Did anyone like the old Monstrous Compendium ring-binder format?

[D+1]

It was a concept with possibilities but they screwed it right from the start by failing to even try to keep a format of 1 monster per page (for proper alphabetization in a binder) and then making them tear-outs instead of just loose-leaf pages, etc. I had three binders worth but grew to significantly despise them. I let them go this past summer at a yard sale. They were included in three file boxes that contained some 98% of the 2E material I owned (and some undesired 1E material) and I think I got $15 for the lot.

There was one other issue that made it easy to dump those binders - 85% of the monsters in them were crap. YMMV.

 

[Virel]

I really disliked that "notebook". It was poorly planned and stuff was out of alphabetical order with the addition of the 2nd part.

 

[dvvega]

I liked the concept but they could have taken it further.

1 monster per page would have been better, the front with all crunch, the back with the fluff. That way you would avoid the problems Auld Grump mentioned.

I went a little step further with mine. I started using the ring protectors but decided that was only temporary, so I laminated some of my monsters (good old work and laminators) and "re-punched" the holes. This kept them in great condition. Expensive excercise though (if I had to pay that is).

I've been remembering those days recently and have thought about cutting the spines/binding for my 3.5 books and putting them in those display books with the spiral so you can lay them flat etc. What would make this idea really good is if the page layout templates for the books were given out so you can merge in FAQs and errata and reprint pages keeping your copy up to date. Of course you could download an illegal electronic copy but the concept is there.

D

 

[dead]

Are there any other odd formats that people have come up with for RPG products?

Actually, I do remember a different format TSR (2nd Ed. era) tried . . .

The Dark Sun modules with those wire-bound notepad style adventures. You'd get one for the DM and one for the players with just illustrations on 'em.

It was interesting, but I prefer book format.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

It was a great idea in theory that just didn't work so well in practice. I kept pulling the sheets out to use, and then misplacing them so I couldn't find a "Troll" when I needed one. It was just a mess. And I still have multiple copies of the Kara-Tur compendium. I still don't know how that happened.

 

[dvvega]

The darksun format was a step in a good direction but not well executed.

I would love rulebooks to be spiral bound so they can be flipped open, left flat, all that jazz.

D

 

[megamania]

I had problems with it as everyone has already mentioned plus one other thing- DON"T DROP THE BINDER!

Oh the hours picking up the lose pages from it falling down the stairs- over and over- page by page- oh the humanity!

Dragons with Orcs. Dinosaurs with Trolls. Forgotten Realms with Darksun ARRRRGH!

Beyond that- it was nice to look at.

 

[thalmin]

I thought the idea was great. Instead of having monsters alphabetic, I could arrange them by level, or by type. If I ignored the monsters on the back of each page. WHAT were they thinking?

 

[devoblue]

At one stage I owned all of them.

In theory it was a good idea because you could keep them all in 1 binder, mixed into alpha order for easy reference. Of course having monsters on both sides of a page meant that it wasn't strictly alpha order. For MC 1 + 2, and the ravenloft ones, this was something you put up with, but all the others stayed seperate.

Because they were loose leaf, we had to do something to protect them. I put them into a display folder so that each page was protected by a plastic cover. Soon, my 2e monster collection took half a milk crate to cart around.

I eventually sold them all and got a couple of monstrous manual's (1 white, 1 black) to live on the sheld for posterity.

In hindsight, I would have preferred the MCs this way, but I probably wouldnt have purchased all of the oddball ones either.

 

[Wolv0rine]

I've been remembering those days recently and have thought about cutting the spines/binding for my 3.5 books and putting them in those display books with the spiral so you can lay them flat etc. What would make this idea really good is if the page layout templates for the books were given out so you can merge in FAQs and errata and reprint pages keeping your copy up to date. Of course you could download an illegal electronic copy but the concept is there.

D

Wouldn't it be easier (on the books, if nothing else) to just print the monsters out individually from the SRD (and if you want the illo., scan it, paste it onto the doc. before you print it). That way when wear & tear occurs, you just toss it and print that one again?

Interesting idea, I may try this when I get a new printer cartridge. You could print out and carry to the game the monsters you know you'll need.