I made a terrible life decision…

[Morrus]

I wasn’t an avid collector of TSR/D&D fiction but I did enjoy Dragonlance and the Menzoberranzan trilogy as a kid.

This has ended up being a D&D fiction and Tolkien section (just because Tolkien fitted into that space).

I have a ton of other fantasy fiction to work through too, of course. And a lot of sci-fi fiction. I have my work cut out for me!

Oh, and I didn’t realise I’d managed a mini collection of history books too! Not really my thing so just a handful over the decades.

 

[timbannock]

It becomes a lot easier if you move into a coffin-sized apartment in LA. I had to dump 95% of my collection.

That said, I'd still organize it the same way whether it's the 30-40 books I have now or the many hundreds I used to own:

• By game
• Core rules on the right (as I'm right-handed)
• Rules supplements to the left of that
• Settings/adventures to the left of that
• "Tools" at the end (GM screens, etc.)

I tend to keep games relatively close together by genre, too, so my fantasy stuff is all next to one another, my sci-fi next to one another...but that's not a hard and fast rule. For example, all my *Borg games are in one place, and those obviously span a wide gamut of genres. It's simply because they are all the same size, so it's how they fit on the shelf that matters there (my book shelf -- yes, singular! -- has varying shelf heights).

 

[Clint_L]

It'll feel so good when you are done, though!

 

[Sacrosanct]

Finally getting moved in. The organization is a loooong process. I should have done a much better job packing. Especially the minis. Organizing them is a bear...The letter trays from Ikea is a great idea though. They slide out, making access to the minis work well. Now I need to get the label maker out and label each tray with what's on them.

As an aside, years ago I have away 90% of my gaming collection. Regretted it for awhile, but after this move, I'm not regretting it now lol.

 

[Distracted DM]

Seeing other folks shelves makes me feel better about my own crazy collection I'm not alone..

 

[Flying Toaster]

I used to buy them all, but stopped a few years ago. I was really keen on the Starfinder ones, as the TTRPG industry is so fantasy based. Fantasy battlemaps are available in the tens of thousands. I have scores of them, and in digital format I have hundreds--to the point where fantasy battlemaps are near worthless to me, they're so abundant. Sci-fi, much harder to find (which is exactly why we put 30+ poster sized sci-fi battlemaps in the Voidrunner's Codex box set).

Modern? Nigh impossible. They just don't exist. If somebody started making those, I'd be their first customer.

I have just accepted that I am a Paizo battle mat collector. I love the art style and plan on eventually using their products at the table. Paizo seems to have discontinued their accessory lines except for pawn sets for core books and flip-mats for their two RPGs. Some of the newer flip-mats are probably meant to be generic replacements for out-of-print map packs and flip tile sets. The Starfinder flip tiles are a pretty good solution for science fiction games.

The British company Loke Battle Mats has a fantasy line that I like a lot, but they also have a few sci-fi products as well. Their basic Science Fiction books are out of print and only available in digital form, but they also have a deal with R. Talsorian Games to make battle mats for the Cyberpunk RED and Shadow Scar RPGs. Shadow Scar has a ninja-vs-yokai theme and four different settings: Nakatsukuni (feudal era Japan, lots of cherry blossoms), 5th Street (early 20th century noir, useful for gangster or espionage games), Steel Court (steampunk), and Refuge (science fiction). It is not much compared to the plethora of fantasy options, but some of the Cyberpunk and Shadow Scar designs could be used for modern settings.

 

[Morrus]

The British company Loke Battle Mats has a fantasy line that I like a lot, but they also have a few sci-fi products as well. Their basic Science Fiction books are out of print and only available in digital form, but they also have a deal with R. Talsorian Games to make battle mats for the Cyberpunk RED and Shadow Scar RPGs. Shadow Scar has a ninja-vs-yokai theme and four different settings: Nakatsukuni (feudal era Japan, lots of cherry blossoms), 5th Street (early 20th century noir, useful for gangster or espionage games), Steel Court (steampunk), and Refuge (science fiction). It is not much compared to the plethora of fantasy options, but some of the Cyberpunk and Shadow Scar designs could be used for modern settings.

I know them well. They're friends of ours.

 

[The Soloist]

That is indeed quite an undertaking!

For me, pruning my games, books and wargames was the key. Other than 'classics' I don't want to part with, I routinely give away or sell my games. I have a X linear feet of shelving and everything must fit. The shelves are full. If I buy a new game, something has to go. It helps buy less, or buy digital only.

Other wise everything is alphabetical regardless of genre.

 

[Morrus]

For me, pruning my games, books and wargames was the key. Other than 'classics' I don't want to part with, I routinely give away or sell my games.

To me, it's a collection. Much like some people collect stamps or rocks or Funko Pops, I collect books and games. So the 'library' is a goal unto itself.

There are much bigger collections out there, of course, but I do enjoy mine. I like working in my office surrounded by shelves of my books.

 

[The Soloist]

To me, it's a collection. Much like some people collect stamps or rocks or Funko Pops, I collect books and games. So the 'library' is a goal unto itself.

There are much bigger collections out there, of course, but I do enjoy mine. I like working in my office surrounded by shelves of my books.

If I had kept everything in my 'game collection' since 1980, my gaming room would be filled to the ceiling, and I wouldn't be able to use it, or open the door for fear hundreds of games and miniatures would spill out.