A VETERAN GAMER'S PLEA: WHERE'S THE LARGE PRINT OPTION FOR TTRPG RULEBOOKS?
I’ve been knee-deep in dice, character sheets, and rulebooks since 1991—shortly before I started high school. Back then, my world expanded the moment I cracked open the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st Edition Player’s Handbook. The classic black and white line art, the dense columns of text about THAC0 and alignment languages—it wasn’t just a book; it was a portal. For a little over three decades, I’ve been a dedicated tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) enthusiast, a dungeon master, a rules lawyer (in the kindest sense), and above all, a storyteller.
Now, as I approach 50, I notice something about that beloved 1E PHB: I can’t read it anymore. Not without squinting. Not without my glasses, and often, not even with them. So I reach for a magnifying glass —
yes, an actual magnifying glass — to decipher what used to be second nature.
And I’m not alone.
Many players from my generation are grappling with the same issue: aging eyes. Our imaginations are as sharp as ever. Our love for collaborative storytelling, tactical combat, and worldbuilding hasn’t dimmed. But our eyesight? That’s another story.
Which brings me to my plea: Why don’t major TTRPG publishers like Wizards of the Coast and Paizo offer large-print versions of their core rulebooks?
THE PROBLEM: SHRINKING TEXT, SHRINKING ACCESSIBILITY
Let me be clear: I’m grateful for the renaissance that the tabletop gaming has enjoyed over the past decade. The design, full-color illustrations, digital tools, and expanded lore are incredible. But while production values have skyrocketed, accessibility for aging players has been left behind.
Publishers have leaned into compact formats. Paizo’s “Pocket Edition” line shrinks their core books into portable, mini-sized paperbacks. While convenient for travel, this format actually
reduces the readability of the text. Fonts get even smaller, line spacing tightens, and margins remain unchanged — making it actually
worse for older gamers.
And don’t get me started on the “micro books” TSR released in the 80s. Cute? Sure. Readable? Absolutely not.
Meanwhile, the standard hardcover rulebooks — like the
D&D 5th Edition Player’s Handbook or
Pathfinder 2E Core Rulebook — are beautiful, but their fonts hover around 9–10 points, set in narrow columns. Fine when you're 20. A real strain when you're pushing 50.
We’re not asking for braille editions or audio-only versions (though those would be great, too). We're simply asking for a larger font —
a 25% increase — on the books we’ve supported for decades.
THE SOLUTION: LARGE PRINT CORE RULEBOOKS
Here’s my modest proposal: Release large-print editions of the essential TTRPG rulebooks.
I’m not saying every supplement needs this treatment. But the core four? Absolutely:
• Player’s Handbook / Core Rulebook
• Dungeon Master’s Guide / Game Mastery Guide
• Monster Manual / Bestiary
• Advanced Player’s Guide / Optional Rule Compendium
These are the books we reference
constantly — in the middle of sessions, in dim lighting, sometimes with only one hand free while we roll dice with the other. They’re the foundation of every campaign.
A large-print edition could easily increase the page count by 25% to 50% to preserve layout and readability, while boosting the font size to a comfortable 12–14 points. Increase the line spacing slightly, widen the margins—small design tweaks that make a massive difference for readability.
And here’s the kicker:
I’d gladly pay more for it.
The current price for a core rulebook hovers around $50. I would happily pay
$75 to $100 for a large-print version. I know I’m not alone. Thousands of aging gamers would pay a premium to keep playing without eye strain.
This isn’t some niche request—it’s a sustainability play. As the original wave of 80s/90s gamers ages, publishers have a choice: alienate loyal fans with declining vision, or adapt and retain lifelong customers.
WHO WOULD BENEFIT?
Let’s be clear: large print isn’t just for the 50+ crowd.
•
Gamers with visual impairments, including dyslexia or low vision, would benefit enormously.
•
New players learning complex rules would appreciate clearer text and better spacing.
•
DMs running games in suboptimal lighting conditions — say, at a dimly lit table or a friend’s basement — would find large print a godsend.
•
Gamers using physical books alongside digital tools who still want the tactile joy of flipping pages without eye fatigue.
Large print is inclusive design. It’s not just about age; it’s about accessibility, comfort, and long-term playability.
BUT WHAT ABOUT DIGITAL?
I hear you: “Why not just use the digital version?”
And yes, PDFs, apps, and digital reference tools are amazing. But they’re not a complete replacement.
• Not every gaming table allows devices (some DMs still enforce the “no phones at the table” rule).
• Tablets and phones can die mid-session.
• Reading long passages on a backlit screen causes eye strain of its own.
• There’s something irreplaceable about flipping through a physical book—highlighting, bookmarking, the tactile sensation, the way a well-loved rulebook becomes part of your gaming identity.
Digital is a tool. Print is an experience.
And if the industry insists on pushing players toward digital, that’s a different conversation—one that many fans, myself included, are already wary of.
We don’t want to be forced into a digital-only future. We just want to keep using physical books—comfortably.
AN EVEN COOLER IDEA: OVERSIZED EDITIONS & POSTERS OF THE ALTERNATE COVERS
While I was writing this, a better idea hit me—one that bridges nostalgia, accessibility, and aesthetics in a way the TTRPG industry hasn’t fully explored.
What if publishers released
Oversized Editions?
Imagine taking the standard hardcover and scaling it up by
approximately 30% — going from a standard 8.5” x 11” trim size to something closer to a deluxe art book. These
Oversized Editions wouldn’t need reflowed text or adjusted layouts. Printers could simply blow up the entire page, increasing font size, art, and readability across the board —
without increasing page count.
And here’s the kicker:
these could be the perfect home for alternate covers.
Let’s face it — alternate covers (premium, sketch, foil, glow-in-the-dark, whatever) don’t change the content. They’re collectible, decorative, and deeply appealing to fans. But on a standard-sized book, that beautiful artwork is confined. Scale it up by 30%, and suddenly that dragon on the Bestiary cover breathes fire across an entire bookshelf. The sense of awe? Amplified.
But wait — why stop there?
How about releasing poster-sized prints (24” x 36”) of just the alternate covers?
Not the whole book. Just the cover. High-resolution, museum-quality prints that fans can frame and hang.
Imagine your gaming space transformed:
• A wall of Pathfinder’s three editions (standard, premium, sketch) blown up to poster size
• D&D’s
Monster Manual lich lord looming over your session
• The radiant glow of a
Divine Magic cover lighting up your spell-casting corner
For dedicated groups, this would create an immersive atmosphere—like walking into a guild hall, temple, or wizard’s tower. It’s not just decoration. It’s
worldbuilding for your game room.
And for publishers? This is a low-cost, high-margin product. No extra content needed. Just high-res art files and a print partner.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
I’m not asking for much — just the chance to enjoy the games I’ve loved for decades without squinting, leaning in, or needing a detective’s loupe.
A
large print edition, or better yet,
Oversized Editions of core rulebooks would be a game-changer for aging gamers, visually impaired players, and anyone who values comfort and style at the table.
And creating
posters of these alternate covers? That’s not just accessibility—it’s celebration. It’s honoring the art, the lore, and the legacy of these games we love.
So here’s my plea to WotC, Paizo, and every TTRPG publisher out there:
Make the text bigger. Make the books bolder. Make the art larger than life.
We’ve spent 30+ years building worlds. Now, let us read them —
comfortably.
Because at the end of the day, accessibility isn’t just about convenience.
It’s about
inclusion.
It’s about
passion.
It’s about letting every adventurer — no matter their age or eyesight — keep rolling those d20s.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a session tonight. And yes — I’ll still be using that magnifying glass……until someone listens.
Cross-posted on The Piazza RPG forums.
#LargePrintTTRPG #AccessibilityInGaming #VeteranGamerVoice #WeStillPlay
