Hi,
For people who have bought GM modules in either print or PDF format, which one would you recommend?
For the record, I'm not adverse to PDFs for the reasons that a) they are available instantly b) I don't have to pay shipping (which is lots for those of us here in Canada) and c) I don't mind printing on my own paper because printer paper tends to be easier to make notes on with a pencil, than some of the publishing paper is (although that's not across the board).
So, basically I'm leaning toward PDF versions but I want to know if there is generally anything in the published versions that make them vastly superior to the PDF versions? i.e. Will I be missing out on anything if I buy only PDF versions?
Thanks,
Greg
For the record, I bought the first two Pathfinders in PDF. Then, I found them in their printed glory at my local gaming store.
Alas, the first two, printed out on my wax laser printer on glossy paper still do not approach the quality of the printed versions.
I also live in Canada, and the shipping was an issue for me. Thankfully, with the product I ordered (Pathfinder subscription) there was a 30% discount and that covered the cost of shipping. As well, if you are stuck on the price, amazon.ca offers Paizo products and if you can save up to buy, shipping is free.
Craig
Hi,
For people who have bought GM modules in either print or PDF format, which one would you recommend?
Hello GregH,
I currently get both, but if I had a decent enough printer, I'd probably go with the PDF. I like having a good hardcopy though, one of the main reasons I'm a subscriber. I usually print out a b/w copy (at work, shhh..) and use it for actual gameplay/taking notes/changes. Then I keep a copy on my laptop during a game session.
Good Luck!
JTStorm
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Personally, I would (and I do) subscribe. You get the Hardcopy delivered AND the PDF free. Best of both worlds. Also, the thing with printing the PDFs, ya it may seem free but take into account the 35 dollar black ink cartridge and the 45 dollar color cartridge that always seems to run out of 1 color early. Its all about TCO (Total Cost of Ownership). While your at it subscribe to the Pathfinder series and get the same deal, one hardcopy and free PDF and have Paizo hold your subscriptions to ship both at once to save shipping.
Just my 2 bits.
SE
http://paizo.com/store/gameAids/gameMasteryProducts/modules/v5748btpy7ym4
"After each module ships, subscribers will be able to download a PDF of that module—an $8.99 value—for FREE!"
"If you have Pathfinder, Planet Stories or Pathfinder Chronicles subscriptions, you can combine them with your GameMastery modules to save money on shipping."
Thanks for all the input, everyone.
Personally, I would (and I do) subscribe.
Not an option for me, as I don't spend a lot of money on game materials (wife, kids, mortgage, dog, etc. - not much disposable income for stuff like this) so I pick and choose.
And at 32 pages per adventure (double-sided printing means only 16 pages) I don't think printing is THAT huge a cost (although that's just a guess - I've never actually figured out the cost of printing to be honest - so I could be deluding myself).
I guess what I'm really looking for is info on what is in the print version that's not in the PDF (or "inconvenient"). Like, for example, two-page maps and/or artwork that is not easily reproduce-able with a PDF. Or anything like that.
Thanks,
Greg
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If you subscribe then you get the PDFs for free. I have done that. I find that I end up printing them for actual play but I love having the printed version also.
I also like that I get the PDF before the print version gets to me so I can print it and do some work on it in advance - espeically for Pathfinder which I am running now.
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I guess what I'm really looking for is info on what is in the print version that's not in the PDF (or "inconvenient"). Like, for example, two-page maps and/or artwork that is not easily reproduce-able with a PDF. Or anything like that.
Everything in the print modules is contained in the pdfs. After a quick scan of my hardcopies, none of the art or maps span two pages and should be fine to print out. Depending on your printer ink costs though, if you are planning on printing them out, you may be better off purchasing hardcopies of books you like in the long run.
Hope this helps,
JM
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Thanks for all the input, everyone.
Personally, I would (and I do) subscribe.Not an option for me, as I don't spend a lot of money on game materials (wife, kids, mortgage, dog, etc. - not much disposable income for stuff like this) so I pick and choose.
And at 32 pages per adventure (double-sided printing means only 16 pages) I don't think printing is THAT huge a cost (although that's just a guess - I've never actually figured out the cost of printing to be honest - so I could be deluding myself).
I guess what I'm really looking for is info on what is in the print version that's not in the PDF (or "inconvenient"). Like, for example, two-page maps and/or artwork that is not easily reproduce-able with a PDF. Or anything like that.
Thanks,
Greg
I just ordered my first string of GM Modules and I cant say they have cool pullouts or custom cards or anything like that, If I get my stuff in a timely manner Ill post the difference in products.
As per the printing cost part of my post, I bet you just barely break even printing your own materials based on the 4 dollar difference, but you dont have to pay the shipping. If you have never bought ink cartriges for your printer look them up. A lot of companys sell really cool, cheap printers, yet charge you tons for the ink cartriges. If you plan on making the PDF prints your thing you may want to look into those ink refill thingys and you will prolly be paying 1 dollar per print vs the 4 now.
SE
And, having the PDFs is a must anyway. "Ctrl F" for the win! (Ctrl F = Find/search option)
Searchable makes life really easy!
And I've got an HP, so yeah, they bleed me dry on cartridge costs, but I don't do a heck of a lot of printing. (I probably buy 2-3 black and maybe 2 colour cartidges a year.) And I would be scanning and printing out the maps anyways (I like to annotate maps a lot).
So I'm leaning toward PDFs - nothing so far is a deal breaker. Thanks for all the input!
Greg
To add to what others have said, there is no difference in included material between the PDF and the printed version. I subscribe so I get both (a big part of the reason I subscribed), it really is a good deal.
Anyway, I prefer the printed version over the PDF, it is so much easier to read, and proves easier for flicking back and forth from the text to the maps (typically printed inside the covers). But if you were to print them out, that wouldn't be an issue.
Sounds like a pdf is the way to go for you.
I prefer GM modules in pdf because I add my own pages and make all kinds of annotations--and I just can't bear to write on my printed versions. They're pretty short modules so the cost isn't a problem.
Wait, I print them at work, it's free. All I pay for are the nice glossy prints of the maps.
Now Chronicles I would like to have both, but I'm going to forgo the pdfs because I object to them trying to compel me to buy and ship cards I don't want with my campaign supplement materials in a subscription package.
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And, having the PDFs is a must anyway. "Ctrl F" for the win! (Ctrl F = Find/search option)
Searchable makes life really easy!
And I've got an HP, so yeah, they bleed me dry on cartridge costs, but I don't do a heck of a lot of printing. (I probably buy 2-3 black and maybe 2 colour cartidges a year.) And I would be scanning and printing out the maps anyways (I like to annotate maps a lot).
So I'm leaning toward PDFs - nothing so far is a deal breaker. Thanks for all the input!
Greg
Color laser is the way to go... I could print up the whole library without any issues...
Color laser is the way to go... I could print up the whole library without any issues...
I luvs my color laser...printing out the whole library might require new black toner though...:P
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I print out the whole Pathfinder (and I have a bunch of modules in a notebook I am going through).
I put the adventures in one section. The monsters in another (actually after Issue 4 I put them in a separate book. I have tabs for historical information and such... A section for Sandpoint and one for Magnimar, etc.
I pull pages out to look at two or three at a time depending what is going on. I love having the PDFs. I put the issues on my shelf in pristine condition and only pull them out if I am missing something or for some reason can't find it.
I am finding this method much more versital and my players cannot really tell what is going on with me flipping through a binder and moving pages around or flipping to another tap. This Saturday will be a bit different with the separate Beastiary. Maybe I will put back the monsters I know are going to show up.
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Well I don't print but I do Digital Display so having the Maps already in Digital Format saves me trouble of having to scan the Maps. But I still get the printed versions because I can read it anywhere any time I want. I don't carry my laptop to the Bathroom with me. I don't lay in bed with the Laptop.
For any value it has, I am a firm believer in print copies, and cannot stand a magazine in PDF.
That said, I get both PDF and print copies of the GMM series and I find more of then than not, I use the PDF and never bend the print. I can freely highlight it in Adobe, add notes, re-write things (I use Eberron so I make reference to Eberron places) and cut it apart for hand outs.
Just one more thing: The print copies are extremely glossy. They are very nice to look at, but as you said, if you want to write in them, it seems to me that it might be difficult. I haven't and won't try it on mine though.
Right now, I'm running my PCs through Maure Castle and making notes in the magazine itself is a little dicey with a pencil. (Yes, I mark up my adventures...) I've scanned the maps and use them to show placement of NPCs, monsters and dead corpse. Much easier to annotate than the magazine itself.
greg
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
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And I've got an HP, so yeah, they bleed me dry on cartridge costs, but I don't do a heck of a lot of printing. (I probably buy 2-3 black and maybe 2 colour cartidges a year.) And I would be scanning and printing out the maps anyways (I like to annotate maps a lot).
Greg
I can get 1-2 Pathfinder & 1-2 GM Modules out of ink cartridges (along with normal printer usage). This is doing it on 2 per page N-up. My ink cartridges cost me $AUS45 each, so I would probably say I go through 1 colour/1black every month and a half (I have been through 5 black & 5 colour since June). This means $AUS180 every 2-3 months on ink. I do do a fair bit of incidental printing (it is the printer for my business) but nothing excessive. Lets assume half of that goes on printing Paizo Products, so $AUS90 every 2-3 months. With Pathfinder (around $AUS30) and GM Modules (around $AUS25) they cost me about $AUS50 a month (give or take). So printing comes out slightly cheaper, but not enough for me to give up the quality & ease of a proper hard copy. From the looks of it though, you would probably be printing 1 page per page, so your costs would be higher. The paper is not the big cost issue, the ink is, so printing double sided would not cut your costs that significantly. As an example, 3x 32 page GM modules is 1/5 of a ream of paper, which is $AUS5, so about $AUS0.33c per module for pages. Less for me because I N-up. Even a Pathfinder Module would work out at $AUS1 for paper, printing 1 per page.
As it stands I like having the .pdfs, but if I had to choose between the 2 I would go with the Hard Copy. If there are any maps or sections of the book that you need, you can always just do a colour photocopy of that particular section.Just one more thing: The print copies are extremely glossy. They are very nice to look at, but as you said, if you want to write in them, it seems to me that it might be difficult. I haven't and won't try it on mine though.Right now, I'm running my PCs through Maure Castle and making notes in the magazine itself is a little dicey with a pencil. (Yes, I mark up my adventures...) I've scanned the maps and use them to show placement of NPCs, monsters and dead corpse. Much easier to annotate than the magazine itself.
greg
What do you do if you want to run the adventure again and need space for new notes? I either use paper/post-it notes kept in or with the adventure (not that I have DM'd in quite a while) or now I would use my laptop (which I do in our current game to keep notes for the party (as one of the players).
Well, all in all, I´d say that you miss nothing going pdf-only. I subscribed to the print version and get the pdf for free. But I still prefer the well-made print products, and I don´t like reading a lot on screen. But that is more a matter of personal preference than any real reason to use print copies. The printed modules have very high production values and are very nice to have, though. If the printing costs are ok to you, go for pdfs.
Stefan
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Contributor
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My brother is running AoW right now using my Dungeon mags. He write all over them and dog ears the pages. I've noticed that neither ink nor pencil work very well for making notes, although they do a fine job of defacing my lovely magazines :-(.
Ah well, by now I know my brother well enough that I knew that I would not get my magazines back intact. It's a fair price to get to play a great adventure.
But I'm not loaning him Pathfinder!
I can get 1-2 Pathfinder & 1-2 GM Modules out of ink cartridges (along with normal printer usage).
If you're printing out the Pathfinders, then yeah, I see your point. I have no real intention of getting the PDFs of the Pathfinders, they are just too huge. I only plan on getting individual adventure PDFs. (I did pick up Carnival of Tears at my FLGS last week, and while I like the quality, it is extremely glossy.)
What do you do if you want to run the adventure again and need space for new notes? I either use paper/post-it notes kept in or with the adventure (not that I have DM'd in quite a while) or now I would use my laptop (which I do in our current game to keep notes for the party (as one of the players).
Well, I use a pencil to make my notes, so it's all erasable in the long-run. But the fact is, I always assume that I will run a given adventure only once. In my long history of gaming, I've only ever DM'ed a few adventures twice: Temple of Elemental Evil, Lost Caverns of Tsjocanth and Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun. Every other adventure I've only run once. And I still have so much material that I'll never use.
Greg
Well, all in all, I´d say that you miss nothing going pdf-only. I subscribed to the print version and get the pdf for free. But I still prefer the well-made print products, and I don´t like reading a lot on screen. But that is more a matter of personal preference than any real reason to use print copies. The printed modules have very high production values and are very nice to have, though. If the printing costs are ok to you, go for pdfs.
Stefan
I'm not a big fan of reading stuff on the computer either, but for some things, the cost of shipping just seems so prohibitive. I don't know if the cost has gone down any, but the last time I ordered back-issues of Dragon, I had to pay the price of 3 magazines to get 2 of them shipped. That's a fair bit of cash just on shipping.
Immediate download is far more cost-effective in my books, for some things.
Greg
Well, all in all, I´d say that you miss nothing going pdf-only. I subscribed to the print version and get the pdf for free. But I still prefer the well-made print products, and I don´t like reading a lot on screen. But that is more a matter of personal preference than any real reason to use print copies. The printed modules have very high production values and are very nice to have, though. If the printing costs are ok to you, go for pdfs.
Stefan
I'm not a big fan of reading stuff on the computer either, but for some things, the cost of shipping just seems so prohibitive. I don't know if the cost has gone down any, but the last time I ordered back-issues of Dragon, I had to pay the price of 3 magazines to get 2 of them shipped. That's a fair bit of cash just on shipping.
Immediate download is far more cost-effective in my books, for some things.
Greg
Hi Greg,
My shipping cost have never been more then $8 US to Toronto Canada and often it is less then $6. I suspect that it is due to the Subscription having a special ship rate that is different if you just order the items separately. But I though I would give you an FYI on shipping to Canada.
Oh and I usually get one patherfinder and one GM per shipment.
Hi Greg,
My shipping cost have never been more then $8 US to Toronto Canada and often it is less then $6. I suspect that it is due to the Subscription having a special ship rate that is different if you just order the items separately. But I though I would give you an FYI on shipping to Canada.
Oh and I usually get one patherfinder and one GM per shipment.
Hi Pravus,
Yeah, those were the costs for me too, I misspoke. I meant it was the price of 3 magazines to buy and ship 2 (meaning it costs 1 mag worth to ship). But paying $24 for materials that themselves only cost $16 seems a bit much for me. I'll pay the shipping when I have to, but I'm willing to order some PDFs to keep shipping costs down.
Greg
I do both. I like the added bonuses of the PDFs. You can snag the images off the PDFs and hand them out. I don't print them, as I only have a black and white laser that has issues with the document feed.
I actually use both on the rare occasion that I GM. I have a multi monitor setup that allows me to cut and paste the images on another screen so the PC can see them. I can also print out the images on notecards and hand them to the players ("You found a magic ring, you'll get the writeup if you identify it.").
However, it's nice to have the printed version. Sometimes it can be unwieldy to search through the PDF.
If you have a tablet computer like I do, PDF is the best for adventures. Print it out to Windows Journal and mark it up as needed without damaging the original. Track hp on the page, insert pages of your own notes wherever convenient, and annotate the maps with thumbnails of each area's contents. Cut and paste illustrations to show your players without revealing text. Don't even bother printing it out; you won't need to.
If you don't have a tablet, get one. They are a GM's best friend.