Pdfs and Print on Demand?

[RangerWickett]

Raw text, as in a .rtf file (for raw text format), refers to putting a document in the same .zip file that the pdf comes in. That way, people can easily copy/paste just the text they want into other files. If you're making stats for an NPC, it's a lot easier to copy/paste than to directly type from your print-out.

 

[J Lloyd]

Raw text, as in a .rtf file (for raw text format)...

Ah. I thought .rtf was Rich Text Format.

I understand how easy it is to use text versions. For those items with no converted text, there are converters out there.

A simple and fast way to cut and paste is using the text tool in Adobe Acrobat. It doesn't come out fomatted the way you want a lot of times but for quick-cut NPCs, it does the job well.

Good gaming,

 

[Plane Sailing]

Raw text, as in a .rtf file (for raw text format),

.rtf is Rich Text Format, and includes many formatting codes... normally I would expect "Raw Text" would be plain ASCII with no formatting. Mind you, formatted RTF in a zip file with the PDF would be great. Printing Tournaments and Fairs was murder on my printer, and wiped out the red ink cartridge because of all the fancy patterns down the side of every page.

Cheers

 

[Buttercup]

The mainstream publishing industry has been providing print-on-demand books for several years now. They are indistinguishable from a book with a regular print run, in terms of paper and binding quality. If D20 publishing could do this, we might see many more things remain in print, since there aren't any warehousing costs for unsold stock.

Sounds like an excellent idea to me, but I don't know all the logistics and costs involved.

 

[Alejandro]

I don't like paper, I love PDFs, and I can manipulate text without too much trouble. I like the fact that Malhavoc Press included .txt files with its PDFs, but don't bemoan the fact that 4C2F was PDF only. But it would be nice to see .txt files from Natural 20 Press in the future.

1. It's nice that RPGNow has such a service, but I'll never use it.

2. I'm not sure how FLGS can make a profit by stocking a catalogue of digital gaming products without on-site printing.

 

[GILGAMESH]

LLLLOOOOOVVVVVEEEEE IITTTTT

I love the pdf . They are inexpensive, add great new flavor to the game, I can print only the parts that I need (you don't have to print the whole thing), Oh yea did I mention that they are in expensive! I think that it's great that there are so many ways to expand DnD without blowing your pay check!

 

[J Lloyd]

... Printing Tournaments and Fairs was murder on my printer, and wiped out the red ink cartridge because of all the fancy patterns down the side of every page.

I'm not sure if many are aware that you can use Adobe Acrobat to simply cut the pics and layout from the PDF if you want (if a publisher allows the file to be edited). Use the Touch-up Object tool.

Of course, if you are someone who wants to print out your products so they look nice, then Kinko's might save your red-ink cartridge.

 

[Glyfair]

Personally, it would have to be a great product for me to want to pay the premium to have it printed out. If the product was that good then I'll wager that it will eventually be released in a print version. I think right now the history bears that out. All the top products that were originally released in Adobe Acrobat have been or are going to be released in print.

What does that leave? Well, the products that you want in print now and those that may never be released that way (due to publisher quirks or a very limited market). I think that's a reasonably small group of products (at least for me), but they certainly deserve the support.

If I was to do this, this is how I'd like to be able to do it. I'd like to be able to buy the .pdf. After perusing it and deciding its value to me, I'd then like the option to order the Print-on-Demand version. I'd expect the original price of the .pdf to be credited to the price (or not to be charged again, depending on the business model used). I'd be willing to pay the premium, but not that much of a premium.

Glyfair of Glamis

 

[novyet]

As I stated in the narural 20 forum, I'd be all over a print copy of 4CtF and the book of powers. That would also make other pdf's more valuable to me. As kinkos is too much to get printed, and inks are just too expensive. I'd pay the premium without hesistation.

 

[The Sigil]

Huh. Funny, since I spend 5 bucks on a pdf, and then end up buying the book anyway (14), I'm spending the same as if I did a print on demand...

Sorry for thinking out loud, just trying to rationalize it. Depending on the price, I'd probably do it. As long as I'd get the pdf copy too for my own records...

I myself think that it is a nice idea there... you get the "prettiness" of a print edition, and the ease of cut/paste that PDFs provide (assuming they're not locked against that kind of thing). It doesn't seem unreasonable to me for Print plus PDF (with the copy/paste ability) to be a little more expensive than just Print.

Kind of like Earthdawn a couple of years back when they released the rulebook AND it came with a CD with everything in HTML. Nice.

Sometimes you feel like a nut (hardcopy), sometimes you don't. I think offering (a) PDF, (b) print, and (c) both is definitely the way to go - and it doesn't bother me if (a) plus (b) equals (c) in price. Both have their place.

But I agree, if I have to pay $20 for a PoD book that retails for $15, I'd better get the $5 PDF along with it.

--The Sigil