Free Sorcery and Steam at DriveThru (not about DRM)

[maggot]

I don't want to start a thread about DRM, but about the free Sorcery and Steam download at DriveThru. I only looked at the first thirty pages or so, and I found several pages where the artwork obscured the text. Not just a little, but a lot. If I had paid for this thing, I would be pissed. I tried to report it at Fantasy Flight's website, but there forums are basically dead.

Anyone know if they are going to fix this problem, if they are even aware of this problem, or if the print version has the problem. I like the concept of the book, but it is pretty much useless if you can't read every other page. Of couse, I got it for free, but it doesn't make me want to buy from FF again.

 

[BlackMoria]

I am seeing what you are seeing somewhat (particularly in the prestige class section).

It prints out correctly....the text is not visible with the image overlayed in the PDF view only, but when printed, the text shows through the image.

 

[Carnifex]

(shameless plug) Well, if you want a steamtech sourcebook that you can actually read the text of, there's always Steam & Steel: A Guide to Fantasy Steamworks to check out (/shameless plug)

I might actually download a copy of sorcery & steam myself, as I still haven't gotten around to getting a print version.

 

[maggot]

I am seeing what you are seeing somewhat (particularly in the prestige class section).

It prints out correctly....the text is not visible with the image overlayed in the PDF view only, but when printed, the text shows through the image.

I guess I skimmed too quickly to the crunchy bits and got the page numbers wrong. The problem first occurs on page 35 in the section on paladins and rangers. Then it happens again on page 47 in the new core class section on musketeers. After seeing a few more errors in the prestige classes, I gave up reading and started looking for a solution.

Thanks for the printing tip. I can also cut and paste the relavent text as there seems to be less than 10 occurances of the error. (But I shouldn't have to.)

 

[Mythtify]

I just downloaded this pdf. It is my first experince with Drive thru. If this is the quality of there product, they wont be getting very much business from me.

I don't print out most of my PDFs. I don't mind reading on my computer. The only books I buy pdf are the ones I don't mind not having a print copy of. This problem doesn't make the pdf unuseable, but it is annoying.

The lack of any bookmarking is even worse. If a buisness is going to e-publish, then they should make there product as useable in electronic form as possible. This PDF is worse than a pirated scan.

 

[jgbrowning]

Are ya'll using the latest version of Acrobat Reader? Sometimes if a pdf is made in 6.0 and viewed in 5.0 the images do something similiar.

joe b.

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

I don't suppose this is available anywhere else?

Due to problems with IE, DTR cannot download the file to my comp and its not worth the trouble of getting another Internet system.

 

[Krug]

I jsut downloaded it and I've no problems with artwork and text. I'm using Adobe Reader 6.0.

Oops. correction. yeah there are some pages where the artwork is blocking the text. Still it's a free 178-page book, I'm not complaining too much.

 

[maggot]

Are ya'll using the latest version of Acrobat Reader? Sometimes if a pdf is made in 6.0 and viewed in 5.0 the images do something similiar.

joe b.

I'm using 6.02. I don't think you can even view DRM PDFs with 5.0.

 

[maggot]

I jsut downloaded it and I've no problems with artwork and text. I'm using Adobe Reader 6.0.

Oops. correction. yeah there are some pages where the artwork is blocking the text. Still it's a free 178-page book, I'm not complaining too much.

Yes it is free. And that is very nice. The point is: if this is their quality, I won't be paying for anything in the future. And I think attracting paying customers is the point of releasing some of the PDFs for free.