"Spoiled by PDFs" Topic

I guess this is as good a place for this as any…

I recently bought a hard-copy only rulebook that I now have to wait for the "store" to ship it and then wait for the Post Office to deliver it.

Today I bought a PDF rulebook. I got it within 5 minutes and, while waiting for it as it printed out, I was able to read it.

One of the great things about THW is you can buy the PDF and read that while waiting for the hardcopy you bought for only $5 USD to $7 USD more to be delivered.

I really like PDFs!

Tim

I really like PDFs too, especially how you can create your own index by using the comments feature to bookmark the pages.

Pretty Darn Fabulous

Yup. I was anti-PDFs until I got a tablet with GoodReader. Now I pretty much only buy rules as PDFs. The minis, terrain, and boardgames take up all the other space!

I think they both have their place. I like the price and easy of buy-and-print pdf's for my Ganesha games, but when it comes to something like Kings of War, I like my pretty, shiny rulebooks.

I was rabidly anti-pdf until I got an ipad.

Now I only buy pdf rules.

I still like books.

Phil

I still prefer a physical book, but as a role-player I do love the Bits & Mortar scheme where I can buy a rulebook over the counter at my usual shop and they can then arrange for a download link for the PDF to be emailed to me. The best of both worlds.

I like pdfs and really love them. I almost did not buy a recent rulebook because it was not offered in PDF, and I only did it because teh authors has been doing a good job of winning us over. But I would had preferred it in PDF.

I still buy books, and when it comes to rulebooks I will buy in print a rulebooks that has a lot of chrome, but PDFs have become my mainstay in all types of reading.

I kinda do not have a choice. Until I become an associate professor I might have to change jobs and countries (or even continents) at least 2 to three times. I simply cannot afford shipping physical books. So I really appreciate the companies and publishers who provide pdf options.

A 200+ page count, full colour rulebook with hi-res pictures. And for only 70% of the price of the printed book is no deal.
(no an actual book but a sample of some)

Not just rulebooks. I used to have a library room, with shelves up to about 8ft all round the room. Now I have an iPad and a hard drive back up. No more pages falling out, split spines and jam sandwich stains on your favourite page. Glossy pictures in spades, with zoom!
Did I mention text search too? Want to find that one line about catapults buried somewhere in the book….. ta dah!
Plus I imagine the relative ease of publishing a pdf as opposed to the set up costs of a full colour print publication means more variety for us. Win win.

PDF's have their uses but they are naff all use when the batteries gone flat.

Most people play wargames with the lights on. Those lights are connected to electricity. Assuming the 10+ hours on your tablet aren't enough to finish your game, you can use that same electricity to charge your tablet. Also useful for making a cuppa. Its amazing technology is.

For me, it depends on the game. I tend to print a few pages only so if the game doesn't require a ton of charts, i'll get a PDF.
If it's something that requires a lot of look-up, then it's book time though lately, I usually just keep my laptop on the gaming table.

It is not that I am anti-PDF….I am just way pro-book.

I prefer them, but not just for the portability. The search feature is a lifesaver in finding particular rules in some rulebooks.

As a roleplayer, I find PDFs *much* better for scenarios! Not only do I only print out the scenario I need (instead of carrying the entire book of scenarios), not only can I print handouts without breaking the spine of the book, but I can print out the art pages as handouts!