Would you...

[Kerrick]

buy a 200+ page pdf, either as a pdf or POD? This is a serious question - we've got two of them; one's in final edit, and one is going for layout.

Some of you might remember Crimson Contracts and Arcane Strife. Crimson Scrolls is the 3.5 revision of Crimson Contracts, with almost 100 pages of new material. Mystic Strife is the revised version of Arcane Strife combined with the never-published Divine Strife and with more material added in.

Both of these books weigh in at around 215 pages. Our publisher brought up the idea of splitting them into smaller chunks, because he thinks that people are more likely to buy one or more chunks for $4-5 US apiece, rather than pay $15-16 for the whole thing. I agreed - that's a lot of stuff to print, not to mention that with 4E looming, 3.5 stuff is not likely to sell as well as it would normally. My partner, though, doesn't like the idea of splitting them up. So I thought I'd ask you, the consumer: What do YOU think? Would you buy one or more smaller books with only monsters, PrCs, feats, spells, etc., or would you go for the whole cake?

 

[Crothian]

PDFs I prefer to be smaller so I'd like the second option. But as a POD I would like the first option as I like my books nice and thick.

Of course at this point I have no idea if I'm going to get any more books of this edition.

 

[ivocaliban]

PDFs I prefer to be smaller so I'd like the second option. But as a POD I would like the first option as I like my books nice and thick.

I agree. I much prefer a tangible product to pdfs, however, so I voted for the first option.

I intend on buying 3e material (especially if they're on sale!) as long as it interests me and is still available. I don't plan on switching to 4e.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

I don't like to sit in front of a computer reading text for more than a few minutes at a time, so when it comes to .pdfs I much prefer a shorter product. When I download paizo's Pathfinder .pdfs that come along with my subscription, I always opt for the download that contains multiple smaller compartmentalized chapters of the module so that I can find things easier and have an easier time reading.

I do, however, like to read a nice thick juicy book. A book with a long page count doesn't bother me; I'd want the whole book, not snippets of the same book broken up into sections for individual purchase.

That all said, I have never purchased a print-on-demand book and am not likely to ever buy such a product. I also will not be purchasing 4E material. You may therefore wish to discount my opinion when you consider your market.

 

[bento]

I'm very PDF friendly, so I'm probably not a good gauge of the general public. I try to keep my book collection small and I game with a laptop. I also like to reformat information around into player handouts or wikis.

As for small bits vs. large book, it all depends on what your serving. If it something that is a compilation of lots of different things, probably small bits. If its more thematic, like a setting book, then just publish it as one book.

 

[cougent]

Much the same as you have already recieved, I prefer smaller PDF files and larger POD books.

I am a committed fence sitter for 4E, but even if I do switch it will be some time in 2009 to let the bugs get worked out (and maybe some errata in the second printings)

 

[DragonLancer]

If I was going to buy it, give me the whole thing in one go. I can pick and choose which pages to print myself.

 

[delericho]

In theory, but it depends very much on the product.

However, I should also note that I won't be buying any more game products of any sort until 4e is released (excepting my Pathfinder subscription, but that's pre-paid as part of the Dragon transition). I may or may not be in the market for new products after the release of 4e, but it's looking doubtful.

 

[Voadam]

I prefer getting it all in one source rather than scattered across multiple ones.

For example I prefer having the Complete Book of Eldritch Might rather than 3 separate pdfs for BoEM I, II, and III. I hate trying to remember which book a specific spell was in and being able to search in just one book rather than three is a benefit for me.

Same thing for the big Ptolus pdf versus the individual chapter ones.

If I can, I prefer to get good deals on big books rather than lots of little ones, or bundles rather than individual small files if there is a good deal. For instance I got the WotBS subscription and have been happy with that rather than buying individual ones.

Speaking as someone who has bought and used both Crimson Contracts and Arcane Strife I look forward to seeing the 3.5 updates and the new material.


With pdf products you can do it both ways. It takes more layout work but you can offer both options if you wish to do so.

edit: Oh yes, and I'm still buying lots of 3.5 pdf stuff.

 

[Pinotage]

I generally prefer smaller chunks, but that depends largely on the subject matter and on how disjointed the material is going to be once it's split up. If they're different topics, keep them apart without any problem, but if it's the same topic keep them together. For POD, definitely keep them together.

Pinotage