Is it Lord of the Rings, or because it's paper?

[Freeshadow]

Nope. You overthink it.
I really only literally meant that the newer stuff might be more colorful but is too simple compared to what we are familiar with.

[Katsunami]

Oh, OK. But there are newer RPG's that are as deep as older ones, such as The Witcher series, Pillars of Eternity, Divinity: Original Sin, and shortly, Torment: Tides of Numenera.

With regard to map drawing and taking notes... well... I'd like the game to draw/reveal the map for me, and keep a journal (into which I can type my own notes as an addition, ideally).

[haydnfan]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Weird. I'm reading Lord of the Rings again. On paper.

The first time I read Lord of the Rings it was on mass market paperback split into the three volumes. While it's not as immediately engaging as I find modern fantasy to be, it was very readable.

When I tried to reread it years later I got in all in one trade paperback. The line width is huge, and it's a real struggle to stay focused on the page. And I read the Silmarillion with any problem.

I own a very nice deluxe hardcover set printed on glossy paper with Alan Lee's beautiful artwork. Those hardcovers are larger than normal but still with small font size and again very long lines. Sounds like that might be what you have too.

I read on a website that the ideal line width for reading fiction is 50-60 characters. That really seems to be true for me. It's not as enjoyable or engaging for me outside of that range.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by haydnfan

I own a very nice deluxe hardcover set printed on glossy paper with Alan Lee's beautiful artwork. Those hardcovers are larger than normal but still with small font size and again very long lines. Sounds like that might be what you have too.

I have the 2005 edition, illustrated by Alan Lee, based on the 50th Anniversary revised text of 2004.

I read on a website that the ideal line width for reading fiction is 50-60 characters. That really seems to be true for me. It's not as enjoyable or engaging for me outside of that range.

Some people say it's 50-60 characters, others say it's 60-70. The 2005 illustrated edition has a line length of 65-67 characters. On my KA1, I set the font so it has around 55-60 characters line length.