PDFs vs. Books - What's your preference?

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

I prefer real, printed books for RPG use.

My personal experience matches some recent research* - the human mind typically learns better from a physical book, and can reference topics in a physical book better than electronic media. The physical book engages your ability to create mental maps to a far greater degree than a tablet or computer screen does. Combining not only the information, but where the information is found, tends to enhance the memory and ability to look up details. This effect is most strongly seen in long-form presentations, like in textbooks, or gaming books, as opposed to shorter articles.

So, for me, if I want to learn a new game, or if I'm going to be playing and may need to reference things in the books, the physical tome is superior. I will still use PDFs, but mostly for the cases where the physical book is not in print, or is otherwise unavailable to me.



*see, for example, the November 2013 issue of Scientific American.

That's very interesting to me. I remember a few times for tests in school where I could have told you the approximate page in the book the information was, the layout of the page, and precisely where the information was located on that page... but I couldn't tell you the information itself. Funny how the brain works!

Like many here, I prefer a physical book for reading through and learning. Touching the book and learning the layout, the art, the tables, it helps me remember much better. I can find information in the PHB, DMG, etc, without looking at the numbers because while I may or may not have the page number memorized, I know by the amount of pages/surrounding artwork, where the info is. I could fiddle around for five minutes in a PDF, trying to guess the page number and flipping through the thumbnails, but I could find the information in approximately ten seconds with the book physically in my hands.

I find reading PDFs for long periods to be harder on my eyes, and I remember less after reading them. Print it out, and it sticks in my mind better.

Again, like many here I do very much appreciate PDFs for referencing things on the fly, particularly if I'm DMing so I don't have to crowd my space with ten or twenty books. I would have loved to have PDFs of all my WoTC 3.0/3.5 books, because I do have the "stack of books" problem every time I DM.

I also appreciate PDFs for making player handouts, particularly for convention play so you don't end up have to share your book with a group of 4-6 people.

 

[herrozerro]

I prefer the option to buy a cheaper PDF first, I have a hard drive full of PDFs that I have purchased on a whim, sight unseen, but exactly 0 books done so in the same manner.

I am vastly more open to buying a $5-$20 PDF of a book that is $20-$50 to try out a game. But when I am sold on a game, I really love a physical book. Though, I don't think anything could replace a good indexed and searchable PDF for game prep.

 

[Mallus]

At this point, I prefer PDFs. I've grown accustomed to only bringing my iPad to game night.

(shameful confession - sometimes I don't even bring physical dice!)

 

[Razjah]

I prefer the book. I enjoy reading them better, I can put sticky notes and things in sections where I made something clearer to me or found more help online for a problems, and I enjoy the tactile sense of using a book. However, PDFs are a handy way to make sure that the players get the information cheaply.

I have very rarely found PDFs to be faster for searching information. I can usually find information much faster in the book.

[MENTION=177]Umbran[/MENTION] has a really good point about the mental maps. I think they really helps with book use.

 

[Viking Bastard]

I prefer the PDF format--RPG books just tend to be too bulky for comfortable reading, I prefer a smaller cut--except for books I like to browse leisurely, like magic-item collections and monster manuals.

 

[Razjah]

I prefer the PDF format--RPG books just tend to be too bulky for comfortable reading, I prefer a smaller cut--except for books I like to browse leisurely, like magic-item collections and monster manuals.

What do you mean that you about preferring a smaller cut? Do you like the digest sized books like Savage Worlds or similar sized hardbacks like FATE Core and Burning Wheel?

 

[Jan van Leyden]

One other purpose for which I really like PDFs (specifically), when well done is maps. Not only can you zoom in/out, but the very best have layers for all sorts of purposes. As an example, the maps for HârnWorld from Keléstia Publications have separate layers for GM only details (d'uh), historical geography, weather zones, tidal flows, prevailing winds, trade routes and sources, road systems, vegetation, land elevation, feature names in different (world) languages, classes of building in a town and even settlement drainage and sewerage systems. If the capabilities of the format are well utilised, PDFs can do things a physical book simply can't (unless you produce a full book of variants of one map!).

I'd rather prefer a GIS approach. Separate information from presentation and generate individual maps to your hearts content.

One could collect geographical information of a game world in a database and use some GIS software to design and create maps presenting filtered information of a freely defined area in an individualised map.

Say good-by to maps which are just pretty pictures and hello to maps containing selected, reusable information!

 

[Viking Bastard]

What do you mean that you about preferring a smaller cut? Do you like the digest sized books like Savage Worlds or similar sized hardbacks like FATE Core and Burning Wheel?

I have seen none of these particular books, but "digest" sounds about right. I thought the Essentials books to be a good size, if a tad too thick for convenience at the table.

"Not bigger than an iPad"

 

[Balesir]

I'd rather prefer a GIS approach. Separate information from presentation and generate individual maps to your hearts content.

When someone comes out with GIS software that has a half-way decent GUI and good casual user usability I'll totally agree with you. Until then PDFs put more onus on the map maker but at least allow the customer a slick, intuitive interface that doesn't make getting results an exercise in pulling teeth...

Is there actually an RPG supplier that is using GIS, yet (other than internally)?

 

[Elf Witch]

I like both. Before I got a tablet I didn't I found trying to read PDFs on my computer screen to hard and I had hard time retaining what I read.

I like hard copy books of games I play a lot especially the core books. The advantage PDFs have for me is they are not as heavy. I can't read for example the Pathfinder core book unless I am sitting at a table. Because I have a bad back it is to heavy to hold for very long. Also I really hate the wear and the tear on my physical books lugging them all around. With PDFs I don't need to take every book I might need if I am DMing.

I also no longer own my own place and I have had to move in with roommates there is an issue of space. Plus moving my hardbound books is a huge chore they weigh a lot and they take up dozens of boxes.

My eyes are getting old and some hardbound books are sometimes hard to read unless I am in bright light and even then when they do the print of any other color but white it is hard for me to read on a tablet I can change the size of the print so it is easier.

Another advantage is price I have bought a lot of PDFs on a whim because they sounded interesting and spending a few bucks is not as painful to my fixed income as spending more. So there are books I just would not own if they were not in PDF format.