NPC stats in PDF books - waste of space or useful DM's aid?

[Jolly Giant]

I have this book that's nearing completion (see sig.) and I wonder how much info to put in it. So how do all of you feel about NPC stat blocks in your PDF books? (I'm thinking a sample NPC for each PrC here.)

Are they a waste of printer paper and ink, or do you find them useful?

 

[Crothian]

I like the NPCs there but you might consider grouping them all togeth in an index or something so people can easily choose not to print them out

 

[VirgilCaine]

I like the NPCs there but you might consider grouping them all togeth in an index or something so people can easily choose not to print them out

I second that.

 

[Jolly Giant]

I like the NPCs there but you might consider grouping them all togeth in an index or something so people can easily choose not to print them out

Yeah, I was thinking I might put them all in one place; at the end of the chapter of PrC's, for example. That way you can easily skip those pages if you don't want them.

 

[Crothian]

you can also place them in a completely seperate PDF file, I've seen people do that as well.

 

[Jolly Giant]

you can also place them in a completely seperate PDF file, I've seen people do that as well.

Another good idea! Maybe make it a web-enhancement...

 

[Roudi]

Bookmarks are wonderful things in PDFs... they let you build indexes with fancy links, and glowing lights, and mad bling-bling...

Er, okay, so maybe bookmarks aren't THAT good, but they can help you out. An index of NPCs, with many copious links to said index in the main book, should do you good. Linking is a good thing, as Martha Steward would say (if she wrote RPG PDFs).

Of course, you could always throw the stat blocks on to your website instead, and link to it. This would draw more people to your website and increase your promotional ability.

Oh yes. If there is a fuzzy pink hat-wearing pimp of the RPG PDF world, I am he.

 

[Voadam]

I game by e-mail for the most part so the ability to copy and paste npc and monster stats to temporary files is great. I have done so recently for the sample NPC from a paladin prestige class book and it saved me tons of time that it would have taken to type in the info myself let alone stat him out with the 3rd party prestige class from scratch.

 

[Campbell]

I voted a qualified yes, as long as the NPCs are kept to an appendix. Additionally, if you keep the sample NPCs seperated by page breaks, it would allow busy DMs to print off the NPCs for the night's game session. If you did that, I would be happy.

 

[Glyfair]

I'm in the "it depends." If they are interesting and iconic, yes. If not, they're a waste of space.