Good Quality GM Binders

Bedrockbrendan · March 05, 2016, 07:18:55 PM

Recently I've noticed a trend with my binders: they break too easily. This never really happened until the last couple of years for some reason. I feel like most of the local stores are just carrying junkier brands or something. Either the spine pops off or the hoops don't align well and chew through the pages. I even had one that fell apart the first time I hit the tab to open the hoops. Anyone know of some solid brands I can order online that will stand up to the needs of a big campaign?

crkrueger · March 05, 2016, 07:29:36 PM

Avery Heavy Duty D-Ring Binders

Tough as Hell, but with one flaw:
Since the ring is attached to the back of the binder, not the spine, if you use those plastic 3-ring sheet protectors, the edge of the sheet will stick out a bit unless you get the larger dimension ones which are usually the very large size binders (3"+) and hard to find because they're a specialty thing.

The Sheet Protector sticking out a bit never bothered me though, and if you don't use them, there isn't a flaw and the d-ring on the back means you're putting less wear on the paper.

Spellslinging Sellsword · March 05, 2016, 09:15:17 PM

I have a Case-it binder that has a handle, carrying strap, folder pockets, and zippers that I have my Runequest 6 stuff in that I like.

crkrueger · March 05, 2016, 09:57:33 PM

Quote from: ptingler;883502I have a Case-it binder that has a handle, carrying strap, folder pockets, and zippers that I have my Runequest 6 stuff in that I like.

Oh yeah, those are cool, I used one for my character folio in CoC, it held all my notes as well as all the handouts, pictures, etc from numerous cases. In game it was a cross between a briefcase and an Ox Box (which I guess the real name of is Catalog Case). After a couple times of almost losing it, keeping it around and always going after it became kind of an Indy and his hat thing.

Ravenswing · March 06, 2016, 03:40:02 AM

I admit I took the cheap way out: my workplace was throwing hundreds away, all in different colors, and I brought a buttload home.

But part and parcel of the color choice is being able to put limited wear on things. White is my city/nation color, and I've got nine of them covering various regions and major cities. The one that gets the most wear is currently in a 3" WorldWide binder, which I think I switched into it two years ago.

Blue is my "system" color, and I've got three up, two of them 2" heavy duty Autolor binders which have my complete spell lists. They haven't needed replacing in six years. The third is a 1" Avery binder I use as a "GM screen" binder, with my various charts and references in it. I don't think it's been replaced in several years at least.

Three are inch-and-a-halfers I picked up a year and a half ago when I finally retired the "Red Book," a general stuff binder I'd nursed (and, by the end, duct taped up) for nearly thirty years. Lilac's for equipment, dusty rose is for religion writeups, violet's a catchall (calendar, skills, advantages, disads, races, orders & guilds, names, etc). The brand is "Samsii" or "Samsin," it's difficult to make out. They've held up perfectly well, but don't get an overwhelming amount of use. I keep a couple of slender half-inchers around, one that's a new character creation setup, the other a copy of the equipment list to hand to players.

Spreading it all out like that cuts down hard on wear. Another major factor is that except for about a dozen times in the mid-2000s when a very hot run day in summer would cause sessions to be moved to the place of a player with AC, I haven't GMed anywhere other than my home since 1986. I figure not schlepping my stuff around saves much wear and tear.

Breaking things up probably does as well. I wonder how much longer the "Red Book" would've lasted if it wasn't the go-to book for damn near everything.

Blusponge · March 06, 2016, 09:04:44 AM

These days I keep most of my campaign notes on Evernote so I can access them easily during play (on Roll20). On the physical side, my binder includes all my cheat/reference cards, a few house rules collections (weapons, travel, etc) and NPC statblock cards. That keeps it pretty light weight and low impact.

Lots of stuff I once might have kept in a binder, I now incorporate directly into the rulebook PDF. Replaced text, notes, extra pages, everything from errata to house rules goes right into the core rulebook for easy reference. Otherwise, I forget about it after two sessions.

Tom

Bedrockbrendan · March 06, 2016, 09:14:22 AM

Quote from: Ravenswing;883550I admit I took the cheap way out: my workplace was throwing hundreds away, all in different colors, and I brought a buttload home.

But part and parcel of the color choice is being able to put limited wear on things. White is my city/nation color, and I've got nine of them covering various regions and major cities. The one that gets the most wear is currently in a 3" WorldWide binder, which I think I switched into it two years ago.

Blue is my "system" color, and I've got three up, two of them 2" heavy duty Autolor binders which have my complete spell lists. They haven't needed replacing in six years. The third is a 1" Avery binder I use as a "GM screen" binder, with my various charts and references in it. I don't think it's been replaced in several years at least.

Three are inch-and-a-halfers I picked up a year and a half ago when I finally retired the "Red Book," a general stuff binder I'd nursed (and, by the end, duct taped up) for nearly thirty years. Lilac's for equipment, dusty rose is for religion writeups, violet's a catchall (calendar, skills, advantages, disads, races, orders & guilds, names, etc). The brand is "Samsii" or "Samsin," it's difficult to make out. They've held up perfectly well, but don't get an overwhelming amount of use. I keep a couple of slender half-inchers around, one that's a new character creation setup, the other a copy of the equipment list to hand to players.

Spreading it all out like that cuts down hard on wear. Another major factor is that except for about a dozen times in the mid-2000s when a very hot run day in summer would cause sessions to be moved to the place of a player with AC, I haven't GMed anywhere other than my home since 1986. I figure not schlepping my stuff around saves much wear and tear.

Breaking things up probably does as well. I wonder how much longer the "Red Book" would've lasted if it wasn't the go-to book for damn near everything.

In this case it isn't an issue of wear. In fact, I've never given binders a second thought in the past as they never presented any issues for me. These ones have literally been falling apart within days of purchase. I think a lot of the local stores are just carrying cheaper brands than they have in the past (and because I never gave binders a second thought before, not familiar with brands that are reliable).

There have been some good suggestions in this thread. Checking out these options and going to place some orders or see if staples has them.

RunningLaser · March 06, 2016, 02:08:21 PM

Not sure how these are, but they are billed as the strongest 3 ring binders in the world. They state that their binder's hinge will not fail with regular use.

Spellslinging Sellsword · March 06, 2016, 03:11:58 PM

Quote from: BedrockBrendan;883574Checking out these options and going to place some orders or see if staples has them.

I bought my Case-it at Staples. Looks like they sell them on Amazon too.

crkrueger · March 06, 2016, 03:12:15 PM

Quote from: RunningLaser;883643Not sure how these are, but they are billed as the strongest 3 ring binders in the world. They state that their binder's hinge will not fail with regular use.

Damn, gonna have to try one of those.

Bedrockbrendan · March 06, 2016, 04:46:56 PM

Quote from: RunningLaser;883643Not sure how these are, but they are billed as the strongest 3 ring binders in the world. They state that their binder's hinge will not fail with regular use.

Their wooden ones look real nice.

RunningLaser · March 06, 2016, 05:42:35 PM

As an aside, I really do like the loose leaf format for a rule book.

crkrueger · March 06, 2016, 05:43:25 PM

Quote from: RunningLaser;883681As an aside, I really do like the loose leaf format for a rule book.

Yeah Harnmaster kicks ass that way.

RPGPundit · March 10, 2016, 12:59:52 AM

I put everything on a tablet.

Bedrockbrendan · March 10, 2016, 08:31:29 AM

Quote from: RPGPundit;884307I put everything on a tablet.

Do you use a particular app or program? I prepare all my campaign notes, NPC, etc on the computer, but I find I am still in need of physical pages at the table. I haven't been able to find a way of organizing it on a tablet that is easy for me to manage. We do use a tablet to port in a player from far off Rhode Island though (he used to drive like 1.5 to 2 hours each way before we started doing that).