11-19-2016, 10:44 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Spain —Europe
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True Print on Demand for GURPS?
The POD subject has been discussed many times, but this makes me wonder if something has changed lately concerning technology and costs.
Not necessarily Drivethrurpg, but something along the same lines could be really great for only-PDF GURPS releases. Including Pyramid issues. I mean, true Print on Demand, with SJG's design standard —without oneself arranging the documents at Lulu, setting the covers, the book spine text, etc. Thoughts?
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"Let's face it: for some people, roleplaying is a serious challenge, a life-or-death struggle." J. M. Caparula/Scott Haring "Physics is basic but inessential." Wolfgang Smith My G+ Last edited by demonsbane; 11-19-2016 at 11:02 AM. Reason: fixing link |
11-19-2016, 10:59 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Re: True Print on Demand for GURPS?
The link seems to be broken.
Certainly I can see some minor value in having a standard, pre-configured set of POD options. If the POD vendor's interface had such a feature, then SJG or, for that matter, fans, could create those configurations to make it easier for others that wanted one-click purchases. |
11-19-2016, 11:03 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Spain —Europe
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Re: True Print on Demand for GURPS?
Thanks for the heads up. I just fixed it.
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"Let's face it: for some people, roleplaying is a serious challenge, a life-or-death struggle." J. M. Caparula/Scott Haring "Physics is basic but inessential." Wolfgang Smith My G+ |
11-19-2016, 11:24 AM | #4 |
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Re: True Print on Demand for GURPS?
Do you know if the printing is done in-house? The link seems to be for retail purchase, so I didn't see a lot of details there on how the books are produced. WotC of course has the scale to do things that other publishers might find difficult. It probably takes the same one POD expert to set up the process and keep it going, whether that's selling ten copies or ten thousand. Without enough volume, you'd have to leave it in the hands of third-party POD services.
I was trying to think of ways to provide a consistent product with less work and knowledge required of the purchaser. Most POD services naturally want to give their customers more options and control, to suit a wider variety of buyers. But the spine, at least, ought to be part of the product, just like rest of the cover, so you don't have to craft your own. (Is spine art even a possible option in the PDF format? Not much use for display purposes, but as a POD input format, you'd want it.) I can imagine different end-users having different preferences on binding types, and also for pricing options like B&W versus color, so some of the options will need to be retained. |
11-19-2016, 11:33 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Chicagoland
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Re: True Print on Demand for GURPS?
For me, if there was just a POD-compatible cover (front, spine, and back as one image) included with PDF purchases, I'd be happy.
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GMing Since 1982. |
11-19-2016, 11:37 AM | #6 | |
Aluminated
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: East of the moon, west of the stars, close to buses and shopping
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Re: True Print on Demand for GURPS?
Quote:
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I've been making pointlessly shiny things, and I've got some gaming-related stuff as well as 3d printing designs. Buy my Warehouse 23 stuff, dammit! |
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11-19-2016, 11:39 AM | #7 |
Aluminated
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: East of the moon, west of the stars, close to buses and shopping
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Re: True Print on Demand for GURPS?
THIS. I've never done PoD with a GURPS book because of the covers. Make that available to me, and I'm PoDing all over the place.
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I've been making pointlessly shiny things, and I've got some gaming-related stuff as well as 3d printing designs. Buy my Warehouse 23 stuff, dammit! |
11-19-2016, 11:45 AM | #8 | |
GCA Prime
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Portland, OR
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Re: True Print on Demand for GURPS?
Quote:
Edit: This means, of course, that SJGames or any other publisher could use Lightning Source directly if they wanted to do so. OBS just has an arrangement already, and offers a go-between if dealing with Ingram isn't your thing.
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11-19-2016, 11:48 AM | #9 | |
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Spain —Europe
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Re: True Print on Demand for GURPS?
I have no further data.
Quote:
Very likely it's that. However I'm open to surprises!
__________________
"Let's face it: for some people, roleplaying is a serious challenge, a life-or-death struggle." J. M. Caparula/Scott Haring "Physics is basic but inessential." Wolfgang Smith My G+ |
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11-19-2016, 03:52 PM | #10 | |
Doctor of GURPS Ballistics
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Lakeville, MN
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Re: True Print on Demand for GURPS?
Quote:
They seem to have a deal where they print locally in each area and distribute from there. I can ship five books of that size, for example, to the UK for that same price I don't know about quality yet ('cause my art isn't in) but the DTRPG option for single copies seems like it's a very good method.
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Tags |
pod, print on demand |
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