Most folks never did need the books to learn to play. You've always been able to learn D&D by somebody (usually their DM) explaining it. But many people end up buying books and things once they're engaged.
Like any hobby, people spend money on it when they want to. Those solid modules and supplements you mention would be a bit part of that, but also how people feel about the company they'd be supporting matters a lot (this is the so-called "reflective reaction" Don Norman writes about in his book Emotional Design) .
Rebel shareholders such as Alta Fox have been touting the radical concept of investing in the business, creating good products, and selling them.
You know, instead of screwing up relationships with long-term business partners, sending hired heavies to their fans' houses, and driving their customers to their competition.
Late response, but you could only Deflect a missile (arrows, etc.) not spells. It only affected one missile, not a round's worth like Shield but was a great, bit penalty to the shot.
Attack spells were often pretty pathetic at low levels. Let the Fighters, Rogues, and Thieves do the attacking, spell casters handle battlefield control, healing, etc. It was real different than 5e.
Late reply, but original D&D and Holmes-book D&D came before Red Box. Not sure about OD&D, but Holmes had race-class separation. AD&D has roughly contemporaneous with red box, and had the concept of Elf Wizard.
Red box D&D (both its editions) was pretty different in a lot of ways than other editions.
The fact that many men, religious and otherwise, happen to be circumcised in a country where many Christians live does not make it part of the religion.
Why would I believe your unsupported claims that are contrary to lots of evidence, my studies, and my own lived experience?
I hope you learn one day that making generalizations about groups of people based on your own vague notions is neither good nor kind.
A major point of the quote I provided is that Christians are not bound by such strictures on dress, diet, mold remediation, etc., set forth in Leviticus, Deuteronomy, or elsewhere in Hebrew Scripture (which the early Christian church adapted with some changes to be the Old Testament).
I myself have been to a lot of baptisms, and there's never been a circumcision involved. It's not on me to prove a negative though…where's your evidence?
Most folks never did need the books to learn to play. You've always been able to learn D&D by somebody (usually their DM) explaining it. But many people end up buying books and things once they're engaged.
Like any hobby, people spend money on it when they want to. Those solid modules and supplements you mention would be a bit part of that, but also how people feel about the company they'd be supporting matters a lot (this is the so-called "reflective reaction" Don Norman writes about in his book Emotional Design) .