Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Ravenarchon Aug 21, 2014 16:30:18	Greetings all. I am having a bit of an issue with the overall print quality of the PHB for 5e and I'm wondering if it's just me and maybe I should call customer service or something, or if in general this is what the books are like.   So I got my PHB(s) yesterday (I ordered two of them), and while I like the presentation and design well enough - the whole parchment/watercolor design is growing on me, and most of the art is pretty good - the actually print quality of the books is... well... upsetting.   I have glue issues with the binding and suck pages - especially towards the binding making it so some pages don't open all the way up cause they're stuck together at the back - ALL the pages themselves are warped in a scalloped pattern like they suffered very bad water damage and then redried. And the thicker plain color pages that are glued to the front and back cover of the book are also glued sloppily, with glue coming out the bottom side - which caused several of the first and last pages of the books to be solidly stuck to their respective covers and had to be carefully pried apart.   Keep in mind this is both copies, both with all the same exact issues. Is this something customer service can fix or is this the general quality of the books and I shouldn't even bother with customer service?
#2 Kalani Aug 21, 2014 16:35:58	I have some slight scalloping on my copy as well, in addition to faded print in sections.... It is somewhat annoying thats for certain. I do not know what the issue was at the printing press, but it appears that a large number of 1st edition copies have varying levels of print issues.
#3 arderkrag Aug 21, 2014 17:35:19	Really? Again? I haven't had any binding problems, but I do have some lighter printed text in some places. It seems like for fifty bucks, we could get books that don't have print quality or construction issues.
#4 alienux Aug 21, 2014 17:46:14	There are several thread where others have books with similar problems.   They are not all like this. Mine is in perfect shape, as are a lot of others from responses in the other threads. I'd take them back and get better copies, or at least call WotC customer service and see what they say.
#5 Kalani Aug 21, 2014 18:06:13	I am aware of the other threads, and until now I have yet to say anything about my copy. Do the slight imperfections bother me? Yes, somewhat. However that does not make me want to fume and rant and rave like a crazy person. The production issues aren't even severe enough for me to want to return my copy.... I have purchased things with far worse production faults in my day. These things happen, and (with the exception of binding issues), don't affect the ability to use the book to any serious degree (the faded print is still legible for example).   Being a perfectionist though, I looked at a good half-dozen copies of the PHB before purchasing my copy. Of the 50-odd copies of the PHB that I saw at my local FLGS, all of them had scalloped pages, so I just assumed it was an issue with the paper choice reacting with the amount of ink. Doesn't explain why some of the ink is faded though - but again, I reiterate: It's not as big a deal as some people make out.   The glue failing on the binding however - that happens from time to time with a new print run. I would return any copy with failing glue, and get it replaced. Those defect copies will likely find their way to a new home where they will be treasured.
#6 seti Aug 21, 2014 18:16:52	This might be a first run issue. Printing isn't always perfect, plates are often reset/recalibrated during the process, and the books are as cheaply printed as possible. I had some issues with a few of my 3e and 4e books too. Thankfully, they were minor, and limited to just one or two pages.   That being said, it is a shame...For what we pay, it just shouldn't be. Maybe people shouldn't send a job out to the lowest bidder, lol.   I am more concerned with editing. I hate seeing spelling and continuity errors in books. That "See page xx" crap I saw in several 4e books really pissed me off.   It's also not like is has to be this way. I picked up a printed in China hard cover HP Lovecraft complete collection printed for Barnes and Noble. It's gorgeous, well bound, gilded, and stitched. over 1000 pages and only 20 bucks. True, it's obviously not full color inside, but my point is, it's possible to do at least binding right and not have it cost too much.   I hope this is fixed by the 2nd or 3rd run, which by how well the PHB is selling, should be pretty soon.
#7 trebor_rjf Aug 21, 2014 18:36:27	i had a tiny bit of extra glue sticking the black paper on the inside cover to the edge of the page with the sword guy. it didn't case any problems and came off like a bit of half-dried rubber cement. there was also a drop gluing the character sheet pages together halfway up and about a half inch out from the spine. i just carefully peeled them back and the glue came off easily. there's also a paragraph or two of text in the spells section that's a bit faded and i have a feeling there will be a few more places like that i just haven't found yet.   even with all that said, i feel like i stole this by only paying 29$ for it off amazon. As an alpha tester, i'd seen early versions of the book and felt like i knew what to expect. However, i wasn't ready for having such a final, polished product in my hand, i know there's a few spell errors and the like, but the game as a whole and the presentation of the book are awesome. I've never been more pleased with a gaming product.    Also, take a minute to appreciate just how damned shiny the cover is.
#8 joeburgos Aug 21, 2014 18:49:40	Wow, I must be lucky then, I picked up 2 copies, one at my FLGS and one at Gen Con. Both are perfect, no binding issues (in fact the spine is pretty well sewn/glued and very sturdy), no color fade or font smudge issues.   Seems pretty isolated. I would return for exchange. Amazon is super easy, they'll just ship you a new one and you mail back the bad one.