Mars wrote:In 2nd Edition, the quality definitely decreased. You can look at the "Comlete" series where the books started out with the plastic type covers and in later printings ended up with paper covers. Also, there are some noticeable changes in the quality of various prints of boxed sets such as Planescape core set, etc.
HexMapper wrote:Just happen to be scrutinizing 2nd edition core rulebooks this calendar year and for some reason, the pages of the hardcovers (especially PHB) have wanted to tear so eagerly over the years for their previous owners. The paper used in 1st and 2nd core rules are certainly different - you would think the quality would improve along the way. The 1st edition rules circling through my system never seem to have this type of behaviour - AND Some 1st editions have NOT been well kept.An obvious answer lies in previous owenership. Yet, I'm thinking in the actual printing and manufacturing between editions. The covers seem to have a similar integrity. Paper mill? Paper supplier? Method of printing? Matte to semi-glossy to glossy? It's a bigger pain to erase pencil from a semi-gloss or gloss than from matte or plain paper without leaving a trace.
Badmike wrote:Mars: Actually, it was the opposite....the "Complete" series started out crap (paper covers, bindings that fell apart after a month of use) and evolved in later printings to the "slick" covers and bindings that actually held.
Badmike wrote:Another example of a well-made 2E book are the Encyclopedia Magica, which may just be the best thing ever released by TSR in terms of sturdiness outside the original 1e rulebooks.
Mars wrote:Again, here the first print was done well with the faux leather, etc but the second print of these was a much lesser quality - cardstock covers, no bookmarks, etc (the same format as the Wizards and Priest spell books).
deimos3428 wrote:Maybe I'm just growing senile, but weren't the faux leather versions billed as some sort of deluxe edition?
Mars wrote:I think they were billed as a special format but only to promote the sales of the books. The faux leather versions came out in 1995 but the nondeluxe reprints were much later in 1999. Also, I believe the cover price is the same on both editions - $25 US.
Badmike wrote:Mars I'd have to have some specific example of the bad later Complete series printings. In every case, in my own collection I've replaced earlier "paper" versions with later "slick" versions. The slick versions have a burnished reddish color and red inner sleeve covers; they also have the "round" TSR logo on the front instead of the old fashioned earlier "slanted" logo.
Mars wrote:The two examples that I have are the DMGR9 Of Ships and the Sea (I think any print - not sure if more than 1 print exists) and the 10th print of PHBR4 The Complete Wizard's Handbook (round logo). Both of these are just cheap cardstock covers with the white paper showing on the inside covers.The redish inside suggests to me that it is still what I call a plasticy cover and I can't say that I have noticed much difference in material from early to later versions that have the plasticy cover.Here are some examples of the later printings that have the cardstock cover: ** expired/removed eBay auction ** ** expired/removed eBay auction ** ** expired/removed eBay auction **In a couple of these, you can see the cardstock starting to roll at the corners and some discolouration on the cover which you don't tend to get with the heavier plasticy covers. I think I call them plasticy because you can take a wet paper towel and wipe these covers off both inside and out where as if you do this with the later cardstock ones you will get water damage.
deimos3428 wrote:That was beautiful, guys. You'll make a 2e collector out of me yet.
