I think it's a good thing.

I (shame of shames!) have never had a chance to even read the OCE, as even a fine copy tends to go for more than I can spare (once the outrageous eBay shipping is factored in), and this finally gets me an affordable and legal way to do so.

Oh, and:

This printing was released in 1977 and is the earliest printing we can make available for download (for legal reasons).

Sounds like someone is still worried about the Tolkien estate.

It's somewhat interesting that the same basic thread exists on Dragonsfoot (primarily a playing site, for those unfamiliar) with the title "OD&D rules finally available for download."

Collectors might still crave the real deal, but the novelty of having an OCE just went down significantly.  I'd expect prices to drop as those with a passing interest in collecting (but significant disposable income) drop out of the bidding.

Why would I own 5 copies ????

after owning one and making my own PDF...

Cause I like it

So it shouldn't devalue my copies... I mean I have a free photo of a Ferrari but I haven't seen the prices drop lately...

Hi,

anyone willing to spend a lot of money on an item wants THAT item, not a copy.

Cheers,
Malcolm

I personally don't think that pdf's can  (or ever will) significantly affect the price of books - that is either in print or out of print books.

There is a certain intangible, ascetic quality to books that can not be captured by technology.  I believe that books will be as popular hundreds of years from now as they are today and that no technological advancements will ever be able to match words printed on paper and bound together . . .

Therefore, I don't think pdf's will have even a dent in the value of OCE's.  In fact, I suspect that they will help increase it's value by drawing a few casual collectors in and then resulting in them wanting to purchase the actual item.

Capitalism always applies - and it is doing so here.  Books are a superior product and pdf's are vastly inferior.    Actual books will continue to reign supreme as they are of a design that is molded into the human consciousness and has proven to be so for thousands of years.  We will see if that will change with the progression of technology.  My guess is it won't.

Dice?  We don't need not freaking dice.  We got randum number generaters!

Are you all for real???  This is starting to get stupid now.  I am starting to wonder if today is April 1st or not.  

AGAIN I ASK, why do the laws of supply and demand cease to exist when it comes to PDFs and nothing else in this world.

If copying works isn't such a big deal when it comes to value, then why do all these countries have those seemingly pesky Copyright laws in place??? I mean I know goverments have no problems wasting time and taxpayer money for no apparent reason whats-so-ever, but surely they could have come up with some other better ways to waste time and tax payer money, especially when it is so many different goverments doing it. Oh wait, nevermind, I get, its because that are all just MEAN and want to deny people the right to read all that published material easily.  Please....

Clarkie

I am not being ignorant.  I truly believe that the market for pdf's of OCE's are people who were never going to buy an OCE in the first place!  They are either 3rd edition players with no interest who succumb to an "impulse" buy.  "Hey, only $6.00 - let's check it out!"

Or maybe they have a real interest, but never had any intention of spending more than $10 for one . . . therefore meaning that they were never really in the market to begin with.

Sure, maybe there are a few people who would have purchased one but won't do so because of the pdf . . . but I think this will be offset by those
who do purchase one because of discoverig the pdf rules.

OCE is a collectible item and out of print.  The same rules don't apply as with CD's that are just released.  It is the reason that burned CD's do not affect the sales of Record Albums - albums are for collectors who have no interest in a CD.

Beyondthebreach wrote:Clarkie

I am not being ignorant.  I truly believe that the market for pdf's of OCE's are people who were never going to buy an OCE in the first place!  They are either 3rd edition players with no interest who succumb to an "impulse" buy.  "Hey, only $6.00 - let's check it out!"

Or maybe they have a real interest, but never had any intention of spending more than $10 for one . . . therefore meaning that they were never really in the market to begin with.

Sure, maybe there are a few people who would have purchased one but won't do so because of the pdf . . . but I think this will be offset by those
who do purchase one because of discoverig the pdf rules.

OCE is a collectible item and out of print.  The same rules don't apply as with CD's that are just released.  It is the reason that burned CD's do not affect the sales of Record Albums - albums are for collectors who have no interest in a CD.

BTB,
 Let me ask you this.  Do you honestly believe that there is not a single solitary person out there who had considered buying the real thing, but now since available as a cheap download, they have now decided not to?