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Originally posted by Chairman7w

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Originally posted by Drammattex


At the rate we're going, gamers who are artists, gamers who are under 23 (the age when many graduate from college and start working real jobs), gamers who have low-income jobs... all of these people are either going to have to make minis a financial priority in order to afford them, or else NOT afford them.

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You forgot another option. Simply earn more money. WOTC is no more responsible for providing an affordable hobby to those with low incomes than Polo Equipment manufacturers; or paintball companies; or Sailing Boat makers.

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Originally posted by Chairman7w

You forgot another option. Simply earn more money. WOTC is no more responsible for providing an affordable hobby to those with low incomes than Polo Equipment manufacturers; or paintball companies; or Sailing Boat makers.

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Originally posted by Sulaco

"If you need to get a new job to pay for your hobby it might be time to consider a new hobby."

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Originally posted by Sulaco


"And if earning more money was "simple" we wouldn't have so many poor people, would we?"

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Originally posted by Gnolaum

I'm surprised no one has come up with the *REAL* reason for the price increase...

Someone has to pay for the Dreamblade prize support [:P]!!!

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Originally posted by Lab Monkey

A 50% price hike in just under 3.5 years. That far outstrips the rate of inflation, but as JodyJ points out, it's consistant with the increased cost of oil.

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I'll probably keep buying, but I'm not adjusting my D&D/minis budget any. That means I'll be getting less of Unhallowed than of previous sets.

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Originally posted by MechaKingGhidra

Today, I passed by a stack of 5 original D&D Starter Kits(the one with the Black Dragon and adventurer minis in it) and I was surprised they didn't sell out a long time ago but then I found out that each one cost about $45 each(they were marked more than fairly higher than the suggested price). Time does not reduce prices, apparently.[:(]

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Originally posted by nedleeds

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Originally posted by MechaKingGhidra

Today, I passed by a stack of 5 original D&D Starter Kits(the one with the Black Dragon and adventurer minis in it) and I was surprised they didn't sell out a long time ago but then I found out that each one cost about $45 each(they were marked more than fairly higher than the suggested price). Time does not reduce prices, apparently.[:(]

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Unless you go to GenCon or check out eBay. You can pick up those start sets for ~$15 US. I got 4 for the Black Dragons and the nice cardboard tiles.

I'd say the price increase for Unhallowed is nothing compared to the reaming that WotDQ was. The retail of $20.00 was outrageous when the most expensive rare in the set was $24.00 AoTiamat. Never have I seen a set where it was infinately cheaper to buy singles. Some of the huge rares are hovering around ~$10 US now (Eldritch Giant, Tundra Scout) it still makes 0 sense to ever buy a WotDQ booster. You'd have to pull a huge rare, a Green Dragon, and a stirge to make up the $20.00.

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Originally posted by Brimulk

Price increases for any product are usually dictated by several factors.

Demand - If demand is high, companies can usually increase the price of a product and still get comparable sales numbers. With each unit being a higher price, they may sell less, but their margin per unit is higher if the costs have not increased comparably.

Costs - The costs of developing, manufacturing, marketing and anything else that relates to bringing us these figures can increase prices. If there are certain costs, such as oil, that rise dramtically, companies can and will pass along those costs to the customer where they feel they can still meet demand and not lose profits.

Competition - Competition usually drives down costs. WotC, other than creating their own competition with SWM, AAM and Dreamblade, does not have much in the way of competition for DDM. Sure, there are metal, unpainted figures, but getting pre-painted figures that are D&D-related are pretty much owned by WotC. So, if they feel a price bump will not cost them too much in the way of business, they can also do it for this reason.

Target Market - When this line first came out, I am sure WotC considered that the teenagers who play RPG and other collectable games were there target audience. Perhaps through studies of the buying trends, single buyers and sellers and even coming here, they have learned some things about the spending habits of the people who buy their products. They probably learned that many people buy by the case, which isn't going to be the teenager spending some spare cash on a booster. It is the guy in his 30s who RPG'd as a teen and now has the disposible income to buy cases and wants to get back into it. It is the wargamer who spends a lot of money on a gaming hobby to be competitive. It is the collector who wants to complete sets. It is the online buyer who can get 30% off a case, which means a small increase per booster might not be something they'll miss much.

Economic Climate - Hobby items do not fall into the necessity column, so that means they have to pay attention to how people can spend their hard earned cash. If they feel the economy is improving, they may feel the risk in increasing costs is low enough to go for it. With the higher price of gas and oil, it may not be the best move, but if their costs have increased too much, they may feel they have no choice, and may feel that it is worth the risk.

Profit Margins - Sometimes, companies just feel they can justify an increase to improve profits, plain and simple. :)

There are risks to increasing cost, especially a product that isn't a necessity. Buyers who have been around since the product was released may cut back, since they have purchased plenty over the first 10 sets. This may lead to a drop in demand. However, they may have calculated those loses into the price increase, because they may feel those earlier buyers are going to buy more singles in the aftermarket anyway. I'm sure these six factors play a fairly big role in their decision to increase costs, but we don't know which one is the driving force behind it, and unless they come out and tell us, we won't know.

Just my two cents. :)

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Originally posted by Jenkiis

It's appropriate to talk about jobs/money making here. After all it's about the price of upcoming products and it's effects on the players and the game itself.

Chairman7w: "Some are just not willing to do the necessary things required (stay out of trouble, get an education, work hard)."

Yes yes, poor people are poor because they're too lazy. The jobless just aren't motivated enough. And the underclasses don't vote Republican so let's give the tax cuts to the wealthy. :)

If I could find a steady job, I'd be working hard. But there's nothing near me, and burning 2 hours a day and a tank of gas every couple of days for minimum wage working at some greasepit in the nearest town isn't going to help me. I have a degree and am skilled at what I do, but the only jobs out there are for experienced people and apparently I don't qualify despite working in my field in various capacities for three plus years. I've only ever gotten a speeding ticket...once. I don't drink and do my best to be punctual. But I can't find a break for love or money. (literally)

When's the last time you were out looking for a job? With that attitude it can't have been anytime recently. They say the Unemployment rate is down and the economy is up, but it's only the wealthy benefiting and Unemployment only counts the people currently drawing a check from the government and not the many who've run out of time and luck. (and again, me, my last job I wasn't at long enough to draw unemployment)

The fact is that it's a tough time for anyone not already well established, and a price raise now is basically WOTC shooting their feet out from under themselves. The young can't really afford the game, and neither can many of the 'older' people here judging from the rest of the thread. So I beg you to tell me with a straight face that WOTC is making the right move, because their customers don't seem to think so. Maybe you've forgotten how important they are to the equation.

"To assume they are clueless suits with no regard to their actions (or the results of their actions) is pretty short sighted. There's folks with a WHOLE lot more education than me (and probably most of you) working for them that are doing real studies of this stuff."

I really don't think WOTC is THAT big of a company for one thing (yes, Hasbro, I meant directly involved). And for another experience has taught me that education only gives someone a certificate, it doesn't make them any smarter or wiser. If it did how do you explain the massive amount of corruption and short sightedness in the modern economy? People these days are only reaching for short term profits at the cost of long term survival and higher eventual returns.

Examples relating to this thread: Automotive companies have for years and continue to drag their feet about fuel economy and emissions issues at no real gain for themselves, just because it's the easy thing to do NOW. And it's hurting us in transportation costs and at the pump. I remember when the post office had 25cent stamps for years and years, I think they're expecting two or three more cost increases this year alone.

Personally this won't change much. I'll still only buy singles, unless there's another set like Underdark that is 80% stuff I like. And if the game fails because of untimely prices, all the better. Look at the ebay prices for Mageknight figs yea mighty collectors and despair! :) Those in it soley for the game and the figs rejoice mightily!

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Originally posted by Chairman7w


For all we know they ARE selling plenty fine, and if they lose a small percentage of customers by raising the price, the additional profit margins may make it worth it for them. (shrug)

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