Forked Thread: PDF or Dead tree?

[Voadam]

I like having physical books, because I hate playing with computers at the table; they are distracting, loud, tend to take up too much space, and they put off lots of heat. But pdf's are much easier to reference when not in game, what with all those fancy search options and such, making them much more useful than dead-tree for character and campaign generation.

Ideally, I would like to buy both for the price of one, but I doubt that is going to happen any time soon.

I also wish there were more softcovers, they are noticeably easier to carry around.

Check out Paizo's Pathfinder Subscriptions. Get rpg stuff at a discount, plus a free pdf of them, but it is an ongoing subscription.

 

[EricNoah]

I'm having trouble formulating an answer, partially because I'm not entirely sure why I want some things in electronic form and some in paper form. I guess my ultimate answer is "I like it in both". I'm running a Paizo module right now - for purposes of really studying it, scrutinizing it, learning it, paper is the way to go. I can't sit down and read a PDF front to back the way I can a print product.

On the other hand, having it in PDF as well has allowed me to do some cool things during prep time (printing handouts with illustrations copied from the PDF, copying out and then tweaking stat blocks, etc.). So "both" is a good option for me when feasible.

 

[mach1.9pants]

First off, let me say that I find the term "dead tree" to be pejorative, so I object to its use. Why not use "spent electrons" while you are at it?

Sorry that you do but but books are made of dead trees, and no electrons are harmed in the making of electricity and electronic storage!

 

[Krensky]

I tend to buy more ebooks then dead tree books in general (gaming and fiction). In the former it's due to the fact that the PDF is easier to deal with for preparation and for reading something I'm not necessarily running and because a lot of my purchases the past year and a half are old games not readily available in print or PDF only. In the later, it's because I find my PDA easier to read in most circumstances. Taking a cigarette break or the last half of my lunchbreak with a paperback would be noticed and cause potential issues at work. Doing so while fiddling with my PDA does not.

That said, I do own both versions for my games of choice and those I'm running (easier to pass dead tree copies around the table and not force my players to buy the book) and I'm a Pathfinder subscriber. I also have a few duplicates like this for indie games and others that charged a small fee for the PDF in addition to the dead tree.

 

[sjmiller]

Sorry that you do but but books are made of dead trees, and no electrons are harmed in the making of electricity and electronic storage!

While that is not necessarily true (much of book paper these days is made from recycled material) what's wrong with just calling them books? They are, after all, books. If you have to distinguish between physical and electronic, then use those words. I am not trying to be a pain in the neck, but a poll should be neutral and using words that show the poll takers bias (whether that bias exists or not) makes the poll skewed when all is said and done.

 

[Harlekin]

Books for reading and online databases for actually using the material in game.

 

[Cadfan]

I selected "depends on price," but it also depends on the type of product. I consider both.

The DDI throws another wrench into everything- I use a lot of material through the DDI which I will never purchase in hardcopy. Does this count as pdf even though the Compendium is an archive and not a pdf per se? Or does it count as something entirely different?

 

[Fallen Seraph]

The DDI throws another wrench into everything- I use a lot of material through the DDI which I will never purchase in hardcopy. Does this count as pdf even though the Compendium is an archive and not a pdf per se? Or does it count as something entirely different?

I think the DDI throws a wrench into things even more then just that. I find that it is much easier to use DDI then it is a PDF. Like there is comments in this thread about how people don't like reading PDFs. I am the same, but, not when it comes to DDI I find it easier to read/use then PDFs or actual books.

 

[mach1.9pants]

While that is not necessarily true (much of book paper these days is made from recycled material) what's wrong with just calling them books? They are, after all, books. If you have to distinguish between physical and electronic, then use those words. I am not trying to be a pain in the neck, but a poll should be neutral and using words that show the poll takers bias (whether that bias exists or not) makes the poll skewed when all is said and done.

Yeah but still dead trees before they are recycled!

I was trying to make the choices mildly amusing, and I way prefer books but they are too bl00dy expensive here in NZ... cheaper to buy on Amazon and get them priority shipped (in most cases) than to buy here. So I am a PDF convert by economics, especially now I have an eReader.... which, in the (very short, less than a year) long run is cheaper than books.

But I am certainly not so PC that I would change from calling them dead tree, pretty low down on the offensiveness scale IMO However I am sorry to have offended you.

I think the DDI throws a wrench into things even more then just that. I find that it is much easier to use DDI then it is a PDF. Like there is comments in this thread about how people don't like reading PDFs. I am the same, but, not when it comes to DDI I find it easier to read/use then PDFs or actual books.

I agree using the compendium is just great (add to it Asmor's tools and it is ALL win) but for enjoyable reading, just sitting down with a DnD rulebook it sucks! I am a big rulebook reader, for just the pleasure of it (esp since I spent a few years with that as my only DnD with no games on). Having PDFs, which are so much cheaper, and now an eReader, which is as comfortable to use as a book, is so good for reading stuff that I am interested in but will never actually use in game.

 

[Thanee]

PDFs are useful, but I vastly prefer actual books, and therefore buy almost everything in that form.

I'm not opposed to buying PDFs, as long as the price is reasonable, however.

$10 is definitely ok.

Bye
Thanee