D&D 5E So what's the scoop on D&D in PDF Format?

[LordEntrails]

Way to assume you know the minds of people who don't agree with you.

I'm not assuming your mind. Because I didn't know there was anything in my statement to disagree with. Do you disagree that PDFs are technically inferior to other digital formats? If so, how?

 

[Micah Sweet]

I'm not assuming your mind. Because I didn't know there was anything in my statement to disagree with. Do you disagree that PDFs are technically inferior to other digital formats? If so, how?

I do disagree. I want the electronic experience of reading a book to mirror the physical experience of reading a book as closely as possible. Pdf does that.

 

[LordEntrails]

I do disagree. I want the electronic experience of reading a book to mirror the physical experience of reading a book as closely as possible. Pdf does that.

There are better, much better options. Two column layout works well for A size prints, because otherwise the text blocks don't "look" right. They are too wide and short. Two column layout sucks on a computer screen. If static PDFs with 2 column layouts were actually preferred, all those eReaders would not work the way they do.

Of course, you are entitled to your opinion and preferences, but there is plenty of actual data behind my opinion on this.

 

[MNblockhead]

My experience as well. I've taken to making Word docs out of the material for offline use on the very few occasions I've interacted with D&D Beyond. I don't want to "rent" gaming material.

I just tested printing from DDB. It's fine. Not formatted exactly like the print book and DDB is also not formatted exactly like the print book. Actually easier to markup and notate when printed from DDB than if you have a PDF that matches the printed book. More white space.

When I ran games in person, for core rules that I wanted ready reference of, I would just create my own lookup sheets or find ones others have created online. For adventure material, printing from DDB would be fine. Especially maps because you can take just the image and resize it as needed.

I don't see how a PDF would make things any easier. If I was using a PDF, I would do the markups and annotations and bookmarks in the PDF reader.

 

[Reynard]

There are better, much better options. Two column layout works well for A size prints, because otherwise the text blocks don't "look" right. They are too wide and short. Two column layout sucks on a computer screen. If static PDFs with 2 column layouts were actually preferred, all those eReaders would not work the way they do.

Of course, you are entitled to your opinion and preferences, but there is plenty of actual data behind my opinion on this.

I mean maybe more people should be putting out e-reader compatible RPG books. It appears to be relatively rare though, so telling people they are wrong for preferring the format that is widely available seems disingenuous.

In either case, purchases combined with subscription services are both untenable and anti-consumer. If people buy something, they should own it

 

[Wolfpack48]

On a completely separate note, the text to speech capabilities on pdf readers have become much better. The one embedded in Edge has a ton of voice options.

 

[Micah Sweet]

There are better, much better options. Two column layout works well for A size prints, because otherwise the text blocks don't "look" right. They are too wide and short. Two column layout sucks on a computer screen. If static PDFs with 2 column layouts were actually preferred, all those eReaders would not work the way they do.

Of course, you are entitled to your opinion and preferences, but there is plenty of actual data behind my opinion on this.

Better by what metric? I told you what my metric is.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I just tested printing from DDB. It's fine. Not formatted exactly like the print book and DDB is also not formatted exactly like the print book. Actually easier to markup and notate when printed from DDB than if you have a PDF that matches the printed book. More white space.

When I ran games in person, for core rules that I wanted ready reference of, I would just create my own lookup sheets or find ones others have created online. For adventure material, printing from DDB would be fine. Especially maps because you can take just the image and resize it as needed.

I don't see how a PDF would make things any easier. If I was using a PDF, I would do the markups and annotations and bookmarks in the PDF reader.

I actually copy the material so I have a copy offline and can stay out from under DDB's thumb, not specifically for purposes of printing.

 

[AK81]

Clarity in language is important...


WotC currently makes every book available in multiple digital formats. Just not PDFs

This is why digital formats like Fantasy Grounds and Foundry are so important. You are purchasing them forever. Foundry because you download it to your own computer/server. FG because their license agreement with WotC says so.

DDB and Roll20, as software as a service platforms are all about renting the content. But not all digital formats are so limited.

Folks, Digital does NOT equal PDF. PDFs are one of the absolute worst formats there is for digital products. The don't scale to fit the page or have the text and background colors changed or the font size altered like an epub or other formats do. They are not un-editable like they originally claimed to be. They can't readily be linked to or leveraged with database tools and searching is rudimentary. And that's just the start of their shortcomings.

IMO, the only reason you all want PDFs is because its what you know. There are better options, really.

I like PDFs not because I think they are the greatest products to read, but because I can download them and keep them personally.

I actually much prefer reading on DnD beyond or Kindle or some similar reader, but as far as I know I can't download their product to an external harddisk, and as such have to use their service to open my purchases. And that gives them power over my future enjoyment.

That's why I would always choose a PDF, over other alternatives. If I could get both though, then I would download my PDF for keeping safe, then use a more preferred service to read in regular use.

For me PDFs are like books, no big company's future guidelines can modify or restrict my access to my purchased content. If I own it, I own it.

 

[MNblockhead]

I mean maybe more people should be putting out e-reader compatible RPG books.

This. I would love to have some of my TTRPG rule books on my Kindle so that I could read up on the rules when on a long plane ride in economy class where using a laptop is impractical or uncomfortable. The PDFs of most TTRPG books are nearly unreadable on a kindle. I suppose I should just get a full-powered tablet PC, but I just don't like them for reading.

Even when you do have a proper device for displaying PDFs, many publishers don't do a great job making full use of a PDF-readers functionality. At least it is common to include bookmarks, which I consider a bare minimum. It is much less common to have internal hyperlinks linked rule terms, spell and monster names, and other cross-referenceable content to the sections in the PDF. For adventures with maps in the PDF, it would be nice to have the maps formatted for printing at scale or more easily bringing into a VTT. 0one Games is the gold standard for me when it comes to PDF maps. Check out their in-pdf control panel allowing you to toggle what map features are displayed, color, etc. Plus they generally give you JPGs for VTT use along with the PDF purchase. Below is an example of their "Rule the Dungeon" control panel in their Dwarven Depths: Trade Way PDF map.

I wish more publishers would be more creative with their PDF products.