What format do you prefer for the gaming material you use?

[diaglo]

100% OD&D(1974) format

 

[Psion]

Er, both?

PDF for first blush, if I end up using in my game a lot, I want print.

I really appreciate having the ability to search PDFs (once I get to using the product), and I appreciate not wasting shelf space on books I don't actually end up using, but I do not see PDFs as a substitute for a print product. Products that bundle PDF and print together (thanks Paizo!) or give you a discount if you already own one format (thanks RPGObjects!) are ideal.

 

[Gothic_Demon]

We don't really like to have laptops and such at the table, or even around the house, so I go for 100% print, with the proviso that I'd actually like to have both, but I mostly only use print anyways.

 

[Masquerade]

I would like to see all of the material presented in both formats, but, assuming I can't have both, I'll take my magazines in electronic format. Even if I had the space to conveniently store all of my Dragon issues in one place, finding the article I'm looking for would still be much easier if it was all digital.

 

[dmccoy1693]

If the PDF is made from a datafile (Green Ronin, White Wolf) and its sold at a discount (even 1/3 off), then I prefer PDF. I can print out a copy at staples for the difference and get it spiral bound, and if heaven forbid something happens to the book, I can get it printed out again for that same cost. And if the game is long out of print, I can print out copies for everyone in the group.

If the PDF is a scanned in copy of the physical copy and it is not sold at a discount (I'm looking at you Wizards), then I prefer the print. But I am usually not happy (and completely disappointed in Wizards' case) about that.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I was going to vote "both". Paizo's scheme whereby if you are a suscriber you get both a watermarked PDF and a print copy is ideal for me.

Second that.

For rules and settings, I prefer, essentially require, print. I spend enough time in front of a computer as it is, and I don't like having one at the game table.

For minor supplements, or rules/settings that I'm cherry picking from, digital is nice for being able to cut and paste to create my own compilations to print out.

Frankly, I'm rather annoyed that at this stage Paizo's approach isn't the defacto standard for all companies. It shouldn't be an either/or situation.

 

[Arnwyn]

100% print. Period.

 

[Psion]

If the PDF is a scanned in copy of the physical copy and it is not sold at a discount (I'm looking at you Wizards), then I prefer the print. But I am usually not happy (and completely disappointed in Wizards' case) about that.

Is this happening? I though the new (still too expensive) 3e product PDFs were produced from electronic product whereas the old (cheap) 1e/2e products were scans.

 

[Jeysie]

Both, sorta. I like having the full text in print, then a sort of streamlined quick-ref in electronic format.

Sort of like the d20 SRD vs. the PHB/MM/DMG, actually. The SRD is great for quick lookups and copy n' pastes, but I like my print copies when I need to really read all the details on something.

Peace & Luv, Liz

 

[dmccoy1693]

Is this happening? I though the new (still too expensive) 3e product PDFs were produced from electronic product whereas the old (cheap) 1e/2e products were scans.

I have the 3.5 DMG and the MM as PDF (as well as few other misc other books that I use practically never) and I can't use the search function nor the text tool to copy and paste into word if I want to make a cheat sheet for the table. And I have yet to see a single bookmark.

EDIT: I find I actually prefer the SRD to the DMG and the MM PDFs. The SRD is searchable. But there are still some things that are just not in the SRD, like NPC money at different levels.