I was wondering if this product will be offered in PDF format. If so, when?

The original plan was not to offer it in PDF, but I'm rethinking that. it should be out in PDF within a week of the print edition.

Since I'm here, I'll also say it runs 240 pages and includes 3 new essays, by me, Michael Stackpole, and Willie Walsh.

Neat! :D

The original plan was not to offer it in PDF, but I'm rethinking that. it should be out in PDF within a week of the print edition.

Since I'm here, I'll also say it runs 240 pages and includes 3 new essays, by me, Michael Stackpole, and Willie Walsh.

Good news! You can count on me for a DL. Do you have an idea when print edition becomes available?

A flying kobold told me to expect a print edition very soon.

Print and Print/PDF bundles now available.

Hurray! This includes everything from Volumes 1 to 3, plus three new essays. One is on humor in game design (by Willie Walsh), one is on designing magic systems (by Michael A. Stackpole), and one is about the design space and when to leave room for the DM (by me).

It's a good-looking book.

I have the three original volumes and can't say enough good things about them. There is some great advice within for freelancers and home GMs alike.

Having all three collected into one volume, let alone with the additional essays, is an awesome deal!!!

Thanks, Marc! I'll also point out that having all three under one set of covers makes it really affordable, too. Like getting one volume for free, essentially.

Oh, and CNN likes it.

I have bough it, the pdf looks nice and some of the chapters seem very well tailored for future RGP Superstars. I will write a review once I have finished the book (which will take about 1 month until the book arrives at my location) since a threat about reviews actually made me buy it.

BTW, the pdf+dead tree version bundle is a great idea, otherwise I might have postponed buying it (which I would have regretted)It came at a very fair price and I would love to get the same offer from paizo^^.

Hey, glad you like it! It's the culmination of about 4 years essay-writing in various venues, plus reaching out to some of the designers I admire for their thoughts and approach.

And as best I can tell above, Paizo offers a print+PDF bundle here as well, so that deal is not just available at the Kobold store.

Looking forward to your review!

Finished reading, got review up as well. Having never seen the original three, this was all new material to me, and I have to say, this is the type of book every true gamer needs on their shelf. Very well written, with so many pieces of sheer genius just waiting to be discovered within its covers.

Nice review, KTFish7 - I definitely have to get a review up as well. Oh, tempus fugit...

Nice review, KTFish7

Thanks End!

Oh, tempus fugit...

To many great game products, never enough time...oh well, sleep when when I'm dead, lol

Um, wow, this book has been reviewed by the San Francisco Review of Books.

Game designers and those just curious about the process will all surely find something within these pages to capture their attention and imagination. Some of the articles are a little technical and hard to understand, but most are very accessible for even the most novice gamer. Highly recommended for gaming nerds everywhere.

Vic, can we get that added to the product listing? It's rare to get noticed outside the gaming circles (though if anyplace has a strong games press, it's SF).

Done, mighty Kobold-in-Chief!

A belated "Thank you, Liz!"

While we're talking about it, the Robot Viking review came out today. The key three words for me: "pretty damn awesome".

Oh, ok, I'll be shameless this morning and point out that this book was ALSO nominated for a 2012 ENnie Award, in the category of Best RPG Related Book.

Darn tootin', it's RPG-related!

In the continuing category of "Proud Publisher Papa", this book won the Gold ENnie for Best RPG Related Product of 2012.

Silver went to Wizards of the Coast, for Lords of Waterdeep.

That still blows my mind.

Updated product description to include ENnie award! Way to go guys!

In the continuing category of "Proud Publisher Papa", this book won the Gold ENnie for Best RPG Related Product of 2012.

Silver went to Wizards of the Coast, for Lords of Waterdeep.

That still blows my mind.

The book certainly deserved to win. I just posted a tiny review, no need to repeat what KTFisch7 already wrote (much more eloquently than I could have done).

Thanks for the review, Sebastian!

So is there anywhere that someone could actually purchase a pdf of the adventures mentioned in this book? Castle Shadowcrag, Empire of Ghouls, etc? Thus far my searches haven't uncovered anything. Or is anyone who just picked this book up and had never heard of the Open Design patron system before just out of luck when it comes to viewing these adventures?

Sort of. The Empire of the Ghouls material is in the Imperial Gazetteer (and I have no idea why the reference wasn't to that title).

Castle Shadowcrag material is largely in the Zobeck Gazetteer (and again, no idea why that wasn't referenced).

In both cases, though, the adventures were limited editions, so what you get is the non-adventure material plus new sourcebook elements in those Gazetteers.

The perils of limited editions.

Can't wait for: Kobold Guide to Worldbuilding, is there an ETA?

Yes, it's listed on the Kobold Store for preorders. January 2013.

Sweet, I'll pick it up via Paizo cos KP postage is too high and I can whack it in with my subscription packages. Thanks

A review by Lou Anders, the editor of SF and fantasy at Pyr Books:

I have read a great many books on creativity and writing across the years and very few of them offer much of lasting value. The Complete Kobold Guide to Game Design sets in a place of honor amid this very select list. I highly recommend it not only to game designers but to anyone involved in any creative narrative undertaking.

This ENnie-award-winning book now a steal at 25% off for the Paizo GM's Week Sale.

Here's one of the reviews:

Not only will this book change the way you read rpg books and prepare adventures, if you ever want/have to design your own material, or even want to go into designing your own products - buy this book.