Ultimate Toolbox PDF

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:42 am

http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php? ... s_id=63106
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dutch206 · Post by **dutch206** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 10:38 am

$30 USD is a LOT for a pdf. Sell me on it.
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maasenstodt · Post by **maasenstodt** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 10:41 am

dutch206 wrote:
$30 USD is a LOT for a pdf. Sell me on it.

Well, FWIW, I paid full price for the hard copy, and if I had to parse my RPG collection down to a dozen books, Ultimate Toolbox would be among them.
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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:59 pm

$30 is a lot for a PDF... then again $50 is a lot for a softcover book too. I think that BOTH are overpriced here.

I picked up the book only because of a small gift certificate I received which meant the book cost me $30 out of pocket instead of the $50. However, for a PDF, I *really* have a hard time swallowing a $30 price tag.

You have to ask yourself, are you actually going to use it, or is more likely to sit on you shelf? If you are not too fussy, consider the original Toolbox as they can be gotten for less.

Hell, even I'm selling a copy of the original Toolbox book.
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:21 pm

moriarty777 wrote:
$30 is a lot for a PDF... then again $50 is a lot for a softcover book too. I think that BOTH are overpriced hereM

100% agreement here. However, Ultimate Toolbox does contain a wealth of information if you are the type of GM who often needs inspiration or a way to break out of a writing slump. Essentially this book is just filled with lists of things. These lists are used for generating ideas. Ultimate Toolbox might lead you to believe that it can be used on the fly to create adventures while your players are at the table. I think this is not so. The book is big and dense, and not so easily used at teh table (thought it could be if you become very familiar with the book). Overall I give Ultimate Toolbox 2 thumbs up, but I'm not sure about the price point for just lists of stuff (and NPCs, names, and all sorts of other fantasy RPG relating things).

~O
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 6:25 pm

If you liked and used the tables in the 1E DMG then you should love Ultimate Toolbox about 200 times better. If you never used the 1E DMG tables, or didn't like using them very often, then pass.
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 6:28 pm

$30 for a pdf is ridiculous.
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 8:36 pm

serleran wrote:
$30 for a pdf is ridiculous.

That's a matter of opinion.
I admit, it is high. But it's a valuable resource and to me it is worth it.
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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 10:20 pm

Lord Dynel wrote:
That's a matter of opinion.
I admit, it is high. But it's a valuable resource and to me it is worth it.

For a virtual copy of a document? No... I think 30 is probably too high. It's not a question of it's worth in terms of information. I mean, first off -- consider how much it is to print a copy of the thing. Now... since they've eliminated those costs and all you have left is maybe the fees for distribution, do you really think that $30 isn't a tad ridiculous?

By all appearances, it looks like AEG will make far more profit from a PDF copy of this book than they would a physical copy. This does not compute well for me. If it was at $20, I'd say sure... and agree that it was both good and fair.

M
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:03 pm

Eh, I've blown $30 on more trivial things. But again, it's a matter of opinion, mort.
I did agree that it was high. There's no mistake about it. I bought a pdf, because I like to have a pdf copy for myself when I'm working on an adventure at the desk. My physical copy is for "behind the screen" time.

I'm of the opinion that if it's worth it to you, then it's not ridiculous. I can understand it's not for everyone, but to me it was worth it.
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:37 am

I agree it is very over priced, and typically I would pass on it because of its price. However, this is a PDF of hundreds, maybe thousands, of tables. The cut/paste function alone will be worth it to me.
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danbuter · Post by **danbuter** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 11:23 am

It's a really good book. But, because it's AEG, it's also very overpriced.

I personally think it's one of the best rpg books published in years for an active DM. However, I'd buy the hardcover on sale before paying $30 for the pdf.
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:05 pm

danbuter wrote:
I personally think it's one of the best rpg books published in years for an active DM. However, I'd buy the hardcover on sale before paying $30 for the pdf.

Very good point, dan.
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dutch206 · Post by **dutch206** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 6:38 pm

Actually, I found the "Mother of All Encounter Tables" to be helpful in adventure planning. It contains some wonderful ideas for non-combat encounters to change things up a little.
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:08 pm

dutch206 wrote:
Actually, I found the "Mother of All Encounter Tables" to be helpful in adventure planning. It contains some wonderful ideas for non-combat encounters to change things up a little.

I own that too, as well as the Treasure Tables.
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maasenstodt · Post by **maasenstodt** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 1:05 am

Something is expensive when it isn't worth the money.

For me, the Ultimate Toolbox isn't expensive. Being 400 pages of inspiration that will help fuel years of campaigns, I consider it a great value.
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:47 am

That's kind of how I see it, hoss.
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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 3:06 pm

If it's worth the money and cost isn't really an issue, why don't you buy the physical copy of the book then? Besides, I never said it was a bad book either -- I have a copy myself and it's sitting within reach of my desk.

I think both price points are rather high but I do have issue of paying $30 for a PDF. It costs the company very little to bring the PDF as opposed to a physical copy of the book. Unless you are planning to copy and paste tables (if the PDF in question allows for this) into your own notes for game prep, it might be nicer to have something you can hold in your hands and leaf through.

This is not an issue of this particular product in PDFs but ties in to prices of PDFs in general and how companies choose to deal with them. We all know of WOTC's change of policy regarding them. Who's to say something won't happen to other companies currently selling PDF material considering today's economic climate?

If a concern is piracy, surely a high price point on a PDF can't help that matter. If $30 is too high for this item that might be nice to have, how many more might be tempted to get it if it was at $10 or $15? With Paizo's decision to sell the Pathfinder Core Book in PDF format for only $10, I can say I'm thinking of picking it up when I was not before.

This is not meant to be a PDF related debate and I have no problems with the sales of PDF. Just a few observations.
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:08 pm

I do have both, mort, and no offense was intended by my post(s). For me personally, I'm willing to spend the money, if I think the product's worth it. Honestly, and y'all might think I'm nuts - I'd have paid $75 for a print copy of UT, because it's that good IMHO. I wouldn't have paid much more for a pdf, though, than $30, to be honest. Different media has its limits.
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 10:22 pm

Yep. I normally wouldn't even consider paying $30 for a PDF, but in this specific instance its worth it to me, on top of having paid $40 for my soft cover print copy.
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