"Rule books: hardback or paperback?" Topic

Do people actually play war games with hardback books? Despite the nice appearance with lots of pictures, hard back books seem very impractical when looking up rules during a game.

So here is the question concerning the presentation and format of rules. Which do you prefer:
A) Hardback
B) Paperback
C) PDF

I say paperback. I want something easy to handle at the gaming table.

On a side not, too many hardback rules I've seen lately seem to be almost unplayable. They look nice with lots of color pictures and photos of miniatures but are so overly wordy that the actual rules part seem lost in all the fluff.

Price. PDF usually wins on that score – even when I send it out for a coil bound black and white printout.

Paperback for me.

PDFs frequently cost too much, and aren't printer friendly, so actually end up costing more than the printed ones, once you factor in all the ink usage.

My favorite rulebook is Hail Caesar, which is hardbound and written in a casual, conversational style that I enjoy very much, and find to be eminently playable. Obviously, 'different strokes,' and all that.

Paperback for me.

I want a book not a nook

No PDFs for me.
Other than that, the price had better be reasonable.

I don't really care. I usually play without the book, just using a couple of printed/copied reference sheets for stuff you gotta have at hand. Someone should really know the rules (that you are using at the time) cold before playing. Kinda like being a sport ref. Even for paperback (I assume you mean side-stapled or spiral bound, not perfect bound paperback) – I find they get beat up if you flip around through them for tables and references.

So along those lines, I like a nice hardbound offline reading by the fireplace with a snifter of brandy.

Now I just have to get a fireplace and some brandy.

And a snifter.

I actually prefer PDF because I can print out only what I need. Most important of all, though, is a Ready Reference Sheet, or three, with critically needed rules on them, to minimize the need for the rest of the rules at my table.

I said, PDF, because I can easily put them in a 3-ring binder, which I find very affordable compared to all other binding options. All I need is a hard copy on 8.5 x 11, a 3-hole punch, and a 3-ring binder -- they allow me to control the cover art myself (clear, front pocket on the cover of the binder), in case I want my own version of artwork. Cheers!

I prefer PDF because it is easy to search terms. In a hard copy I have to depend on my eyes to find stuff. The PDF reader does a better job.

I'll print what I need from the PDF in black and white.

That said, if the rules are good I don't care what the format is. If the rules suck, ditto.

Oh yeah, one more thing: instant gratification of PDF, no wait for the postal service.

I prefer pdf because of price and speed.

On the other hand, I do like to have printed rules for the game table. Paper is faster to flip through than pdf files, at least faster than unsearchable files.

I sometimes put rules into tabbed 3-ring binders for use at the game table.

I despise hard bound rule books.
They are generally overpriced and full of nonessential fluff.

I'm with RC on this.

I prefer paperback, but do use hardback books (Force on Force/Tomorrow's War).

I prefer HBs, because they tend to wear better and stand up to abuse.

PDF is ok, if it is convenient to print.

Damon.

Paperback, with limited fluff, please. Color pictures on front and back covers is plenty.

Hardback books feel nice, are generally more able to stand up to the abuse, and tend to look better while on the shelf. On the other hand, soft cover books work better at the actual table.

PDFs actually aren't that much cheaper than printed books, because most costs tied into books aren't printing costs (unless the amount being printed is small—which might be the case for niche products like historical war gaming). PDFs are nice because they can be referenced on the run (tablets), or individual pages can be printed as needed (charts, checklists, etc). The downside is obviously that if your battery dies, you no longer have access to the material.

I enjoy all three options, depending on the actual situation.

My preference is paperback. I will buy hardback but I need to have a good reason (I have played and liked the rules or there are good recommendations). PDF is my last resort and usually I will pass on PDF and hope some print version comes available (I.e. drivethrough RPG offers a printed version.

Chris

As long as it is full of colour pictures and fluffy asides I don't mind too much if it is hardbound or soft. I would be more likely to buy a cheaper product than a more expensive one all else being equal, but it rarely is.

I've had, and used, my copy of Black Powder for about 6 years now, playing probably scores of games with it. It is doing just fine.

My favorite version would be loos-leaf so I can put it in a binder.

In order from you list:
B) Paperback
C) PDF
A) Hardback – distant 3rd

I like hardback RPG books but for wargaming its PDF or soft cover.

ACtually, if its print, I prefer the coil back that makes them flip open nice and easy

I like hardback rules. I also prefer metal miniatures to plastic miniatures as well. Though I usually prefer Aristotle to Plato.

Paperback.

B, C, A. Paperback, pdf, hardback.

Price is the determining factor for me. I won't purchase anything that isn't value for money. The chance of a hardback being value for money is slim, though I have bought a few..

Ditto for colour pictures. If my terrain and figures look better than illustrations in a book, I'm not going to pay for pictures of someone else's setup.

Small format hardbacks aren't worth it.

Spiral bound, so the rules lay flat on the table for easy reference.

Rick

I think the most practical binding for war-games rules are either:

a) serial binding so that they lay flat or
b) unbound and three-hole punched so that you can put them in your own binder (and still lay them flat)

Unfortunately both techniques -- which I have used in published rules -- are seen as cheap or second rate by most gamers.

We may all disagree, but that is how the sales numbers play out.

Buck

Something that my postman can't bend to fit through the letterbox.

I have and do use both. My favorite of all time is the hardbound "The Wargame" by C.S. Grant. However I more often use PDF that I have printed or home grown.

As far as I'm concerned, there is a place for HB/SB with pretty pictures, and more austere PDFs.

I don't usually sweat hard or soft binding- I'd prefer the latter for durability, but cost is always an issue.

While it is less practical than staple-binding for actual use, I prefer perfect binding, so I can find it on my bookshelf. Otherwise it gets stored in a box, which is much less convenient. Spiral is great, and since I only have maybe half a dozen, and they aren't invisible on the shelf, that's not an issue.

one thing I DON'T abide by is a PDF that costs as much as a print copy. If you're not willing to pass on the savings of not having to print and handle a physical copy, you can keep it.