[Fabe]

any word on when we might see a second printing of the core rules or one with all the errata corrected? I'm interested in getting it but rather wait until all the mistakes are corrected.

[Chrona]

Its highly unlikely this will happen, think of the cost of reprinting it. The errata is usually a well referenced PDF.

[Michael Chandra]

A second printing would happen after the first printing sells out. Since it hasn't hit the stores yet, we still got a while to go. Hopefully by then, the errata will be confirmed and taken into the printing.

[lightknight]

I'm hoping that maybe for the future, companies(not just Catalyst) will approach this pdf release before printing a little more wisely.  Essentially what has occurred is that the SR community has beta-tested and proofed the core rulebook.  If this had been done on purpose and before the print books had been ordered, then the actual first release of the core rulebook for printing would have been a far better product.

I don't think anyone around here would have minded treating this pdf release like the beta-test it appears to have become knowing that our pdf's would be updated with the improved document.  As is, I have no intention of buying the first printing of the book knowing the amount of issues with it.  Something to consider Catalyst team.  I think taking a page out of the MMORPG playbook is in order.

I like the new rules, they just needed more time to simmer in the pot.   

[Michael Chandra]

The problem with using the pdf to find errors is that after it takes you at least a month to get the errata done, it still takes at least two months for the books to go to the printer, then to the distribution centers. And that is assuming you managed to get an appointed with the printer that gives you enough leeway. That means we're talking 3+ months after pdf release before the shops have the book, likely four months even. At that point, the shops got a far reduced chance at actually making the sale.

Honestly I just hope that after these two big cons, one in july and one in august, Catalyst finds the time to take just that bit more to get things fixed before printing.

[Crunch]

Honestly for a first printing of an edition there's not THAT much Eratta, and it seems like Catalyst is handling it aggressively.

[KarmaInferno]

The first printing hasn't even shipped yet!

The PDF edition will likely be updated with errata, as it won't cost much to do that, but a second printing requires that the first printing was sold out and enough demand still exists to warrant another printing. No publisher can afford to keep products in print forever.

Additionally, Catalyst has gotten pretty good at estimating how many sales they're likely to get. You'll notice if you look most of their publications tend not to have more than one or two printings, sometimes three on the outside. It's always much more expensive to have multiple smaller print runs than one large one, so being able to estimate your likely sales is important for publishers.


-k

[PeterSmith]

The PDF edition will likely be updated with errata, as it won't cost much to do that...

This tends to happen during the run-up to another printing. Putting errata in requires the book to go through layout again, and it's a big book.

[KarmaInferno]

Ah, true. At least this go round attention is actually being paid to errata. Catalyst's previous track record on that, well...


-k

[Crunch]

Actually on the BT side of things Catalyst is REALLY aggressive and proactive about errata. I'm glad to see that culture filtering over here.

[emsquared]

2nd printing? I heard SR5A is coming out 2019.

[Ricochet]

I'm hoping that maybe for the future, companies(not just Catalyst) will approach this pdf release before printing a little more wisely.  Essentially what has occurred is that the SR community has beta-tested and proofed the core rulebook.  If this had been done on purpose and before the print books had been ordered, then the actual first release of the core rulebook for printing would have been a far better product.

I don't think anyone around here would have minded treating this pdf release like the beta-test it appears to have become knowing that our pdf's would be updated with the improved document.  As is, I have no intention of buying the first printing of the book knowing the amount of issues with it.  Something to consider Catalyst team.  I think taking a page out of the MMORPG playbook is in order.

I like the new rules, they just needed more time to simmer in the pot.   

I cancelled my preorder of the hardcopy as well and will just live with PDF until/if an updated printing happens sometime way in the future.

[lightknight]

The problem with using the pdf to find errors is that after it takes you at least a month to get the errata done, it still takes at least two months for the books to go to the printer, then to the distribution centers. And that is assuming you managed to get an appointed with the printer that gives you enough leeway. That means we're talking 3+ months after pdf release before the shops have the book, likely four months even. At that point, the shops got a far reduced chance at actually making the sale.
Honestly I just hope that after these two big cons, one in july and one in august, Catalyst finds the time to take just that bit more to get things fixed before printing.

I'm not sure I agree with that assertion.  If a publisher sells a $20 BETA pdf version of its product, then the people who are buying are the ones who WANT the best product possible and are willing to read through, and poke holes in the system knowing they will get the updated pdf down the road.  They are then MORE likely to buy the print version when it comes out, not less likely.  And those people who were only going to buy the pdf version anyway aren't hitting your print sales anyways.  I just don't see losing print revenue if you publish a BETA pdf version first, then release the updated version of the pdf the same time as the proofed book version. 

But I will also assert I have no experience with such things, and I'm betting the margin for these things is too low to take that chance.  What's going on with D&D Next is what I am talking about though to the extreme, but they are the 800 lb guerilla with the pocket book to take the chance.

[Lickintoad]

I'm not sure I agree with that assertion.  If a publisher sells a $20 BETA pdf version of its product, then the people who are buying are the ones who WANT the best product possible and are willing to read through, and poke holes in the system knowing they will get the updated pdf down the road.  They are then MORE likely to buy the print version when it comes out, not less likely.  And those people who were only going to buy the pdf version anyway aren't hitting your print sales anyways.  I just don't see losing print revenue if you publish a BETA pdf version first, then release the updated version of the pdf the same time as the proofed book version. 

But I will also assert I have no experience with such things, and I'm betting the margin for these things is too low to take that chance.  What's going on with D&D Next is what I am talking about though to the extreme, but they are the 800 lb guerilla with the pocket book to take the chance.

Look at Fantasy Flight.  They sold beta rulebooks for Edge of the Empire for $30, and people bought them up.  Then, those same people bought their $60 rulebook for the game when it released.  They're repeating that with Age of Rebellion.

I think if CGL were to sell beta PDFs with a rebate coupon for the price of the PDF (or close to it), they'd get a ton of takers.  And the product could be better because of it.

[Mithlas]

Sounds like a good idea to me. To be honest, I still think that SR5 came out too soon (SR4A publication date is only 8/2009 according to Barnes and Noble's website), but it's already here so I'm going to look ahead instead of looking back.

Hadn't heard of Fantasy Flight, but that sounds like a great idea - doing something like that via PDF would probably be even easier, because that would enable the publisher to host a second-stage Beta test/release of the product before taking a couple of months to get feedback and then reorganize and prepare the (somewhat) perfected 1.0 edition.