• From: Denver, CO
  • Registered: 2005-03-27
  • Posts: 3,578

Topic: Two questions...

1) Is anyone completely turned off by binders with loose-leaf sheets as opposed to perfect-bound softcover books? The idea being that the rulebook would be sold with a binder, and supplements would be stored in the same binder and reorganized to match your particular preferences.

2) Some have noticed that the option for full-color printed books is not available on the web site right now -- that's because printing costs shot up dramatically in recent months. Up until now, we've been operating on a roughly 50% surcharge (i.e. a book that costs $16.95 BW would be $24.95 in color). In order to make it cost effective to continue offering full-color, we'd have to change that to more like 100% (i.e. $16.95 becomes $32.95). Considering this, is the option for full-color really important to people?

Daniel Kast
Majestic Twelve Games
cricket@mj12games.com

mj12games's Website

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: Two questions...

I'd have no problems with binders.

color printing...ouch.

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: Two questions...

Hmmm...

I'm torn - I LIKE the color books, but I'm not sure I'd be willing to part with that much money for it.

Loose Leaf? maybe - depends on the quality, and how much bigger it is than it NEEDS to be for the supplement.

One alternative might be to have downloadable covers on the MJ12 site for those that don't mind B&W interiors, but want nice cover on the binder.

  • Registered: 2008-12-22
  • Posts: 654

Re: Two questions...

No problem with binders for me. I buy the PDFs and print out the rules sections minus fluff and ship displays and put them in one binder anywhere, organized with tabs for quick reference.
I Like Admiral Art Fairy's idea of color covers available for download for the B&W books. Of course it really depends on hopw much art there is and if it is "optimized" for B&W (lotsa line drawings?)
my 2 cents.
Erik

  • Registered: 2022-11-16
  • Posts: 516

Re: Two questions...

cricket wrote:

1) Is anyone completely turned off by binders with loose-leaf sheets as opposed to perfect-bound softcover books? The idea being that the rulebook would be sold with a binder, and supplements would be stored in the same binder and reorganized to match your particular preferences.
2) Some have noticed that the option for full-color printed books is not available on the web site right now -- that's because printing costs shot up dramatically in recent months. Up until now, we've been operating on a roughly 50% surcharge (i.e. a book that costs $16.95 BW would be $24.95 in color). In order to make it cost effective to continue offering full-color, we'd have to change that to more like 100% (i.e. $16.95 becomes $32.95). Considering this, is the option for full-color really important to people?

Binders = Yuck!
Perfect bound, softcover books = YES!
Color = Not required.
big_smile

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: Two questions...

Blacklancer99 wrote:

I Like Admiral Art Fairy's idea of color covers available for download for the B&W books. Of course it really depends on hopw much art there is and if it is "optimized" for B&W (lotsa line drawings?)

Admiral Art Fairy?  lol

  • Registered: 2005-03-27
  • Posts: 811

Re: Two questions...

binders have not been our friends, if you recall...

dang shame about the cost of color tho

  • Registered: 2005-03-29
  • Posts: 330

Re: Two questions...

I still have the last binder from a Starmada game and it was okay, but I remember that it wasn't well received.  Call me a snob, but I really like the feel of a soft cover book. I wouldn't care if the binder option was available, but does the binder make the game feel a little less 'professional'? On the subject of color, I actually only have one of the starmada books in color and if the option to have total color is too costly then I would leave it out or let the player decide if the extra cost is 'worth it'

-Bren

  • Registered: 2007-12-17
  • Posts: 331

Re: Two questions...

This reply comes from someone who has, to this point, only purchased the PDFs.

1) Binders. It's a good idea, to be able to keep everything in one place, adding supplements and errata as new supplements are published. Regarding the perfect-bound soft covers... it's a game, people. Is it too expensive to publish as soft cover with a spiral binding? Because it is very helpful to be able to turn to a page and leave it open on the table.

I know, I know. Complicating things by adding a third option...

2) In game books like this, I am perfectly content with B&W

  • Registered: 2008-12-22
  • Posts: 654

Re: Two questions...

MadSeason wrote:

This reply comes from someone who has, to this point, only purchased the PDFs.

1) Binders. It's a good idea, to be able to keep everything in one place, adding supplements and errata as new supplements are published. Regarding the perfect-bound soft covers... it's a game, people. Is it too expensive to publish as soft cover with a spiral binding? Because it is very helpful to be able to turn to a page and leave it open on the table.

I know, I know. Complicating things by adding a third option...

2) In game books like this, I am perfectly content with B&W

Aye, I'd rather have a well made game written and distributed in Notepad than a shiny piece of poo. Also, I have lots of books that have bindings that are on the verge of splitting and causing pages top fall out from years of use. A spiral/comb-bound rulebook might be a compromise between binder and perfect bound. My 1st edition Star Blazers Fleet Battle System rulebook has a combinder, and it stays nice and flat and is no bulkier than the 2nd edition bound-edge rules that always want to flip pages. Idon't think it looks bad either. Bound edges might look better on the shelf, but at least in my world the best games are rarely ever relegated to that position!  wink
Cheers,
Erik

  • Registered: 2005-03-29
  • Posts: 859

Re: Two questions...

I'm not too bothered about full-colour. As for binders, it might be an idea...

  • Registered: 2005-08-20
  • Posts: 17

Re: Two questions...

Binders do not bother me at all, as long as I don't eventually end up needing a 3 inch binder for the rules. I already have those on my shelf for a couple editions of SFB, and that is more than enough.

Color doesn't really matter to me.

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: Two questions...

zyphyr wrote:

Binders do not bother me at all, as long as I don't eventually end up needing a 3 inch binder for the rules. I already have those on my shelf for a couple editions of SFB, and that is more than enough.

Color doesn't really matter to me.

I gave up on trying to stuff all my SFB stuff into binders, and got a file cabinet....without the wheels, it's a bit unwieldy at games.

  • Registered: 2006-01-17
  • Posts: 359

Re: Two questions...

Either way, it matters not to me.... I have my Starmada X in a binder, and took my PDF of AE to the store and had it spiral bound.... both work great

Nahuris