Boxed Sets

[WSmith]

One thing I was wondering about is durablility. How many people's old box sets have fallen apart over the years?

If you are very careful with them, they will last a mighty long time. My Holmes Basic D&D set only has one corner that has popped. My 1981 Moldvay D&D Basic and Top Secret boxes are still in great condition. Boot Hill: the box is in great shape but the rule book is held together by a single rusty staple.

Nostalgia is a major factor, however one thing often gets overlooked. There is a great psychological factor of opening a box set to start a game and closing the box to end a session. I can't quite explain what it is. Perhaps it emphisizes the "game" aspect of "role playing game." I dunno.

 

[John Morrow]

I love boxed sets, especially when it contains things like the Wilderlands, Aeroth, Rappan Athuk: Reloaded, City of Brass, and the upcoming "Castle whiterock".

I got to see a finished copy of Castle Whiterock this weekend because I role-play with one of the authors. It's a very impressive boxed set that illustrates two of the advantages of the boxed set, even though I normally prefer books.

First, rather than carrying around a single 700+ page book for reading or reference while playing, the adventure is divided into several smaller books. Second, it contains a gazetteer for part of the setting that can be used independently or with any of the adventure books, again, without carrying a single huge book around.

 

[Odhanan]

It's easier to fit goodies into a boxed set -- poster-sized maps, separate booklets for players and GM's, dice, player handouts, whatnot.

There's also a nostalgia factor. I started out with the red-box Basic Set, so opening a boxed set brings back some of the excitement from when it was all new to me.

Correct, there's also the "X-mas box" effect for me. It's like opening a gift. I like the feeling a lot. Seriously.

 

[Arnwyn]

Why I love 'em:
- Poster maps. Poster maps, poster maps, poster maps. Did I mention poster maps?
- Handouts
- Divided into several smaller books, which for me is easier to reference than one monstrous hardcover.

Durability is fine - more than 15 years for many box sets of mine.

 

[mcrow]

I've alway like boxed sets. Generally you get maps and other goodies you can fit easily in a books, plus you have a little extra room for some of your own stuff.

 

[ivocaliban]

Why I love 'em:
- Poster maps. Poster maps, poster maps, poster maps. Did I mention poster maps?
- Handouts
- Divided into several smaller books, which for me is easier to reference than one monstrous hardcover.

Durability is fine - more than 15 years for many box sets of mine.

QFT

Of course, I came to gaming during the transitional period from boxed sets to hardcover books. The first three D&D items I purchased were black box D&D Game, Rules Cyclopedia, and the Hollow World boxed set...all in the early '90s.

Interestingly enough, I didn't purchase another boxed set until I bought L5R's City of Lies boxed set around 2000. My most recent boxed set purchase was Wilderlands of High Fantasy. Judging by these three boxed sets alone, I'd have to say that I've preferred boxed sets to books so far.