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

[Desdichado]

Yes, but only if it was something that I felt I would use frequently. I don't really like reading PDFs and using them in game is worse. But something that I only had to reference at character creation, or when I levelled up, or less, no I wouldn't buy it.

 

[nopantsyet]

absolutely. i like pdfs but find them very difficult to incorporate into the game. elements of magic is the only one so far that i've used in the game, and god-willing there will be a print version soon because my inkjet printout is four weeks old and about dead.

speaking for myself, i think it would be great if i could look at a free pdf online and then go out. i would like to spend hours at my FLGS browsing books, but usually i go out of a specific need for my game and there are alot of books that could be right, but i'm unlikely to spend more than $15 without having looked through it. so there are a lot of books i never really consider because i just don't get to the gaming store that much.

as a buyer profile, i've got a 3e/d20 collection weighing in at around thirty books, over half of which are hardcovers costing $25-40, plus probably ten pdfs i've purchased. other than elements of magic, the pdfs haven't gotten any playtime, and the hardbacks get more playtime than the soft.

 

[The Grey Dwarf]

Nope.

Save a tree, use a computer ...
And I'd also prefer buying a setting on cd than on paper. (preferably on database format)

Don't get me wrong, I have 1000+ books in my library but if I have the choice, I go for electronic support.

 

[drakhe]

If the product has it's use for me as player or DM I definatly buy it in print. (takes the hassle out of printing and binding it yourself and the online version saves on having to scan the printed version) So I guess for me both versions are linked.

Even though I use a laptop while DM'ing, I still prefer a properly printed version of any material I need than an online verison. It's more convenient to have the print version next to my laptop and be able to look something up and show my players than using the laptop. (The laptop serves more practical purposes: manage combat or create encounters on the fly...)

 

[shadow]

Definately Yes! If I like the product I wouldn't mind supporting the author by shelling out some cash. Moreover, it's really a pain to print most PDFs (they're so graphic intensive that I'd burn out my printer trying to print the whole thing.) Does this mean that you are planning to publish the DUSK setting Micheal? I'd definately be interested in buying the DUSK book in print. No offense, but it's such a pain to print out the DUSK Player's Guide; I'd rather just spend $25-$30 to buy the book.

 

[Ranger REG]

Would I buy print product that was free (e.g., e-book, PDF, etc.) online? Well, if it is something that I like and it's more than 50 pages, then yeah I prefer that convenience over the option of wasting my printer's ink.

 

[Michael Morris]

Definately Yes! If I like the product I wouldn't mind supporting the author by shelling out some cash. Moreover, it's really a pain to print most PDFs (they're so graphic intensive that I'd burn out my printer trying to print the whole thing.) Does this mean that you are planning to publish the DUSK setting Micheal? I'd definately be interested in buying the DUSK book in print. No offense, but it's such a pain to print out the DUSK Player's Guide; I'd rather just spend $25-$30 to buy the book.

I don't think I'm going to print out the entire setting anytime soon because there are simply too many settings out there for me to compete. However, I am strongly considering producing a spell compendium that introduces the concept of chromatic casting - basically a revised and expanded Art of Magic.