PDF or Print?

magehammer · Post by **magehammer** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 1:37 am

I have had a lot of cognitive dissonance lately over an issue all of us have had to face: Print or PDF? On one side I have tradition. A whole lifetime of gaming books populates my basement and upstairs bookshelves. It is good for my soul to look upon those tomes and remember yesteryear and to crack them open and plumb their depths for present adventures of the imagination.

But on the other hand, I have discovered the convenience and allure of PDFs. Portable: I can carry my whole gaming collection on my flash drive; Sneaky: I can finally read gaming books at work in my few spare moments without lugging around strange tomes (not to mention having to explain why I am carrying around such a "unique" book and the inevitable explanation of exactly what gaming is to my co-workers), Search: searching the rulebook or module for a bit of information saves much time leafing through the book when gaming. I thought running a game from a laptop would be somehow unnatural, but it has its own merits. Having the module onscreen is just as good if not better than having a CK screen. But ultimately, it probably is even better than having the print one right in front of you. Instant gratification: no more waiting to receive your book, there it is in your email inbox.

I really want both, but budgetary constraints prevent that; it just isn't practical. I tell myself buy one of them now and another when you have some more money, but there is always a new module or rulebook or whatever out there to pick up, and I know that will never happen. I don't have the patience or money to run to Kinko's to have the PDF "published." And to me that doesn't seem quite right either.

Has anyone else struggled with this issue as much as me? Most of the posts I see on this issue are divided into firm camps for one or the other side. Are there others out there like me, silently suffering, or am I a lonely voice in the world of gaming publications?
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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:00 am

You are not alone!

Times and technology are changing and an electronic format will surely overtake print media in the publishing industry as public acceptance grows as printed media increases in price (both in terms of production and the retail side).

Printed books will never die though... there is something special about the look and feel of a book in ones hands... leafing through the pages. Costs for PDF materials are still impractical when compared to the cost of a printed product.

However, as the gap between the two forms grows and, the creation of an ultimate portable pad like in Star Trek (you know it's only a matter of time before Apple puts one out -- the iPad?), you'll begin to see a bit of a revolution.

Currently, I do get use both type of products a lot but in different ways. I have my flash drive and CD of frequently used documents for when I'm on the go. When I'm running a specific module, it is extremely handy to print out various sections of the adventure to use. I'm able to notate these print ups, write in the margins, and highlight certain sections. Player handouts are a simple matter of printing enough sets. Extremely convenient. The added bonus of being able to search the text or even copy and paste certain things makes my work as a CK that much easier.

On the flip side, using C&C for example, I have bought every in print item and will continue to do so but I will get the PDFs as I need them. I've picked up the M&T in both formats even though I was less enthusiastic of paying the same price for the book and PDF document. However, the convenience of the document has saved me a lot of time in the past. I own maybe 3 or 4 mods in PDF by comparison which are also in print. I only *wish* they would have a complete version of the PHB in PDF format.

I do limit my PDF purchases more so in order to ensure I have whatever that is new and in print.

Moriarty the Red
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Moorcrys · Post by **Moorcrys** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:21 am

I usually lean toward print for the rulebooks and PDFs for the modules. Rules in print seem 'official' to my crazy mind while not so official in PDF form. I like adventures in PDF so that I can pull it all apart in play and print out maps, individual sheets, and such.
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Dristram · Post by **Dristram** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:34 am

I don't like reading for long periods of time on a computer and I prefer flipping through books to find info rather than scrolling or using search buttons.

If I do get something in .pdf, it's because it's only available that way and then I end up printing it out myself in a professional format.

Printed books all the way for me! But then I'm old-school. 8)

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:44 am

Wow, I don't struggle with this topic at all. Personally I just love the printed form of RPGs far and above the portable pdf form. I recognize the value of being able to transport lots of material on potable computer media, but there is that definative visceral, tangibility that is lost.

I love books!

...................................................Omote

FPQ
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gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:53 am

Print products dont suffer from EM pulses or computer crashes, so ya know where I stand. ^_^
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 3:01 am

Pete will have his books long after the fall of modern civilization.

*enters World Code*

.......................................Omote

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magehammer · Post by **magehammer** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 3:13 am

I love my books. I love my PDFs. Arghhh. The frustration: My old school soul struggles with my techno heart.
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Rigon · Post by **Rigon** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 4:03 am

Dristram wrote:
I don't like reading for long periods of time on a computer and I prefer flipping through books to find info rather than scrolling or using search buttons.

If I do get something in .pdf, it's because it's only available that way and then I end up printing it out myself in a professional format.

Printed books all the way for me! But then I'm old-school. 8)

I'm feel the same way. There's something to be said about flipping through a book. However, I find that I'm leaning more and more toward PDFs, mianly because they are cheep and take up no room.

R-
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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 4:26 am

Omote wrote:
Pete will have his books long after the fall of modern civilization.

*enters World Code*

.......................................Omote

FPQ

Ok... now I'm just going to have to sit down and watch 'Escape from L.A.'

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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 4:32 am

Rigon wrote:
I'm feel the same way. There's something to be said about flipping through a book. However, I find that I'm leaning more and more toward PDFs, mianly because they are cheep and take up no room.

R-

I personally love books... books are my vice!
But, readability is something to consider -- an electronic device which has a display software on the eyes would be a good step towards practicality. Portability though can't be beat IMO.

M
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gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 4:41 am

Omote wrote:
Pete will have his books long after the fall of modern civilization.

*enters World Code*

.......................................Omote

FPQ

*chuckles* Somehow I think things would be, at least, more interesting.
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 6:58 am

I like both for different reasons. So Ideally I would have print and pdf, but I have both only for very few. All because of finances.

I prefer print, so that is my first choice, when they are available. Even though when I finally get around to buying "Mother of All Treasure Tables" I think I will go pdf first. Simply because I think I will get much more utility out of it as an easy to print out pdf.

Gnostic Gnoll · Post by **Gnostic Gnoll** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:23 am

Until there are readily affordable, high-resolution reading pads (and they're working on them, like the Sony Reader) I will prefer print. I get distracted much too easily from reading books on a computer screen due to the flicker and various other aspects of reading on a monitor. If I get my hands on a good reader though, I'm with the tech all the way.

I do have a large number of PDFs though, especially from Malhavoc Press, because I did a lot of my shopping for those while spending a year in Japan. English RPG books are difficult to come by there, and rather expensive. Cost is definitely an issue, but when I'm sitting at the table I need something in paper form... bound paper form. So I end up copying a lot by hand, printing up sheets retyped by me, or filling my print library with the books I have PDFs of.

Metathiax · Post by **Metathiax** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:56 am

Moorcrys wrote:
I usually lean toward print for the rulebooks and PDFs for the modules. Rules in print seem 'official' to my crazy mind while not so official in PDF form. I like adventures in PDF so that I can pull it all apart in play and print out maps, individual sheets, and such.

Same here.
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Lurker · Post by **Lurker** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:27 pm

Quote:
I'm feel the same way. There's something to be said about flipping through a book. However, I find that I'm leaning more and more toward PDFs, mianly because they are cheep and take up no room.

I agree, there is nothing like fliping through the old D&D1 MM & remembering the first time you lived through a red dragon, but if I kept all the old books I'd need a second house...

Quote:
But on the other hand, I have discovered the convenience and allure of PDFs. Portable: I can carry my whole gaming collection on my flash drive; Sneaky: I can finally read gaming books at work in my few spare moments without lugging around strange tomes (not to mention having to explain why I am carrying around such a "unique" book and the inevitable explanation of exactly what gaming is to my co-workers),

It is great to have PDF when going on trips to the sand box for extended times. The average 1sg or sgm already thinks I'm odd being in the AF & out with them, then telling them that in 2 days no operations will be able to go as the wx will be BAD. Then if I pulled ot the requeset books to prep for a quick game for when there is time...... Words on a screen can be explaned as a TM, or OI....

Quote:
Print products dont suffer from EM pulses or computer crashes, so ya know where I stand. ^_^

Dont forget power problems with dirty power for generators, or the errant morter, rocket actually hitting something....

[/quote]Ok... now I'm just going to have to sit down and watch 'Escape from L.A.'

Quote:
I prefer the old escape from NY..... havent seen it in sooooo long

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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 3:09 pm

moriarty777 wrote:
Ok... now I'm just going to have to sit down and watch 'Escape from L.A.'

Snake says, "you know you want to." *click*
(Just beware of the Sugeon General of Beverly Hills...)

..........................................Omote

FPQ
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Orpheus · Post by **Orpheus** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 4:42 pm

I agree with pretty much everyone here on all of their points. The portability of pdf's is nice, but I don't like using my laptop for a gaming session. What I like to do is have my core books in hard copy and then I can print out any modules or extra material from my hard drive. We've got a pretty good printer here at home and I use both sides of the paper to cut down on the "tree killin'" some. Of course, if you're playing out-of-print stuff (1st edition, etc.) and you don't have hard copies but would like to play on the cheap then pdf's are the way to go! 8)

magehammer · Post by **magehammer** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 11:25 pm

Thank you to everyone who added their 2 copper pieces to the discussion. Through reading your responses, I have decided to buy my modules in PDF form and my rulebooks in print form. That will give me the best of both worlds and satisfy the book lover and PDF fiend in me.

Thanks again for all of your input. I am going to buy Secret of Smuggler's Cove in PDF and Crusader 4 in PDF as well.

Later,

magehammer
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Deogolf · Post by **Deogolf** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 12:50 am

Print, no questions about it!!
PDF...end up printing it anyway.

magehammer · Post by **magehammer** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:59 am

I actually think it would be great if all products were in both formats with a discount be given for the PDF if you buy the print version. Just a thought.
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Dristram · Post by **Dristram** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:11 am

magehammer wrote:
I actually think it would be great if all products were in both formats with a discount be given for the PDF if you buy the print version. Just a thought.

Speaking of this, don't .pdf's hurt the manufacturers? I mean, if one person buys a .pdf, can't they automatically share it with all their friends? Thus less product being purchased?

magehammer · Post by **magehammer** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:37 am

I think that is why many publishers are leery about making their core rulebooks PDF accessible.

I think, though, there are still so many people who are addicted to books that most want to have a book and not the PDF so even if someone gives them the PDF, they still want the book, especially if only one of them has a laptop. Printing out hundreds of pages can't be anyone's idea of fun.
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Lurker · Post by **Lurker** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:30 pm

Quote:
Speaking of this, don't .pdf's hurt the manufacturers? I mean, if one person buys a .pdf, can't they automatically share it with all their friends? Thus less product being purchased?

I've always wondered about this myself.... I normally try & go out of my way to not give away my PDFs. Unless I think it will hook the pther guy into buying more. But I also go out of my way to buy stuff from the farmers markets & mom & pop stores.
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Dristram · Post by **Dristram** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 3:00 am

Lurker wrote:
I've always wondered about this myself.... I normally try & go out of my way to not give away my PDFs. Unless I think it will hook the pther guy into buying more. But I also go out of my way to buy stuff from the farmers markets & mom & pop stores.

Good for you! I do the same.
I play with some guys who have 3e books on .pdf they say they got from gamers who scanned in their own books and give them away for free. Fortunately, the guys I know and hang with feel bad at using the .pdf without buying the actual books, so no sale lost there. But how many don't? And I don't know how that could be stopped. It's kinda like the whole free music downloads thing.

Catweazle · Post by **Catweazle** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:12 am

Well, staring at screens too long gives me eye strain, so until a screen exists that can be passively lit and can be read comfortably in front of the fire, I'll stick with print.
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Maliki · Post by **Maliki** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 4:37 pm

Dristram wrote:
I don't like reading for long periods of time on a computer and I prefer flipping through books to find info rather than scrolling or using search buttons.

If I do get something in .pdf, it's because it's only available that way and then I end up printing it out myself in a professional format.

Printed books all the way for me! But then I'm old-school. 8)

Ditto (although my printed copies are not professional looking )
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