Here are some ideas of what I'd like to see in a Traveller 5th Edition Little Black Book series.
Instead of going with the traditional saddle binding of the old LBBs, use standard 5.5" x 8.5" pages that are punched for a three ring binder. A nice three ring binder with a silk screened cover that included the core rules could be sold as "Volume 1 - Core Rules". Additional binders with the Traveller 5 logo could be purchased as well so that players could assemble their own volumes. I guess we'd have to call these "Little Black Binders".
Individual books could be purchased separately and inserted in a T5 binder. Players could assemble customized binders that contained the books they were most interested in. The binder would make the integration of errata and advanced rules very simple.
In addition, inexpensive 5.5" x 8.5" filler paper could be used for notes and house rules and inserted directly into the binder. People could even print their own pages on 8.5" x 11" paper, fold it in half, and insert it into the binder.
As for the design and layout of the books, there is something very special about the LBBs. Their design was a bit stark for many peoples tastes but it was clean and elegant and has stood the test of time. Not many RPG brands have the kind of instant recognition that the black field with red bar and Traveller logo still has. There have been some incredible artists doing work for Traveller over the years and I'd like to see the best of it come back and be integrated into the layout where it is appropriate and relevant to the textual content.
Thoughts?
- Ted
Instead of going with the traditional saddle binding of the old LBBs, use standard 5.5" x 8.5" pages that are punched for a three ring binder. A nice three ring binder with a silk screened cover that included the core rules could be sold as "Volume 1 - Core Rules". Additional binders with the Traveller 5 logo could be purchased as well so that players could assemble their own volumes. I guess we'd have to call these "Little Black Binders".
Individual books could be purchased separately and inserted in a T5 binder. Players could assemble customized binders that contained the books they were most interested in. The binder would make the integration of errata and advanced rules very simple.
In addition, inexpensive 5.5" x 8.5" filler paper could be used for notes and house rules and inserted directly into the binder. People could even print their own pages on 8.5" x 11" paper, fold it in half, and insert it into the binder.
As for the design and layout of the books, there is something very special about the LBBs. Their design was a bit stark for many peoples tastes but it was clean and elegant and has stood the test of time. Not many RPG brands have the kind of instant recognition that the black field with red bar and Traveller logo still has. There have been some incredible artists doing work for Traveller over the years and I'd like to see the best of it come back and be integrated into the layout where it is appropriate and relevant to the textual content.
Thoughts?
- Ted
The idea of a watermark on every page that prevents copying is brilliant!
