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Seems like lots of games are splitting their rulebooks into 2 or 3 separate books.. one for just rules, another with forces or fluff, another with hobby stuff. But it seems like in most cases you still have to buy all of them together anyway.

If you were to buy a new rulebook for a new game, or a new edition for your favorite old game, what would you prefer - 1 big rulebook, or multiple smaller books?

The only companies I know that are doing this are GW and Battlefront. Are there others?

Can't really think of many games other than 40k that are splitting their books like that- Warmachine and Infinity have their rules split up into different supplements, but it's a blur of fluff and rules in the same book. X-wing and Armada split their book, with a learn-to-play guide and the main rules index. Of course, they don't need fluff or much modelling stuff.

I honestly can't say that it makes a difference. The Warmachine Book is a mix of Fluff, modelling and rules, and is still pretty slim. If it's like GW and the writers can't write concisely to save their lives, yeah, I'd like the rules separate just for portability sake. If it's more like the Warmachine Book, or even 6th ed Fantasy I don't really care.

So, "Other" [Don't care]

I voted for "Other."

See, I prefer one big book for all of a game's main rules. In other words, regardless of whether you're making asymmetric factions (with their own books) or having a hundred tomes of lore to build your universe, all I expect is to have one place for all of my central, game-defining rules.

Likewise, a single faction (if you're doing asymmetric stuff like 40k, WMH, etc) should be limited to a single book that covers the breadth and depth of their options.

It's super annoying when you have to flip between several books, ebooks, printouts, and magazine photocopies just to cover the stuff you've brought to the game.

I’d like to keep the core rules separate from the fluff. And I’d like to be able to buy them separately. Right now you can do that with GW only part way. You can get the big 3-book set with all the fluff, or the little starter rulebook bundled with things like DV. Now, the fluff of 40k is pretty static. I don’t feel compelled to re-buy the fluff every time they rewrite the rules. The last full rulebook I picked up was 6th. And sticking that in the pocket of my KR case made it look like a python that just ate a whole pig. There is no reason for me to cram all the fluff and painting guides into my bag to bring to the FLGS for a game.

Core rules: 1 book.
Army lists: 1 book.

I'd prefer 1 big rule book with the fluff and such in it, and a smaller rulebook thats just the rules also able to be bought out side of starter sets.

One big book to tell me about the game, the world and the factions

then extra army books if your game needs it

The campaign packs with seperate fluff and rule books were one of the best things GW has done for ages - then they don't do it with AOS -

Multiple books, let me leave the stuff I don't need at home.

Bonus points for drilling books to put in a ring binder

A cookie for supplying a binder with red sheets printed on the inside and back

votes are all pretty even

me personally I prefer 1 big awesome hardback bible, with the option to buy a separate small format just-the-rules book (with normal sized fonts, because I'm old).

And then rather than separate army books I like how Privateer handles new stuff, with a fluffy book full of new units for just about every army. I like the idea of army books, but I don't like the idea of new models not being included.. in fact when it comes to browsing what's available to a specifc army I'd rather have some kind of website or "living army book" pdf or something like that. So you can have your nice fluffy printed books, and also everything all in 1 place separately for easy reference.

My ideal gaming package is and would be for 40k:

Fluff book - full colour and shiny
Small format rulebook
Unit cards in an "army deck" sold with the units.

Same as Malifaux

There would be some phone/tablet app nonsense as well but I don't use those.

You would obviously do them all! ^_^

You create one big rulebook that has everything in it. The one book to rule them all with rules, fluff and army list.

Then you create 3 separate, possibly 4 pdf books from that one book: rules, fluff and army lists. You could break it down into smaller groups, making the army lists as separate factions (if the game was big enough) and add a 'Quick Introduction Rulebook' as a primer that lets someone learn the game and play without being bogged down with all the rules.

This should also technically be moved to the new Game Design forum (points down towards the More Dakka section)

'Other'. How about one small rulebook? Glancing over at my bookshelf, gathering a bit of dust, I'm reminded why the novelty of big hardback rulebooks wore off for me.

I honestly think it's telling that there's an automatic view of one big book vs. piles of smaller books and supplements, and little else.

My preference is:

1. One core rules rulebook that sticks around for about 5 years.

2. One Army Lists rulebook that is updated every year at the same time.

3. Several Faction books that contain fluff, reformatted rules (but no new rules), lots of art and photography -- that are purely optional, and updated at whatever interval makes sense; that is, when the faction's models have significantly changed.

The reason for #1 and #2 is that I don't want the army lists to change at the same pace as the core rules. I prefer a game where the meta is relatively fluid (yearly is ok), not to mention lots of new models, but I don't want the game mechanics to be fluid.

Depends on the game really.

Some games you can have all the rules in one big book quite easily.

Some games the individual armies are complicated enough in and of themselves to justify their own book.

Some games are suited to having the core rules in one book and advanced rules and individual armies in campaign books.

Some games would be best suited to having basic rules in one book and additional advanced rules in separate books.

I voted "multiple smaller books" because I tend to think most of the games I'm interested in can't realistically fit all the rules in 1 book anyway.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 infinite_array wrote:
The only companies I know that are doing this are GW and Battlefront. Are there others?

You mean splitting rules in to several books? Isn't that pretty much the standard? I'm struggling more to think of wargames that have all their rules in a single book.

Really, WMH is a multibook format. Sure, the core rules, with no fluff or army information, are free, and models come with rules cards. But unless you want to buy every model to get all the cards AND you're indifferent about all the fluff, you'll probably buy at least one faction book. I think a lot of people who like the game will spring for core rules and one faction.

People who are really into a game with a complex multifaction system will usually get the books for the most popular factions so that they understand what the enemies' strengths and weaknesses are, too.

also worth mentioning, the new Gamers edition codex for ebook only (and half price) are a good idea, I think.

I think it's best if stuff I need to play is separate from stuff I don't need to play. Warmachine has these fantastic travel-sized mini-rulebooks that only come bundled with other stuff, and I've got way more value out of those than any of their other books.

The things I do need to play weigh enough already without adding tonnes of fluff and whatever else that could just stay at home unless I specifically want to bring them along.

I agree, HiveFleet. Or at least the option of light, small, rules for gaming.

 Crazy_Carnifex wrote:
Can't really think of many games other than 40k that are splitting their books like that- Warmachine and Infinity have their rules split up into different supplements, but it's a blur of fluff and rules in the same book.

Not anymore. Infinity 3rd edition comes as a set of 2 books. The Rulebook and the Core book. The rulebook is all of the rules, and Core book is all of the fluff. The unit description entries are in the Core book, but there are no rules there. And there's no fluff in the Rulebook. Pretty sure Human Sphere 3rd edition will be the same.

Well, I think PP handles it pretty good.
The rulebooks for warmachine and hordes can be freely downloaded. The add-on books per faction are not really must-have, only if you want to play tier lists (or e.g. in case of Cyriss to get the rule for induction). Otherwise, the cards attached to each model/unit are sufficient.

Multiple books one with fluff one with rules per expansion.

One .pdf.

Depends on the ruleset. Usually I want to have my cake and eat it too. I want Rules, force lists and fluff in one moderately sized book.

Osprey is doing a good job of this and Mantic just showed that it can all fit nicely into a highly polished and affordable not-oversized rulebook. Infinity's splitting the fluff into it's own book (much like early versions of 40k and WHFB) is a pretty good idea also.

That said, I'm not against expansions that add fluff, forces, etc. I just think there's no reason a core rulebook can't do it all in one without becoming bloated.

I think it's patently ridiculous that some games sell a 300 page rulebook that don't include force lists.

I personally like seperate rules and faction books which are portable and easily carried. What I definitely don't like is the 40k tournament scene at the moment when armies can be easily outweighed by rulebooks.

GW has had this format for years and years. Necromunda, Gorkamorka, Mordheim, and even 40k and WHFB older editions have had at least two books for main rules, even if one was largely for the background and scenarios.

In terms of being up-to-date digital formats are the best chioce, errata and updates can be implemented in no time with almost no trouble.

The printed format is mostly outdated the day you buy it that was IIRC the case of a SM Codex of the sixth edition I bought.
Thus I had the choice either to fumble with the codex and some printed out papers or to write that corrected content into the book (which I actually did) both is suboptimal regarding the cost of one book!
On the other hand with a book you have easier access to the content and no problems regarding battery power or wifi.

At last you can settle disputes by literally smashing the rules onto your opponent more than once with a book

To conclude: books are ok for the background and all that doesn't change too often. And everyting should kept seperate. If it's unavoidable to have a printed book that book should be as small and lightweight as possible.
Everything that will be changed relatively often --> digital.

I wonder how many people asked for one big book,voted for one book.Then also went on to ask for a small rules book as well(That is multiple books! )

If everything can be put in a single large book, in less than 300 pages.Then there is no practical reason not to.

However, for practicality sake.Having a separate book for background, rules and army lists.Means you do not have to drag a lot of 'dead weight' when gaming.

For this reason multiple books is my preferred option.

If we're talking rules then I like them to be all in one place so I vote one book, big or small.

Ive never fully learnt any game that spreads its rules throughout 1000 codex or pdf.

The question is the GW way of unload everything in an impractical tome, or the emerging way of having fluff and rules in separate books making the books more manageable.