Counting up the number of WotC D&D hardcover core + splatbook titles produced during the 3.5E era, there is a total of 81 splatbooks + core books titles.  If one excludes the FR and Eberron splatbooks, the total number of WotC 3.5E splatbooks + core titles drops down to 53.

So far for 4E, the total number of WotC D&D hardcover core + splatbook titles already released + officially scheduled for release, is a total of 35 splatbooks + core titles.  The total number to the end of 2010 could be as high as 39, considering WotC has not mentioned any other releases for Sept->Dec 2010 yet (besides the DMG3 for Sept 2010).

For 2009, 15 WotC 4E splatbooks + core hardcover titles are (or will be) released.  It looks like 2010 is shaping up to also have 15 or 14 WotC 4E splatbooks + core hardcover titles being released.

By the end of 2011, I wouldn't be surprised if the total number of WotC 4E splatbooks + core titles released will have surpassed the WotC 3.5E total of 53 splatbooks + core titles (excluding the FR and Eberron splatbooks).

If the rate of splatbook production continues unabated through to the end of 2013, the total number of WotC 4E splatbooks + core titles released will surpass the WotC 3.5E total of 81 splatbooks + core titles including the FR and Eberron splatbooks.

Splatbook production gone overdrive indeed.

I remember when 3rd edition was announced, but not yet out. I was reading an article (I think) in Dragon Magazine that talked about the reasons for putting out a new edition. One of the reasons for the new (3.0) edition was that the game had gotten "too large" spread out over too many books. Once the splats started pouring out for 3E I chuckled a bit at the irony. The mass of splats isn't anything new. Second edition had a ton of paperback splats for everything under the sun. Once the Monstrous Compendium was released there were about 15 additions to that as well.

My experience with 3.5 splats is that there was very little in there that interested me. Maybe each book would have one item I would actually use, whether it was a feet or a prestige class or whatever. Tome of Battle was the only splat that really jumped out as stuff I would use often, but that was quite a radical departure from most of the 'Complete' series or 'Races of' lines.

I don't really like splitting books up too much, which seems to be a new trend with several editions. GURPS went from single to multiple core books, likewise HERO. Wizards is splitting up their campaign settings now with a 'Player's Guide' and a separate 'Campaign Setting' book.

More to the core, the major classes and races from the 3E/3.5E PHB were split up between the 4E PHB1 and PHB2.

The 4E PHB3 is starting to look a bit like the equivalent of the 3E/3.5E (expanded) psionics handbook.

The two 4E Dragonomion books for chromatic and metallic dragons, looks like it split up the 3.5E Dragonomicon.

The 4E Demonomicon book may very well be a 4E update of the 3.5E Fiendish Codex I and II books.  (I wouldn't be surprised if there is a second 4E Demonomicon book released in 2011).

More books for the same amount of content.

Quote from: ggroy;321060More books for the same amount of content.

Equals a higher volume of sales which equates to higher profits.

Obviously the business model is to make everything core and convince everybody to catch 'em all.

It's ironic, because this method of WotC doling out "core" content is making me much, much more selective about what I buy from them. But, I've found that the books I have bought so far have had a much higher amount of content I like and would use than the equivalent 3e books.

Quote from: Xyxox;321080Equals a higher volume of sales which equates to higher profits.

Obviously the business model is to make everything core and convince everybody to catch 'em all.

We'll know in a few years how well it worked.

The one obvious sign that it didn't work so well, is if tons of 4E D&D hardcover books end up as "remaindered" books in the discount sections of "big box" bookstores.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remaindered_book

Awhile ago, I remember seeing several 3.5E Eberron and Forgotten Realms splatbook titles in piles of 8 or 9 copies per title, in the discount sections of several big box bookstores.  Perhaps this is one reason why WotC has not jumped on the Eberron and Forgotten Realms splatbook treadmill for 4E, and have only done the 3 books per setting thing so far.

Based on the number of splat books released by WOTC, its fairly obvious that thats their business/marketing strategy.

Quote from: ColonelHardisson;321084It's ironic, because this method of WotC doling out "core" content is making me much, much more selective about what I buy from them. But, I've found that the books I have bought so far have had a much higher amount of content I like and would use than the equivalent 3e books.

This is true for me as well. Dungeonscape was pretty useless, whereas I'd be hard-pressed to single out a 4e release that was that bad.

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;321235This is true for me as well. Dungeonscape was pretty useless, whereas I'd be hard-pressed to single out a 4e release that was that bad.

Strange.  Dungeonscape was probably my favorite book and I got a lot of use out of it.

The thing that annoys me is not so much the volume of supplements but the interconnectedness.  

If I wanted to play eberron I'd need:

PHB1
DMG1
MM1
Eberron player's guide
Eberron Campaign guide

PHB2 for primal power and eberron races
MM2 for eberron specific monsters

What was in third edition a 4 book game turned into a 7 book game.

Darksun will undoubtedly use PHB3 and MM3. Will it also need primal classes? PHB2. etc...

So Darksun is a 9 book game,

What about 2011? 2015?

It really discourages me from buying into 4th ed. Even the X Power books reference other books. Arcane Power FREX has material useless unless you own the Forgotten Realms books!

Piestrio

Quote from: ggroy;321060More books for the same amount of content.

Not a fair comparison because you're only looking at certain specific content from 3E. The major races and classes, for intance, are split between PHB 1 and 2. But it's not two books for "the same amount" of content because that ignores all the other things in PHB 1 and 2 that were not in 3E PHB (new races, classes etc).

You might have a legitimate gripe about 3E "core" thing not being available immediately in 4E. But not the way you've put it.

Quote from: ggroy;321052Counting up the number of WotC D&D hardcover core + splatbook titles produced during the 3.5E era, there is a total of 81 splatbooks + core books titles.  If one excludes the FR and Eberron splatbooks, the total number of WotC 3.5E splatbooks + core titles drops down to 53.

So far for 4E, the total number of WotC D&D hardcover core + splatbook titles already released + officially scheduled for release, is a total of 35 splatbooks + core titles.  The total number to the end of 2010 could be as high as 39, considering WotC has not mentioned any other releases for Sept->Dec 2010 yet (besides the DMG3 for Sept 2010).

For 2009, 15 WotC 4E splatbooks + core hardcover titles are (or will be) released.  It looks like 2010 is shaping up to also have 15 or 14 WotC 4E splatbooks + core hardcover titles being released.

By the end of 2011, I wouldn't be surprised if the total number of WotC 4E splatbooks + core titles released will have surpassed the WotC 3.5E total of 53 splatbooks + core titles (excluding the FR and Eberron splatbooks).

If the rate of splatbook production continues unabated through to the end of 2013, the total number of WotC 4E splatbooks + core titles released will surpass the WotC 3.5E total of 81 splatbooks + core titles including the FR and Eberron splatbooks.

Splatbook production gone overdrive indeed.

Is there a good reason you excluded certain books from 3.5, but included those same books for 4e?

Quote from: Mistwell;321612Is there a good reason you excluded certain books from 3.5, but included those same books for 4e?

Simple laziness.

If you want to include the 3.5E FR and Eberron campaign setting guides and player's guides in the core + splatbooks count, just add 3 to it and subtract 3 from the FR + Eberron splatbook book count.

Quote from: ggroy;321614Simple laziness.

If you want to include the 3.5E FR and Eberron campaign setting guides and player's guides in the core + splatbooks count, just add 3 to it and subtract 3 from the FR + Eberron splatbook book count.

I just think you should simply count all game books from both.

A book detailing a part of a realm in FR for 3.5 shouldn't "not count" while a book detailing a part of a realm in Points of Light (such as Open Grave, which details a part of the Shadow realm of the planes for example) should "count".  They both describe parts of a realm in a setting.

In addition, WOTC was of the official opinion that many 3.0 books were still part of 3.5, particularly "fluff" books like "Unapproachable East ".

Simply put, WOTC put out a metric crapload of 3.x books, and I think you're trying to fudge the numbers to exclude a bunch to try and make a point which simply isn't as strong if you actually do it straight without the fudging.

Quote from: Mistwell;321620I just think you should simply count all game books from both.

Throw in another 31 splatbooks for 3E.