D&D to US stores 2 weeks early

[Nylanfs]

No idea how that will affect FG releases.

https://www.enworld.org/threads/us-c...stores.703198/

[claedawg]

"The Local Game Store Early Access program allows local game stores in the US and Canada to sell D&D books two weeks before the rest of the world."

[Zacchaeus]

Isn't this a re-instatement of what it used to be?

[LordEntrails]

Yep, but they had a different name for it. I don't remember what it was called. I assume that FG still qualifies for releasing on the earlier date, but would need Doug to confirm that.

[Laerun]

No idea how that will affect FG releases.

https://www.enworld.org/threads/us-c...stores.703198/

I'd think this might be to help local game stores more and such? Early release in stores would not be anything if it's released online too. It might defeat the purpose?

[anstett]

A module for FG and selling a dead tree in an online store are very different things. Even selling just the PDF of something. I can see Smiteworks having permission to sell modules at the same time local stores sell dead tree versions.

(slight sidebar)
Mongoose Publishing is still working through things on their policies along those lines. You can write a PDF and or PoD with no problems but cannot do a VTT product. They consider them to be something different.

[BaneTBC]

It would be nice if it was really intended to help FLGS, except....you can buy the Digital + Physical Bundle from WotC directly and get access to the book 2 weeks early on D&D Beyond(you won't see the physical book until around the May 21st date-ish). https://dndstore.wizards.com/us/prod...hysical-bundle

[Griogre]

Smiteworks use to be able to release early but that was before Wizards bought D&D Beyond and started work on their own VTT. Doug (or Smiteworks in general) might not be able to say anything because of an NDA.