesn't really say much, certainly not for the European Amazons (which seem to share a warehouse for English books). All the Gurps books I just checked had at best "Only 2 left, order now" in Europe, including the Basic Set. The situation is usually better on the big US Amazon, although even their you can see the warning once in a while. So I guess they just like to have their stock optimized ... (*sniff* I'm part of a niche market... *sniff*.)

What I did find worrying, however, was the _marketplace_ not having any reasonable offers for new MA books, either. Right now, there is 1 in amazon.co.uk and 0 in .com. So, even if some FLGS supposedly still has them, how do I locate my copy? (I know, I know ... w23.) But usually I would assume that pretty much every one who sells online should try to get their books placed in the Amazon marketplace, so where are all the FLGS that would ship to me? (Again, w23 excepted, as Kromm explained.) It is a bit sad.

Regards
Ts

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Ts_

(I know, I know ... w23.)

Wearhouse 23 will send you promos, which Amazon won't. Often these promos will become more valuable on the collector market than your actual order.

[Ze'Manel Cunha]

Originally Posted by Kromm

SJ Games' Warehouse 23 subunit is a direct competitor with Amazon in the business of retailing hobby games online. It sells new retail products from 16 companies other than SJ Games, including a few big ones. If Warehouse 23 were merely a reseller, then that would be fine. Warehouse 23 is not merely a reseller, however . . . it aims to stock and sell things that Amazon stocks and sells, to the same people. Warehouse 23's diminutive size doesn't earn it a bye in this regard.

Seriously Kromm, no disrespect, but what in the world do you think that has to do with having W23 sell GURPS through a Storefront at the Amazon Marketplace?

The biggest online retailer of games that I'm aware of is Funagain Games, they're are a much bigger "competitor" than anything W23 could do, but that doesn't keep them from smartly listing their products for sale through the Amazon Marketplace.

If you look at the list of most any boardgame for sale on Amazon you'll see the FunagainGames.com Storefront listed as an optional seller.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=new

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=new

And not just boardgames like that, but also RPGs like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Pathfinder-Rol...874949&sr=1-10
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=new

http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html...=A2DVX4LKU6FXW

And since Funagain Games doesn't carry GURPS, unlike the other RPG titles it carries, if W23 doesn't put up a Storefront on Amazon, then you're basically not going to have GURPS as well represented as it should be.

Though I suppose if you could get Funagain.com to carry GURPS that'd take care of getting representation in the Amazon Marketplace.

http://www.funagain.com/control/main

[Decibalus]

I paid $150 for AD&D Deities & Demi-Gods with Cthulu Mythos a few years ago.

[BradyIrvin]

I'm considering paying $100+ for an original Star Frontiers box set (out of print)