Designing a Players Handbook

[geordieracer]

So, say there is to be a PHB, what would you include and how would you present that information ?

[ewookie]

i wouldn't re-design it. i would present it the way it is already presented in the first half of the HOW core rules.

future revisions/editions could be re-designed as needed/wanted. revisions to PHB may not necessitate revisions to the Referee Guide Book (RGB). future revisions/editions of the RGB may not necessitate revisions of the PHB. modularity.

[geordieracer]

If there was a print copy, I'd like a wipeable character sheet on the back cover

[ewookie]

Feb 28, 2013 15:23:18 GMT -5 geordieracer said:

If there was a print copy, I'd like a wipeable character sheet on the back cover

geordie, you do realize that is a rather bizarre requirement for a book, right? i'm sure such a minor feature would greatly jack-up the price.

why don't you make a few wipeable character sheets yourself? design your character sheet, print a few copies, stick them in 'sheet-protectors' (see link below), and write on them with dry-erase markers. works like a charm.

www.walmart.com/ip/Avery-Standard-Weight-Sheet-Protector-25ct/17163746

[ewookie]

hmm...actually, if the back cover of a book has a character sheet printed on it, you could laminate it (just the back cover) with laminating sheets and a clothes-iron. would work the same as the sheet protectors. or you could just laminate your character sheets instead of using the sheet protectors.

DISCLAIMER: please do not try the above with a hard-cover book unless you are willing to risk it. i hope i really didn't need to say that.

EDIT: i would link to some laminating sheets for clarity but there are actually 2 kinds. self-laminating and thermal. the self-laminating are basically clear sheets with stickiness on one side. no ironing required. the thermal need heat to bond to the paper but it bonds better, IMHO. a laminating machine can help alleviate bubbles, etc. when using thermal, but it is not hard to do a good job with a clothes-iron if your careful, start in the center of the paper and work your way out.

i, personally prefer the sheet protector method. you can take the actual character sheet in/out at will.

laminating sheets should be somewhere within a 20 foot radius of the sheet protectors in most stores.

[Fenway5]

I think a true PHB isn't possible yet because there are more options to come in Blades & Black Magic, the magi carta has to be completed, and folks have been kind enough to point out where some additional editing would be good.

Instead an Adventurers focused intro book (no magic at all) might be a better starting place. My goal at this point isn't to create a true PHB, instead its more of a system into that allows you into the system but would not replace nor short cut owning the full rules. That said, it may not even be a good idea at this point. Your comments and insights are welcome.

[ewookie]

Feb 28, 2013 20:36:54 GMT -5 Fenway5 said:

I think a true PHB isn't possible yet because there are more options to come in Blades & Black Magic, the magi carta has to be completed, and folks have been kid enough to point out where some additional editing would be good.

Instead an Adventurers focused intro book (no magic at all) might be a better starting place. My goal at this point isn't to create a true PHB, instead its more of a system into that allows you into the system but would not replace nor short cut owning the full rules. That said, it may not even be a good idea at this point. Your comments and insights are welcome.

if it's not the right time, it's not the right time. you'd definitely want to get the errata and editing done first. i think the Adventurers intro book would be a distraction. it's your baby. you should do what you think is best for you. that was the motivation of the suggestion.

[geordieracer]

Thanks for the exhaustive advice ewookie !

[ewookie]

Mar 1, 2013 1:31:36 GMT -5 geordieracer said:

Thanks for the exhaustive advice ewookie !

you're quite welcome, geordie!

i wasn't sure how old you were, so i thought i'd be thorough just in case. make sure you have adult-supervision when handling the hot iron.