Completely Annotated Rules - work in progress!

[mjharper]

A couple more things to add from my point of view:

- I can easily change the margins to have different sizes on the left and right, if that helps (obvious, but I thought it worth mentioning)
- I could produce two versions, one for A5 and one for (half) US letter. But then I would have to abandon the smaller documents for single expansions, simply because maintenance  spiral out of control if I didn't.
- One of the benefits of redoing the CAR is that I'm trying to keep all the graphics in-line rather than in fixed positions on the page (which is how most of the current version is): although you won't notice any difference, it should be easier to produce version of various sizes, because everything will move around properly.
- I'm going to stick with A5 at the moment.

[Gantry]

Personally, my vote is less work is better.  It means that it is more likely that you'll be able to afford the time to do updates.  We can't forget and always appreciate how you volunteer your time for this!  A5 is good enough for me.

[Joff]

I'm with Gantry. A5 is OK with me

[Scott]

Maintaining multiple documents is not the best use of your time. The fewer the better.

[Novelty]

I vote for A5 too.

[dwhitworth]

Since we all seem to be voting, I will add my vote for the simplest solution for Matt - A5 if that is it. I use the CAR in electronic form 99% of the time and if I want to print it (in Canada on paper sizes defined by our neighbour to the south) I am prepared to struggle with the resulting issues on my own time. (After all I use Windows and I struggle all the time with that . . .  ) Maybe it is time for a Mac after all . . . .

[Joff]

I agree. The simplest solution is A5. If there are those that want a printed copy (me ), then I too am prepared to overcome the printing limitations to get a copy.

[mjharper]

Maintaining multiple documents is not the best use of your time. The fewer the better.

Totally agree I wonder how many people actually use the individual rules for expansions (and so on)? At the moment, for example, when I make a spelling correction, I have to make in the main document, and the 'section' document.

If no-one actually uses those smaller documents, maybe it's time to abandon those too?
______
I'll stick to A5, but I'll post another draft later which has wider margins… maybe that will help.

[Novelty]

I think you can delete the individual ones and just point them to the CAR.

[Scott]

If people still want the individual documents, you'd be better off PDFing just those pages from the CAR, and then add a cover page saying that the following pages are an excerpt from the CAR.

Example:
AnnotatedRules.doc -> AnnotatedRules.pdf
CoverPage.doc -> CoverPage.pdf
...
AnnotatedRules.doc -> TheTower.pdf
AnnotatedRules.pdf
CoverPage.doc
CoverPage.pdf -> TheTower.pdf
...
AnnotatedRules.doc
AnnotatedRules.pdf
CoverPage.doc
CoverPage.pdf
TheTower.pdf

[mjharper]

All of the individual documents were made in the same way as you describe, then just updated when there are corrections. So with the new expansion I'll add it to the CAR, duplicate the file, and delete all the bits I don't need. The thought was that if I just export the section, all the page numbers and footnote numbers wouldn't make sense…

It isn't really a problem (earns me more GeekGold at BGG to ) but  I just wouldn't want to do two sizes of the CAR, and two sets of stand-alone files too. That would be four documents to correct every time, and that's just too much effort.

[Scott]

The thought was that if I just export the section, all the page numbers and footnote numbers wouldn't make sense…

Hence the idea of a cover page letting the reader know where it came from and that there is further reading available.

[mjharper]

You're right, it would probably be a good idea to let people know about the 'further reading'… I'm not sure about a covering page, though. Some of the rules are only a single page as it is! But I see your point.

[mjharper]

Okay, I've just uploaded a new version of the reworked CAR. It now covers everything for the basic game—rules, footnotes, tile distribution—as well as having the Introduction I added last time, and space for the title page and contents.

There's a couple of interesting things about the new file, though. Taking everything into account, the rules for the basic game in this document span 10 pages—just like the old version you can find in the Downloads section. And that's despite being A5 rather than A4. Sure, I reduced the font size, but I would still have expected it to cover more pages.

And most surprising is the size: while the old version clocked in at 1.7 MB, this new one (including the Introduction and so on) is just 556 KB. A third of the size!

That's exported at the 'Good' setting; exporting two settings higher at 'Best' results in a 1.4 MB file and (naturally) much better quality graphics. So we'll can now offer two versions of the CAR—a lightweight version for browsing on the computer or printing in A5, and a quality version for printing on A4.

I am happy.

[Joff]

I am happy.

...and so you should be. Excellent. I think reducing to A5 is definately the way to go. I like the smaller format. Two thumbs up!