Black & white, versus colour book interiors

[slimykuotoan]

Which would you prefer?

[Treebore]

Over all? B&W, but I am just fine with a well done full color book.

[Tadhg]

3rd option for me!

[alcyone]

Black and white is sufficient for me. I read the book mostly for the rules. I find color helpful sometimes for maps. I know what all of the monsters look like by now (and not necessarily how they've ever been portrayed, anyway) and some of my favorite monster pictures were b&w line drawings in AD&D.

Color doesn't bother me though unless for some reason it means bringing the readability down.

[slimykuotoan]

Looks like B&W wins it, 17 to 8.

[Lord Dynel]

Color does nothing for me, personally. I like "regular" black and white text and I can appreciate art in black and white/shades of grey just as easily as color.

[Rigon]

So, I broke down and ordered a 6th print PHB. It's on sale right now for $10. I hadn't planned on getting on, but for that price, I'd be crazy not to. I've now paid less for the hardback 6th print than I did the PDF. Sales rock.

R-

[Buttmonkey]

$10 is crazy! What the hell is going on down in Arkansas?

[Rigon]

$10 is crazy! What the hell is going on down in Arkansas?

They must need cash quick to restock their Dr Pepper supply.

R-

[thenorthman]

I believe that a colored book though would bring in "new stock" of players.....

Which is probably why its been expressed Troll Lords want to get their books into color which the Kickstarters are allowing.....which also is where people are voting trying to reach those goals....

[mmbutter]

So, I broke down and ordered a 6th print PHB. It's on sale right now for $10. I hadn't planned on getting on, but for that price, I'd be crazy not to. I've now paid less for the hardback 6th print than I did the PDF. Sales rock.

Was going to buy a few copies to take to cons with me when I run C&C, but then noticed it was a "retailer only" price. Oh well.

[Rigon]

So, I broke down and ordered a 6th print PHB. It's on sale right now for $10. I hadn't planned on getting on, but for that price, I'd be crazy not to. I've now paid less for the hardback 6th print than I did the PDF. Sales rock.

Was going to buy a few copies to take to cons with me when I run C&C, but then noticed it was a "retailer only" price. Oh well.

I'm not a retailer and I got one. They took my money, I better get a book.

R-

[thenorthman]

It might be something they check after they take the money then refund.....

If not you just became a retailer.

[ArgoForg]

Honestly, I actually prefer the colored pages. When it's done well, I feel like it gives the book a more professional, 'stand up and take notice' feel.

Maybe it's because Paizo spoiled me, or maybe it's because of the glut of 3E splatbooks that were done in black and white and just felt very dull and 'meh', but black and white just hasn't done as much for me since the advent of full-color print. I think black and white probably has a big following here at TLG because C&C draws a lot of old school players who have a special place in their hearts for the old PHB's and DMG's in glorious hardback/black and white.

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. For my buck, though, I actually dig the gloss/matte parchment-style pages with full color images and heavily detailed maps.

[Snoring Rock]

Black and white is certainly nostalgic, but that is where its draw for me ends. I have both, and I prefer the color. On top of that, TLG has to move forward and sell books in order to do so. We live in a color world now. Whether that was solidified by Wizards or Paizo, I am not sure, but the "now" and the best sellers are in color. Just like selling books in PDF format. I had a hard time with that at first. I am a grognard too. But you know, those PDFs of all my books fit in my iPad. Old dog did learn a new trick! Times change and so have the preferences of most, I say "most" gamers.

Nothing wrong with back and white, I have them and if I want to walk down memory lane with them, I can. I have an old 39 Oldsmobile and I really like it. I keep it garaged and dry and far from rust, door dings, and rock chips. Fun car, but not my choice for ever-day driving. What is safe, dependable and fuel efficient, etc., etc., is what is on the market today. Yes the Olds still gets me from point A to point B but not like my modern new car does. And yes, they come in color now.

Love black and white, love my color better.

[GoOrange]

I find the black and white easiest to read. Color looks pretty, but for reading and playing it's B&W all the way.

I think full color is the industry standard and the way to go to get new customers though.

[slimykuotoan]

I find that full colour makes a product appear childlike.

[thenorthman]

Looks like B&W wins it, 16 to 7.

Ahhhh I see what you did there. Count the votes for colored art work as part of your poll in your favor.

Me I see it as a 12 to 11 in favor of colored books since people want the colored art work. Which to have colored art work interspaced in the book it probably is the same price as having the whole book in color....they would just have to have a few colored pages in their file to have it print out that way and the rest black and white.

But due to those interspersed colored art work they would be charged as full colored book so that really isn't realistic.....

[Lord Dynel]

Looks like B&W wins it, 16 to 7.

Ahhhh I see what you did there. Count the votes for colored art work as part of your poll in your favor.

Me I see it as a 12 to 11 in favor of colored books since people want the colored art work. Which to have colored art work interspaced in the book it probably is the same price as having the whole book in color....they would just have to have a few colored pages in their file to have it print out that way and the rest black and white.

But due to those interspersed colored art work they would be charged as full colored book so that really isn't realistic.....

Heehee...numbers can always be skewed in favor one way or the other!

I think it's B&W over Color, 11-7, with five people who prefer a mix.

[Snoring Rock]

I like the 11-7 and 5 mixed take as well. But the tiny number in this poll does not come close to the numbers of sales of color books vs. black and white and what it may or may not do for the game expanding to more gamers.

I wish we could see those numbers. How many existing gamers purchased and how many new to C&C purchased the color. What keeps TLG healthy is the winner.

[Rigon]

I am honestly happy using my 4th print all day long. Hell, I'd have been happy using my 2nd print forever, except that the barbarian was changed enough to warrant me getting the 4th print. I was not going to buy a physical copy of the 6th print (I did get a PDF though), but with that $10 sale, I paid less for a hardback including shipping, than I did for the PDF. Now I'll have to keep my eyes open for a good deal on the 4th print M&T so I have a matching set and that will force my hand on the CKG too (when I can get it for a good deal that is).

I like b&w just fine and I'm ok with the color version too. I've seen the 6th print at a game store and it is a very sharp book. A lot nicer than any of the WizBro D&D books.

R-