I'm one of those roleplayers who cannot live without physical, tangible books; while I recognize the ease of use of PDFs, I never buy them, because I know I'd rather have the printed version. Manuals add a sense of style to the roleplaying table that I just need to have every time.
So in that regard, when I got the Pathfinder Core Rulebook a couple of years ago and saw how big it was, I was thrilled (the only thing better than a book is a very large book). Then 3 of my players got their own copies, so we ended up with 4 enormous volumes alongside all the other things, which was very nice.
However, as time went by, I began noticing a trend: Since we do not use PDFs when playing (I only allow laptops on the table during character creation and similar meta-game situations), we check our manuals pretty often, and due to their size, tear and wear is starting much earlier than I'm used to (truth be told I'm careful with books, and my AD&D 2e ones are still in perfect condition), particularly in the binding, as the weight of the book is very straining on the material when left open for too long. Plus the fact it does get eventually tiring to hold the book for too long.
Anyone else experiencing these problems already? Visually I really like the book, but now I'm starting to see the logistical issues of such a large tome, and admiting I'd prefer a return to the Player's Handbook/DM's Guide split (I'd actually buy them if they re-released a split version for Pathfinder).
I have been noticing the same thing with the binding on my book. And I also agree with you about preferring books to pdf's, there's just something about having a nice big book to crack open and flip through that I really enjoy.
No, you're not alone. My core rulebook doesn't actually get that much use, since I run the games and work mostly from PDFs and my own material, yet the pages have started to really badly separate from the cover.
I'm not a bookbinder, so I can't say for certain *why* that is, all I can say is it seems like the glue holding the bound pages to the actual cover doesn't cut the muster - the pages all stay together and the cover is staying together, but the pages are gradually pulling away from the cover. Either that or the cover itself wasn't designed for the glue to adhere well enough.
I have (literally) hundreds of RPG books, including some really really old ones (like a couple original DMGs from the early early 80s) and I can only recall seeing this one time before - with original 3.5e Monster Manual, if I recall properly.
Only other time I can remember for sure seeing it was with one of my engineering textbooks in college, which was pretty abused when I got it.
Edit: This makes me fear for the updated Tome of Horrors :/
The binding on my core rule book is red duck tape, and the first few pages are, uh, upside down...
I tried it on a smaller book, but "liquid stitch" is good to rebind a book.
I'm one of those roleplayers who cannot live without physical, tangible books; while I recognize the ease of use of PDFs, I never buy them, because I know I'd rather have the printed version. Manuals add a sense of style to the roleplaying table that I just need to have every time.
So in that regard, when I got the Pathfinder Core Rulebook a couple of years ago and saw how big it was, I was thrilled (the only thing better than a book is a very large book). Then 3 of my players got their own copies, so we ended up with 4 enormous volumes alongside all the other things, which was very nice.
However, as time went by, I began noticing a trend: Since we do not use PDFs when playing (I only allow laptops on the table during character creation and similar meta-game situations), we check our manuals pretty often, and due to their size, tear and wear is starting much earlier than I'm used to (truth be told I'm careful with books, and my AD&D 2e ones are still in perfect condition), particularly in the binding, as the weight of the book is very straining on the material when left open for too long. Plus the fact it does get eventually tiring to hold the book for too long.
Anyone else experiencing these problems already? Visually I really like the book, but now I'm starting to see the logistical issues of such a large tome, and admiting I'd prefer a return to the Player's Handbook/DM's Guide split (I'd actually buy them if they re-released a split version for Pathfinder).
Yeah, my Core Rulebook's spine is starting to worry me, especially after it accidentally fell off my couch ad the weight of the pages pulled on the spine and stressed it pretty bad...
As for those that haven't seen books fall apart, you apparently never played GURPS. Steve Jackson Games book binding was horrendous back in the day, was a running joke on their forums when they moved to a hardcover format, the reason was "Because players prefer the durability of hardcover" after years of bad paperback binding, then the 1st printing of the new 4th end Characters book was so prone to falling apart, they ended up giving a free 2nd printing copy to anyone that had purchased a 1st printing copy. The new printers make for good quality, but when it started it was just hilarious that that first HC book was crap same as the old softcover books were.
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My first printing crb almost immediately had all the pages fall out. The first page, the same color as the inside cover, stayed attached for a long time but eventually also came out. Thankfully almost all the pages are still binded together, except for a few in the index, which are still attached to the back cover. I think my case was based on using a booksox book cover that seemed to really strained the spine. The book is just to thick to use a booksox cover. I put a bindersized booksox cover on it since then but it is very loose so I plan to make a book cover of brown paper. I put my 3.5 crb in them and they still look beautyfull. I use booksox for most 3.5 books and am happy with them. Friends don`t know which book is which but I recognize the color/pattern on each. They eventually learn the color/pattern of the books they regularly refrence. On paper covers, I reinforce the corners/spine with different color tape distinguishing it. I think it looks horrible when a book has torn corners.
I don't use my copy very often, so I couldn't say. I have some bad memories of pages falling out of my AD&D Unearthed Arcana, though.
My copy has gotten a lot of use and it's fine. I'm actually surprised by that as the spine felt weak the day I bought it. Still it's held together perfectly since. (Knocks on wood). My copy is from the first printing. Not sure if subsequent printings are worse or not.
I don't use my copy very often, so I couldn't say. I have some bad memories of pages falling out of my AD&D Unearthed Arcana, though.
Yeah that book was terrible. The pages felt out in all our books with that one.
Just a semi-related look back...
I have two 1E DMG's on my shelf (both red efreet cover.) One is in nearly pristine condition, 1 has a hella beat up cover. These books saw extensive table-top use for 7-10 years. The one with the hella beat up cover was actually run over by a car lol
I have two 1E PHB's on my shelf (1 red statue w/gem eyes cover, 1 blue with wizard on cover.) Both in nearly pristine condition (other than writing inside covers and interspersed on pages etc.) These books saw extensive table-top use for 7-10 years.
I have two 1E Unearthed Arcana's, both have covers falling off and many, many pages falling out. These books saw extensive table-top use for 7-10 years.
My 1E Monster Manuals (1/2/FF) are all in very good condition.
I have two 2E PHB, both with many pages falling out. These books saw extensive table-top use for 8-10 years.
My 2E Monstrous Compendiums are lost to the sands of time. The pages were taken out/not put back in so many times... the binders bent/broke/fell apart etc. I loved the idea of the 3-ring binders but in practice it didn't work out terribly well.
I have one 3E PHB, in good shape. No pages loose and cover in decent shape. This book saw extensive table-top use for 10 years.
I have one PF Core Rulebook. The lower right corner of front cover seems to be bowing outwards, such that if you set it flat on a desk, it points upwards/doesn't sit completely flat/close completely. Other than that it is in very good condition. Mind you, this book gets very little regular use due to other ways of getting the information.
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i find that books wear out much quicker when the group consists of a bunch of players who are all too damn cheap and or lazy to buy/bring their own books. results in the loan book seeing so much more use, somtimes by poeple who r carless because it is not their property. i always tell new players to play at least two games before dropping the money for a book unless they feel they can risk throwing away money. i hate buying a product and finding it sucks after the money is down the drain. but players should buy their own dice after a few games and their own book shortly thereafter. i loath players that have the whole day off from work and school but are to lazy to carry their books. not even a bunch from cherry picking feats, items , spells, race,ect. some people r 2 damn lazy to carry even just a 3.5 corerulebook and a single supplement they use or neither of them. the worst book i ever saw was from a dm with no players in 1 of his then active groups who had a book of their own.