Universalis PDF?

[hive_mind]

Sorry if this is a Taboo Topic, but i was wondering if Universalis will ever be available in PDF format?  I find myself gravitatinng to this format more and more as my available room is less and less,  plus it's much easier for me to take on the road.

[Nyrath]

You could always use the Two Page Play Aid.

[hive_mind]

Boy Nyrath, you seem to be everywhere.  Don't I see you on the SFCONSIM and Star Ranger's site as well?

The 2-page play aid is nice, but I don't own Universalis yet.  I'd prefer it in PDF format, rather than printed.  Especially since I envision using it online more than in person.

[Nyrath]

Boy Nyrath, you seem to be everywhere.  Don't I see you on the SFCONSIM and Star Ranger's site as well?

Yes, I get around.
Of course Mr. Mazza is on the SFCONSIM board as well.

I already have my copy of the game, I love it, but I really cannot post intelligently until I've actually played it.

I tried playing it with my darling wife, only to discover that she has zero story telling ability. Oh well.

[Valamir]

There are no hard and fast plans to offer Uni in PDF at anypoint in the future.  

I am beginning to consider it again since my current stock of Uni is hitting "should probably start thinking about the next print run" levels.

However, one thing that was pointed out to me is that Uni is pretty much void of any need to reference the rules in play once the game is learned.  The suggestion was, that for every copy of Universalis I sell there could well be several additional people regularly playing the game from memory with no need to ever actually buy the book.

While that's a really cool thought...that there are secret legions of unregistered Uni-players covering the planet...it does suggest that selling a PDF at a steeply discounted price might actually hurt my overall revenue stream.

Right now I'm leaning towards the idea (if I do PDF at all) of making a PDF available at the same price as the print book (sans shipping costs) purely for the benefit of those few people who really prefer that format.

I'm generally not overly concerned with PDF piracty as a problem to stress over much about, but given that Uni play doesn't really require a book once its learned, such piracy may actually be more damaging to Uni than to other games...

...these are the thoughts, rolling around in my head on the subject at this point.

Commentary on the issue is welcome.

[Mike Holmes]

How about free PDF with purchase of book. That way the person has both formats available, and they get more for their money (while costing you not any more yourself to produce).

Mike

[dunlaing]

I would think that the conditions you describe (not needing the book to play or reference) would make PDF Piracy less of an issue for Universalis.

The big distinction between books and pdfs for other rpgs is that with books, you can't copy them easily. Therefore, books are more likely to be purchased on a one unit per customer basis. This is why there is a perception that an rpg publisher is less likely to be hurt by piracy if they offer only a book form.

Since Universalis is not needed at the table, there is no need to copy it.  One can simply loan it to a friend (or even give it to a friend). Thus books hold no inherently higher likelihood of being purchased on a one unit per customer basis.

So while the likelihood of PDF Piracy is no less likely for Universalis than other rpg pdfs, it should be less of an issue, since the books are not keeping non-purchasers from getting the rules in a usable form.