Uncoated. I know, I know, the colours look duller. BUT it's so much more legible under direct light, and it's easier to scribble notes on. A win for the reader, in my opinion.

Gotta be case, AKA traditional hardcover. It's easy to open the pages flat, and the book won't fight you to stay open. I do like a thin card stock for the hardboard, otherwise known as a flexicover; all of the form factor of a hardcover, which a lot more flexibility in travel.

A long and meandering path from my illustration degree. I loved TTRPGs growing up, and ran them to solidify new friends into lifelong pals. From uni, I needed work to build out a "professional" looking portfolio, so I started making little D&D zines. Those got popular, so I spent more time writing and laying out, and I needed way more art than I could handle on my own. The snowballed into exclusively writing, designing, and art directing. And now I do those things full time, as Stout Stoat Press. Moral of the story: it's always worth helping out your friends!