Would You Purchase a d20 print product that was free online?

[haiiro]

Sure, if I liked it enough to use it. If it was something I would only refer to occasionally, probably not.

I much prefer print products -- in fact, I've never bought a PDF, and I don't have any plans to do so. I like being able to take my gaming stuff anywhere, and I like being able to refer to it easily during games (I don't DM with a PC nearby, and don't own a laptop).

I agree with Voadam: Tome of Horrors is a pretty good precedent for this example. I snapped it up as soon as it came out, and I don't feel the least bit cheated by the fact that it was already available (more or less) online.

On the other hand, for your second question: yes, it would bug me if something I bought in print came out for free online afterwards -- but not all that much. It certainly doesn't bother me that I own the core books and the SRD is available for free online -- I'd rather have the books, illustrations, flavor and PI, etc.

 

[Buttercup]

Maybe. If I liked the content, and the print product was high quality, then yes.

 

[DanMcS]

There's so many products in print now that online reviews and sample downloads are what allow me to separate the wheat from the chaff. I saw a preview of Badaxe's HoHF:Elves that was good enough to convince me to go hunting for their print products, and I bought Dwarves and Half-Orcs immediately. I just today found Elves in the store and bought it too. Yes, I'd absolutely buy the print version if the online version showed me I was getting quality material.

 

[Chauzu]

Nope, not unless I had loads of cash.

 

[Psychotic Dreamer]

If I was really interested in then yes. Otherwise it would be a maybe.

 

[Corinth]

I can't take a PDF anywhere off the grid for an entire weekend; I can take a book to any place that isn't hostile to print products (such as a volcano or underwater) so I will purchase a product in print that was once free as a PDF.

 

[baseballfury]

Maybe. If I liked the content, and the print product was high quality, then yes.

I agree. If the print version is professionally produced, with nice art and graphic design, I would certainly pay money for it. I'd rather have a book to reference than having to fire up my computer or keep a looseleaf binder with printouts.

 

[Drawmack]

You really need an option for depends.

It would depend what it is.

I purchased a Malhavoc product in PDF and can't wait to get it in print as well.

I purchased Requim in pdf because my homebrew world has three pantheons (Norse, Greek & Egyptian) all waring over control of the world. So I wanted rules for the looser in a battle of the gods. I found the book was so well written that I want the entire book at the game table.

Normally when I buy a pdf I pull out the parts that I use and put them into a word document without the images for printing.

 

[PA]

I don't play anymore, so I don't buy d20 products either. On the other hand, I did buy the print version of Megatokyo, even after having read the whole manga online. It was good enough that I wanted to be able to pay the artist.

 

[Shadoe's Lady]

I don't want to kill my printer. I'd rather have something a bit more durable than my printed pages with a clippie thing on the corner.