PDF or Paper

[imported_Magman]

Poll for you pleasure.

[imported_Magman]

Sorry about the typo's. Not sure how to change a poll to edit.

[The Game Guy]

Paper for me. If it's PDF only I wont even give the game the time of the day. it's paper or its not worth my attention.

[Rerun941]

I think we've had this discussion before, but it bears repeating. :)

I like PDFs for the electronic search function and ability to copy/paste rules into my own settings. Plus, I can print individual pages that may be applicable for a specific game session, rather than toting around the entire book.

At the same time (at least for me, since I have some severe vision problems), printed materials are much easier to read than on a screen. And there's just something nice about holding a book in your hands.

Given the choice, I would love to have both to get the benefits of each type of media. As always, cost is a factor and if a rulebook isn't available in either format (PDF-only or Print-only), then you're outta luck, anyway.

[Whill]

As well documented elsewhere, I prefer physical books and only buy PDFs when paper is not an option. I live and breathe paper so much that I have gone to the trobule of editing PDFs and then the expense of having them printed, so I can read them without looking at screen.

I still have 20-20 vision, and plan to maintain that as long as possible. I spend so much time on my computers as it is. I've got to give my eyes a rest and read physical paper-printed text sometimes!

[Kansas Jim]

I can't really answer, the question is too vague. I prefer a book when it's something I will use at the game table but if it's something I would buy to use purely as reference material or just to read it then I'm fine with a PDF. (My groaning bookcases are also fine with that. ;))

[Emperor Xan]

PDFs are only useful only as a way to save one's back when going somewhere to game. I use them as back-ups when carrying all the books isn't a viable option. They're great as quick-reference guides.

[nairobie]

papper for me brings doubt, much faster paced games if i read trough the rules 3-4 times and remember then. for which pdf works just as good. only thing i bring to games are generaly my dies, my notes for the sessions adventure and some extra paper to scribble down notes as it goes.

guess that would mean that id be fine with both.

[Kalzazz]

I must admit, I really really really like the search function on some PDFs, but overall a slight bit of preference for books

Book and PDF is the best

[imported_Magman]

I love paper, but I selected only if the game is really good would I get both. I take long train rides to work so the convience of having it on my laptop to read is awesome. My computer bag alone weighs like 15 pounds. Add some RPG books, and I am carrying weight I don't need too. So in my case, the pdf's are a matter of circumstance.

[Alucard]

I will only get the pdf to save money... and I usually print it out, and have it bound... only costs me the pdf price and $5 for the binding... I use the printer/copier at the office :D

[Viriatha]

I prefer paper but I know it's awfully expensive to get the cheap PDFs printed and there's been some really nice PDF products.

[Alucard]

I prefer paper but I know it's awfully expensive to get the cheap PDFs printed and there's been some really nice PDF products.

it depends on the pdf. Most PDF's you can get really cheap, and its only 12-15 dollars to print it out and 5 for a bind with a hard front and back cover. SO its a tiny bit cheaper, compared to buying it at the gaming store which is a rip off, and you want it now. If you are talking amazon, then forget it, you cant beat the amazon prices, most books $20 to 25, and depending on where you live you have to way 2 to 7 days.

[skeloric]

Paper forever.

[Temprus]

Depends on the product, if both are available, I will typically get both. If we suddenly could only get PDFs, I would be sad but could live/deal with it. ;) If we went back to paper only, I would have to play games that only need one or two books unless I am hosting the game at my place. I don't feel like lugging 20+ pounds of gaming materials as I did in my "youth". :p I still don't know how I got all the main 1st or 2nd ed AD&D books in to the backpack for each game back then. Maybe that was why I had bursitis in my backpack toting shoulder in high school. :eek:

[Whill]

Depends on the product, if both are available, I will typically get both. If we suddenly could only get PDFs, I would be sad but could live/deal with it. ;) If we went back to paper only, I would have to play games that only need one or two books unless I am hosting the game at my place. I don't feel like lugging 20+ pounds of gaming materials as I did in my "youth". :p I still don't know how I got all the main 1st or 2nd ed AD&D books in to the backpack for each game back then. Maybe that was why I had bursitis in my backpack toting shoulder in high school. :eek:

I had a Backpack of Holding to lug around my collection. ;)

[Emperor Xan]

I have the .pdf of the Rules Cyclopedia, but I still carry around my physical copy and several other books (both for school and my own personal entertainment.

[Kythian]

For me it really depends on the situation. In my line of work, I do A LOT of driving (nearly 2,000 miles a week), and packing a bunch of books isn't really practical, so having a PDF loaded on my laptop is great. The search bit has been beaten to death, so I'll leave that as a mere mention.

On the other hand, when actually working with material, creating characters or adventures, and continually cross-referencing rules and other text, having a printed book is essential. It's simply SOOOO much easier to have things spread out across a table where I can simply glance up to retrieve a specific piece of information.

But, generally speaking, I like to have the printed item. I'm the same way with software. If I buy a program online, I ALWAYS pay the extra couple bucks to get the CD or DVD shipped to me. I simply don't trust companies to remain in business for the remainder of my life!

[Temprus]

I had a Backpack of Holding to lug around my collection. ;)

I have a PDA of Holding, it works best for lugging gaming stuff around, then again, I can actually read stuff on a 3 or 4 inch screen, another skill I can thank overly long bus trips for. :D

[~HANZO~]

I like a little of both.

Main books I often get the dead tree edition. But for smaller supplements Id rather burn my own ink and get the pdf.

Some systems I get both. Keep the dead tree for me and a binder print off pdf for my players to handle. Keeps my books in good shape.

Iv got two book shelves full of rpg books. And I'v filled two flash drives full of PDFs. So I had to vote both.

[Whill]

I've noticed that a lot of the people that stated they like PDFs (or both) have laptops or PDAs. I might feel different about it if I had those technologies, but I don't. I can see the convenience factor.

But I just bought a new desktop computer in December (no-interest payments for two years), a new car payment and a baby on the way, so those portable technologies are not gonna be available to me anytime soon.

[imported_Magman]

Lol, give the baby up for a portable. You will sleep more!

Just kidding... :o

May the computer help you read your emails faster and pay your online bills, May the car get you to where ever you need to go safely and in comfort, and I hope everything turns out perfect for you and your child.

[Whill]

Lol, give the baby up for a portable. You will sleep more!

Just kidding... :o

May the computer help you read your emails faster and pay your online bills, May the car get you to where ever you need to go safely and in comfort, and I hope everything turns out perfect for you and your child.


Thank you. That's very nice of you to say.

And I do pay just about all my bills online, automatic payments. That way the payments are not late. I'm notorious for being late with bills, even when I have the money. :o

[imported_Magman]

But you are absolutely right about the laptops and such. I think the majority of people who love PDF's have a laptop somewhere in the mix to read them. I have open one or two on my desktop before, but they are mainly used on my laptop. Haven't tried reading them on my PDA yet. Too me, that is getting too small to view them, ridiculously small.

[Temprus]

My screen is wide/big enough that I can read two pages at slightly bigger than the "original" printed page (if 8.5x11).

[Darkeus]

Seriously, if pdf did not exist I would have no room to live!. I have an extensive collection of games from Mutant Chronicles to Paranoia to Shadowrun.. If my Shadowrun collection was all books it would be CRAZY! I have EVERY BOOK PUBLISHED. I am not messing with you. Same with my Rifts Collection.

I still love a dead tree version, do not get me wrong but it is just more convenient for my collector ways to have pdf's.. I do buy both though so I voted for both.

[imported_Magman]

The majority of RP'ers are definately not going green anytime soon. After all, isn't that the whole purpose of recycling paper - to continue to print books on them. We are just doing our part to keep those recyclers in business.

[Whill]

I admit I'm an Earth-loving tree-hugger, but another part of being "green" is energy conservation. I don't need my computer or monitor on when reading a "dead tree". :)

[hellsreach]

I generally always prefer paper, but there is something to be said for games that have a ton of sourcebooks. For instance, I getting ready to kick off a Torg game and while I'll certainly have plenty of dead tree around, having a laptop with most of the Torg books loaded in PDF would be handy as well.

[Temprus]

I am packing for the big move, I have 21 or so tubs of gaming related books (so far). This is one reason why I prefer PDF vs. Paper. It is much lighter to carry a computer (and maybe some external storage) down a flight or two of stairs rather than 21+ tubs of books. :D

[Emperor Xan]

Books are best when it comes to games, laws, etc., because you can flip through them and generally find things faster (especially in their correct context). PDFs, on the other hand are good for searches after you have read the content. If you know the general area of the book you're looking for, then the PDF becomes extremely useful in not only conducting a search for the rule, but also in the speed at which you can discern whether the key word you used took you to the correct page.

[Rognar]

I recently got on the pdf bandwagon. I still prefer a dead tree copy of my favorite games, though.

[Michael Hopcroft]

I collect PDFs for one simple reason -- living most of my life in small apartments. I would never be able to store the bulk of my game collection in any of the apartments I've had, which has forced me to cull things I didn't really want to cull just to make room. There's no need to cull a PDF.

[Emperor Xan]

I collect PDFs for one simple reason -- living most of my life in small apartments. I would never be able to store the bulk of my game collection in any of the apartments I've had, which has forced me to cull things I didn't really want to cull just to make room. There's no need to cull a PDF.

Sure there is: disc space.

[Temprus]

Sure there is: disc space.With the cost of disk space now, I would just say buy more disk space. :D Disk space is not an addiction, I can control it at anytime! See, I am defragging it now! ;)

[Emperor Xan]

LOL. The first step to breaking an addiction is admitting you have one. That includes .PDFs. ;)

[~HANZO~]

Flash drives have gotten really cheap. Great for backing up or storing your PDFs.
So far for d6 Iv gotten all that I own in PDF. Although I plan now to buy the core 3 and a few more in dead tree.

My trend with other systems is to get core books, and larger books in dead tree. But most any thing 120 pages or less in PDF.

It also depends on the work too. For example I got a book from another rpg company. Almost 40$ for the full color PDF, the layout is very busy. now if I print it (in grey scale) and binder it that's at least 55$ (mainly because it takes so much ink for such a busy layout.) for a grey scale copy of a full color book that is almost more than the dead tree edition.

While D6 adventure cost me 13$ as a PDF. Cost me less than 4$ in ink. And I used a binder I already had on hand. I Take all that into account when getting any book.

For example getting the other two d6 core books (space and fantasy) in Pdf was a no brainier after that. Mainly because I separated D6 adventure into two. I placed character options through improving characters, with equipment and templates in a 1" binder. Then I printed just those parts of space and fantasy and each got their own 1" binder.

Almost all the rest of adventure went into a separate 1.5" binder, with only the example skill difficulties and skill lists from Fantasy and Space. Since most of the rest the books were the same.

So while 3 books became 4. I didn't have to print all three books entirely.
My players have just what they need to make characters in each 1" binder, and I have a single 1.5" binder with all the rules.

[Temprus]

LOL. The first step to breaking an addiction is admitting you have one. That includes .PDFs. ;).PDFs are not why I have an addic err need for so much storage. ;) Having multiple back ups of stuff is why I tend to need so much storage (calling it redundancy storage just sounds wrong).

[The Game Guy]

Books are best when it comes to games, laws, etc., because you can flip through them and generally find things faster (especially in their correct context). PDFs, on the other hand are good for searches after you have read the content. If you know the general area of the book you're looking for, then the PDF becomes extremely useful in not only conducting a search for the rule, but also in the speed at which you can discern whether the key word you used took you to the correct page.

I totally agree. I gave .pdfs a try and even tried to run a game using one but it slowed things down while I searched for things.

So paper only for me

[Michael Hopcroft]

.PDFs are not why I have an addic err need for so much storage. ;) Having multiple back ups of stuff is why I tend to need so much storage (calling it redundancy storage just sounds wrong).

"Department of Redundancy Department. How can I aid, assist, and help you?"

Or:

If we had an Index File, we could look it up in the Index File under Index File!

[Emperor Xan]

I totally agree. I gave .pdfs a try and even tried to run a game using one but it slowed things down while I searched for things.

So paper only for me


I try to obtain the .PDF files when I can. Mostly because having a laptop and being mobile is awesome for a college student. Not to mention that if I'm familiar enough with the books, I don't need them to run a game at a moment's notice, but having the files on my portable lets me turn any opportunity for a session into a reality. Also, using them as reference materials in my various research projects for the defense of gaming as an art, let alone a socially acceptable past time, sure beats trying to carry around 2+ 6' tall bookcases worth of games to and from campus. :D

[skeloric]

Seems Paper only is out in front.
Traditionalism seems to be in the lead.
Hijack

[Temprus]

Seems Paper only is out in front.
Traditionalism seems to be in the lead.
HijackI need some of the paper only people to help me move my game books this weekend! Gah, I am glad it is only a single story I am moving into, I don't think I could take going both down and up again with these heavy, heavy lead weights, err books. ;) The really sad thing is my current collection (except maybe the Warhammer 40k stuff) is not even a third of what I once had when I was really collecting the first time, before the storage incident. :p I admit, my 40k collection is getting too big. :D

[Whill]

So is this weekend it Temprus? It seems like you've been moving for awhile. I sympathize - I hate moving. Really I hate unpacking even more.

I've got four 6' bookshelves that are about 2.5' wide, almost full of books. (Sorry non-Americans, I live in an archaic metric-deficient country: almost 2 meters tall by .75 meters wide). Most of those books are not RPG books though.

I'm sure a lot of you have a lot more RPG books than I do. One of those 4 bookshelves which has all my Star Wars books and all my other RPGs. Out of 5 shelves, WEG Star Wars takes up the top shelf and most of the 2nd, my relatively small Star Wars d20 books fill up the rest od the 2nd shelf. The 3rd shelf is all my non-RPG Star Wars reference books, and a some novels (with some novels behind these books). 4th shelf is my complete collection of the Star Wars Insider magazine, some more Star Wars novels, and then my entire Purgatory D6 collection w/ D6 Powers. Then the bottom shelf is all the rest of my RPGs.

My last move, I packed these books very carefully, and personally moved them very carefully. I didn't take any chances with my beloved Star Wars and RPG books!

[Temprus]

So is this weekend it Temprus? It seems like you've been moving for awhile. I sympathize - I hate moving. Really I hate unpacking even more.I was mostly packed since late April, my roommates decided it made more sense for them to rapidly pack and start the move with THEIR stuff instead. I did notice they did sneak off with a few of my tubs without saying anything a few hours ago though while I was packing the rest of my junk, err, important stuff. :D

While I will not actually admit to being a computer/internet/storage addict, I am definitely a book addict (or even an information junkie). When my father had to sell my childhood home a few years after my mother died, we had to get rid of something like 10 thousand (probably much more than this) books rather quickly between our three collections. Those little paperback books add up when you aren't looking or counting them properly. I know I still had at least a few hundred RPGs, an equal amount of novels and a hundred or so reference books before the Storage Incident.

If I get too bored unpacking, I might actually count the books as I unpack. Please Lord, don't let me get that "bored". :D

[Whill]

Good luck with the move. I hope you don't get too sore lifting all those RPGs around. I know I was when I moved mine.

[Havard]

I've become more open to pdfs lately. I need to have the "core" books printed, but especially from smaller companies, I accept that they wont be able to afford providing every supplement or scenario in print format.

Havard

[Trusty]

.pdf for sure.

I have no need for role-playing books, and would rather simply print the pages I need than have multiple books to deal with at once. If a .pdf isn't available, I make one myself and then sell the book on eBay.

However, none of this would be the case if I didn't have such an awesome laptop that cost more than I had to spend on it and therefore try to use for absolutely everything I can. Without it, I am sure I'd prefer books. :D

[Cryonic]

Technically, selling the book, but keeping the PDF is a violation of copyright for the product.

[Kalzazz]

Yes, let us please not discuss such things on this forum guys

[Trusty]

Technically, selling the book, but keeping the PDF is a violation of copyright for the product.

I know, I feel horrible about it. I haven't bought a book in years though.

[Kalzazz]

As I said, lets please not discuss this topic

Lets get back to the original 'PDF vs Paper', thank you

[JusticeZero]

If it's not paper, it's garbage. PDF's are usually formatted for portrait paper; that means that I have these pages with two columns that are up and down on a screen that is landscape formatted; in order to read the text legibly, I have to zoom way in hells in at which point i'm chasing my window of readability around on each page. Then when i'm reading game rules, I generally am flipping between three different pages (bad writing, really, and D6 Fantasy is as guilty of this, if not more, than others) trying to figure out an idea; when I comment on this I am asked to tile the pages and in doing so, reduce the readable area even more..
I simply cannot justify buying a specialized monitor, at the approximate cost of a good vacation, just so that I can read people's PDF's because they couldn't be bothered to send it to a printer. Just.. no.

[Temprus]

I simply cannot justify buying a specialized monitor, at the approximate cost of a good vacation, just so that I can read people's PDF's because they couldn't be bothered to send it to a printer. Just.. no.I have a wide screen monitor that actually displays them bigger than the real page would be if printed, it allows a two page spread at a time also. Similar models are $100 to $200 new.

I also copy a file a few times with different names and open as many as I need to have the pages I reference often up all at once for easy access with one or two extra copies to jump around in for other pages as needed.

[Cryonic]

If it's not paper, it's garbage. PDF's are usually formatted for portrait paper; that means that I have these pages with two columns that are up and down on a screen that is landscape formatted; in order to read the text legibly, I have to zoom way in hells in at which point i'm chasing my window of readability around on each page. Then when i'm reading game rules, I generally am flipping between three different pages (bad writing, really, and D6 Fantasy is as guilty of this, if not more, than others) trying to figure out an idea; when I comment on this I am asked to tile the pages and in doing so, reduce the readable area even more..
I simply cannot justify buying a specialized monitor, at the approximate cost of a good vacation, just so that I can read people's PDF's because they couldn't be bothered to send it to a printer. Just.. no.

Wide screen monitor doesn't cost that much, and most video cards can rotate the display so you can stand it on its side. Can even do this with most laptops nowadays when attached to an external monitor.