Any chance of a Lulu.com POD version of Beta?

[Carnivorous_Bean]

I recently downloaded a copy of Beta, and I like many of the features therein, after seeing the system as modified so far.

However, what's holding me back from buying a print copy (which is, technically, what I need to try to run an actual game with these rules) is the fact that the book is printed in China. I have an intense dislike for buying books made by People's Liberation Army sweatshops/slave factories, or anything else made in such a manner, for that matter. In fact, I've sworn to never buy something made in China again unless it's crucial to the health and wellbeing of someone in my family, and there's no American-made alternative.

So, is there any remote chance that Beta might appear on Lulu.com so that those of us who have qualms about such matters can purchase a print version through them?

[Dennis da Ogre]

Carnivorous_Bean wrote:

I have an intense dislike for buying books made by People's Liberation Army sweatshops/slave factories, or anything else made in such a manner, for that matter. In fact, I've sworn to never buy something made in China again unless it's crucial to the health and wellbeing of someone in my family, and there's no American-made alternative.

I think you are poorly informed about the state of businesses in China. While the government is beyond a doubt quite corrupt much of their economy and many businesses over there are run by people like you and I who are trying to work within a convoluted system. I highly doubt that Paizo's products are made in a sweat shop of any type primarily because printing is a process which lends itself to automation easily.

As for your mission to not use any Chinese made products... good luck there also. Your 'American Made' automobile and many many other products which you consider made in the USA are often made 100% in foreign countries, many with human rights histories as bad as or worse than China.

Your best bet for printing the beta is to have it printed and bound at Kinkos in B&W. They have a service where you submit the print job over the internet and pick it up at the office. This won't be an option with the final version though since I doubt the final will include the rights to reprint the rules.

[Carnivorous_Bean]

Dennis da Ogre wrote:

As for your mission to not use any Chinese made products... good luck there also. Your 'American Made' automobile and many many other products which you consider made in the USA are often made 100% in foreign countries, many with human rights histories as bad as or worse than China.

Yep, I'm all too aware of that. Hence my addition of the caveat that I purchase American when possible, which is all too infrequently, considering how this country has had its productive capacity exported. But in this case, I referred to China because, well, Paizo's book is printed in China, and it therefore isn't supporting American families.

Dennis da Ogre wrote:

Your best bet for printing the beta is to have it printed and bound at Kinkos in B&W. They have a service where you submit the print job over the internet and pick it up at the office. This won't be an option with the final version though since I doubt the final will include the rights to reprint the rules.

Hm -- is that legal? I mean, Kinkos will be getting the payment -- while it's Paizo's product that they're printing for me. I don't approve, actually, of their printing it in China, but that doesn't mean that I want to steal something from them, either.

Maybe it would be best to just let the whole matter drop.

[Jal Dorak]

Well, you do have the option with most Paizo books to buy the pdf, and then you can print it where you like since it is watermarked.

Some people have reported that printing the Beta has in some cases saved them money.

By far I do not speak for Paizo, but I don't think I have ever seen them say "don't print our pdfs".

[Darrin Drader]

Carnivorous_Bean wrote:

Hm -- is that legal? I mean, Kinkos will be getting the payment -- while it's Paizo's product that they're printing for me. I don't approve, actually, of their printing it in China, but that doesn't mean that I want to steal something from them, either.

If you aren't sure, ask. I had a couple copies of the alpha printed out before I went to a con and wasn't sure what the legalities were, so I sent Jason Bulmahn an email asking for permission to get a couple copies printed up. He was more than happy to provide me with it, but as it turned out, I didn't end up needing to show that to the guy behind the counter at Kinkos.