GURPS 3rd Ed Fantasy Vs GURPS 4th Ed Banestorm

[Raw Shark]

A question for GURPS fans who own or have read both GURPS 3rd Ed Fantasy (IE: The book with the old Yrth writeup and a few pages of general genre advice) and the new GURPS 4th Ed Yrth setting book, GURPS Banestorm. I am a pauper and nobody really wants to play GURPS with me anymore, so deciding whether to spring for their 4th Edition stuff is a big deal for me and none of my local stores have this one to thumb through. So I ask: Is this one worth it, and if you're feeling ambitious, why or why not? Thank you for your opinions.

[Enforcer Talen]

If you dont have the money, stick with 3rd. 4th is fun, I love the expansion on cinematic rules, but its not at all encessary for a good game.

[Raw Shark]

If you dont have the money, stick with 3rd. 4th is fun, I love the expansion on cinematic rules, but its not at all encessary for a good game.

Would you say that cinematic rule expansions make up the bulk of new material presented? I have to admit I've never really been a fan of "Cinematic Rules GURPS." If I wanted to run a highly-cinematic fantasy campaign I'd probably use something like the Feng Shui or Exalted mechanics with the setting filed off unless the focus was meant to be more on cinematic interpersonal drama than cinematic action/adventure.

[Enforcer Talen]

I wouldnt say they make up the bulk, although they are presented much easier from 3rd. IE, in 3rd, you might get 2 actions a round, while in 4th, you can get all sorts of interesting things.

I think a lot of the price is in the very pretty pictures, and I found the binding weak for how often I flip the pages. Good material tho, but you are paying for pretty.

[Raw Shark]

I wouldnt say they make up the bulk, although they are presented much easier from 3rd. IE, in 3rd, you might get 2 actions a round, while in 4th, you can get all sorts of interesting things.

I think a lot of the price is in the very pretty pictures, and I found the binding weak for how often I flip the pages. Good material tho, but you are paying for pretty.

Ah-HA, now there's a deal-breaker, thanks. I've encountered the weak binding problem with one 4th ed book myself so far, though the rest have been as solid as I expect for a $30 hardcover. I don't know if they're using two different print shops or what but if they are, one of them seriously needs to go.