Bijan Ajamlou
Sneak
91 Posts
    
 | | 04/22/2006 11:26 AM |
| | As far as i know i am the only one in my town buying D&D books, every one else have a online library they have downloaded. So my question is do you buy books or just download them for free? | |
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orcdoubleax
Sergeant
694 Posts
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The Great
Choco Monster
Ghendar
Warlord
13069 Posts
Mud Lick, Kentucky
| | 04/22/2006 11:36 AM |
| Buy. I prefer books to e-versions of D&D material.
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WotC - making me wish more and more every day for a return to the TSR days. :(
I fought the snark and the snark won. I'm baaaaaaaaaaack!
Some of my favorite Maxminis quotes
I actually love to be swallowed. - Posted By gss_000 on 09/04/2007 2:32 PM
Could somebody explain Snatch to me? I understand the basics, but not how to enter/use it. - Posted by orcmonk220
G's the man. - Posted By greyhaze on 11/11/2008 8:58 AM
I dont mind butting heads every once in a while. It makes thing interesting. Thats why I'd be heartbroken if Ghendar ever left - Posted By Count Dooku on 04/03/2006 11:58 AM
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orcmonk220
Underboss
1608 Posts
| | 04/22/2006 11:50 AM |
| Books.... Easier to carry around then my HP Computer [)]
Hell, I've tried! | |
My Trading Thread | |
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yack
Commander
3320 Posts
Gatineau Canada
| | 04/22/2006 11:56 AM |
| | I buy the books...nothing better then having the actual book. Its not just about whats inside. | |
Champion of the Peryton
Vindicated Champion : Pit Fiend, Devourer
DW: Duergar Priest
RPG Only!!!! The Drumming Drunkn' DM | |
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Dordledum
Commander
3463 Posts
Netherlands
| | 04/22/2006 12:00 PM |
| I think those of us who would download them for free won't admit to it in public, because it is kind of illegal. There is IIRC some option to donwload the books from WotC for a fee. That said:
I buy the books I want in hardcopy. Can spare the cash, and like to have my resources in hand. Can't figure why anyone would prefer a pdf-file.
D. | |
Member of the Bearded Devils
Champion of the Huge Spider (WotDQ 46/60), A New Umber Hulk (DoDe 57/60), and the Orog Fighter! | |
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wolfsbane114
Warrior
327 Posts
| | 04/22/2006 12:53 PM |
| | I buy them. Too much trouble to print them online. Although it does come in handy when Im bored at work and want to look up something. | |
Champion of Flint Fireforge
Knight of The DarkMantle
KoK: The Easily Swayed
"I use to have a working probelm, until it got in the way of my gaming." | |
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K Rich
Sneak
69 Posts
| | 04/22/2006 1:09 PM |
| | I buy the books most of the time. Or, if I find a book that only has a few good points in it and I want them but don't want to pay for the book, I will bring a small notepad to the bookstore and just jot down what I need. | |
For every animal you don't eat, I'm going to eat three. | |
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Link
Warrior
314 Posts
Netherlands
| | 04/22/2006 2:13 PM |
| I buy, or I should say we buy:
combined, all players in my most frequent D&D group have most 3.x splatbooks in print (complete, races, some other stuff & older things like tome&blood etc).
I just prefer leafing to scrolling. | |
trade reference thread
(30 completed trades, 1 pending)Vindicated Champion of the Noble Salamander | |
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Most Edumacated
zenthrus
Warlord
5132 Posts
SLC, UT
| | 04/22/2006 2:24 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by yack
I buy the books...nothing better then having the actual book. Its not just about whats inside.
Well said. Having the book in hand is superior to an e-copy (possibly because of the fetishization of 'the Real' during the past century or so, but that's another discussion [:D]).
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Knight Warlord a.k.a. Commander (#32) in only 6 months. Where's my pie?
Champion of Dwarven Thunderlashers
Knight of the Large Dire Chicken
Have/Want List
Trade References | |
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Feathers
Underboss
1140 Posts
| | 04/22/2006 2:27 PM |
| I buy the books. I prefer not to steal from Wizards.
Dordledum, I didn't know Wizards sells their books online in PDF format.
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Champion of Neogi
Completed Trades/Transactions: sttmxn, Krush, jgsugden, Ayrychx2, Venport, Tysac
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Most Edumacated
zenthrus
Warlord
5132 Posts
SLC, UT
| | 04/22/2006 2:31 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Feathers
Dordledum, I didn't know Wizards sells their books online in PDF format.
Paizo has a large variety of WotC licensed products available for PDF download. They're limited to older material, though. New stuff (3rd edition to present) isn't available (legally) in PDF. | |
Knight Warlord a.k.a. Commander (#32) in only 6 months. Where's my pie?
Champion of Dwarven Thunderlashers
Knight of the Large Dire Chicken
Have/Want List
Trade References | |
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kyrin
Commander
3171 Posts
| | 04/22/2006 2:35 PM |
| I buy core books, and as many splat books as I think will be useful.
I use the online SRD when I need to look things up on the fly, or away from my books and on the computer, typing up monsters. But man, when yer slingin' dice, ya gotta have those books in hand. Like yack said, it's more than the data inside...
JIM
aka kyrin | |
My Have/Want List <-|-|->My Trades and References 1 <-|-|->My Trades and References 2
Pronounce "Drow" like "crow"! Viva la Revolution! We Shall Overcome!
Vindicated Champion of the Stirge! Vindicated Champion of the Githyanki Knight on Red Dragon!!
Vindicated Champion of the Androsphinx! | |
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kestrel.ca
Underboss
1687 Posts
| | 04/22/2006 2:39 PM |
| | Any book I think I might use, I purchase. I have seen pdfs of most of the books, but find them inconvenient, and unethical. I'd like to "reward" the authors for their work and so purchase all interesting ones I find (almost 50 at last count). | |
Completed Trades/Transactions: 94 || Bad Trades: 3 (Chaotic Good x2, MackeyV) | |
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Can of the Cave Beer
Commander
2838 Posts
| | 04/22/2006 3:49 PM |
| Books are almost always better.
While I wish I had some (legitimate! Like a CD included with the book...) .pdfs of certain things (either from books or from Dragon) to make planning/data collecting a bit easier, it's not a huge deal to me.
But, then again, I go from the three core books and a handful of other sources that I thought would be worth the cash outlay. | |
Champion of the Werewolf Lord, Knight of Anything Duergar, and Squire of Things Gnollish
List reset with the start of previews for each new set...got Chainmail®? | |
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jgsugden
Commander
4320 Posts
Walnut Creek, CA
| | 04/22/2006 5:19 PM |
| Here is a little cut and paste from a prior thread ...
There was at least a trial run of pdf format accessories ...
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/news/20050215news
Some products are available through:
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=44
The SRD is also free for download.
In addition, the following language is on the WotC site regarding the use of material downloaded from that site:quote:
You may make single copies of the materials available through this Site, solely for your personal, noncommercial use, and only if you preserve any copyright, trademark, or other notices contained in or associated with them. You may not distribute such copies to others, whether or not in electronic form, whether or not for a charge or other consideration, without prior written consent of the owner of the materials.
These materials are perfectly fine to carry around in electronic format if you follow the rueles, if the materials are acquired legally.
For more information on concepts such as copyright, fair use and the OGL (open game license):
http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html
http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/index.html
http://www.utsystem.edu/OGC/intellectualProperty/copypol2.htm
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/20040121a
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/md/md20020228e
If you like to claim 'fair use' as a basis for your copying of certain materials, you may want to carefully research the rules that underline fair use. It is not as broad as many people think, although the boundaries are not clearly defined.
As another note: If you look at the copyright statement in any of your WotC products, you'll likely find this sentence: quote:
Any reproduction or unauthorized use of material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
If you choose to ignore the rules and use stolen material, some possible criminal aspects are described here:
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/ipcases.htm
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/ipmanual/03ipma.htm
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Champion of Meepo _*_ Myztek on the Wizards Boards. _*_ (2206 DDM on 03/06/06)
Please note: The use of the  indicates an attempt at humor ... often a bad attempt.
BAD EBAY SELLERS LIST (CLICK HERE): AVOID AT ALL COSTS
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PhibbyRizo
Warrior
207 Posts
Good Ol' Minnesota
| | 04/22/2006 5:46 PM |
| | I buy.....I buy too many. While I wouldn't mind some kinda computer compilation of feats or spells, I prefer the books. | |
High Priest of the Mercury Dragon (Prayers all all I have...)
Champion of Genasi
Unhallowed Called Shot: Ghoul (Vindicated! Gravetouched Ghoul)
Night Below Called Shot: Cave Runner
Icon Called Shot: Hellfire Engine | |
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Sammael
Underboss
1881 Posts
| | 04/22/2006 6:33 PM |
| I buy between 8-10 WotC books every year. Haven't bought many this year yet because I'm saving up for the Euro Champs trip (which is... NEXT WEEK! I need to get back on Vassal ASAP).
As for PDFs, I own a number of them as well. In fact, I just bought the Ruins of Myth Drannor PDF last week from paizo.com, because I needed it to prepare for a session. Alas, it's poorly scanned and nearly un-printable. PDF quality varies greatly. | |
Hypethetical Blood War Set List | Champion of the Gelugon | Vindicated Prophet of Blood War
Ha 69/80 | De 60/60 | Ar 57/60 | GoL 72/72 | Ab 60/60 | DK 60/60 | AF 60/60 | UD 59/60 | WD 57/60 | WDQ 3/60| BW
Total DDM Count: 1037 | No chance of finishing the set | Will finish the set | Set | |
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maijstral
Underboss
2105 Posts
| | 04/22/2006 8:58 PM |
| I buy about 5 or 6 WTOC books a year.I prefer to buy the hardcopy, I like having the book in hand. I occasionally buy a third party pdf book usually from drivethrurpg (latest was Iron Heros).
I really hate reading books on the computer though so I only buy when I need the book right away or don't really plan on using the book much so I don't want to pay full price (or even discounted amazon price).
I do make extensive use of the SRD when i'm doing dm stuff on my computer for the cut and paste stuff and printouts of monster stats for ease rather than constantly flip through books during a game. I still prefer to have the dmg or players handbook in hand most of the rest of the time.
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jacksonm
Warlord
5560 Posts
River City
| | 04/22/2006 9:31 PM |
| | I buy the key books, one that are useful in most situations for me as a DM. On the rare occasions when I do get to play I'll pick up a book like Races of the Wild if it's particualrily relevant to the character I'm playing at the time. | | | |
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Zenako
Commander
3472 Posts
| | 04/22/2006 10:22 PM |
| | Buy the books, almost all the books...even ones I might never even use. I like books... | |
Built the addition for this addiction, now on to the "gaming table" project....
http://www.maxminis.com/hw_list.asp?user=Zenako last updated 29 May 2006
Set Status: in a nutshell = all of all
In Process trades 0), (Sig last updated 05/29/06) 300 plus Completed Trades -
If I seem scarce at times...blame DDO - Sarlona | |
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Most Edumacated
zenthrus
Warlord
5132 Posts
SLC, UT
| | 04/22/2006 11:00 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by jgsugden
Some products are available through:
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=44
I stand corrected [:D]
As others have stated I'd much rather sit down and crack open a book than further ruin my eyesite staring at a PDF. | |
Knight Warlord a.k.a. Commander (#32) in only 6 months. Where's my pie?
Champion of Dwarven Thunderlashers
Knight of the Large Dire Chicken
Have/Want List
Trade References | |
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LargeMarmot
Sergeant
463 Posts
| | 04/23/2006 2:10 AM |
| | I buy very few books. I have the DMG, PHB, and MM of course and I have the Complete Divine as I play a cleric and I have the DMG2 and I'm looking to buy the PHB2. The rest of the books just don't have enough material that I'm going to use to justify spending my money on them. I loved when wizards was putting the old dungeon crawl stuff online for download for 20th anniversay or something like that. | |
Champion of the Tohr-Kreen.
WotDQ Called Shot: Fang Dragon. | |
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madda
Sergeant
714 Posts
| | 04/23/2006 8:58 AM |
| I certainly buy.
I play in two groups and we share books. Everyone has at least the PHB. Most have DMG and MM. All the others (Races, Complete, Exalted/Vile, MM2, MM3, Adventures, Campaign, ...) are bought by those that can afford it and shared by the group. I'm the only one with DDM so I bring those to the meetings as well. However, I must admit that it took some time convincing several new players to invest in the PHB and some are still using stolen computerized materials. | |
Champion of Cockatrices.
I wish I never wished a wand of wishing. (Wishful thinking.)
Join the Eternal Campaign!
Chat about miniatures. | |
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dj-chuckles
Underboss
2455 Posts
The State that invented Spam!
| | 04/23/2006 9:58 AM |
| I really enjoy WotC and the books they print. If they sold PDFs I would buy them in a heartbeat but I always buy the hardcopies.
All those books in PDF form on a laptop? *drool*
Instead of 250 lbs worth of books in a suitcase to travel with a nice <10 lb laptop. | |
Posted By WakeXX on 09/25/2006 4:49 AM OMG DJ!This has to be the spammiest spam thread ever! 
Member of Team Game-Rocket.netScry into Blood War | My Trade Thread | My Reference Thread| Vindicated Champion of the Dragon Rider & Dracolich | New Champion of Cadderly | | |
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Master of the
Awesome Sauce
Teflon Jeff
Warlord
7908 Posts
Sector 2814
| | 04/23/2006 11:18 AM |
| I buy all of the D&D books, all of the Forgotten realms books, some of eberron, and some OGL stuff to boot. But I buy everything. I even have both diablo books. I'm a collector nut. [:)]
Me personally, I like the books over the PDF's, gives me something to crack open, put on a shelf. PDF's are too cold. | |
Official Delegate, Wizards of the Coast
Icons Called Shot: Gargantuan Prismatic Dragon
"Rejoice, for bad things are about to happen." | |
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jgsugden
Commander
4320 Posts
Walnut Creek, CA
| | 04/23/2006 2:45 PM |
| There is a serious problem regarding weight of all the books you need. I often carry 15 books with me when I RPG. That is heavy ... and overstuffing bags is bad for the books.
However, it doesn't change the rules/laws/rabbits. | |
Champion of Meepo _*_ Myztek on the Wizards Boards. _*_ (2206 DDM on 03/06/06)
Please note: The use of the indicates an attempt at humor ... often a bad attempt.
BAD EBAY SELLERS LIST (CLICK HERE): AVOID AT ALL COSTS
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Fun Guy from Yuggoth
Cthulhufnord
Warlord
11113 Posts
Umass Amherst Baby!
| | 04/23/2006 7:12 PM |
| | At this point I don't realy buy any. Aside from a few extra books and the Core books I'm pretty satisfied with what I have. I regards to owning a copy of a book vrs a free electronic file.... well I'm with Giles on this particular matter. | |
Pathetic Earthlings. Hurling your bodies out into the void - without the slightest inkling of who or what is out here. If you had known anything about the true nature of the universe - anything at all - you would have hidden from it in terror. | |
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Wakalimasu
Sergeant
738 Posts
Calgary
| | 04/23/2006 7:56 PM |
| i buy em .. i have 99% of 3rd edition stuff that wizards made :o
im crazy .. when i moved the other day.. i had to make 3 trips with my car cuz that stuff was so heavy
haha
ill take a pict of it later :D
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o_O | |
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Daunte
Sergeant
518 Posts
| | 04/23/2006 8:31 PM |
| Both actually. I buy the books just cause its books and how can you not love books. I prefer to have them in print to sit down and read when i want and what not. When gaming however, i use several different PDF's. The core books of course, and any thing else applicable to the campaign im running. I like the PDF's cause i can prepare ahead of time and book mark things i know are going to come up. I can also type in a page number and be there instantly as opposed to flipping to the page. That and its easier to take a laptop then it is to take 20 different books to someone else's house.
As far as the copyright thing, im not 100% sure what the law is, but every book i have and use in PDF format i have purcahsed. I work for a software company and nothing is pirated more then software, except maybe music. I feel the effects in my pay every time i look at my check. | |
Ha:19 of 80! De:43 of 60! Ar:24 of 60! GoL:60 of 72! Ab:59 of 60! Dk:58 of 60! Af:60 of 60 Complete! Ud:60 of 60 Complete! WD:60 of 60 Complete!
Trade Thread
Excel Trade Calculator
Excel Price guide/Checklist | |
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Low Key
Underboss
1231 Posts
| | 04/24/2006 3:44 AM |
| | I buy books every now and then, but I mainly avoid the crunch heavy books like the Complete and Races series, monster books and Eberron stuff. In fact most of my books are either FR fluff, or different rules variations like the DMG2. At the moment I have around 15 books. | |
Champion of the Sarrukh | |
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reezel
Sergeant
555 Posts
| | 04/24/2006 8:13 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by dj-chuckles
I really enjoy WotC and the books they print. If they sold PDFs I would buy them in a heartbeat but I always buy the hardcopies.
All those books in PDF form on a laptop? *drool*
Instead of 250 lbs worth of books in a suitcase to travel with a nice <10 lb laptop.
I own all the Wizards stuff they put out for D&D, but I would love to get them all in pdf or some other searchable form. I prefer during the game to just use my laptop instead of pulling out all the books I need.
I will not, however, pay full price for pdf copies of these books. I bought the book already and am willing at most to spend $5 on the pdf as well. | |
Champion of the Beholder and Beholderkin
The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. | |
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griffrat
Commander
3507 Posts
| | 04/24/2006 8:43 AM |
| I have a good chunk of all the D&D books for 3.x. As far as the pdf issue. I would much rather have a searchable, no frills, print (word type) document that can bring the info I need to the forefront at a click of a mouse or punch of the enter key.
I am seeing quite a few people that are wanting something electronic and searchable. Perhaps something will come of this wanting??? | |
Ambassador of FUN!!! | |
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Sulaco
Underboss
1605 Posts
| | 04/24/2006 9:35 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Dordledum
I think those of us who would download them for free won't admit to it in public, because it is kind of illegal.
There is no "kind of" about it. It is totally illegal.
I've never understood the attraction of downloaded copies, myself. Reading them off the screen is a pain-in-the-ass and if you want to print them out in colour it'll end up costing as much as, if not more than, the price of a normal copy. I just don't see the upside. | |
Champion of the Gelatinous Cube. Nemesis of Gnomes and Dinosaurs.
Over the centuries, mankind has tried many ways of combating the forces of evil... prayer, fasting, good works and so on. Up until Doom, no one seemed to have thought about the double-barrel shotgun. ~ Terry Pratchett | |
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Benimoto
Underboss
1125 Posts
| | 04/24/2006 9:44 AM |
| I buy the ones I'm interested in. At the same time, I know a lot of people, particularly the ones with the most books, also have downloaded copies. It's hard to carry around your whole collection, and frustrating when you want to look something up at a friends's house and you've forgotten the book.
Ideally, I'd like to see Wizards offer downloads somehow to people who have bought the book. | |
Champion of the Rakshasa. Check out my Mini Terrain Maker, or my new Dungeon Map Maker (under development). | |
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Sammael
Underboss
1881 Posts
| | 04/24/2006 9:57 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Sulaco
There is no "kind of" about it. It is totally illegal.
Only if you apply US laws to the entire world.
(not that I don't think it should be illegal everywhere, but I am highly annoyed by such absolute statements) | |
Hypethetical Blood War Set List | Champion of the Gelugon | Vindicated Prophet of Blood War
Ha 69/80 | De 60/60 | Ar 57/60 | GoL 72/72 | Ab 60/60 | DK 60/60 | AF 60/60 | UD 59/60 | WD 57/60 | WDQ 3/60| BW
Total DDM Count: 1037 | No chance of finishing the set | Will finish the set | Set | |
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The Great
Choco Monster
Ghendar
Warlord
13069 Posts
Mud Lick, Kentucky
| | 04/24/2006 1:08 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Sulaco
I've never understood the attraction of downloaded copies, myself. Reading them off the screen is a pain-in-the-ass and if you want to print them out in colour it'll end up costing as much as, if not more than, the price of a normal copy. I just don't see the upside.
I guess the attraction for some would be saving space and weight. Having all the books in electronic form on your notebook pc eliminates the need to lug several books to your gaming session. There's a definite appeal there and I totally see that advantage.
However, there's nothing quite like having (and using) the actual book. If someday gaming companies only release material in E form? Well, let's just say I won't be playing. What can I say? I like the books. | |
WotC - making me wish more and more every day for a return to the TSR days. :(
I fought the snark and the snark won. I'm baaaaaaaaaaack!
Some of my favorite Maxminis quotes
I actually love to be swallowed. - Posted By gss_000 on 09/04/2007 2:32 PM
Could somebody explain Snatch to me? I understand the basics, but not how to enter/use it. - Posted by orcmonk220
G's the man. - Posted By greyhaze on 11/11/2008 8:58 AM
I dont mind butting heads every once in a while. It makes thing interesting. Thats why I'd be heartbroken if Ghendar ever left - Posted By Count Dooku on 04/03/2006 11:58 AM
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Bijan Ajamlou
Sneak
91 Posts
| | 04/24/2006 1:14 PM |
| | I dont allow any D&D books beside those i have, my rule is if you dont have it then you dont play it! it works nice! Less is sometime more, but i have about 30 D&D books from wizard though so there is some variaty still. And i had to buy the complete books (even though i didnt want them, The latest being complete psionic, but it brought much neaded erratas regarding psionics which was realy apprishiated) | |
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reezel
Sergeant
555 Posts
| | 04/25/2006 8:42 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Bijan Ajamlou
I dont allow any D&D books beside those i have, my rule is if you dont have it then you dont play it! it works nice! Less is sometime more, but i have about 30 D&D books from wizard though so there is some variaty still. And i had to buy the complete books (even though i didnt want them, The latest being complete psionic, but it brought much neaded erratas regarding psionics which was realy apprishiated)
I haven't gotten a good look through yet. What did they errata in there? | |
Champion of the Beholder and Beholderkin
The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. | |
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Sulaco
Underboss
1605 Posts
| | 04/25/2006 10:48 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Sammael
quote:
Originally posted by Sulaco
There is no "kind of" about it. It is totally illegal.
Only if you apply US laws to the entire world.
(not that I don't think it should be illegal everywhere, but I am highly annoyed by such absolute statements)
You mean absolute statements like "Only if you apply US laws to the entire world?" Being Canadian and all US law doesn't apply here. [)] | |
Champion of the Gelatinous Cube. Nemesis of Gnomes and Dinosaurs.
Over the centuries, mankind has tried many ways of combating the forces of evil... prayer, fasting, good works and so on. Up until Doom, no one seemed to have thought about the double-barrel shotgun. ~ Terry Pratchett | |
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