All under one cover

[Warden]

I like the idea of having all the rules I need under one cover. I also like the idea of the Libram Novus, wherein optional rules are presented - as long as those rules shouldn't already be in the main core rulebook.

What I mean is, if this is a fantasy roleplaying game, and the main rule book has Humans, Elves, Dwarves, but Elves in another supplement, this may be a bit awkward. It's not a cost/price thing, just a 'keep it tidy and in order' thing. Spells in particular could get out of hand very quickly.

Here's a good idea (even if I say so myself), you could present these optional Libram Novus rules in a style similar to Harnmaster. This way you can just print out and slot the loose leafed pages in your ever growing folder as and when you want. Naming convention for pages wouldn't be a 1, 2, 3 and so on, it would be sectioned. Like, Character 1, Character 2...Character 23. Then perhaps, Races 1, Races 2 etc.

Looking forward to this either way.

[imported_Rasyr]

That is certainly something to consider. I would definitely have to think about it for a while at least before deciding anything.

[samwise7]

That is an interesting idea.  If you did do something like that I would recommend tougher thicker paper if you are going to go the 3 hole binder path.

[imported_Rasyr]

If I went this route, that would mean that I would be required to totally rethink and redesign the entire layout from scratch. And quite possibly rewriting large portions of it as well, to fit within that sort of framework.

That is just the tip of the downside...


On the up side, reformatting in this manner would/could fit well into something that Bruce and I had discussed as a possibility for future versions of Rolemaster (back when Mjolnir still held the license). The idea was simple, make each specific section/sub-section into its own, separate PDF. Then in the store, the customer would look at a large list of options and mark checkboxes for those options that he wanted. The backend would then compile those sections into a single PDF which could then be purchased as either a PDF or a print book using current POD technologies.

Basically, making a "Customizable RPG".

As for myself, I am really tempted to see if I could reformat Novus in such a manner.

However, before I did something like that, I would have to first make sure that Novus was completely finished (and being in Open Beta, that isn't the case). And I would most likely still want to offer the traditional format as well, alongside it. As Samwise pointed out, heavier paper would be required, and if we are talking about a binder version, then the print area is also going to be different from a standard book.

Like I said before, it does require a lot of thought and consideration...

[imported_Rasyr]

Another point of consideration.... I would have to do everything in 2 page signatures. (i.e. front and back of a single page), in order to make the page counts come out correctly.


Just some additional thoughts I had...