Skip to Content
 

Rule Book format for Print and play games

8 replies [Last post]
Sun, 04/18/2010 - 11:32
larienna
larienna's picture
Offline
Joined: 07/28/2008

I was wondering what would be the best format of a rule book for print and play game.

I thought that having a booklet which is 5.5" x 8.5" could be interesting to do ( folded letter page) the problem is that to fix the booklet together, you need a long stampler to be able to stample in the middle. It's not everybody that has access to a stampler like this and I did not find any other way to fix the booklet together. The other problem is that you need double sided printing, and it is not all printers that can do it.

Else I could make a simple 8.5"x11" document, probably double column, that people could print single or double sided and just stample it in the corner. It's just less elegant.

I don't want to do 2 rule books, since it already takes a lot of time.

Does any of you have other ideas of booklet format that could be easy to print and assemble?

Do you mind having a rule book made of a simple stack of sheets stampled in the corner?

Top
Sun, 04/18/2010 - 20:59
#1
kodarr
Offline
Joined: 08/04/2008
For my games i just have a

For my games i just have a stapled rulebook horizontal set up and double columns. I don't think anything fancy is really needed since the point of it is so anyone can print it out and play it. Most people have a normal stapler but not everyone has one long enough to staple a binding.

Top
Sun, 04/18/2010 - 23:54
#2
SiddGames
SiddGames's picture
Offline
Joined: 08/02/2008
Pocketmod

If the rules are short enough, I fit them into an 8-page pocket summary, Pocketmod style, that also happens to fit in a card box.

I made a Cold War Rummy version of this, and also have done summaries of some CCGs I play:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/filepage/50010/current-rules-for-cold-war-r...

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/filepage/52586/pocket-rule-summary-for-cona...

Top
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 06:34
#3
dabuel
Offline
Joined: 04/13/2010
Roll/fold rulebook to fit in stapler

I'm using an ordinary stapler, but roll the last half of the rulebook so it fits in the stapler. Of course, the pages is a little massacred, but actually not that much. If you put the rulebook under some heavy books over night, it looks perfect.

Top
Wed, 04/21/2010 - 09:45
#4
larienna
larienna's picture
Offline
Joined: 07/28/2008
I tried folding to make it

I tried folding to make it fit, it's not so bad. Also you can curve the paper, to remove the fold, by rubbing it on the side of a table.

Else, If I do 2 version I could supply the cheap, no illustration, word document that can be stample in the corner OR the beautiful, colored and illustrated rule book stamped in the middle. If I do this, It won't require to me extra time to layout the cheap version. Anyways, I'll think about it.

Top
Wed, 04/21/2010 - 11:24
#5
seo
seo's picture
Offline
Joined: 07/21/2008
I use a regular stapler too,

I use a regular stapler too, but instead of torturing half the booklet I just open the stapler all the way and place the pages on the edge of the desk like this:

using a regular stapler to make a booklet

You just need to use your other hand to keep the sheets straight. An alternative is to use a bradawl to make the perforations, then thread the staples by hand. In any case, you just need to bend them close with your fingers or with the help of a pair of scissors, a screwdriver or whatever you find handy.

As a side note, if you do your layout as half-letter or A5, it will only take minimal work to sort the pages to have either a two column layout as kodarr suggests (1-2, 3-4, etc.), or the usual saddle stitch booklet (1-8, 2-7, etc. for an 8 page booklet).

Top
Wed, 04/21/2010 - 13:01
#6
MichaelASander
MichaelASander's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/21/2010
Needle and Tread

If you don't have the right type of stapler, what about running a long needle and thread through, or a hole punch on each page and then using yarn or twine while they are all shut?

Top
Wed, 04/21/2010 - 16:14
#7
larienna
larienna's picture
Offline
Joined: 07/28/2008
Quote:As a side note, if you

Quote:
As a side note, if you do your layout as half-letter or A5, it will only take minimal work to sort the pages to have either a two column layout as kodarr suggests (1-2, 3-4, etc.), or the usual saddle stitch booklet (1-8, 2-7, etc. for an 8 page booklet).

I have to make some test with my software. Right now, I can setup page layout so that it print 1-8, 2-7, etc. If I could use the same layout and print them as well as 1-2, 3-4, that would be perfect and solve all my problems.

Yes, a needle and a thread can do the job, that is how they were doing real books.

As for the seo's stample technique, you could use 2 books, leave a crack in the middle and place a third book on the loose portion of the booklet.

Thank for the info.

Top
Thu, 04/22/2010 - 15:58
#8
larienna
larienna's picture
Offline
Joined: 07/28/2008
I tried seo's technique above

I tried seo's technique above and it works well. You just have to pull the paper while stampling.

When printing you must use the recto-verso turn up for the page to align correctly.

Top
Syndicate content


forum | by Dr. Radut