Star Wars Saga RPG: Square Book? WTF

[Donovan Morningfire]

So, you basically mooch off of his employee discount perk? Devious.

Wouldn't be the first time. I lost track of how much gaming stuff I bought for friends using the very nice discount I got when working at a gaming store years back.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I wouldn't go to B&N unless I desperately needed something and I'm willing to pay MSRP.

Sign up for a Borders Reward Card and they'll email you discount coupons every week (just print them and bring them to the store).

Shop Smart.

Perhaps if you'd just consumed large quantities of alcohol and barely-cooked cow and this was the last chance before a subway ride to hit the bathroom....

 

[Baumi]

I like the square format. It makes it easier to use and to take with you on the bus ... besides I always like smaller rpg books more (like Dragonlance SAGA or most Indie Games).

But I really hate the MAP! First why such a random combat map instead of something meaningful (galaxy, timeline or something like that) and the second much bigger offender ... WHY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOOK? If you let it inside it will make browsing the book much harder and ripping it out is like ripping the heart out of a collector, besides you still have some paper from the map left in the book even if you rip it out.

So I want to thank those who managed to get through with the square format, but please give the guy who inserted the map a good kick in the ass.

 

[Odhanan]

I agree with Baumi. While in essence including a mat (like in the DMG) is not that bad an idea, inserting it right in the middle of the book SUCKS. If you let it inside, it's more awkward to shuffle through the book, and if you take it off, it then becomes all that much easier to lose it. I would have been fine with it at the END of the book (like the DMG).

Now that said, I repeat myself as to be clear, but I like the book's format and layout a lot.

 

[Ranger REG]

So I want to thank those who managed to get through with the square format, but please give the guy who inserted the map a good kick in the ass.

Well, it could be WotC's layout designer who requested the bookprinters to do that. Unless the layout designer wishes to make a public comment that he did not make such request and the bookprinters are responsible.

When (not if) they got around to making a Second Printing run, WotC better correct the bookprinters regarding the map.

BTW, does it cost a little extra to add something like a manila envelope pocket on the inside back cover to store the map in?

 

[Kanegrundar]

I just got to say that I love the new format. It lays nice and flat no matter where I am in the book. I hope they do the same thing with D&D 4E books.

 

[w_earle_wheeler]

While in essence including a mat (like in the DMG) is not that bad an idea, inserting it right in the middle of the book SUCKS.

Agreed.

 

[EditorBFG]

I also think the shape of SECR was planned so that the book could be stacked on shelves with other non-RPG Star Wars stuff. I've heard that several bookstores have done just that, so it increases the odds that a non-gamer will see the book and possibly check it out.

As has been referenced on the WotC boards, if they can get even a minute percentage of the SW fanbase that aren't non-tabletop gamers (which is a pretty large portion of the SW fanbase) to pick up and support Saga Edition, then it could potentially rival D&D for sales revenue.

I think someone at WotC has worked at Barnes & Noble or Borders. I was in charge of the section that included SF and RPGS during my two-year sentence at B&N, and I can tell you that lots of lazy booksellers just stuck Star Wars RPG books in with the big Star Wars hardcovers instead of in RPGs. A matter of not scanning it (or reading the sticker). WotC probably hoped to capitalize on the "lazy bookseller" effect to get shelved in multiple sections.

 

[Aussiegamer]

whats the word count per page compared to the older style books?

 

[Falstaff]

I just got to say that I love the new format. It lays nice and flat no matter where I am in the book. I hope they do the same thing with D&D 4E books.

I agree. I actually hope they do a lot of the same things, like make spell casting a skill roll and using talent trees.