Pocket Books?

[JoeGKushner]

Why don't other companies come out with pocket books? I've got most of the Midngiht books first ed, and there are some significant changes to some of the mechanics in 2nd ed. Perhaps I'm just cheap, but I'd rather use the web site with all of the SRD stuff taken out for reference then buy the $50 core book (which is mainly Against the Shadow and the Midnight book anyway with some tweaks.)

In the group, three of us have the old stuff, one of us has nothing, and the GM has pretty much everything, including the new book. So most of us are pretty hip with the background, but then the whole concept of trading poitns gets added, and some of the paths have different abilities, and... yeah, a lot of flipping of that 2nd ed OGL book back and forth.

If they came out with a pocket version with no art, smaller format, etc... for $20, I'd pick it up in a heartbeat. Or heck, give me a Stingy Gamer's Edition like Guardians of Order does.

 

[diaglo]

i picked up the Green Ronin pocket guides for the 2000ed of spells. Arcane and Divine

 

[JoeGKushner]

Yes, those were nifty. (Another reason to curse 3.5 and it's off hand changes to some spells!)

Other books that could benefit would be Arcana Evolved and World of Warcraft. Some people may be interested in seeing what the new editions are, but not want to plop down the funds. I think that may've been one of the reasons Mongoose did the pocket Conan as the Atlantean edition cleared up some issues (most issues), but was still $50 for those who never bought the core book and may've been afraid of lingering errors.

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

Both me & my wife game, but when 3.5 came out, we only got 1 3.5 PHB.

She just kept using the old 3.0 book & borrowed mine when she needed it.

I finally picked up the Mongoose Pocket 3.5 guide & gave her my old 3.5 PHB. I have a small notebook computer case I for mobile gaming and the Pocket Guide fits in perfectly.

20 Bucks I am willing to part with. 30 or more & you are hitting my limit (esp with stuff I already own versions of).

The exceptions are monster books. I like the pictures to show my players. I'll probablly pick up Mongoose's Pocket DMG, but I'll pass on any MM they might come out with.

 

[lukelightning]

I'm planning on getting the Mongoose Player's Guide and Gamemaster guide pocket books. Less stuff to lug to the gaming session.

 

[Frozen DM]

I have both of Mongoose's pcket guides (Players and GMs). I never even bothered to upgrade to the 3.5 PHB or DMG. These two books meet around 90% of my needs.

However, I do have a few issues with both books. Since they are based off of the SRD, there is no leveling or XP rules so I still have to refer back to my main 3.0 books when calculating encounter XP.

Also, one thing I miss in the Pocket Player's Guide is the appendix of conditions that is found in the PHB. This is probably the one part of the PHB I would refer to most, after spells, and not having it is a pain. Also, I find their index is very much lacking and it can be hard to just flip to a chapter I need. I'm very visual, and the images in the normal PHB or DMH help me find stuff quickly. The dense text of the pocket guides limits that slightly.

I love the concept of the books, but they needed to be more than just copy-and-paste jobs from the SRD. If there are other copies of the 3.5 books floating around the gaming table, however, I say save the money and just pick up the pocket guides.