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5 years ago ::
Apr 01, 2008 - 6:50PM
#21
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Date Joined:
Mar 27, 2007
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You might be an ideal candidate for thier plans to release PDF copies of the books.
You could purchase them, run to Kinkos, get your own copies made, and if you wanted to get really fancy, have them put into a plastic-covered binding. Or a 3-ring binder, or spiral-bound. . .
The cost of printing would be the hardest part to deal with, but, it's an option. 
Ok, I wouldn't normally say something like this, but I work for Kinko's, and what you're suggesting drives me nuts. It breaks copyright law and it's not the poor Kinko's employee's fault. It's not his job to break the law for you.
Sorry about that...been yelled at one too many times over that.
go 4ed
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5 years ago ::
Apr 01, 2008 - 7:09PM
#22
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Date Joined:
Jul 20, 2006
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QFT
I here ya. I'd totally be sold on a Kindle if I could have all your D&D books on that thing. Not just a rules database like DDI, but the full books. Having your whole D&D collection on one little device would be sweet.
Supposedly the Kindle is completely tanking...what an opportunity. If WotC teamed up with Amazon for Kindle-friendly rulebooks and a bit of a discount on the Kindle, I can see the D&D community collectively I]true resurrecting[/i] the Kindle single-handedly!
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5 years ago ::
Apr 01, 2008 - 10:20PM
#23
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Date Joined:
Jun 17, 2007
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Hardcover, softcover - that doesn't matter so much to me: what matters is the binding
I've had hardcover books that popped pages out after a few weeks, and softcover which hold up fine over years of use.
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5 years ago ::
Apr 01, 2008 - 10:34PM
#24
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I don't think that this a good idea.
I dislike softcover for books that are going to be used heavily. And don't tell me about being careful. I am the most careful person that I know of when it comes to books. But the problem is that Core Rulebooks are more often then not used by the entire group (especially during the session). So it not only about how you treat the book but also about how the people at the table would treat it. And that's when you are on the safe(r) side with a hardcover.
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5 years ago ::
Apr 01, 2008 - 10:41PM
#25
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Date Joined:
Aug 17, 2007
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This is how it has been explained to me:
As soon as you publish a book in softcover, the big book chains stop buying the hardcovers. Like, completely and utterly, and they even ship all the unsold hardcovers back.
In an ideal world, we could publish both, but we have to choose one or the other. Hardcover is more durable, and people tend to carry their D&D books around in backpacks, spill pop on them, bash obnoxious players over the head with them (OK, maybe not), and so on, so we deal in hardcovers.
Sorry! I can sympathize, because I liked my softcover PH from the Player's Kit.
Why do they do that? The only reason I can think of is soft cover books sell better. Booksellers are businessmen, and they aren't going to stock their shelves with two versions of one book when one outsells the others. If hardback books outperformed softcovers, they would ship softcovers back. Why not give gamers what they want. We want soft covers.
And Enlightened1 hit the nail on the head. My softcover 2e Combat and Tactics book is in far better shape than my hardbound Midnight Campaign setting book. The binding is the thing.
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5 years ago ::
Apr 01, 2008 - 10:55PM
#26
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Date Joined:
Nov 30, 2005
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Ok, I wouldn't normally say something like this, but I work for Kinko's, and what you're suggesting drives me nuts. It breaks copyright law and it's not the poor Kinko's employee's fault. It's not his job to break the law for you.
Sorry about that...been yelled at one too many times over that.
go 4ed
Actually you might want to talk to your manager about that. While it is illegal to print an illegal scan of a book, I am fairly certain it is perfectly legal to print out a legal ebook that you own. Especially if it is for personal use only.
Now your manager might make the perfectly valid point of "we can't tell who is doing this legally and who is not, sorry no one can do it" and there really isn't anything that can be done. He has a very good arguement.
As for the topic at hand, I would love if they put the core books out in hardcover, and then the rest in soft.
My core phb has the same problems many people's soft cover books seem to have. Needless to say I am rough on my things. I expect that they were made so Jo 60IQ can do whatever he wants to them without them breaking, because the company fears a lawsuit. I figure he can do way worse than anything I can do to it, and usually am right. If not I return said item saying it broke under normal use.
I would though love if the adventures were done in soft cover. I might even pick one or two up and buy them. As is I am not willing to pay the cost of a hardbacked one, but if the cost drops enough I might buy a few.
5e comments and thoughts all in one place. Check it out to provide feedback, mock, or steal ideas.
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/28835423/Krusks_5e_Design_Goals?sdb=1
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5 years ago ::
Apr 01, 2008 - 11:04PM
#27
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Date Joined:
Aug 17, 2007
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I would though love if the adventures were done in soft cover. I might even pick one or two up and buy them. As is I am not willing to pay the cost of a hardbacked one, but if the cost drops enough I might buy a few.
That's been getting at me. Do they really sell enough hardbound modules to make it even worth it? I don't know anyone who's ever bought one.
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5 years ago ::
Apr 02, 2008 - 5:01AM
#28
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- Senior Volunteer Community Lead
- Dragon Slayer
- D&DI News Guide
Date Joined:
Aug 31, 2005
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Ok, I wouldn't normally say something like this, but I work for Kinko's, and what you're suggesting drives me nuts. It breaks copyright law and it's not the poor Kinko's employee's fault. It's not his job to break the law for you.
Sorry about that...been yelled at one too many times over that.
go 4ed
It depends on what WotC says you're allowed to do with the books, actually. If the PDF states that you're allowed to reproduce it for personal use (which seems reasonable) there's no law being broken. (You could even make a convincing argument about a printed copy constituting a "backup" which is allowed.)
And that permission was part of my assumption (though, I should have stated as such).
By far and large, however, you're right, and I'd like to make it clear that I don't advocate copyright violations.
Krusk may also have a point about it simply falling under "fair use".
As for Kinkos being the arbiter as to whether my use is legal or not. . . that's a greyer area. I could see why Kinkos wouldn't want their employees hitting "print" (or even "copy") on my behalf to make the potentially illegal hardcopy to avoid liability, but if its ME doing it, that's my liability.
Binding that hardcopy once its already printed should be a non-issue, but IANAL and YMMV.
(EDIT)
I actually work for an Intellectual Property law firm. I think I'mma pester an attorney for his thoughts on this later today. Of course, it won't be the definitive answer (blah blah blah - opinion only, seek your own legal counsel, blah blah blah), but now my curiosity is piqued.
If anyone else is curious on the response I get, let me know and I'll post it to share.
Wolf Star76 Community Advocate (SVCL) for D&D Organized Play, Avalon Hill, and the DCI/WPN LFR Community Manager DDi Guide  Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter
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5 years ago ::
Apr 02, 2008 - 2:44PM
#29
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Date Joined:
Mar 31, 2008
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Why do they do that? The only reason I can think of is soft cover books sell better. Booksellers are businessmen, and they aren't going to stock their shelves with two versions of one book when one outsells the others. If hardback books outperformed softcovers, they would ship softcovers back. Why not give gamers what they want. We want soft covers.
No "we" do not. I am a hardcover fan, so I would prefer you not try and speak for me on this subject.
Adventures? Sure. Those are less durable by their nature. You run them once, and then just use them for little bits of info here or there, maybe trading it in to a store for a little credit on a different adventure.
But I want my rules in hardcover.
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5 years ago ::
Apr 02, 2008 - 8:08PM
#30
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Date Joined:
Aug 17, 2007
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No "we" do not. I am a hardcover fan, so I would prefer you not try and speak for me on this subject.
Adventures? Sure. Those are less durable by their nature. You run them once, and then just use them for little bits of info here or there, maybe trading it in to a store for a little credit on a different adventure.
But I want my rules in hardcover.
Considering that the facts seem to indicate most gamers prefer soft covers, I stand by my statement.
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