Preferred module length and format

[AxeMental]

If you were going to spend $10-15 dollars on a professionaly printed module (say OSRIC compatable), how many pages of text and artwork would you expect and prefer?
Also, in that price range, how many illustrations would you expect, and what is your preferred format for font, letter size, margins etc.

[dzubak]

I would be willing to pay 10-15 for a module of 12-24 pages in length. In return, I'd be expecting to receive a well written and edited module on quality paper - none of that slick paper.

As far as format, I'm happy with the TSR style used in the old 1E modules. Just as long as you don't sell me a 24 page module using 14+ sized font!

For illustrations, I'd probably expect 4-5+ throughout the module - perhaps more for a longer module. Obviously the more the better. Truth be told, I'd actually like to see multiple smaller ones than 1 or 2 full / half page drawings.

But most importantly - the art has to be good and it would be even better if the art actually tied / incorporated the module as opposed to a generic scene.

[Thoth Amon]

I'm dittoing dzubak, I want clean, white paper - and of a decent weight. I say the length should be 16 to 24 pages - up to 32 for campaign setting/modules. I want illustrations, too, but not so many that it lessens the content. I want the back page to have some pregens ready to rock and roll for pick-up games.

[dcs]

For $15, I would expect a module of at least 48 pp. in length.
For $12, I would expect a module of at least 32 pp. in length.
For $10, I would expect a module of at least 24 pp. in length.

For that price, I would expect a color front cover and at least one interior illustration (quarter-page) for every 4-6 pages of text.

My preferred font size is about 10 pt. Anything less than that is too small for my eyes these days.

I would also expect a clean map.

For me to spend $15 on a 24-page module, it had better be good (and I mean Vault of the Drow kind of good). Otherwise why shouldn't I just spend the same money on one of Rob Kuntz's modules that I know will meet all of my above expectations and more?

[TRP]

For me, a gaming resource of any kind is a technical document and not a coffee table book. So, I could give a rat's behind on format (font, margins, etc), as long as the formatting wasn't used as a trick to increase page count. Ditto that for the art. The only art I care about are those that actually illustrate relevant text, art that increases the information flow from the author to me. Pretty pictures are nice, but I'm not going to frame them and hang on them on my wall.

I'm okay with PDFs, so for $15, I'd expect approximately 100+ pages in that format. In print, I'd expect 20 pages minimum, and that doesn't include art for art's sake illustrations. Illos that illuminate the text, the text itself, well designed tables and reasonably sized maps only.

Since I consider gaming material to be nothing more than a technical resource, I think you cannot get more bang for your buck than in PDF.

[meepo]

I'd be more than happy with anything resembling the G-series in size/formating/artwork. Short and sweet and invocative of the imagination. I'd pay up to $12 for such a product today.

Anything more than 32 pages I'd probably pass on.

[dcs]

I'd be more than happy with anything resembling the G-series in size/formating/artwork. Short and sweet and invocative of the imagination. I'd pay up to $12 for such a product today.

IOW, you would pay $12 for an 8-page module?

[meepo]

Not sure what 'IOW' means, but yes I would.

If it was as good as (or of similar gaming quality) the G-series, absolutely. $12 isn't that much money, especially since I don't buy many (if any) new RPG products unless they are overwhelmingly useful for an old school gamer.

[JimLotFP]

I'm a bit depressed reading these responses... thinking I'm doing too much too small.

Ah well.

[Ghul]

Hello--

I second what DCS says above. He nails my opinion on the matter perfectly.

--Ghul

[TRP]

I'm a bit depressed reading these responses... thinking I'm doing too much too small.

Ah well.

I'm so tight I squeek when I walk, so my opinion is probably a teeny minority.

[JimLotFP]

I'm a bit depressed reading these responses... thinking I'm doing too much too small.

Ah well.

I'm so tight I squeek when I walk, so my opinion is probably a teeny minority.

Well your response didn't bug me. I'm all about piling in as much stuff as I possibly can and keeping the price down.

But I'm doing a 64 page thing (not sure yet how many of those will be text, I'll make that decision when I see the art, I've commissioned 12 pieces in addition to the cover I already have) in 7pt Ariel font for basically $13 post paid. Granted it's A5 format but I'm trying to pack it in to impress the hell out of people and make sure not one single person feels like they overpaid.

I know people will complain about the font, I've dealt with that complaint for years (Times New Roman 6pt used to be my standard) and at one point I was looking for wholesale prices on those cheap plastic magnifying glasses to give away as a gag with copies of my zine. :p

[dcs]

Not sure what 'IOW' means

In Other Words.

I agree that $12 isn't a lot of money, but when there are other products competing for my gaming dollars . . . well, you get the picture. I don't have the disposable income these days to spend more than $20-$30 per month on gaming materials. (In fact, I'm probably already over my September budget.) If an 8-page module is the only old-school compatible thing out there, then I might go for it.

[PapersAndPaychecks]

The OSRIC document itself is in 10 pt with 0.4cm line spacing, which I think might be a reasonable compromise between packing in lots of content and retaining readability. (It gets about 1,000 words per 8.5" x 11" page - which is roughly the same amount of content as there was in the old school Century Gothic modules).

The most packed format that really works is the one TSR used for the DMG, which is roughly 9 pt Futura Lt Bt with roughly 0.35cm line spacing. That produces about 1,500 words per 8.5" x 11" page.

[JRMapes]

If the smaller font is crisp I usually do ok. This also means the paper has to be a very good quality and bright for the proper contrast. Unfortunately too many publishers don't consider this enough and use tiny fonts with colored paper and I simply can't read it so I won't buy it. What peeves me even more is when publishers think they have to put primary dark text over inky washed graphics (ala White Wolf). I won't even bother with them.

Actaully IMO anything under 9pt in any of the standard fonts is too small, 10pt being the best minimum and 12pt being the best maximum. If i have to move the book closer to me than normal readiing distance, when wearing my bifocals, then the text is too small and I will either pass on the product or try to find it in PDF so i can print it as I want it.

As for size vs. cost... I doubt I would shell out $12 or more dollars for 8 pages. I probably would for 12 to 15 pages if I found the content worth it. But since I too am squeaky tight when it comes to buying modules I would normally only consider a 25 to 40 page module for that amount of money and then the content better be worth it and as has been mentioned; the artwork should be relevant. I can't stand paying for art work that doesn't have anything to do with the module. I would much rather have the other half page of game text than some picture of a stupid halfling picking his nose and showing it to a fairy. Of course if that was part of the encounter then go for it. Otherwise... uh, no.

Jerry