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Message: <blockquote data-quote="aramis erak" data-source="post: 8804019" data-attributes="member: 6779310"> <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tradition: Original Edition D&D was digest sized. <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">So were Starfaring (1975), Tunnels and Trolls (later in 1975), and Traveller (1977). </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">And a number of later games, too... Dragonlance FIfth Age being the one in my LoS at the moment.. Justifiers, as well. Kobolds Ate My Baby.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Defined size for proper digest is A5 or 5.5×8.5", depending upon "European or American?"</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Trade Paperbacks typically range from 6×9" to 8×10", and B5 (~6.9 x 9.8"), plus a number of legacy sizes from England, the US, Japan, and Europe. Manga is usually a consistent size (JIS B5, which is slightly different from ISO B5).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Many magazines were digest sized until recently. Analog, Reader's Digest, TV Guide, Archie Comics Digest, and a number of non-pictorial adult titles.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Portability: they fit more easily into smaller bags. More importantly, it fits in winter coat and military dress top-coat pockets. Or behind your army canteen (tho' that's hell on the binding with the old metal ones)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Reading width: 5" wide pages with 1/2" margins are about optimal for single column text reading. Same as the Sony PRS series ebook readers; the kindle's slightly narrower.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Ease of saddlebinding: Saddlebinding, also called "staple it through the center of the spine" <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">It's inexpensive - one or two staples per booklet</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">It's durable - 6 years of carrying Traveller LBBs and most of them have notable cover and corner wear, but are intact. Hardcover is better, but...</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">It can be done with pages printed on home gear. Including covers.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Lays flat when open, at least up to about 50pp. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">With creative application of construction staplers, up to 50-sheet books can be home stapled. (Arrow T50)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Manual saddle staplers can be had for about $30. (I bought one last year)</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The other readily home printed formats are lacking one or more of those features<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">half-legal size, sometimes called "bulletin": 8.5×7": doesn't fit in coat pockets well... but it's classic for parish bulletins. Not all long-arm staplers accomodate it; coverstock is hard to find and expensive. Done by printing on legal.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Pocket-Box booklet- 3.75×5" to 4.5×7" - not so much a standard... but most old SJG, MetaGaming, and TSR minigames came in such sizes. Usually trimmed down from letter or legal stock at the printer, and saddlestapled.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A4 or Letter side stapled: doesn't like to lay flat, lose at least 3/5" (about 15mm) to the binding, often fully an inch. Standard for US Army field manuals in the 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's. (Some smaller ones, like the Soldier's Manual of Common Tasks, were digest sized, a few others in custom sizes.) A T-50 stapler can physically bind 50 sheets or so... but you have to manually pean over the points. As with saddlebound digest, cover stock is easy. Thicker volumes can be done by making one's own staples... or by drilling and sewing. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Digest side stapled: only reason for this is too thick for saddle stapled. all the negatives of both saddle-bound and side stapled.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">4.25×8.5" - I only know one company that published in that size, and it was in the d20 boom.  Fits in a shirt pocket. Columns at the narrow end of the optimal range. Forget full page art, tho'... Doesn't like to lay open past about 5 sheets, and theirs were 8 to 16...</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Acrobat Reader can print for home-binding for the cheapskates (like me) on letter.</li> </ul>I'll note that a number of companies are moving towards trade paperback and similar sized hardcover. TSR had a number of 6×9" books for both Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game and Dragonlance Fifth Age... Oh, and if proper digest sized? if your carrying solution is optimized for letter, just use 2 stack...</blockquote>

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