One of the main obstacles with third party material is that my players don't have real access to the material.
I haven't been comfortable enough to give access to pdfs via dropbox in fear of violating user terms so If I don't have a hard copy, the players don't have access to it. Also as a result, unless its on d20pfsrd.com my players won't use it. Transportation is also a factor as I cannot carry much more than the core rulebook, ultimate equipment and materials I need as a GM.
So far most of the third party material that has shown up in my games have been in the form of a book on a feat/spell or items.
How do you guys give access to third party materials to players, particularly pdfs?
tablet
I, for one, (and only speaking for LRGG) encourage you to share your copy of our stuff with your players if you need to. I'm not saying share it publicly on the net (we are pirated enough as it is...) If they end up using something and don't own the book, encourage them to buy a copy themselves. If not? That's fine. The way I see it, if someone likes something a publisher published (and even used it in a game) they might buy something else.
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I wish there was a 'read only' Dropbox kind of thing.
I've thought of tablets but I rarely let players touch the thing ever since when checking up on rules one started jamming the wrong end of the stylus into the screen harder to get it to work. For a $200+ device I'm skeptical of handing such a thing over to the same people who destroyed my core rulebook and Ultimate Equipment. (I've re-bound my core rulebook three times and now have three core rulebooks and two Ultimate Equipment books due to wear during use.
I wish there was a 'read only' Dropbox kind of thing.
I've thought of tablets but I rarely let players touch the thing ever since when checking up on rules one started jamming the wrong end of the stylus into the screen harder to get it to work. For a $200+ device I'm skeptical of handing such a thing over to the same people who destroyed my core rulebook and Ultimate Equipment. (I've re-bound my core rulebook three times and now have three core rulebooks and two Ultimate Equipment books due to wear during use.
You know how they say that the original blackbelts were black because they started white and got dirty with age? You sir are a blackbelt with that many re-bindings.
Can you give them a thumbdrive with the files on it? (those are dirt cheap these days)
I wish there was a 'read only' Dropbox kind of thing.
I've thought of tablets but I rarely let players touch the thing ever since when checking up on rules one started jamming the wrong end of the stylus into the screen harder to get it to work. For a $200+ device I'm skeptical of handing such a thing over to the same people who destroyed my core rulebook and Ultimate Equipment. (I've re-bound my core rulebook three times and now have three core rulebooks and two Ultimate Equipment books due to wear during use.
You know how they say that the original blackbelts were black because they started white and got dirty with age? You sir are a blackbelt with that many re-bindings.
Can you give them a thumbdrive with the files on it? (those are dirt cheap these days)
I can but was mostly worried about whether or not that would be considered distributing the material. Ideally I'd put my pdfs on Google Docs and post the links to a player exclusive page such as Epicwords, but in any of those situations I don't have an actual guarantee that the players won't download and distribute the material/use it for other games without buying. At best I can just say 'Please don't do this' and hope for the best.
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I may be sort of out of line with this and if I am I apologize. But if you have such a fear of your players abusing your generosity why are they your players anyway? I feel there should be a matter of trust between GM and players. I too worry about PDF's being shared through Flashdrives but so far haven't had any mishaps.
I also think that since you have put this concern in a public forum if any thing does make it onto a torrent site you should be forgiven or at least given another chance.
Just my 2 cp.
One thing to at least look into is a print shop. If you are willing to spend the money, I have no idea how much, you could take a flash drive to a print shop and get crude book-like things made.
I may be sort of out of line with this and if I am I apologize. But if you have such a fear of your players abusing your generosity why are they your players anyway? I feel there should be a matter of trust between GM and players. I too worry about PDF's being shared through Flashdrives but so far haven't had any mishaps.
I also think that since you have put this concern in a public forum if any thing does make it onto a torrent site you should be forgiven or at least given another chance.
Just my 2 cp.
For a few reasons;
1. Sometimes I have new players that I don't know as well. I'd like to trust them to some extent but I don't know them too much beyond weekly pathfinder games.
2. Trust does not exactly equate to guarantee, and what I mostly fear is that not having that guarantee is what matters in terms of giving access to digital material.
3. Whenever I organize anything I don't like to give the option to do something terrible. For example, I can assume that people at a party will bring their trash to the appropriate receptical but I will always use signs and place trash bins in a way that its nearly impossible to not find one. Basically if I organize any situations that I cannot supervise its my nature to assume that everyone involved is incompetent or has a nefarious intent and plan accordingly. I know it sounds terrible but every instance when I don't plan that way I'm confronted with inconceivable messes, at least one person being incompetent or nefarious enough to make a difference or literally something on fire so it's become part of my personality.
I may be sort of out of line with this and if I am I apologize. But if you have such a fear of your players abusing your generosity why are they your players anyway? I feel there should be a matter of trust between GM and players.
You unquestionably are.
Note he said "actual guarantee". And he's right - it's also something one can't get.
Given how cranky (and unforgiving) some publishers are (especially if there are watermarks with one's name in it, etc), the risk may not be worth it given the possible (however small) blowback... sometimes one feels an 'abundance of caution' is needed.
(Hell, even one's own mother isn't an absolute guarantee - "Oh, sweetie, I just shared it with this one friend...")
I may be sort of out of line with this and if I am I apologize. But if you have such a fear of your players abusing your generosity why are they your players anyway? I feel there should be a matter of trust between GM and players.
My thoughts as well.
(Hell, even one's own mother isn't an absolute guarantee - "Oh, sweetie, I just shared it with this one friend...")
You are going to laugh but I had a short story going to a publisher once and I shared a copy of the manuscript with my mother and father via Google Docs and made express instructions not to share it in any way shape or form... and my dear mother sent it to like 20 people. I had to delete that copy of the doc.
I expected to get opposing opinions.
As to getting the books printed, I took a flashdrive of Tome of Horrors Revised, II, & III to a local copy.com print shop and got all 3 in Black & White with spiral binding for $95.
Another thought, make them sign a contract. It may not stop them, but if trouble come your way then will have protection. Such a contract does not have to be an elaborate thing. In fact, contract law has come to favor simple direct wording.
I think we are getting a little elaborate. I feel the most reasonable solution is go the print route. Even if you just print out the applicable pages yourself you don't run the risk of them putting the PDF up on a torrent website.
I've gone to a print shop. I printed a number of pdfs despite the expense, but I have some products that are too small/numerous or in landscape making it less practical. The Super Genius Games pdfs are the biggest offenders.
The contract idea was just a thought really. I have got to put my legal knowledge to use somehow.
The contract idea was just a thought really. I have got to put my legal knowledge to use somehow.
Actually that may very well take responsibility from me if things get pirated. There are a number of digital things that function by 'if you download x it is assumed that you agree to y terms'. I would probably have to strongly express what that means though.