WotC and D&D

[MerricB]

I find myself torn on the color/b&w issue. I generally am completely satisfied by products with good B&W artwork. Full color is nice, but for me it's really the whipped cream, not the main course.

I've got a feeling that my tastes have changed: I demand more, now!

I mean, I was totally happy with the 1E rulebooks and their production values. However, when I look at (say) a Malhavoc Press product or a Necromancer Games product I see quite a bit of art that looks like it wants to be in colour. There are certainly some good B&W pictures in their products, but just as often it looks like "this page should be in colour".

I'm amazed at how much I now enjoy hardcovers, though. The difference between Sword & Fist and the Complete Warrior is huge to me. (Even between S&F and the Arms and Equipment Guide). Part of that is because I have to transport the books some distance to my games, and the hardcovers are more durable.

Cheers!

 

[Dark Jezter]

I'm definatly a pro-hardcover, pro-color guy when it comes to RPG books. Even if it makes the books cost a little more.

I've seen some awesome black & white artwork in books, but on a whole I would rather have color illustrations. And I always prefer hardcover over softcover, as softcover books tend to get worn out if used often, while hardcover books can stay in good condition pretty much forever unless you purposely abuse them. My 3.0 rulebooks are still in near-perfect shape, and they've seen a lot of use since I bought them in early 2001.

 

[Nightfall]

You've got to be kidding!

Do I look like I'm kidding?

 

[Gnarlo]

I'll add a post to the happy category to help try and balance out the tendency to only see the negatives posting WOTC has made a few blunders that I haven't liked, but the great majority of what they have done and produced I'm quite happy with and trust them to continue doing so. Heck, I've introduced 4 new gamers to the hobby so even the Hero Builders Guide has seen a good deal of use in my house

 

[Trickstergod]

It does seem to me, though, that the binding of hardcovers makes them a bit more fragile than softcovers.

Furthermore, I'm rather 50/50 on the color thing. For certain books, it's exceptionally appropriate - when you're illustrating a book on creatures that are described as gold and red and blue, well, color's certainly the way to go. On the other hand, I think books for settings such as Midnight and Ravenloft are usually much more appropriate in black and white than in color. I'll pay more for a book where it's appropriate for it to be in color, but if I can save the money when black and white really would work best, well, all the better.

 

[dcas]

It does seem to me, though, that the binding of hardcovers makes them a bit more fragile than softcovers.

That depends on whether the signatures are sewn or just glued. Most hardback books today are glued just like perfect-bound (i.e. softcover) books. I don't know whether the 3.5 books are sewn or not, but when a hardcover book gets to be that big (320 pages, yes?), sewn signatures are much more durable.

Furthermore, I'm rather 50/50 on the color thing. For certain books, it's exceptionally appropriate - when you're illustrating a book on creatures that are described as gold and red and blue, well, color's certainly the way to go. On the other hand, I think books for settings such as Midnight and Ravenloft are usually much more appropriate in black and white than in color. I'll pay more for a book where it's appropriate for it to be in color, but if I can save the money when black and white really would work best, well, all the better.

I don't like color illustrations at all. Or should I say perhaps that I don't like paying additional $$$ for them.

 

[Orius]

I find myself torn on the color/b&w issue. I generally am completely satisfied by products with good B&W artwork. Full color is nice, but for me it's really the whipped cream, not the main course.

Yeah, that's closer to my take on the issue. Color's nice, but I'm too damn cheap to want to shell out an extra $5-10 just for eye candy.

 

[Treebore]

For me, i agree that what WOTC puts out is solid, and occassionally it is even inspirational. I agree that it looks good and is very durable. The product quality and even the cost are not my complaints about WOTC.

 

[Liquid Snake]

Like Nightfall, I like donuts and Scarred Lands.

But I'm also very happy with D&D 3.5.

 

[johnsemlak]

(There's a strong possibility that the ELH and Dt&Dg material will be revisied to 3.5E, which delays it further )

Cheers!

Um, interesting. Can you substantiate that? Does that mean they are considering releasing 3.5 versions of the ELG and DT&Dg?

I had been considering buying Dieties and Demigods, if they're planning an update I'll wait naturally.