Try this again -- how do you use PDFs?

[Psion]

I have all core books, splatbooks, like 40 adventures, all FRCS books, Shadowrun books, Rokugan/OA books, greyhawk... and a whole lot more of second and stuff on PDF and it suits me well since it costs heaps of money which I don't have

It's the ol' "I'm poor so it's okay to be a thief" argument. Aren't you a regular Jean Valjean...

 

[BluWolf]

I very rarely print PDFs whole cloth.

I usually convert stuff and ass it to existing campaign material or rewrite it to fit my world.

I do generate all my campaign material to PDF and post on my groups yahoo site or give it to them on disk.

I just registered my domain so once I learn how to build a presentable web page I'll be posting all my PDFs there.

Of course I need to go through and comform everything to OGL standards first.

I don't print often because I use my laptopr extensively.

 

[GILGAMESH]

It's the ol' "I'm poor so it's okay to be a thief" argument. Aren't you a regular Jean Valjean...

Come on now Psion, don't be MISERABLE now. And I don't think he was using that as an argument. If it's there from the taking, only a foul would walk away. I don't necessarily advocate scouring the internet for freebees, but sometimes things will fall into ones lap. And when it happens you gotta take and run.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

I have way more .pdf's ( and other file types ) than I'll ever use or print . Mostly freebie stuff, no - NOT pirated .

Once every 6 months or so, I'll print out the stuff I want to use and arrange it into a sourcebook that makes sense ( adventures together etc... ) , make a Table of Contents, print a pretty cover, and bind it at Kinko's for $3.50. I generally use B&W only, reserving color for a cover and anything else that absolutely requires it.

My largest "Sourcebook" so far is over 300 pages and is dedicated to just WotC stuff: Web enhancements, FAQ, and errata for all the material published to 07/02. Yes, it gets quite a bit of use...

My next book will probably be NPC's, and prestige class stuff, including many publisher previews.

 

[KnowTheToe]

I use them for reading material for the most part. I have bought 3 or 4 and have not extensively used them.

That really is not any different than my print material. I bet I have 10-15 books that I have never more than skimmed because there ore so many things I want to read.

 

[Marius Delphus]

PDF + fast laser printer + manual duplexing + bindery machine = new sourcebook.

It's great to have access to this stuff. The thought of getting *caught* at it is nerve-wracking though....

P.S. 50 posts! Woo hoo! It's official... I'm a dedicated lurker.

edit: Caught, that is, at printing out D&D stuff, all obtained legally, at work....

 

[Plane Sailing]

Come on now Psion, don't be MISERABLE now. And I don't think he was using that as an argument. If it's there from the taking, only a foul would walk away. I don't necessarily advocate scouring the internet for freebees, but sometimes things will fall into ones lap. And when it happens you gotta take and run.

No.

Stealing is still stealing. If it doesn't belong to you don't take it. Didn't you learn anything back when you were at nursery school

 

[Voadam]

Mostly I read them onscreen and cut and paste for use. For example one of the PCs in my group was thinking of being a paladin type so I e-mailed him relevant bits of the sacred paladin prc from LE2 (which I bought) to consider, another was thinking of being a pirate so I sent him a copy of Freeport's pirate (from Green Ronin's website). My DM wanted me to consider the Monte Cook ranger for my character so he e-mailed it to me. I also e-mailed my entire group my list of feats that I made and the spellcasters got a copy of their spells out of the srd. I only saw this stuff in print at the games because some of the player's printed them out for their use during the game.

It is really handy to have a file or printout of the exact details of all of your spells in one place that is easy to get to for reference. One of the guy's in the group always brings his laptop so we have access to the srd and stuff I e-mailed him or bring on CD. I like being able to reduce the number of books I bring to a game but still have reasonable access to info.

 

[GILGAMESH]

No.

Stealing is still stealing. If it doesn't belong to you don't take it. Didn't you learn anything back when you were at nursery school

I didn't go to nursery school Sailor Moon oops I mean Pain sailer, oops I mean Frame Nailer, oops. No nursery school around here, Pre-school then kindergarden. And who said any thing about stealing. I pay for what I have, one way or another. And yea, I've shared a few PDFs with friends. I've also shared books, CDs, DVDs I've even shared a girlfriend with another woman (that my kind of file swapping). I don't believe anyone said that they stoled anything, it as always is assumed! We're not all thieves where in America. Didn't you learn anything back when you were at nursery school!

 

[Darkness]

Attention, please:

EN World is not the place to talk about illegal copies of game books and similar things.

Further, these kinds of debates tend to turn political and/or into flame wars very quickly.

So cut it out, please. Thanks!

- Darkness