Cheating Scribd

Datatalk + Wallpaper

Okay, first of all: don't support piracy! If you like something, then simply buy it!

Now, I can understand you want to preview something before actually buying it, and in that case I'll close one eye and consider a download for preview to be acceptable. Obviously, I expect you to actually buy the product if you like it, and otherwise delete what you downloaded.

Scribd

Now Scribd is a decent source for downloading, and that makes it a bad place to be. (Another possible source is the Internet Archive, which is abused by some as a document repository.)

But back to Scribd... Scribd is basically helping people steal. Their website contains tons of illegally uploaded stuff, and they ask YOU to pay for downloading illegally uploaded stuff.

Scammers.

So, let's scam the scammers. (And again, if you like a product, buy it, or the author will never create additional works!) Unfortunately, these 'resellers of stolen wares' will still make a small penny on showing you adds, but that's the way that it is.

How?

0. First a warning: you may end up on all sorts of fake pages, run into pop-ups, and if there are any zero day exploits that work on your system, you'll be toast. So do this at your own risk!

1. Look for the document you want on Scribd. It will usually have a format like this:

https://www.scribd.com/document/557442264/HumblewoodCampaignSetting-V1-04

2. Now, replace the first part of the URL until you get this:

https://www.scribd.vdownloaders.com/document/557442264/HumblewoodCampaignSetting-V1-04

The above mechanism didn't work for me, but using the website did.

How again?

0. First a warning: you may end up on all sorts of fake pages, run into pop-ups, and if there are any zero day exploits that work on your system, you'll be toast. So do this at your own risk!

1. Go to https://scribd.vdownloaders.com/ (careful with pop-ups and false virus alerts etc.)

2. Copy the original Scribd URL into the download field:

https://www.scribd.com/document/557442264/HumblewoodCampaignSetting-V1-04

3. Hit Enter

4. Click on Download PDF

5. Wait till the counter reaches zero

6. Click again on Download PDF

You may have to repeat step 6, as it throws other fake pages at you.

7. After a few attempts it brings up the iLide online PDF reader

8. Hit the download button inside the iLide window (little symbol with the download arrow)

9. Depending on your setup, it may open Acrobat or Edge to show the same PDF yet again (sigh).

Alternatives

Without a doubt this service will disappear, so just look around for alternatives once that happens.

Don't support piracy!

In fact, after browsing the downloaded version I actually did buy the Humblewood campaign setting box (in German, unfortunately) and bought the books from the US publisher (and paid an insane amount of shipping and taxes to top make things even worse). Now that's supporting a publisher. You might consider doing the same.

This is just an example, and in no way do I think piracy is good! I do think, however, that it's fine to get a preview / sample, and might already have decided to buy Humblewood based on a sample alone. But I couldn't find one anywhere.

To offer evidence, here's a pair of wallpapers made a few years ago, based on part of my D&D collection, for dual and triple monitor setups (though WallX works on either):

(Click any image to enlarge)

Since then my collection has seriously grown... It's in no way complete, and I've more or less completely ignored 1e and 4e (except the 4e core and essentials books).

Humblewood

As for Humblewood, it's a great setting and I am going to revisit it one of these days, as soon as my English Humblewood books are in.