Question regarding PDFs...

[kerakus]

First off, I'm new to posting, but have been lurking for several months now. Second off, I'm not sure if I'm in the right forum for this.

I am woefully unfamiliar with the PDF market. Does there exist a product that is essentially a big book of NPCs? What Enemies and Allies should've been with things like followers (for the leadership feat), humanoid adepts, useful townsfolk...basically, all the people you could make up using the NPC classes in the DMG.

Second of all, there seems to be a lot of "Class" books out there that are either "complete" or in some other way claiming to be all about a certain class or set of classes. The quality of these books varies, but the point is, has anyone considered, and is it permissable under the OGL, to simply create a Class Handbook, that contains all the SRD material pertinent to that class and nothing else? No new feats, no new prestige classes, no new spells, just all the material that class would need during play. It would get as specific as a full set of stats for summonable creatures via Summon Monster or Summon Nature's Ally if the class could cast that spell...basically the book would be a true "Complete" guide to playing that character.

Thank you in advance.

Q

 

[The Sigil]

First off, I'm new to posting, but have been lurking for several months now. Second off, I'm not sure if I'm in the right forum for this.

I am woefully unfamiliar with the PDF market.

Run, do not walk, to RPGNow.com and take the time to browse through their "virtual catalog."

Does there exist a product that is essentially a big book of NPCs?

Yes. Several. Here are three to get you started.
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=2773&
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=743&
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=324&

Second of all, there seems to be a lot of "Class" books out there that are either "complete" or in some other way claiming to be all about a certain class or set of classes. The quality of these books varies, but the point is, has anyone considered, and is it permissable under the OGL, to simply create a Class Handbook, that contains all the SRD material pertinent to that class and nothing else? No new feats, no new prestige classes, no new spells, just all the material that class would need during play. It would get as specific as a full set of stats for summonable creatures via Summon Monster or Summon Nature's Ally if the class could cast that spell...basically the book would be a true "Complete" guide to playing that character.

Not quite, to my knowledge - nothing strictly for "one Core SRD class only", but there are some things that are quite helpful - bits and pieces of what you're looking for, for instance. Here's a category for just "Class Books"
http://www.rpgnow.com/default.php?cPath=1_260_280&
And here is a product, that has, for instance, all the SRD spells for Sorcerers/Wizards only:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=1995&

With a little work, you can likely assemble what you're looking for though, (warning: tooting my own horn) here's a book that, while it includes prestige classes and new spells, also contains all the "basics" for a core ranger except for SRD spell descriptions and animal companion stats:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=1920&

Now, combine it with a list of SRD ranger spells
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=1991&
and a list of SRD stat blocks (from which you could pull the animal companions)
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=1928&
...and you have what you're looking for. Not in one piece, but in three relatively easy pieces.

Hopefully that gives you an idea of what's out there.

Seriously, take the opportunity to check out RPGNow.com - I think you'll be surprised by the breadth and depth of the stuff you'll find there.

--The Sigil

 

[DaveStebbins]

Like The Sigil I am a big supporter of RPGNow! I would recommend gathering titles of works you are interested in and seeing what the reviews are, both at RPGNow (reviews are usually posted, if there are any, underneath the product blurb on the product's page) and especially here at EN World.


When I am browsing at RPGNow, I usually have another browser window open to the reviews section here at EN World. That way, between the two, I can get an easy, quick, pretty good idea whether or not I'll like a product.

 

[Crothian]

I third RPGNow!! But there is a lot there. We have reviews of just a few of their books since most people don't review PDFs.

 

[BSF]

RPGNow. Go browse and have fun. It will take a while to go through the catalog.

As for a "Complete" guide, part of the problem is that new material is coming out all the time. You could do a snapshot book, or you could choose to use only core material, but if you wanted to include all OGC, it would be a constant work in progress. It is, however, an interesting idea. It sounds like a pre-packaged player's binder tool. I'm not sure it would be a seller, but it could be kind of neat. I think a lot of people would prefer to mix & match what they need though.

As an example, my player's binder for my character includes the Bard spells he knows, excerpts from the Enchiridion of Mystic Music that apply to my Bard, special abilities from the homebrew PrC, and many notes. I still need to add specific pages for the magic items the PC has, and the Druid spells he knows. Finally, getting down and looking at the Summonable critters would be cool. It would be difficult to put together a "complete" guide for my character that would have any value to anybody else.

 

[jgbrowning]

Don't forget to pick up some freebies while you're at rpgnow.com. Good way to see what you like or don't.

joe b.

 

[kerakus]

Some Clarification...

What I'm mainly interested in is actually writing something along these lines, although this would be more of a compilation project than an actual writing. I've had a lot of ideas lately of what I would want to actually use at the game table....these two ideas are the first.

So, is there a market for it and has it been done before is probably what I should've asked.

Q

 

[RSKennan]

I would guess there would be a market, but I couldn't say for sure. The Thing about doing PDFs is that they have a low cost of entry and low risk. Why not just try and see?

Also with d20/OGL, you have the ability to compile the best stuff from these third party complete books... something I'd personally think would boost the chances of a product like yours... the first part of each would be standard SRD stuff, but the second half (or even a separate PDF bundled in the download) could be the best third party info.

An alternate route to take might be to discuss innovative builds for an SRD standard class and strategies that might help such characters shine.

 

[Asmo]

I don´t like rpg.now.
I like their products,that´s not my problem.
My problem that I´m in europe and for some very strange reason they can´t accept my ( and several other members of En World ) Visa card.
I think that it´s outrageuos that rpg.now can´t handle this problem, it´s a scandal.
Today I tried to order (again) Treasures of Freeport and Tournaments, Fairs and Tavern with the same depressing result " This transaction has been declined" Baaaahhhh!!

Asmo

 

[Krug]

I don´t like rpg.now.
I like their products,that´s not my problem.
My problem that I´m in europe and for some very strange reason they can´t accept my ( and several other members of En World ) Visa card.
I think that it´s outrageuos that rpg.now can´t handle this problem, it´s a scandal.
Today I tried to order (again) Treasures of Freeport and Tournaments, Fairs and Tavern with the same depressing result " This transaction has been declined" Baaaahhhh!!

Asmo

Hmm you might wanna mail them at sales at rpgnow.com . Also you can also pay with Paypal.com.

You can check out the FAQ here: http://forums.rpghost.com/showthread.php?threadid=1