A plethora of gaming material: How do you find it and decide to buy it?

[Elodan]

Reading EN World's home page and some of the sites of my prefered gaming publishers I was wondering:

With all of the game material out there how do you find what interests you?

How do you decide on your purchases?

Tom
(Woo hoo! Post 100!)

 

[Crothian]

I read the publisher forum as they usually announce the big releases. I read the threads talking about what people are waiting for. I also try to have a focus on what type of gaming things I want, though I will admit to an utter and total failure with that part usually.

 

[BWP]

With all of the game material out there how do you find what interests you?
How do you decide on your purchases?

I try and stay focussed on what will enhance my currently active games. I browse titles and quick descriptions of new products, read reviews where possible on those that look like some direct relevance, and make a note of the stuff I think I'll like. There's a method to it all, but it isn't especially scientific.

 

[Turanil]

While on Enworld I do read discussions concerning products, and at times my interest is sufficiently aroused so I eventually buy the book. However, it's almost random if I am eventually satisfied with the product or not.

 

[Li Shenron]

With all of the game material out there how do you find what interests you?

How do you decide on your purchases?

I wait for a few months after the book is out, read a lot of reviews and discussions about it, then if I can I try to borrow the book from someone who already has it (for WotC book is quite easy) and give it a look, otherwise a couple of trips to the LGS.

 

[delericho]

I keep track of what Wizards, Green Ronin and Malhavoc publish, and will at least take a look at everything. Likewise, I keep track of the Babylon 5 game line from Mongoose. Other than that, I don't really pay too much attention, and will only take a look at something if it is hyped here or in one of the magazines, or I happen to see it in my FPGS, and it piques my interest. (An example is the "High Level Feats for the Fighting Man" pdf, which was mentioned here, and which I found most useful.)

I generally find that the game works best with just a few well-chosen supplements and house rules anyway, so I'm mostly reading books for the ideas.

 

[Buttercup]

I just buy it all.

Seriously, I collect everything published by a few publishers, for the rest I just examine the book and buy it if I like it. A number of publishers have not released any D20 stuff for a while, so my current "buy sight-unseen" list only includes Necromancer and Green Ronin. I have been buying all the Conan books, all the Midnight books and all the Kalamar books as well. I do not buy everything WotC puts out, and in fact I am increasingly finding that they are not publishing things that interest me. Eberron is not appealing to me at all, and since that property is taking over, slowly but surely, I can envision a day when I stop buying WotC products altogether.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

There are some publishers that I like more than others. Sword Sorcery and two of its subsidiaries: Arthaus and Malhavoc along with Mongoose, Alderac, Green Ronin and Kenzerco. I try to keep up with their news as best as I can, and if I can't decide on a purchase, I head to the ENWorld reviews section, which helps tremondously. I also have a subscription to Dragon magazine, so I also look out for any new adverts.

As per WotC purchases, there isn't a lot that doesn't pique my interest. I try to collect all the WotC books, except for Eberron, as it is not my cup of tea. I am a diehard fanboy of the Forgotten Realms, so I get my hands on all of the material for it.

 

[JoeBlank]

I wait for a few months after the book is out, read a lot of reviews and discussions about it, then if I can I try to borrow the book from someone who already has it (for WotC book is quite easy) and give it a look, otherwise a couple of trips to the LGS.

I've started doing this too, and been much happier for it. The first couple of years of d20 and 3e, I felt the urge to buy everything the day it was released. Now, I appreciate those who take that risk and voice there opinions, especially the ones who write reviews here and at www.d20zines.com/

I still by far more stuff than I will ever be able to use, but at least now I am pleased with the majority of my purchases and enjoy reading them.

 

[amethal]

I try and stick to WotC stuff.

I decide in advance which product lines to buy, and which to ignore (so far, ignoring Eberron, Forgotten Realms, Races of ..., Heroes of ... and the Draconomicon etc. series).

I decide this by using the time honoured methods of prejudice and ignorance, but then break my own rules later (I own Eberron Campiagn Setting, Libris Mortis and Lost Empires of Faerun).

I also buy 3rd party stuff that gets talked about a lot, as I can't keep my curiosity under control, so I own Mutants and Masterminds and Castles and Crusades.

There's also some stuff I can't resist for nostalgic reasons, such as the Lone Wolf RPG.

I'll buy almost any PDF if it looks like a bargain and is vaguely interesting. (After all, one day I might even get to play Blue Rose, so the PDF would be handy ...)

Enworld is my main source for information on new releases and time tested classics.

My main problem is lack of shelf space, not lack of money to buy roleplaying books.