What Makes Gaming Books as PDFs Desirable?

[IronWolf]

Yes, but now we aren't just talking about having a file. Or having a file and backing it up. We are talking about having a file, backing it up, and remembering to maintain it. Anecdotally, most computer users aren't even bothering to do backups, much less remembering to go back and convert the format of backed up files five years later.

Backups are getting easier and easier these days with services that automatically sync your data to the cloud. Several are free (i.e. Dropbox.com) and allow you to sync to the cloud and keep certain folders in sync across PCs. These type of services do help with issues such as this. Though I agree, if you don't set something automatic up and leave it to manual intervention then things are apt to not get backed up over time, but it is getting easier.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

I'd almost always rather have a printed product, but I'll take a PDF if the printed product isn't available.

 

[Stormonu]

For me PDFs are a supplement to the physical books at this time. I like having both versions.

However, the advantages of PDFs for me are:

* portability - 1 thumb drive vs. a bookshelf or backpack of books wins any day

* cut & paste - excellent for making adventures

* bookmarks, hyperlinks and search function - usually quicker and better than searching by hand through a book (and with PDFs, you can search multiple books at once)

* cheaper - both usually to purchase and to replace. Its $30-$40 to replace a (single) aging book. A CD is pennies and thumb drives are $15-$30, while holding dozens of books. Most services that you get PDFs from allow multiple downloads, so if you happen to lose the electronic version, you can redownload for free - so long as the PDF doesn't get pulled...

 

[coyote6]

FWIW, I'm not tied to PDF per se; any electronic format would be fine.

As long as it's DRM-free, that is; I'm not too interested in paying money for files I can't use if the folks who sold them to me can't stay in business.

 

[possum]

For me, the reason that I like PDFs is that I primarily play online. When I'm playing on OpenRPG, I really don't have the time to completely rush to my room and my bookcases from the living room and then back, only to have to spend time looking through the book as well.

 

[IronWolf]

FWIW, I'm not tied to PDF per se; any electronic format would be fine.

Yeah, as long as the electronic format works on a wide variety of operating systems and devices I am pretty okay with it. Having a lightweight freely available reader is a good thing too.

As long as it's DRM-free, that is; I'm not too interested in paying money for files I can't use if the folks who sold them to me can't stay in business.

Yeah, DRM free is important as well. Watermarking is fine, I have no issues with that as I have no intention of sharing my files illegally.

 

[TarionzCousin]

PDF documents just seem to understand me better. We get along great and always want to do the same things together.

Books used to purposefully pick fights with me. The make-up sessions were passionate and intense, but ultimately not worth it.

 

[MacMathan]

I would just like to second the request for a format other than pdf. Computer screens are terrible to read on but I have yet to find an e-ink reader that can display dnd pdfs decently due to reflow issues.

Funny enough since I got the ddi compendium app for my phone I almost never drag books to a game.

Sent from my T-Mobile G1 using Tapatalk

 

[UngainlyTitan]

A dynamically reflowing format for game books would be awesome. This would make it possible to have a comfortable read or reference on any device -- even one as small as a smart-phone.

PDF -- a format specifically designed to maintain pagination (and thus unform printing) across platforms-- is an utterly ridiculous standard for e-books, and it's amazing that gamers have been so willing to embrace and defend it.

That said, it's cheap for publishers to provide and an easy format from scanning, which goes some distance to explaining it. I personally appreciate the fact that Paizo gives me free PDFs ... but I'd appreciate a more more portable, more useable format even more. (Even to the point of paying something for it.)

This, I am not a fan of pdf I would prefer epub or some similar format so that the document could be view equally easily on a pc or a handheld device.

 

[Beginning of the End]

Yes, but now we aren't just talking about having a file. Or having a file and backing it up. We are talking about having a file, backing it up, and remembering to maintain it. Anecdotally, most computer users aren't even bothering to do backups, much less remembering to go back and convert the format of backed up files five years later. Just sayin'.

Yeah, but I'm not affected by what other idiots are doing with their personal property. I regular backup my data.

Theoretically people might keep their printed books in bathtubs with leaky faucets. Doesn't affect me.