Champions Villains Volume Three: Solo Villains when will it be on the shelf?

[PamelaIsley]

There's less light at the end of the tunnel now than in mid-August (when the possibility of the book being weeks away was mentioned), but I appreciate the responses, even if they aren't the answer I wanted to hear.

Thank you.

[name_tamer]

Darren, thanks for the responses. You have provided useful information, and I have stopped waiting for the bundle to come out.

[Darren Watts]

It's still weeks, guys. We're working full time here on this (and our other problems, like IPR being hacked this week). I have hopes it will be ready to go very soon, but I've definitely learned not to give out dates before they're 100% set in stone. dw

[Greywind]

Aww, Darren. You're starting to sound like Herb Beas over on BattleTech.

[PamelaIsley]

Thank you again!

[Dr. MID-Nite]

Well....my only real gripe is they said that said CV3 was low priority due to low sales of the first two volumes...which may or may not be true, but with PDFs available(which are much more profitible to be sure)...the sales of physical copies are of course going to be down. Now...from the sounds of it...they still plan to print it....in which case it's all good(besides the waiting). Now if they cancel the book entirely....THAT would be annoying....as one of the big things they were bragging about when they made the deal with Cryptic is now they'd have the money to do cool things like hardcover full color villain books. That said...I'll play the waiting game right now as it's really out of my control to be honest. At least from my standpoint...Hero gets my money based on their superhero properties...I don't buy any of their other genre books cause I have no interest in them. I guess I'm in the minority "shrugs" Again....simply observations and comments and not meant as a critique by any means...

[PamelaIsley]

Well, it's a minority of two. I am only interested in superhero products as well.

[kjandreano]

I still want a "Mega-Evil" bundle that has all three enemies books and their PDFs together for a discount! Do it Steve!

[memorax300]

As long as it comes out before the end of the year that will make me happy. It's weird though that the CV books are not better sellers. I would love to stat out every supervillian I would use. Yet like with other rpgs my free time to do so is what it was. Which is why I buy books such as CV and other similar books for other rpgs. For me anyway CV is a must for anyone running a Champs game. I do hope we will see a superhero version of CV at a later date. They could make it only PDF if it is more cost effective I would buy it. Still I have to wonder if PDFs are starting to hurt their print side of the business. Why buy the book when all you can do is load up the PDF pick a supervillain and print out the ones you need.

Kudos to Darren for answering our questions even if it may not be the answer we want to hear. I hope he and the rest of the HG are patient though as I'm sure this issue will pop up again.

[Darren Watts]

PDFs are a vital part of our business, and grow every year as a percentage of our sales. When I say CV1 and 2 are mildly (Mildly!) disappointing in sales it's because I'm comparing them directly to our other Sixth Ed books, which of course also have PDFs. The Villains books so far are the lowest-selling books in the 6th Ed line, 11th and 12th place overall, with Star and Beyond still listed as "incomplete.". I'm not making this stuff up, guys. dw

[Goradin]

I think this should have been the first book issued out of the set as I said it's the most useful of the three to most people. I love HERO SYSTEM and have nothing but the greatest respect for Steve and Darren. I just hope we see this book as soon as possible. I know it's business. But maybe people didn't buy the villian books because this is the one they wanted? I bought the other two and have PDF's of all three. But it just seems that companies expect, we the gamer to buy the PDF's and the books and in this economy that is not going to happen. I can make my own villians, player's usually like mine better than the books anyways because you have more knowledge of something you have created rather than what you have read. But I love having the option to have a book to toss a villian out for a game after a hard week of work. While I am argubably more proficient at 5th edition still, the best way to learn is create toons.

For a while, some hide behind the excuse of quality, I am glad your being honest with us, Darren. Because I as a customer respect that more than anything. Thank you for the honest answer, bro! I will check back every Friday for an update and hope. Thanks for the straight answers! I am still a loyal HERO customer! I been playing HERO since 82. That almost makes me a thirty year fan.

[hartm1967]

Perhaps villain books in Champions are what monster books are for D&D.

With monster books, only a segment of the game-purchasing D&D audience buys them -- primarily DMs and collectors. Most players have no need or reason to buy monster books.

Likewise, villain books are primarily of use to Champions GM -- a segment of those who play HERO. Most players never see a need to buy them.

With a genre book like Star Hero, there is something of interest in such a book for GMs and players alike, and anyone who enjoys any form of S-F. Just a theory; I have no special info to back any of this up.

[PamelaIsley]

I think Monster Manuals sell incredibly well, hence the push by Wizards and Pathfinder to put out as many as they can.

[Darren Watts]

And CKC was one of our best-selling 5th Ed titles, which is what spurred us to do the trilogy in the first place. I don't know why some significant minority of Champs buyers didn't buy Villains 1 and 2, I only know that's what happened. dw

[Lord Liaden]

Speaking just for myself, I bought the PDFs of the CV trilogy because I'm a completist and wanted the few new villains, and any updates to the old villains. I already own all the Fifth Edition villains compendia, containing most of the CV villains. I admit I felt no desire to put out significant money for color hardcover hardcopies just because they're 6E.

I actually was long concerned other veteran Champsfiles would feel as I did, and that that would impact sales.