- A recreated 1981 Classic Traveller Boxed Set with saddle-stitched books that are updated with errata.
- A recreated 1981 Classic Traveller Boxed Set with saddle-stitched books that are updated with errata and the same size as the facsimile edition (6×9)
- A recreated 1981 Classic Traveller Boxed Set with saddle-stitched books that are updated with errata. A5 sized
- Books 1-3 in one hardback book, with errata included, with the front and back covers being the front and back of the 1981 box, the same size as the original LBBs.
- Books 1-3 in one hardback book, with errata included, with the front and back covers being the front and back of the 1981 box, the same size as the facsimilie edition (6×9)
- Books 1-3 in one hardback book, with errata included, with the front and back covers being the front and back of the 1981 box, A5 sized.
CT Only: Which would you prefer?
- Thread starter plazman30
- Start date
That should be option 1. I guess I didn't word it properly.
The problem with LBB size is that it is not a standard size anymore. Half-quarto is impossible to POD anywhere. Your choices these dasy are:
1. Digest size (5.5×8.5)
2. US Trade (6×9)
3. A5 (5.83×8.27)
The original LBBs are 5.67×8.78. The closest to that is probably 6×9.
The problem with LBB size is that it is not a standard size anymore. Half-quarto is impossible to POD anywhere. Your choices these dasy are:
1. Digest size (5.5×8.5)
2. US Trade (6×9)
3. A5 (5.83×8.27)
The original LBBs are 5.67×8.78. The closest to that is probably 6×9.
I think the dimensions should be 5.75 X 8.75
You might have to look beyond POD printers or simply email and ask if they will do a custom size. There are several booklet printers that will do custom sizes. I did a quick setup on Smartpress.com for example, and they seem to charge +$100 for a custom size. But this cost can be diluted over many copies. For the minimum print run of 100 this to amounts to 3$ extra per "set" of 3 books. At 1000 Copies it drops to 30¢ a set and 3¢ per set at 10,000 copies.
There is a "white box" edition of Castles and Crusades that TLG did a few years back, It's one of the favorite things in my collection. I'd love something similar for Traveller.
OK,
Here's a page from one of the rattiest adventures I own,
8 3/4" by 5 11/16"
It is a center page, so it's trimmed more on the short edge, because that edge sticks out further when the book is folded.
Here's a page from one of the rattiest adventures I own,
8 3/4" by 5 11/16"
It is a center page, so it's trimmed more on the short edge, because that edge sticks out further when the book is folded.
You might have to look beyond POD printers or simply email and ask if they will do a custom size. There are several booklet printers that will do custom sizes. I did a quick setup on Smartpress.com for example, and they seem to charge +$100 for a custom size. But this cost can be diluted over many copies. For the minimum print run of 100 this to amounts to 3$ extra per "set" of 3 books. At 1000 Copies it drops to 30¢ a set and 3¢ per set at 10,000 copies.
There is a "white box" edition of Castles and Crusades that TLG did a few years back, It's one of the favorite things in my collection. I'd love something similar for Traveller.
The only way I see a boxed set happening is if Mongoose does a KIckstarter for the 50th anniversary. Me, redoing books 1-3 to hand off to Marc Miller so he can issue a new, clean, errata-inserted version of the Facsimile edition will never get a boxed set.
So this is more a "wishful thinking" thing, as I polish my typesetting skills by redoing these books.
But I can dream…
I always thought it would be nice to completely redo The Traveller Book. Then do The Traveller Book 2 which would include Books 4-8 in it. Make it a nice hardcover slipcase set.
I'm curious what size the Troll Lord White Box books are. Are they half-quarto, or are they a standard size?
I took my measurements from LBB 9 - Pirates, of which I own a physical copy . Another thread on here confirmed that LBB 9 is the same size as the Classic Traveller LBBs.
So this is more a "wishful thinking" thing, as I polish my typesetting skills by redoing these books.
But I can dream…
I always thought it would be nice to completely redo The Traveller Book. Then do The Traveller Book 2 which would include Books 4-8 in it. Make it a nice hardcover slipcase set.
I'm curious what size the Troll Lord White Box books are. Are they half-quarto, or are they a standard size?
I took my measurements from LBB 9 - Pirates, of which I own a physical copy . Another thread on here confirmed that LBB 9 is the same size as the Classic Traveller LBBs.
Spinward Flow
SOC-14 5K
Of those options, the Digest Size (5.5x8.5) may be preferable for an inobvious reason ... weight.
I'm thinking here in terms of longevity of product when used.
The saddle stitch binding will eventually loosen and come undone (with years of use).
A "lighter" weight of paper in the binding (because the paper size is smaller) will put reduced repeated stress on the binding staples.
Because the leaves of the paper are "shorter" relative to the binding staples, there is less opportunity to "torque" the pages against the binding staples, which would cause the staple holes to wear (and expand) over time, which will then cause the pages to "loosen" within the binding until the binding fails (eventually) with repeated handling and use.
Additionally, the Digest Size (5.5x8.5) will mean that you have "smaller books" (relative to the original print dimensions) which when printed en masse will incur less mass for transport purposes, potentially making shipping and storage "slightly easier" in a variety of ways.
For books which had higher page counts (LBB A3 Twilight's Peak comes to mind, immediately) the Digest Size (5.5x8.5) print size may help with the longevity of the books in print without becoming "too heavy" when held in the hand. Yes, the weight difference is going to be marginal per book printed, but when you have a COLLECTION of them, it's going to add up ... because "we make it up in volume" (or words to that effect).
THIS.
So much this.
Although, to be honest, if you're printing things in boxes, you really want to make the BOXES the collectibles to put on the shelf (and help keep things easily organized).
- Box Set: LBB 1-8
- Box Set: LBB S1-13
- Box Set: LBB A1-13
- Box Set: LBB DA1-8
Yes, LBB1-3 are "all you need" to get started with Traveller (in CT), but those books were just the START ... not the END. If anything, LBB 1-3 is more of a "teaser/taster" preview of the rules and setting(s) that you can make. They're the barest of bare bones to start putting flesh upon.
I'd certainly go for that, heck just a reprint set, not even a collectable set. Especially given the price of some of the books on the secondary market. Signal GK and Secrets of the Ancients in particular go for atleast $50. You should be able to purchase a full set of A1-A13 for that.
But honestly I'd much prefer a DCC style updated and expanded version of the adventures, including a set of pregens character sheets, a full sized ship's deckplan, and a poster sized sector/subsector map, rather than just plain reprints. If I'm going to buy yet-another-version-of-CT I want more than just a reprint of the '81 LBBs.
TTB has extra rules, ships and equipment. So IMHO, It would be an excellent place to start. Take TTB, re-format it to LBB form and that's already a big set up from the '81 LBBs. But for whatever reason TTB is often ignored in favor of the LBBs.
But honestly I'd much prefer a DCC style updated and expanded version of the adventures, including a set of pregens character sheets, a full sized ship's deckplan, and a poster sized sector/subsector map, rather than just plain reprints. If I'm going to buy yet-another-version-of-CT I want more than just a reprint of the '81 LBBs.
TTB has extra rules, ships and equipment. So IMHO, It would be an excellent place to start. Take TTB, re-format it to LBB form and that's already a big set up from the '81 LBBs. But for whatever reason TTB is often ignored in favor of the LBBs.
But, again, I'd rather have a playable boxed set rather than another "collectable" to put on the book shelf.
The LBBs have a character of their own, reminiscent of the original D&D.
Combined with the early supplements and JTAS, Traveller kind of "took over" the digest gaming market in contrast to most everyone else which went "full size".
They also gave the ability of GDW to "release early" simply because they had no need to "fill up" an entire "big book" to offer value.
The TTB/TTA are great books, and quintessential Traveller as far as information and such, but they don't have the "charm" of the LBBs.
I personally still love the perfect bound reprint. That book, two dice, a pen/cil and paper, and you're off to the races. It's just the big bang that exploded into the Traveller universe.
I see no need to redo the reprint.
As for these:
Combined with the early supplements and JTAS, Traveller kind of "took over" the digest gaming market in contrast to most everyone else which went "full size".
They also gave the ability of GDW to "release early" simply because they had no need to "fill up" an entire "big book" to offer value.
The TTB/TTA are great books, and quintessential Traveller as far as information and such, but they don't have the "charm" of the LBBs.
I personally still love the perfect bound reprint. That book, two dice, a pen/cil and paper, and you're off to the races. It's just the big bang that exploded into the Traveller universe.
I see no need to redo the reprint.
As for these:
Those are BIG boxes. Stacked up, the 8 LBBs (mind, I've never really considered Book 8 to be one, it's sized right, but everything else about it is just Not Quite Right) stack up pretty high. Probably over 2" thick. The original box would not fit them all. And taking that digest size and making it "thick" is just ungainly. The proportions don't work out well.
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