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Old 11-26-2018, 09:30 PM   #1
DouglasCole
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Default Theoretical question: Hardcover vs softcover adventure

So. Let's pretend there is a sister adventure to Hall of Judgment. As with the first, it would be 8x10" to match the box set. Assume sewn binding on 85# or 100# matte paper (128 or 150gsm).

Softcover vs hardcover?

Softcover tends to be the exact trim size of the paper: books will fit in the box.

Hardcover the covers are bigger; they won't fit in the box. But they'd be very nicely made. They'd obviously be more expensive.

This is a theoretical exercise for now, just trying to understand the lay of the land.
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Old 11-27-2018, 06:46 AM   #2
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Default Re: Theoretical question: Hardcover vs softcover adventure

Two questions:

How long is this hypothetical adventure?
(I think hardcover for < 150 pages or thereabouts is weird.)

Is there a third option: Hardcover where the covers are 8" x 10" and the interior pages are whatever to fit?

Assuming it's ~ 150+ pages, hardcover seems correct in order to protect the spine. Less than 100 pages I really wouldn't go hardcover. That's like... childrens books are that combination of size and hardcover - and books aimed at very young children at that.
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Old 11-27-2018, 07:39 AM   #3
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Default Re: Theoretical question: Hardcover vs softcover adventure

Caveat: I am not purchasing HoJ or any sequels until Paraj gets around to running his copy, darnit.

As a general preference however, I prefer softcover for adventures, hardcover for rule books. Adventures are generally read a few times, so the extra expense is not justified unless they are significant art objects.
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Old 11-27-2018, 07:40 AM   #4
DouglasCole
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Default Re: Theoretical question: Hardcover vs softcover adventure

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruno View Post
Two questions:

How long is this hypothetical adventure?
(I think hardcover for < 150 pages or thereabouts is weird.)
Probably 80 pages.

Quote:
Is there a third option: Hardcover where the covers are 8" x 10" and the interior pages are whatever to fit?
Not sure. I can ask. The tolerances on page-trimming seem MUCH better than the tolerances on cover trimming, based on the hit-or-miss rate that my 8.5x11 Dragon Heresy books fit into the 8.5x11-sized mailers.

Quote:
Assuming it's ~ 150+ pages, hardcover seems correct in order to protect the spine. Less than 100 pages I really wouldn't go hardcover. That's like... childrens books are that combination of size and hardcover - and books aimed at very young children at that.
Part of the question here is paper weight, of course. But a notionally 80 page book on the same paper I used for Hall of Judgment should have a spine thickness for the block itself of just shy of 6mm.

Might be that HoJ at 128 pages (9-10mm total spine) is about as low as one would want hardcover. The vast majority is indicating softcover anyway, so the point may be moot!
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Last edited by DouglasCole; 11-27-2018 at 10:08 AM.
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Old 11-27-2018, 09:26 AM   #5
philreed
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Default Re: Theoretical question: Hardcover vs softcover adventure

Personally, I want all books — from 24-pages to 240-pages — as hardcovers.
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Old 11-27-2018, 10:07 AM   #6
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Default Re: Theoretical question: Hardcover vs softcover adventure

If I buy a book, I want it in hardcover. If I wouldn't prefer it in hardcover, I'd rather have it in a digital format.
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Old 11-27-2018, 10:12 AM   #7
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Default Re: Theoretical question: Hardcover vs softcover adventure

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Personally, I want all books — from 24-pages to 240-pages — as hardcovers.
Ack-fft. My bookshelves would explode, from weight and added thickness.
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Old 11-27-2018, 10:22 AM   #8
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Default Re: Theoretical question: Hardcover vs softcover adventure

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Ack-fft. My bookshelves would explode, from weight and added thickness.
Totally worth it.
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Old 11-27-2018, 10:32 AM   #9
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Default Re: Theoretical question: Hardcover vs softcover adventure

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Originally Posted by philreed View Post
Personally, I want all books — from 24-pages to 240-pages — as hardcovers.
Yep! Me too. Even shorter adventures. Don’t know why you would stop at 240 though. ;)

Fitting the adventureor supplement in the box is nice, but does not outweigh the niceness of hardcover, IMHO.

If the opportunity is given, I will vote with my dollars.
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Old 11-27-2018, 10:38 AM   #10
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Default Re: Theoretical question: Hardcover vs softcover adventure

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Yep! Me too. Even shorter adventures. Don’t know why you would stop at 240 though. ;)
I hate giant books. Too tough to easily read without sitting them down.
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