Do you cover your RPG books?

[Tewligan]

I'm considering taking all of my softcovers to Kinko's to get them all rebound into one (or more) big binder or spiral ring book or something, with index tabs to mark the start of each book. Has anyone else done this? I've taken books there to be spiral bound before (mostly Games Workshop books that tend to fall apart if you speak harshly to them), and I'm quite pleased with those. It's a pretty cheap process, and I'm pretty sure that you can get a protective plastic cover when you do it.

Okay, I've just convinced myself to do it - I'm gathering up my softbacks and gettin' 'em rebound into one mighty tome! Further updates when the deed is done...

 

[Umbran]

Okay, I've just convinced myself to do it - I'm gathering up my softbacks and gettin' 'em rebound into one mighty tome! Further updates when the deed is done...

There's a problem with that. If you put them in one mighty tome,what happens if one person needs to look up something in Sword and Fist the same time someone else needs to look up something from Tome and Blood? By binding them in one book, you restrict their use to "serial processing", and can no longer use the books in parallel.

Not a problem if you're the only one who uses them, but if you are sharing oyour books with other players, this can be an annoyance.

 

[Leopold]

I have the dragonskins on the core books..save wear and tear on them..

 

[WillieW]

My books are mostly covered with tea and coffee stains.

 

[Quickbeam]

I did this for a very brief while with my core rule books (2E). But being a bit overprotective of my books to begin with, I found this too obsessive in its tendencies for my own good .

I do have friends with whom I game, that wrap all of their books except modules and lesser supplements. It just wasn't right for me any longer.

 

[Sulimo]

For most games, I'm too fond of the cover art to cover them.

For other games...I'm just too lazy!

Thats why you use a clear covering

Me, I do it with most softcover books. Havent done it with a HC book for years though (the last might have been the 2e DMG).

 

[Mistwell]

You know, I had never even considered it. And I went into this thread thinking "what are these guys obsessing about now", and have come out saying "hmmm, you know, that might not be a bad idea". I am about to retire my first 3e Player's Handbook due to one too many drinks poured on the pages...covering wouldn't have helped with that. But the cover, back, and binding are pretty beat as well, and a cover would have helped with that. Hmmm.

 

[TalonComics]

I've been trying to find covers similar to the ones used by libraries. I'm not sure if Eric Noah is paying attention to this thread but I wonder if he uses those?

~Derek

 

[Valavien]

I am glad I have given a few people some inspiration - finally!

I want to do it because I hate putting my books in my bag and then pulling them out to see that they have a mega dog ear because of movement in the bag. I am doing it for Masters of the Wild because it cost me $45 Australian! That's a lot for only 100 pages. I want it to last! I had not thought of purchasing from an art store, but that's a good idea as the quality should be good especially acid free.

 

[TBoarder]

I covered all of my 1E and 2E hardcovers with a clear adhesive cover. Turned out to be a big mistake. They no longer have that "feel" of an old book anymore. The covers are alos becoming dry and brittle, with the corners chipping off, leaving the adhesive still on the book itself. I have no idea how to remove it without destroying the books now.