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Cramping into 1 page, or expand to 2?

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X3M
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During modification of my manual. I noticed that things can get very cramped.

To keep a keen overview. Most rules are reserved to have only their own line. The whole manual is like this. But I changed one of the pages.

The rules on this page are more cramped now. And I feel that this is incorrect.

However, having the rules expanded back into the same layout as the other rules. Would mean that I have a big empty page in the manual.

I do not wish to have another chapter begin halfway on a page.

What would be best?
Accept the big blank page and try to expand the rules a bit more by using a different wording?

Or keep the cramped page as it is, as exception on the whole manual?

ceethreepio
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Can we see it?

Why not post your manual and let us take a look? It's difficult to offer advice without actually seeing the problem. There may be alternative formatting tricks or simply rewriting the text that may also work?

questccg
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Maybe this can help

Can you do something "in-between"??? What I mean is that take your rules, give them sufficient spacing and take like 1 Page (100%) + 1/4 Page (25%). What you could do is ADD some "Section" dividers (like Headings) to add more spacing.

For example:

Wall of text...
On the entire Page 1...
100%...

Some text...
On top of Page 2...
25%...

INSTEAD something like:

Section #1
Some text...

Section #2
On the page but broken up

Section #3
100% ... but now more than 50% on Page 2.

Section #4 (On Page 2)
Some Text

Section #5
50% on Page 2...

And if you still have too much EMPTY space on Page 2. Add an IMAGE from your game. Be it Artwork (A card illustration), a 3D Model (if it's a Wargame), etc.

That should help break up the Wall of Text and spill over more content to the 2nd Page and with the image... That should fill in the 2nd Page too.

Cheers!

let-off studios
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Examples

Sight unseen, but could you use the additional space to add in more diagrams, examples, and images? Personally, I don't think those could ever hurt as long as they're well-done and useful.

questccg
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A Sample to compare and inspire!

questccg wrote:
...And if you still have too much EMPTY space on Page 2. Add an IMAGE from your game. Be it Artwork (A card illustration), a 3D Model (if it's a Wargame), etc.

Here take a look at what we've done with some pages:

Cheers!

X3M
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Joined: 10/28/2013
An image as example

While it is a hobby game. I find it a bit tedious to provide examples in the main manual.

I got a separate document for examples. Because there are MANY possibilities to use as "example proofs" if you will. And providing insufficient might lead to confusion.

Still, I will add an example. But I have to be very careful to not add one that might create confusion at first. Perhaps I should add examples and make the '1' page into 3.

Each example builds up on the previous one if you will. Addressing every "new" rule that is added.

It will be a tough call. But I will try it. Once done, I could add pictures. One for each example, showing some soldiers etc as well.

The shown pieces. I got over 100 different designs. So the ones shown, need to be described as well if needed. That is what makes it harder. I need to get the reader into the battle situation if I add examples. Even, if it is only based on simple statistics.

Jay103
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Why would there be an entire

Why would there be an entire blank page? Do you only start new "chapters" on even page numbers? Or is this the last page of the manual? Or..? If it's a chapter thing, why wouldn't you start it at the top of the blank page?

Or are you saying that you'd end up with like 3 lines at the top of an otherwise blank page? In that case, yeah, either find a way to squish something, or, better, add some graphics/examples/clarification. Maybe increase your font size, or make some of the one-line rules into two-line rules that are slightly clearer?

I had an issue like that on the final page of my campaign book, so I filled it with some images of the custom dice layouts, just so people could see them. Then the printer screwed up that image and I wish I'd just left it blank :(

X3M
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Fonts!

Jay103 wrote:
Or are you saying that you'd end up with like 3 lines at the top of an otherwise blank page?

Exactly that.
Jay103 wrote:
Maybe increase your font size, or make some of the one-line rules into two-line rules that are slightly clearer?

Yikes! I didn't try the font size. I guess that brain cell died on me. I am using 10 at the moment. Would it

Hard to explain this in proper english. But most rules got cut up into two or even three line rules. It looked super neat at first. I also added empty lines to separate slightly different subjects from each other.

Due to changes in some rules. I had to add a couple of lines. I got to the point that even removing those empty lines didn't help.

Jay103 wrote:

I had an issue like that on the final page of my campaign book, so I filled it with some images of the custom dice layouts, just so people could see them. Then the printer screwed up that image and I wish I'd just left it blank :(
Auch, I have that issue with an Event card. My friends look funny (make faces) at me when they draw that card. (Their funeral (in the game))
I hope the mistake didn't cost much.

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