Drive Thru RPG Print on Demand Service Review

[@XaviarCraig]

As someone looking to rebuild a long lost collection; thank you for sharing! I was iffy about ordering a large chunk of AD&D reprints but this shows they've got pretty good quality! I look forward to my bulk order arriving! That's an interesting way to bind the books. My brute force method for "book" making is to just print out all the pages of the PDF and slip them into page protectors and then into a binder. It works quite well and is very sturdy/durable but it takes up like 4 times as much shelf spaces for similar page count!

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

Yeah I love PoD its really helped me get my collection page. I have since just used staples as my binding rather than sowing. I still press and glue and cover with tape though

[@nordicmaelstrom4714]

I am looking forward to getting my copy of the Grand Duchy of Karameikos! I ordered that one, the Principalities of Glantri and the Thyatis and Alphatia boxed set from DriveThruRPG but I have to wait probably till the end of the month to receive them in the mail. I finally succumb to the temptation of Mystara thanks to Mr. Welch and his awesome channel and the setting will be my primary setting for my DnD games. I only play Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 1E/2E so I am very excited to have such an old school setting to run games in.

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

I have since ordered a few more such as the glantri book. Mr welch is an amazing resource for mystara. What do you think of the Ad&d mystara books? I am buying them too as I also used to play 2nd and fancy getting back into that

[@nordicmaelstrom4714]

@@TheBattlinBarrowGaming I am aiming to order the Northern Reaches and Dwarves of Rockholm books after the first three arrive. It is a shame they don't have the entire gazetteer line for print on demand. Mr Welch is indeed an amazing source for Mystara and one of the main reasons I decided on it. Well I haven't taken a look at the 2E books for it yet. I am on the fence about them just because I have heard they took away a lot of what made Karameikos a great place to adventure. The TSR editions of the game are pretty easy to convert to one another so I won't rush out to get them but I will eventually just for the added resources. Oh I totally agree! I got into DnD when I was 16 in 1999 and 2E was the game we played. I got away from 2E once 3.0 came out and returned to it in 2017 after I had had enough with wotc dungeons and superheroes. I never had as much fun playing wotc version of the game as I did playing the TSR versions. I sold what modern wotc books I had and now have a pretty large 2E collection which I am very happy about.

[@midnightgreen8319]

@@nordicmaelstrom4714 I started playing BECMI and then went to 2nd and 3rd edition. I was really a fan of 3rd for several years but it became absolutely exhausting trying to keep up with the books and class abilities!

[@ToseiSV3]

Great video, I am so happy I found this. Very helpful and to the point.

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Celadonis-the-Lore-Seeker]

Thank you very much for this video. Even though they could have more to choose from, I'm still very happy that reprints of this quality are an option, especially after seeing the price on some websites lol.

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

Yes on the second hand market the originals are far too expensive for me and these are an affordable option. I have bought many more since this video was made. They are good quality too.

[@fredericmanson441]

Excellent video!! I saw that the coloured books are well printed and the colours are "respected". Yep, they appear a little darker than the original ones, but they do their job very well. I like your binding process. Easy to do, cheap and I think durable. Some things I would change are to use plastic film to protect the both sides of the press from the PVA glue, glue a piece of binding tissue on the spine, and then I would sewn the book. To add a thicker cover is another job. As long as I build my PDF into printed books, I will be happy!!

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

Thank you. And thanks for the additional tips, I shall try these out next time. It is durable. Mine ate still going strong and see regular rabletop usage

[@pISSUMTREE]

I have ordered several POD items from Drivethrurpg over the years. Recently I just got a copy of B10 A nights dark terror and it turned out great. Took about a month to get but was worth it ! So far my favourite POD item has been the Ptolus hardcover .

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

Are you in the UK? I am always surprised at how quick I get mine, normally under a week. I do love having access to the old books again.

[@tonygonzales726]

Very nice! Takes me back to a better time. Wish i had the money then to buy all those original modules. Thanks for a great video. Will be ordering the desert of desolation bundle; one of my favourites!

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

Glad you enjoyed it! I'm still buying pod. Like yourself it allows me to get all those books I wanted back then but couldn't afford

[@Mozzytm]

Great tip on stitch binding. I'd never considered it but I've just printed the warhammer quest roleplay book and it's juuuust too big for those plastic spines. 10 mins or so with glue and stitching, bam!

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

Fantastic glad this helped. Actually I have my WHQ rpg book printed but it's in three sections with plastic spines. I can stitch bind it all together like you. Haha why didn't I think of that haha

[@organsinajar]

Was planning on picking up some planescape stuff and was unsure if print would be worth the extra few bucks. I think I have to now. Super informative video gonna have to check out your terrain vids

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

Thank you!

[@geofftottenperthcoys9944]

I have been using these guys for around 9 months, quite reasonable prices here in Australia. They used to be printed in the UK then sent here, but now they are printed here instead, saves a LOT on postage. I pay around $15AUD for express delivery (around 4 working days), used to be around 3 weeks (and $16AUD standard mail) from the UK! Looking to replace all that I lost over the years.

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

I can imagine that be a price saver on postage! Yeah I really like this service.

[@vodenmyshi]

I'm a collector as much as I am a gamer, and DriveThruRPG's Print-on-Demand service definitely interests me. I was wondering though- I noticed in your video a lack of a copyright page, does the Print-on-Demand print *exact* PDFs, or do they include new copyright pages to denote the new printing? I haven't been able to track anything down online one way or the other. Very appreciative of your bookbinding tutorial at the end!

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

They are printed as is with no new copyright page the last page is blank and has a QR code on. Also the covers are attached rather than removable like the originals with any maps being in the book rather than the inside cover so it's easy to tell the difference between original and print on demand. Glad you enjoyed the video. I've ordered many mo

[@dungeondan7119]

What a great video 👍 used to love these old dnd books especially the art work!

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

That 80s artwork.. Love it takes me right back

[@DhinCardoso]

The Art... oh! How I miss the ol'days of RPG

[@neohubris]

I just ordered the Orcs of Thar Gazeteer, one of my favourite books as a kid. Waiting for it to be delivered, hopefully it will look as the Gazeteer you reviewed.

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

I have got a lot more since then and have been happy with all of them! Hope yours arrives ok

[@awaytoanywhere699]

interesting. thinking about getting the ‘Rashemen’ setting book in the future. wondering what the posting fees from uk to the eu would be, though…

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

I'm not sure about the exact postage but I know due to recent events postage can by quite expensive from eu to UK

[@timsoyer3840]

Maybe I’m just stupid? But I’ve gone to their website and I cannot figure it out which titles or print on demand and which ones I’m just buying a PDF. And I find the whole website little hard to navigate.. I have a search bar if you type in a name of a book it seems like they give you everything but what you’re asking. I’m trying to get second edition, dungeons and dragons books reprinted. It would probably be a repeat customer, but I literally do not have any idea how to go to this website and order a full reprinting of the book. I don’t know what tabs to hit, and when I finally did find some of the titles I was looking for as I previously mentioned, I don’t know if I’m ordering some kind of a PDF file onto my computer or from ordering a book and if anyone could tell me, do they print anything of a hard cover? Not a big deal if they don’t but since I’m already asking questions, I made last night to. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

[@ScottAtkins49]

Great video, thanks!

[@francoiscolin6692]

As far as i love Drive Thru products i just don't get why the initial company does not offer the same service with better paper quality? Why WotC does not print D&D 2 anymore?

[@danacoleman4007]

I haven't finished the video yet, but I'm wondering why the margins are so wide. Seems like the printing could have been larger. And why did they even bother printing the map in that format?

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

Pod is basically just a high quality (I do mean high quality) ink jet print out so will have the same margins as what is possible on a home printer basically. It's not like they are do full re print runs for each invidual person, that just would be cost effective you end up paying 200+ per book.

[@DeusMachina71]

Every POD I've ordered from them I've regreted.. particularly the hardcovers, cheap, glued and messy.. I just print them myself these days for much less and spiral bind them.. it's better quality

[@thenovicedm7966]

Exactly how did you order a PRINT ON DEMAND product from DriveThru RPG? I'm very interested in replacing "lost" modules and books as well. I wasn't aware that there was such a service and need direction. Thanks!

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

So I use the desktop version of the site even on mobile. For me I buy a load of becmi modules so on the left hand side I select d&d>offical>becmi. Then on the left select format>print and that then lists all the pods

[@oldaccount1378]

oh wow! super cool!

[@franktt736]

Is there anything on these that say it is a reprint?

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

Yes, always on the bottom left of the last page is a QR code, which is a dead giveaway and the details of the company that did the reprint. Also they are always cover bound where as the original dnd modules the cover wasn't attached.

[@franktt736]

@@TheBattlinBarrowGaming Thanks!

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

No worries, you won't be able to get ripped off on the second hand market thinking you are getting an original

[@madquest8]

5E being so absolutely terrible has sent so many people retro it's INSANE. Everywhere I look people are going 1E or 2E it's amazing!

[@stephaniebri5837]

5E is great you just don't understand it. You don't have to hate the new thing in order to enjoy the old thing dude.

[@madquest8]

@@stephaniebri5837 5E is dumbed down trash designed for morons.

[@Arnsteel634]

I’m an OSE player, but 5E is a good game and product. The settings suck imho and the setting books aren’t near as good as earlier editions, not even close

[@DhinCardoso]

Do you ordered any hard cover version Is it good?

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

I've ordered a few, and really impressed with them

[@DhinCardoso]

@@TheBattlinBarrowGaming Tnks for replying and good to know it worth the investment - I just am reluctant because I hate to give money to the woke and greed WOTC =/

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

I get where you are coming from. I find that legacy warning they put on the page insulting

[@retretlol]

Always wanted to order stuff from Drive Thru but the shipping rates outsides of the US are insane.

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

Are you outside the UK too? It's about £4 here but that's per order rather than item so all the stuff in the video was £4 delivery

[@retretlol]

@@TheBattlinBarrowGaming I forgot the UK has a distribution center, but no such luck in Canada.

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

Oh wow that's like next door I wouldn't of thought it would of been that much, that's my ignorance. Is it cheaper to post from UK to Canada than US to Canada? If so I wouldn't mind having it shipped here via the UK service then I could post it on

[@AlexeiX1]

@@TheBattlinBarrowGaming last order I made to canada I paid around 30 dollars shipping, and it was their cheapest method that had no tracking number, was afraid for a while there. Im wanting to make a big order to make it worth it, thats why I came to your video, wnated to see what the hard covers look like, have you got any of those?

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

@@AlexeiX1 i do now. I got the d&d rules encyclopaedia in hardback and was really impressed. Dont know what i was expecting but it surpassed it.

[@christopherdecator9742]

"Specularum" sounds a bit like "Speculum," which is a medical device for examining body orifices. So perhaps there were enough inside jokes in playtest or at conventions to warrant a rebrand, but that's just... speculation.

[@smoothbrush4722]

Nice books.

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

They are and cheap too

[@stephaniebri5837]

I share the same gripes everyone else has with them, their website is atrocious and impossible to navigate. I'll never buy anything from them when I keep reading horror stories of people always getting the wrong books shipped.

[@midnightgreen8319]

This is only way I'm giving WOTC money. I'm collecting the X series adventures and some AD&D adventures as well. I completely love POD.

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

Same as me. I'm currently collecting b and cm series

[@midnightgreen8319]

@@TheBattlinBarrowGaming I missed grabbing Dwellers of the Forbidden City and I'm so upset that it's not available for POD currently. That one and the Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun are the last two I REALLY want. I did pick up Night's Dark Terror, that one is absolutely spectacular!

[@DhinCardoso]

Yeah! The downside of this is buying TSR things and giving money to the woke and greed WOTC, damn!

[@midnightgreen8319]

@@DhinCardoso They don't get much, I don't like it either, but I want those older adventures!

[@cody6321]

I just coughed while reading my copy of godbound and a little droplet of spit fucking devastated the spot it landed on. Shit quality printing.

[@timsoyer3840]

I find drive-through RPG and unpleasant experience going through their website. The search bar is all but useless.. I’m type in second edition, dungeons and dragons, and they give you a collection of everything but second edition, dungeons and dragons. You have to type in a specific name. And if you’re off, even just a little, you’ll get nothing. They have no dedicated spot for print on demand.. you literally have to go through item by item each one individually click on them just to see if you can get the print on demand. And it’s near as I can tell as far as dungeons and dragons second edition has very little in the way of print on demand. Even less in book form. Virtually none in hard cover.. but even then some of what they offer has stuff left out of it. If you can find what you’re looking for there. Great . It’s always wonderful to get a brand new book.. and I’ll keep looking myself. But I’m not wasting my time waiting for them to get around to printing certain . I’ll keep shopping at eBay.

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

OK sounds like you are going via s mobile phone? Use the desktop site or better yet access in pc and on the left hand side is a menu. From there filter by rule system and then dnd > 2nd Ed. Next go to filter and then print and boom all 2nd Ed print on demand. No search required

[@Democraps_are_narrow-minded]

Do you collect Dr Seuss?

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

I don't. Don't really know anything about Dr seuss.

[@Democraps_are_narrow-minded]

@@TheBattlinBarrowGaming i spent S$640 to collect the 6 banned titles of Dr Seuss. I tried selling on eBay but eBay removed my listings. I am screwed.

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

Oh why are they banned?

[@Democraps_are_narrow-minded]

@@TheBattlinBarrowGaming On grounds of imagery which depicts racism, hatred, discrimination. Portraying Chinese using a chopstick for his meal has been interpreted as being racist against the Chinese according to USA Leftwing Professors. We Chinese people rely on chopsticks when we are having our meals; it is our culture. How can that picture possibly be racist?

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

That seems crazy and really odd, Amost offensive to a nation?