In my current group I have 6 players.  I generally prefer 4 to 6 players and that seems to be the average size of most RPG groups.  I'm a little surprised the basic 3e boxed set only accomodates 3 players and a GM.  I would think that it would at least accomodate 4 players.  I know its been said that you can just use an envelope to store cards and data for additional players.  I just hope the Adventurers Toolkit adds enough extras to accomodate more than a single additional player. 

Redcrow said:

I've wondered about this myself and the conclusion that I came to is that it plays along with marketing to a new crowd of WFRP players first and foremost. I know that a lot of folks have trouble actually getting an RPG group together in the first place.  You see it all over forums everywhere and I figure its probably pretty representative of what's going on outside of the internet as well.  So here you have this new RPG that you've designed in a way to hopefully attract new players and made its information streamlined for play (which should also help to show the real meat of RPGing, the storytelling).  At the same time, those same components that will be beneficial to the players, they're expensive.  So you don't want the cost of the product to be any higher than necessary while maintaining those nice tools.  So why not package it for the most likely group size for a new group gathering to play this new game?  Four players is a pretty standard groupsize for most types of games out there, barring one-on-one wargames.

So FFG probably just saw it as the sweet spot for packaging costs and the likely group size of new players coming into v3.  Just a guess obviously.

I think it was just what they could fit into the box. In any case, like donbaloo said, adding more material in would up the cost. If you have a smaller than average group then you'd be paying for surpluss materials. The game is expensive enough as it is, I'd prefer the price was kept down and let people share cards, let them choose whether they want to buy the extras or not.

I am worried about the price too because I have players that are willing to try it but unwilling to BUY it so we are all hoping that one box bought by me will have everything the players will need too to play the game.  I hope there will be enough dice, etc. for everyone but some of my players that like to own some of their own things like the core rulebook, dice, etc. see the steep price as a large turnoff.

Does anyone know if  one boxed set will have enough for other players too and if maybe they will release the core rules separate just for players that want to look at equipment and maybe own the book?

 The core set allegedly contains everything needed for four players (1 GM and 3 players).  All the dice, all the player aids, etc.  It also breaks the rules into separate books so that stuff like arcane magic stuff has its own book and the divine magic in its own book.  So players of spell slingers I'm assuming could sit on the book they need it and it wouldn't slow the game down as much as passing around The One Core Book.  However, I'm anticipating the cards and play aids eliminating most of the book passing anyway.

So, short answer, the core set has four gamers covered completely.

I have some players though that like to own a book or 2 that pertains to their character for research but they do not want to invest in this core set.  I hope those extra packs of dice, cards, and sheets I heard mentioned in the GenCon preview videos will be out and available at release. 

 Again, the impression that I got was that most of your "research information" would be included on the backside of the player reference card for the careers that your players are playing.  I see what you're saying though, it is nice to have your own copy of "The Book".  I don't think any official word has been put out on whether the materials inside the corebox would be released as separate items.  My guess is that they will be available at some point though, just makes sense.

I think at some point they'll have to have some sort of "Player's Pack" or they'll be shooting themselves in the foot.

Let's take a look at my RP experiences over the last ten years:

I start up a D&D 3e campaign, by the second session, all six players have their own copy of the Player's Handbook.

I start up a Traveller campaign, by the fourth session, all five players have their own copy of the Core book

I run a WFRP 2e one shot, knowing that three of the seven players in the group don't have the core book.  By the time game day comes around, only one of the seven didn't own the book.

I start up a WFRP 2e campaign, with 3 new players to WFRP - two out of those three go out and buy the core book, the third is planning on buying it.

In each of these cases, the players wanted to have access to their own copy of the book for their player. In each of these cases, the book is less than $50.  In my experiences, in general, most RPGers will buy copies of the games they're playing long term - but - and this is key - but whole lot of them will only buy what they need for their character.  They aren't interested in buying things that  are "GM only".

I just don't see the 3e core kit being a "must have" for most RPGers.