4E pre-orders available
Will you be switching to 4E this spring? I think I will (hopefully I can score review copies!) I just added a slideshow of products big pictures of products that you can pre-order right now on most pages on the site. WOTC told me they won’t handle pre-orders themselves so feel free to do it through Dungeon Mastering. Your local game store might also take pre-orders
Subscribe and win contest update
Don’t want to buy the 4E core rulebooks? Win them! The number of entries in the contest is now up to 850 but it is slowing down slightly. Your chances of winning the books are pretty good if you ask me.
Site news
In other Dungeon Mastering news… I overcame some technical difficulties yesterday and I’m back on a regular posting schedule starting right now.
Yax goes to L.A.
Posting regularly doesn’t mean I can’t take some time off! I’m hopping on a plane on Thursday. I’ll be in L.A. for a few days to see a couple of hockey games so if you e-mail me don’t expect a reply before March 13-ish.
However if you’re a Kings or Ducks fan I’ll be glad to trash talk with you during the week-end, so feel free to e-mail me: yax@dungeonmastering.com.
15 Comments
4:25 am on March 5th, 2008
I just wanted to take a moment to ask that everyone, where possible, do your pre-ordering through your Friendly Local Game Store. Unless it isn’t Friendly, or is too far away to be Local. WotC is doing a lot that will undermine such establishments when 4E hits, so…anyway, just thought I’d make the request. I personally think that the FLGSs are integral to the gaming community, and so I’ll be waiting a couple of weeks to get my 4E books from my local store rather than another venue like Amazon.
Just sayin’.
4:36 am on March 5th, 2008
Yeah. Friendly local gaming stores are vital to the gaming community - especially for younger gamers getting into the hobby.
Friendly local bloggers are also vital to the gaming community! :)
4:43 am on March 5th, 2008
I always buy my books from my gaming store. It’s a nice place… but sometimes it smells like 20 orcs live in there.
11:01 am on March 5th, 2008
A comment and a question.
the widget to the right of the post was..well annoying. the thumbnails on the bottom are too small, and every time I clicked on one to try & pull it up and read the description, it wouldn’t Stop the “sideshow” mechanism from dropping another random title over it. Not your fault, just letting you know.
so I clicked through to amazon to look for the books directly, and noticed they are offering “deluxe” editions of each of the core books, but I can’t find mention of these deluxe editions on the WOTC site. any clue what the deal is with these books?
12:28 pm on March 5th, 2008
I haven’t heard of the deluxe editions for 4e. I’ll send a few e-mails and see what’s up with that.
I’ll be happy to try and make the 4e books slideshow less “in-your-face” and work better. Give me a few days though because I’ll be on vacations for the next 5 days.
12:55 pm on March 5th, 2008
Wow!! Quick response.
a sign of a great website/blog for sure :)
as for the info & widget, no worries, I’m a very patient man, i just thought I’d bring it to your attention is all.
I actually just joined the list/blog/site a couple days ago, it showed up in Google readers “recommended feeds” for me, and I decided to check it out, so far I’m loving it, you have a wealth of information here and seem really dedicated to the hobby.
hats off to ya.
3:59 pm on March 5th, 2008
I have to disagree with you about FLGS. Most of the so called FLGS’s are more like hole in the wall geek hangouts run by people who don’t know the first thing about business or customer service. Truth be had, the industry would do well; image wise, to move away from FLGS and focus more on professionally run conventions and more mainstream hangouts.
Sure we want a place to play D&D or magic or any other game, but why can’t it be in a place that has carpet and nice tables and an inviting environment vs. some ramshackle dive that could not afford to paint the walls and an environment no mother would ever feel comfortable letting their kids hang out there.
I have lived in Hawaii, California, Nebraska, Arizona, and Texas. Its always the same story. I know their are exceptions - particularly Game Depot in Arizona but these are exceptions, but the community should push for them to be the norm.
Sorry for my rant on your BLOG Yax, but FLGS could use a serious overhaul! I’d love to see you do an article on the idea.
4:26 pm on March 5th, 2008
Hey! Rants are good if they’re on-topic like yours.
Johnnay had some insight when it said some stores stink - litterally and figuratively.
I guess everyone can judge their own local store on its own merits and can probably talk to the owner too.
I still think it was an integral part of me getting into the hobby. And I still think it’s alright to pre-order through my amazon widget!
11:51 am on March 6th, 2008
Ah the “FLGS” I thankfuly got once of those, though it’s not completely local.
gotta sit in a car for 20 minutes. seesh.
but other wise I try to buy my stuff form there. :)
unlike my Complete adventurer though, had to get that form amazon, stupid out of printness!! but now… I can have NINJAS!!! totally worth it. :P
7:52 pm on March 6th, 2008
Well Argokirby, my experience has been much the same. You’ve got some great ideas. Big venue CONS are a great place. Unfortunately, I’ve seen some smaller ones that look like they lacked the same business sense that some FLGS display.
I don’t know if the industry has it within itself to make a complete turn around. Maybe 4E can help. I think its all about profitability. People interested in making real $$$ aren’t looking to open up FLGS. The awkward social image tied with the industry makes it a challenging place to earn a buck.
8:10 pm on March 6th, 2008
dberg_usa, I think the industry does have it in them. It just takes some leadership and that is what WOTC is offering. If other companies join WOTC (White Wolf, Paladium, Green Ronin, and many others) in the effort to undercut the profitability of aa FLGS, then local game stores will need to find a new way to survive. It will mean real business minded individuals creating play venues not retail stores. It could be great!
8:10 pm on March 8th, 2008
I replaced the slideshow with a friendly poster/banner link.
3:15 pm on April 5th, 2008
People who spend all of their time on these and other “games” need to have their head examined. Your family should come first!
1:09 am on April 6th, 2008
Fair enough. I believe everyone here agrees that family comes first.
12:38 am on April 9th, 2008
Here is a novel idea that seems lost on today’s society. What about family game nights? I have children as young as three who beg to play. I put on mini trainer type games just for them. They learn rule structures, math, critical thinking processes, some social skills and have a lot of fun doing it. I know several other D&D dads who do the same. Seems that this thinking pattern is pervasive in the D&D circles I visit. D&D and families go very well together. They are only seperate if you choose make them that way.