I'm not all that knowledgeable on the subject, but could it not be both readable in PDF form and printable in booklet form?
Yes, but when you're designing something for PDF you design it just a bit differently. Page number placement, mostly, but also economy of space and margins. That said, there's no reason you couldn't take any PDF and use the Print as Booklet option. You'd just have to make sure you use specialty paper--or cut it down afterward.
The alternative is to design the PDF for booklet-sized paper, with page numbers in the appropriate corners. Which doesn't make it unreadable, but it does change how it looks.
Just so I understand correctly: you would rather have a PDF manual that is formatted specifically to be printed, than a PDF manual that is formatted specifically to be readable as a PDF?
Or is it just that you want a PDF to begin with, to do what you like with?
Both? Now that I've looked into it, it appears it can be done with any PDF however the scale of the pages may be off. So I guess, I'm wondering if they can release two PDFs?
However, if you can find paper with the right proportions, you should be able to print it normally with the booklet setting. It's just a matter of finding the right-size paper.
(Honestly, you might be better off just taking the thing to Staples and having them do it for you; have them print it at 3/4 scale and spiral-bind it accordingly, and you should be fine.)
I'm eager to see the new manual, too. Since I'm not as much of an expert, I probably won't even recognize most of the changes, but still... Good to read up on what to expect.
However, if you can find paper with the right proportions, you should be able to print it normally with the booklet setting. It's just a matter of finding the right-size paper.
(Honestly, you might be better off just taking the thing to Staples and having them do it for you; have them print it at 3/4 scale and spiral-bind it accordingly, and you should be fine.)
Staples should advertise that they can do this. I never thought of it but might end up doing it now.
However, if you can find paper with the right proportions, you should be able to print it normally with the booklet setting. It's just a matter of finding the right-size paper.
(Honestly, you might be better off just taking the thing to Staples and having them do it for you; have them print it at 3/4 scale and spiral-bind it accordingly, and you should be fine.)
That's what I will do. Honestly, I'm surprised no one else thought of this. I like having hardcopy along with digital. Staples it will be, thanks @Aosaw.
Are there any news about a Find Familiar scroll in BG:EE? It's so essencial for any mage. And I find it unjust and unbalanced if a sorcerer as the main character in BG:EE can have a familiar and any mage (including multiclass) as the main character can't.
Are there any news about a Find Familiar scroll in BG:EE? It's so essencial for any mage. And I find it unjust and unbalanced if a sorcerer as the main character in BG:EE can have a familiar and any mage (including multiclass) as the main character can't.
If there isn't a Find Familiar scroll in BGEE I think it would be the Sorcerer that would be nerfed, not the Mage - either can select FF as a starting spell, but the Sorcerer cannot afford to take up a slot with it.
I'm also interested to know if they're going to scale familiars (and kits) down a little in BGEE, as they're OP for the low-level game.
If there isn't a Find Familiar scroll in BGEE I think it would be the Sorcerer that would be nerfed, not the Mage - either can select FF as a starting spell, but the Sorcerer cannot afford to take up a slot with it.
Well, noone forces a sorcerer to choose this spell from the start. He can always wait till BG:EE2)) BUT. A sorcerer has the ability to use this spell in BG1, while a mage has no such ability at all - even if he wishes, without the scroll, he won't be able to cast it in BG1. So, it's negative for mages, not sorcerers.
And about OP familiars - only few of them can be called so. Is a cat or a rabbit OP?
If there isn't a Find Familiar scroll in BGEE I think it would be the Sorcerer that would be nerfed, not the Mage - either can select FF as a starting spell, but the Sorcerer cannot afford to take up a slot with it.
Well, noone forces a sorcerer to choose this spell from the start. He can always wait till BG:EE2)) BUT. A sorcerer has the ability to use this spell in BG1, while a mage has no such ability at all - even if he wishes, without the scroll, he won't be able to cast it in BG1. So, it's negative for mages, not sorcerers.
And about OP familiars - only few of them can be called so. Is a cat or a rabbit OP?
Um, no. A mage gets to select 2 L1 spells when starting out (3 if he's a specialist), so said mage can easily start with Find Familiar.
OnTopic: At this point it seems unlikely we'd get the manual ahead of time. I mean honestly, it apparently takes weeks to get approval for a trailer.. imagine what grueling horrors would be inflicted on the devs if they tried the same for an actual manual.
@aldain Thanks for this answer). Anyway it won't be bad to find out if there's the scroll in BG or should we choose the spell during the character creation.
I'm not all that knowledgeable on the subject, but could it not be both readable in PDF form and printable in booklet form?
Yes, but when you're designing something for PDF you design it just a bit differently. Page number placement, mostly, but also economy of space and margins. That said, there's no reason you couldn't take any PDF and use the Print as Booklet option. You'd just have to make sure you use specialty paper--or cut it down afterward.
The alternative is to design the PDF for booklet-sized paper, with page numbers in the appropriate corners. Which doesn't make it unreadable, but it does change how it looks.
why not release it on different formats, like mobi or epub?
OnTopic: At this point it seems unlikely we'd get the manual ahead of time. I mean honestly, it apparently takes weeks to get approval for a trailer.. imagine what grueling horrors would be inflicted on the devs if they tried the same for an actual manual.
Man, I wish I didn't have to agree with you here, becuase I don't want to face reality. Therefore I won't. I'll make a skill check of persuade to get the manual early and...
I'm not all that knowledgeable on the subject, but could it not be both readable in PDF form and printable in booklet form?
Yes, but when you're designing something for PDF you design it just a bit differently. Page number placement, mostly, but also economy of space and margins. That said, there's no reason you couldn't take any PDF and use the Print as Booklet option. You'd just have to make sure you use specialty paper--or cut it down afterward.
The alternative is to design the PDF for booklet-sized paper, with page numbers in the appropriate corners. Which doesn't make it unreadable, but it does change how it looks.
why not release it on different formats, like mobi or epub?
That's a great idea! But even if they don't, we could always use a program like Calibre to convert the PDF.
I agree with @aldain that we probably won't get the manual early, but like @reedmilfam, I don't want to face that reality either. I guess there is still a small chance since we are still 12 days away...
If there isn't a Find Familiar scroll in BGEE I think it would be the Sorcerer that would be nerfed, not the Mage - either can select FF as a starting spell, but the Sorcerer cannot afford to take up a slot with it.
Well, noone forces a sorcerer to choose this spell from the start. He can always wait till BG:EE2)) BUT. A sorcerer has the ability to use this spell in BG1, while a mage has no such ability at all - even if he wishes, without the scroll, he won't be able to cast it in BG1. So, it's negative for mages, not sorcerers.
But it's a level one spell you can learn from the start and you can unlearn it once cast, if short of spell slots, in what way is this a problem?
And about OP familiars - only few of them can be called so. Is a cat or a rabbit OP?
Perhaps, being able to cast Invisibility 10' Radius or Glitterdust, for example, at Level 1 is OP, though, as arguably, are 12HP at this level.
I've done some looking at Staples and found their price services are somewhat affordable. I may have them print the BG:EE manual for me, using card stock for the cover and back, and paper for the rest. They even have a spiral bound option.
Where's my boxed version?! And where's my paper manual?! Oh, I remember. Now, it's called strategy guide and I have to pay 20€ for it. And how's that greener, hypocrites, since I will either buy that or waste energy using my computer, meanwhile burning my eyes reading pages on the screen?
@Abel - see if you can get the old manuals on ebay. I still have original BG, BG2SOA, BG2TOB spiral manuals en entero. I think most of the game will stay the same.
@Oxford_Guy I think that depends on how the pages are formatted in the PDF. It may make no sense to stretch the page sizes to A4 size... We'll only know when we see it. Soon...
@Kristie83 you can easily imposition, print and bind the manual at home. If you go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imposition you can see the idea behind the preparation. You can use InDesign for the task itself or Cutepdf, and there are many guides how to glue and stitch the book together on the internet. I suggest using folios instead of a basic booklet because with 74+pages, the booklet format would annoy you to hell. pages flipping back and forth etc.
Edit: And as a plus, you can choose the type of paper for the cover and the pages yourself, having a handmade hardcover book made by yourself makes you feel special too! ^_^
Comments
The alternative is to design the PDF for booklet-sized paper, with page numbers in the appropriate corners. Which doesn't make it unreadable, but it does change how it looks.
However, if you can find paper with the right proportions, you should be able to print it normally with the booklet setting. It's just a matter of finding the right-size paper.
(Honestly, you might be better off just taking the thing to Staples and having them do it for you; have them print it at 3/4 scale and spiral-bind it accordingly, and you should be fine.)
I'm also interested to know if they're going to scale familiars (and kits) down a little in BGEE, as they're OP for the low-level game.
And about OP familiars - only few of them can be called so. Is a cat or a rabbit OP?
OnTopic: At this point it seems unlikely we'd get the manual ahead of time. I mean honestly, it apparently takes weeks to get approval for a trailer.. imagine what grueling horrors would be inflicted on the devs if they tried the same for an actual manual.
Thanks for this answer). Anyway it won't be bad to find out if there's the scroll in BG or should we choose the spell during the character creation.
why not release it on different formats, like mobi or epub?
Rolled a 1. Double damn... No manual for us.
I agree with @aldain that we probably won't get the manual early, but like @reedmilfam, I don't want to face that reality either. I guess there is still a small chance since we are still 12 days away...
Perhaps, being able to cast Invisibility 10' Radius or Glitterdust, for example, at Level 1 is OP, though, as arguably, are 12HP at this level.
@Nathan
If possible, could you find out what the dimensions and page count of the manual are? Will it be full 8x10 format or will it be a smaller size?
You can get the manuals here and here.
http://www.beamdog.com/files/bgee/BGManual1.pdf
http://www.beamdog.com/files/bgee/BGManual2.pdf
Edit: And as a plus, you can choose the type of paper for the cover and the pages yourself, having a handmade hardcover book made by yourself makes you feel special too! ^_^