replacing our books?

[alsih2o]

i notice a plethora of products coming out on the electronic end of the rpg spectrum of publishers that replace the info in the books (or srd) with an electronic version with hyperlinks and lots of other goodies that i don't know the words for.

i don't have a laptop so these aren't quite as useful to me but i hear lots of folks raving about them.

but so far, it seems to be only the core books, spell lists and so on.

what else, products or aids, would you like to see electronified?

would it be possible to rally some enworlders to pull together a small conglomerate that would electronify 3rd party products for a small fee?

is it worth it to electronify 3rd party products? would you buy it if someone did it?

i am not up to the challenge (i have the tech ability to open email, get on the boards and do ceramic dm, that is it) but i think we have the folks here, and many of them would work for product....

 

[diaglo]

hard copy for me. please.


i'm less computer savvy than a monkey on a keyboard.

 

[John Crichton]

I have said for a while now that for a few extra dollars per book that I would love a searchable PDF with hyperlinks and all. At this point, I would pay to have the Core D&D books in that format (done properly) so I could find things during play and planning quicker.

It's odd - sometimes when I am planning for a run I'll look for the CTRL+F keys so I can make my search go faster...

 

[Silveras]

I am currently in the process of making an OGC spells database in MS Access.

To date, I have 1050 spells entered (yes, laboriously re-typed by hand) with credits for the book they come from.

Contents:
SRD; Books of Eldritch Might I, II, and III; Book of Hallowed Might; Witch's Handbook; Shaman's Handbook; Avatar's Handbook; Hammer & Helm; Wrath & Rage; Gary Gygax's Living Fantasy; Cry Havoc

Features:

• Report that duplicates book format (all those who want physical books can print them out in glorious hardcopy)
• Reports that list all spells in "class spell list format"
• Query that lists all priced spell components
• Query that lists all priced foci
• Query that counts spells by book
• Query that lists all Ray spells by specified caster type
• Query that lists all Touch spells by specified caster type

My point is that making a cross-referenced PDF or HTML page of just a book at a time is much less useful than creating an easily-expandible library of all similar content from many books. The database format makes adding new material simple.

Hardcopy of spells has been done (Pocket Grimoire Arcane and Pocket Grimoire Divine come to mind), but because spells are an area that is constantly growing, such products become outdated almost as soon as they are published. The database format makes it easy to "update" as often as necessary. As a business model, a "subscription" to receive updates monthly would make the most sense.

The same format could be applied to Feats, and Prestige Classes.

I began this project for my own gaming use, and that of my gaming group. Distribution beyond that is not in my current plans, but that could change.

 

[Desdichado]

I'm relatively computer savvy, but reading large chunks of text on a keyboard still gives me a headache. Give me books anyday.

 

[Storminator]

I am currently in the process of making an OGC spells database in MS Access.

To date, I have 1050 spells entered (yes, laboriously re-typed by hand) with credits for the book they come from.

Contents:
SRD; Books of Eldritch Might I, II, and III; Book of Hallowed Might; Witch's Handbook; Shaman's Handbook; Avatar's Handbook; Hammer & Helm; Wrath & Rage; Gary Gygax's Living Fantasy; Cry Havoc

Features:

• Report that duplicates book format (all those who want physical books can print them out in glorious hardcopy)
• Reports that list all spells in "class spell list format"
• Query that lists all priced spell components
• Query that lists all priced foci
• Query that counts spells by book
• Query that lists all Ray spells by specified caster type
• Query that lists all Touch spells by specified caster type

My point is that making a cross-referenced PDF or HTML page of just a book at a time is much less useful than creating an easily-expandible library of all similar content from many books. The database format makes adding new material simple.

Hardcopy of spells has been done (Pocket Grimoire Arcane and Pocket Grimoire Divine come to mind), but because spells are an area that is constantly growing, such products become outdated almost as soon as they are published. The database format makes it easy to "update" as often as necessary. As a business model, a "subscription" to receive updates monthly would make the most sense.

The same format could be applied to Feats, and Prestige Classes.

I began this project for my own gaming use, and that of my gaming group. Distribution beyond that is not in my current plans, but that could change.

This is huge, and worth a mint to me.

My DM has cut and pasted a massive spell list together, of all the sources he allows spells from. But it's text files, not a DB, so I can't just list all the 4th level wizard spell (as an example), I have to sort thru them.

So in summary, finish this and charge me money Silveras!

PS

 

[Mercule]

hard copy for me. please.

Agreed -- and I'm a computer programmer.

When I can afford to get $2000 tablet PC I'll consider going electronic. Until then, I like applications like character generators or mapping software; but I don't want a computer anywhere near my gaming table and it can't replace what I use my books for.

Honestly, I don't even pay attension to PDF releases. I know there are some great ones out there, but it a) isn't worth the hastle to sort through the crap, and b) isn't worth my time, since I don't have/allow computers at my game.

On the other hand, once I have a tablet, I suspect my whole attitude will change. It's just a matter of implementation and presentation.

 

[zenld]

I'm relatively computer savvy, but reading large chunks of text on a keyboard still gives me a headache.

Me too. Which is why I have recently switched to reading them from the monitor instead. Much easier I have found.

I like things on a computer for reference purposes, not for wholesale reading. After the first few pages, I am off in lala land.

But I still like a lot of the e products. I guess i'm sort of in the middle on this one. Oh well.

zen

 

[Buttercup]

Although I like the utility of running a game from a laptop, that has nothing to do with how I feel about books. At the game table, my laptop is like a secretary, or perhaps a filing cabinet. It handles mundane tasks for me, and stores information.

Books of any sort, not just RPG books, have a charm and value as artifacts, even outside of their content. They're durable, handy, inexpensive and have a nice smell. Can any of us say that about our laptops? Books can and do last hundreds of years. How much use will your present laptop be in 10 or even 5 years? Books fit neatly in the hand. You can prop them on a table, your pillow or your dog. You can use them anywhere you have enough light to read by. Most books sell for under 40 bucks. When will we ever be able to say that about a laptop, e-reader, PDA or the like? Not soon, my friends. And I don't know about you, but I really like the smell of books. Computers, if they smell at all, have a faintly unpleasant taint of plastic and ozone.

PDFs have their place. Laptops have their place. But I'm not willing to give up on the book just yet.

 

[Li Shenron]

PDFs have their place. Laptops have their place. But I'm not willing to give up on the book just yet.

Of course. Not only from a style point of view, but also in practice it doesn't work to read rules on a screen, you can't concentrate and you can't enjoy.

The only electronic tool I will use is Sovelior's SRD in HTML format, on a laptop for in-session quick finding of specific rules. I think that would prove very handy because of the many cross-referenced parts, but no way to read a whole book in word or pdf...