Question regarding availability of past seasons of Encounters - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Question regarding availability of past seasons of Encounters

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
swmabie
Aug 14, 2011 21:51:12 Not sure where else to post this; seems like the best spot for now, until it gets buried by TPTB somewhere to be ignored and forgotten.

I will admit to being one of the (at least a) handful of people in the community that has repeatedly requested the release of past seasons of Encounters adventures, either for direct sale or as a release to those of us with DDI.

That makes me one of the people that WotC has repeatedly rebuffed with the response that Encounters is only for Game Stores, and is to let them bring in new customers, and all that sort of thing. Meaning that those of us who don't have easy access to those game stores — for whom a Wednesday evening where it would take longer to drive there and back than to actually play the game makes no sense — have no ability whatsoever through the company to, you know, pay for these materials, or get them as a benefit of our already being customers.

Anyway, I've discovered that I can usually find game stores (and occasionally individuals, but usually game stores) online that sell past editions of Encounters stuff — either used or even still sealed — for exorbitant rates (by which I mean one can pay more for an Encounters packet than one would pay for a new campaign book, or one of the new Essentials boxed sets); meaning that the game stores are getting a benefit — they're making a mint off of stuff.

There is a point to this. I have two questions about this whole Encounters-deal that these stores have with WotC:

1) How much do the stores pay for the Encounters packets? I'm curious about how much of a profit they are making at the expense of those who would like to be WotC customers, and want to know if they're just trying to make their money back, or are taking advantage of the broken supply/demand curves (broken by WotC's limited production line).

2) Is there some sort of agreement that these same stores won't sell the Encounters sets before the Encounters season has ended? The reason I ask is because, if I were willing to pay the piper, I could acquire Lost Crown of Neverwinter off eBay. This auction here is currently over $150, this auction here is currently up to $75, this one here is at $51, this one's at $55, and this one in Italy is going for over $200.

Just want to know that these FLGS that Wizards is showing such loyalty to — as opposed to the people who actually pay them money and are willing to buy their products even in electronic format if need be — are playing by the rules. Because something sure smells rotten in Fallcrest.
#2
mudbunny
Aug 15, 2011 8:43:32 I have poked WotC about this.
#3
swmabie
Aug 15, 2011 14:56:05 Thanks, mudbunny. I'd much prefer my money be going at least partially to the producers of the merchandise, than solely to those who the producers deem fortunate enough to be getting it. If WotC really has no interest in my money, and these places are doing nothing wrong, then fine, I'll continue to participate in the "gray" market that has been created (termed gray only because it's not against the rules). If it is against the rules, then it's a burgeoning black market, which would be akin to the piracy that WotC has been fending off, except for the fact that the pirates aren't charging an arm and a leg for the items.
#4
mudbunny
Aug 15, 2011 21:27:23
I have poked WotC about this.

I've seen VCLs say a few times they've poked WotC about stuff. I am curious to know how this works. Who do you poke and what do they say to you? Do they come back to you after a few months and say: "We decide to go with something you suggested"! Or is being a VCL a reward by itself?

VCLs have a little closer access to the CM staff at WotC than do most forum users. For example, I send an email to WotC every week with the top couple of threads I see every week that need WotC's attention. We offer suggestions, ideas, etc to WotC when we see things that we (individually) think need changing.

As for afterwards, we may get a small hint here or there (all of us *have* signed NDAs with WotC) but a lot of the time we only find out what is going on at the same time as everyone else. It is only personally that we can say "I had a hand in that" or "I pointed this problem out to WotC."

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 swmabie Aug 14, 2011 21:51:12	Not sure where else to post this; seems like the best spot for now, until it gets buried by TPTB somewhere to be ignored and forgotten. I will admit to being one of the (at least a) handful of people in the community that has repeatedly requested the release of past seasons of Encounters adventures, either for direct sale or as a release to those of us with DDI. That makes me one of the people that WotC has repeatedly rebuffed with the response that Encounters is only for Game Stores, and is to let them bring in new customers, and all that sort of thing. Meaning that those of us who don't have easy access to those game stores — for whom a Wednesday evening where it would take longer to drive there and back than to actually play the game makes no sense — have no ability whatsoever through the company to, you know, pay for these materials, or get them as a benefit of our already being customers. Anyway, I've discovered that I can usually find game stores (and occasionally individuals, but usually game stores) online that sell past editions of Encounters stuff — either used or even still sealed — for exorbitant rates (by which I mean one can pay more for an Encounters packet than one would pay for a new campaign book, or one of the new Essentials boxed sets); meaning that the game stores are getting a benefit — they're making a mint off of stuff. There is a point to this. I have two questions about this whole Encounters-deal that these stores have with WotC: 1) How much do the stores pay for the Encounters packets? I'm curious about how much of a profit they are making at the expense of those who would like to be WotC customers, and want to know if they're just trying to make their money back, or are taking advantage of the broken supply/demand curves (broken by WotC's limited production line). 2) Is there some sort of agreement that these same stores won't sell the Encounters sets before the Encounters season has ended? The reason I ask is because, if I were willing to pay the piper, I could acquire Lost Crown of Neverwinter off eBay. This auction here is currently over $150, this auction here is currently up to $75, this one here is at $51, this one's at $55, and this one in Italy is going for over $200. Just want to know that these FLGS that Wizards is showing such loyalty to — as opposed to the people who actually pay them money and are willing to buy their products even in electronic format if need be — are playing by the rules. Because something sure smells rotten in Fallcrest.
#2 mudbunny Aug 15, 2011 8:43:32	I have poked WotC about this.
#3 swmabie Aug 15, 2011 14:56:05	Thanks, mudbunny. I'd much prefer my money be going at least partially to the producers of the merchandise, than solely to those who the producers deem fortunate enough to be getting it. If WotC really has no interest in my money, and these places are doing nothing wrong, then fine, I'll continue to participate in the "gray" market that has been created (termed gray only because it's not against the rules). If it is against the rules, then it's a burgeoning black market, which would be akin to the piracy that WotC has been fending off, except for the fact that the pirates aren't charging an arm and a leg for the items.
#4 mudbunny Aug 15, 2011 21:27:23	I have poked WotC about this. I've seen VCLs say a few times they've poked WotC about stuff. I am curious to know how this works. Who do you poke and what do they say to you? Do they come back to you after a few months and say: "We decide to go with something you suggested"! Or is being a VCL a reward by itself? VCLs have a little closer access to the CM staff at WotC than do most forum users. For example, I send an email to WotC every week with the top couple of threads I see every week that need WotC's attention. We offer suggestions, ideas, etc to WotC when we see things that we (individually) think need changing. As for afterwards, we may get a small hint here or there (all of us have signed NDAs with WotC) but a lot of the time we only find out what is going on at the same time as everyone else. It is only personally that we can say "I had a hand in that" or "I pointed this problem out to WotC."