My print-on-demand (POD) copy of GURPS Mysteries came in the mail today; as it happens, I bought the PDF version years ago. But I also rather wanted a physical copy to go with my other GURPS books, so I picked up the POD and decided to compare the two. If nothing else, it’s a little instructive about how the state of the art has advanced.
- Similarities: Both versions have clean, easily-read pages. The interior to the PDF version happened to be in black and white, so there’s no real difference in coloration. Obviously, the text has remained virtually unchanged.
- Differences: The pages of the POD are not glossy (the binding seems firm and stable). The PDF version has marginally sharper text than the POD version. Images are likewise slightly better-looking in the PDF version. Obviously, you can search the PDF copy for text; just as obviously, the POD copy still works if the power goes out.
All in all, print-on-demand has gotten to the point where it’s capable of reproducing the look of non-glossy printed books from the last decade, which is actually pretty spiffy. We’re talking professional binding, color covers, good art reproductions, and generally a high enough level of quality for most normal uses. And let me be honest, here: this is the next thing to black magic, for me. I remember the days when we were stapling everything and hardcover RPG supplements were these strange, exotic, and frightfully expensive artifacts. Now it’s never been easier to get a good-looking POD. It’s nice, sometimes, to live in the future.