Book Bindings

[JeffB]

I've noticed an ever increasing amount of poor rpg book bindings in the past couple of years.

My 3E core books were toast within a year as well as some other hardcovers from WOTC, several of my WW/SSS hardcover books did the same (EQ, TOH, SL:Ghelspad), and now I have a 5 day old copy of Midnight from FFG that is starting to fall apart too!

I have dozens of older RPG hardcovers from the 1E days through the 1990's from several manufacturers that have had as much and most cases much more abuse than these newer books.

Has anyone else noticed this? What gives?

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

I've noticed an ever increasing amount of poor rpg book bindings in the past couple of years.

My 3E core books were toast within a year as well as some other hardcovers from WOTC, several of my WW/SSS hardcover books did the same (EQ, TOH, SL:Ghelspad), and now I have a 5 day old copy of Midnight from FFG that is starting to fall apart too!

I have dozens of older RPG hardcovers from the 1E days through the 1990's from several manufacturers that have had as much and most cases much more abuse than these newer books.

Has anyone else noticed this? What gives?

Hmmm. I haven't noticed anything but working for a publisher I know sometimes bad bindings happen. What sort of conditions are you keeping the books in? Humidity can be brutal on bindings.

 

[JeffB]

Hmmm. I haven't noticed anything but working for a publisher I know sometimes bad bindings happen. What sort of conditions are you keeping the books in? Humidity can be brutal on bindings.

I actually take very good care of my books. I'm loathe to open them up "hard" to lay them flat on a table unless I absolutely have too, they are stored on a bookcase and humidity is not a problem where they are. And of course, many of my older books have seen much more abuse, and poorer conditions.

Maybe it's just my bad luck

 

[Desdichado]

I've had no problems with any of my recent RPG books.

 

[reutbing0]

Has anyone else noticed this? What gives?

Jou're not alone, it happpens to me all the time, an I'm very careful with my books. IMO Softcovers hold up much better than hardcovers. There are a couple of D&D books with wich I don't have this problem, PsiHB, MoTP and FRCS. Incidentally these are some of the books that I actually use the most !!

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

It should also be noted that the first run of the midnight book had a defective binding, almost everyones falls apart. I believe if you send the book to FFG they'll send you a non-defective one.

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

It should also be noted that the first run of the midnight book had a defective binding, almost everyones falls apart. I believe if you send the book to FFG they'll send you a non-defective one.

try to contact the publisher who produces the book. If there was a bad print run, they are probably already aware and will send you a replacement.

 

[ES2]

Somebody already beat me to it but the Midnight books I've had all fell apart within 3 days. I got one, returned it for another, and returned that for another, and same thing again. Now, I just put up with it. I don't want to go through the hassle of coming up with money to ship a book that should have been fine the first time around. I live with it.

 

[Sirius_Black]

Somebody already beat me to it but the Midnight books I've had all fell apart within 3 days. I got one, returned it for another, and returned that for another, and same thing again. Now, I just put up with it. I don't want to go through the hassle of coming up with money to ship a book that should have been fine the first time around. I live with it.

Ick! Sorry to hear that about a product that has received so much praise. The only problems I've had with bindings have taken place recently with some Mongoose purchases (Quint. Sorcerer and Sheloth: City of the Drow). The former was very bad and the latter just minor. I'm going to be keeping a close eye on any future Mongoose products I purchase. Right now, I'm just chalking it up as the heat wave we have had in this area as I've never had problems in the past with Mongoose products even when I lived in an area with so much humidity you had to carry a bucket if you walked outside.

 

[Ranger REG]

Somebody already beat me to it but the Midnight books I've had all fell apart within 3 days. I got one, returned it for another, and returned that for another, and same thing again. Now, I just put up with it. I don't want to go through the hassle of coming up with money to ship a book that should have been fine the first time around. I live with it.

Okay, that is weird. Why would a publisher be giving you a replacement book that is just as defective as the first book you returned?

They should have at least caught on that their stock is all defective and should take their grievance to the printing company.

I'm telling you, the printing companies have way too much abusive powers because they are ultimately the one to make one writer's dream into a selling print product, which of course the writers have to pay them.

I wouldn't be surprised if they jack up the costs of printing and bookbinding of game products rather than reading products, which of course trickles the costs down to us.