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Question about D&D (with GA)

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ninefingers

Hey guys and gals, I need your help with something
I don't know the first thing about D&D, but my friend plays and his birthday is coming up
I want to buy a D&D book (or whatever they are called) for him, so I discretely asked him which one he thinks would be fun
He said he heard good things about "Curse of Strahd"

I found what he was talking about on Amazon, but I'm not sure what I should buy; item 1 or item 2 or are they the same?
He bought this one before, if that helps
If you have any better ideas on what to give a D&D fan with a budget of around 30 bucks, please tell me

While I have you here, I live in the Netherlands, any experience with international shipping on Amazon (yes, also new with this)?

Thank you in advance (over)

EDIT: thanks for the help everyone, you've been a great help

8 years ago*

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25 Comments
naps420

Both items are the same, just different listings. Both are source books for the 5th Edition of D&D.

As to international shipping, couldn't help you there. Shouldn't be a problem though since Amazon ships all over the world.

8 years ago
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ninefingers

thanks, that's a big help
I'll leave the thread open for a few more hours

8 years ago
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Nanabanana

The more expensive one is hardcover though, the other one will be softcover. With the discount on the hardcover putting prices so close together, I'd go with that one. Especially as a gift. Hardcovers tend to be much better quality...

8 years ago
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ninefingers

True, I'm going with the hardcover, thanks

8 years ago
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Fnord

Just beware that shipping from the US to Europe can be quite expensive for books. If the Netherlands have a specific Amazon, then it's worth using that, but otherwise there's a french & a UK one as well. The UK one also has the book.

8 years ago
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Mallorn

I always use German Amazon. We dont have Amazon in The Netherlands

8 years ago
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ninefingers

Goeie tip, tnx

8 years ago
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bmh67wa

There was a complaint (with pics) about print quality in the reviews for item 1 - smudges, blurriness, etc. The person said that returning for a different one produced better results.
There are no reviews for item 2 which would make me hesitant about ordering from them though their reviews are favorable.

Item 1 dimensions: 8.5 x 0.7 x 11.2 inches
Item 2 dimensions: 12 x 1 x 9 inches

Based on the dimensions I would say that they are two different print versions of the same thing. Item 1 does specifically say that it's a hardcover though. It also says "Publisher: Wizards of the Coast; Har/Map edition (March 15, 2016)". Going by the date it would appear to be the newest edition.

I would get item 1.

8 years ago
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fvtb

I would take the 1st Item, too!

8 years ago
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ninefingers

I'm going with 1, thanks for the help

8 years ago
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talgaby

As it was said, first is hardcover, second is softcover. You could check his other books to see which versions he has more of.

8 years ago
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Sooth

I don't see any indication that it's available in softcover.

Item details
Price: $49.95
Release Date: 15 March, 2016
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780786965984

WotC specifically lists it as above, and I was unable to find a single retailer with it available in anything other than hardcover.

I'm unfamiliar with 5th edition policies, but I've also never encountered a D&D book released in multiple bindings, and 3.0 supplements are the only ones that come to mind as ever having been released in softcover, other than short module supplements.
Unless there's a reason to expect the book to be available in softcover, I would assume it only to be available in hardcover, especially given my search results.

I can't explain why the dimensions of the second item are different, or why its listed weight is 28% higher.

8 years ago
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talgaby

The second is too cheap for a HC though. Frankly, I'm surprised that a book that seems to be more like a module is even available in HC, unless they really switched trends in the past decade; most supplemental books I ever saw were softcovers.

8 years ago
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Sooth

It's $2.39 cheaper than the first one. :P
The second one is a storefront for a private seller, there's no reason to not expect the pricing to be a bit lower. Retail isn't mentioned at any point on the second item, it's just their discount price.

As far as the book itself, it appears to be an entire campaign/storyline, rather than just a single module, and contains supplemental setting materials as well.
(Note that it's 256 pages, versus the 20-odd to 30-odd pages of a standard module supplement)

8 years ago*
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talgaby

Hm. Then I'm curious why the two products have completely different physical characteristics. Especially if the smaller one is heavier than a large-sized HC.

8 years ago
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zordios

"the curse of strahd" its an small adventure and a guide to run custom adventures on ravenloft, wich is kinda like an alternative dimension for the regular "dungeons and dragons" game where "out of the abyss" happens. the ravenloft dimension is darker, borrows heavily from lovecraft and gothic horrror. the regular dimension, forgotten realms, is a more standardized fantasy realm.

"curse.." is really new and your friend probably wont own already. but if you think he'll enjoy the fantasy setting you could look for "princes of the apocalypse" or "sword coast adventure". the first one is a full campaign and the second one have a lot of lore and info to run your own campaigns.

8 years ago
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Khalaq
(Senior Moderator)

+1 for an informed (and helpful!) answer. Most people would find a campaign (e.g. The Curse of Strahd) more useful than a guide/lorebook, but if he's playing DM (gamemaster), then he's running his own campaigns and could use a lorebook.

8 years ago
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ninefingers

Thanks for the help

8 years ago
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NuxTenebrarum

I really enjoyed playing the old strahd adventure. We started before the Curse of Strahd was even announced. I've only heard good things from my DM, so I think your friend will have lots of fun with that. And if you decide not to buy a book, there is always the option of dice...

8 years ago
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Khalaq
(Senior Moderator)

+1 A nice set of dice is a very good gift for anyone the plays, DM or player.

8 years ago
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ninefingers

I'll keep it in mind in case this won't work, thanks

8 years ago
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m3rc

I usually order at bookdepository if they have the item I want.
Like this

8 years ago
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dambuk1

well, the only thing i can really say about D&D books is that it has the most complicated rules out of all pen and paper RPGs i know - even Warhammer Fantasy is less complicated(though it has more books which are more expensive)

8 years ago
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leonidas56

DICES A SHIT TON OF DICES

8 years ago
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Deleted

This comment was deleted 5 years ago.

8 years ago
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Closed 8 years ago by ninefingers.