Do You Have Too Many Books?

[BiggusGeekus]

Heck, I've barely played at all in the last few years yet I continued to buy books in that period anyway!

Well, in my case, what I do is set a hard limit. US$40/month. Period.

And then I don't worry about it. I tend to get PDFs so I can buy more books, but ultimatley, I have a hard limit. It really sucks come time to subscribe to Dungeon or Dragon because I don't get that "instant gratification" feeling, but I do limit myself.

Figure out what is right for your gaming budget, stick to it, and release any guilt you might have. That's my advice.

 

[Evilhalfling]

I may have too many books. Really I can only use so many - my gaming bag holds about core + 2 and my notebook that means unless Im sure the host has the book I can only use 2 books outside core per session, unless I recopy all the required rules into the adventure notes.

The Game host has a large collection as well but lacks: Sandstorm, LoM, ComPsi, PHB II, BoED, ComArcane, MoP, FF, and XPH.

He has the following that I lack: All Race books, Eberron, Spell Compendium, 4+ 3rd party
ComWar and ComDiv.

Characters are made core only unless they have DM permission, and the other 3 other players (besides host) dont spend a lot of time looking through the other books for fun ideas.

The next DM is planning on running an Eberron game - but since she doesn't want to learn psionics, in addtion to the new world, I may have to forgo my Kalastar Psion (sigh)

 

[Crothian]

I think you already have these, considering I got these when judging...

Ya, I would have those. Good books though

 

[Herobizkit]

I'm another person who's guilty of "too many books". I'm like the raven when it comes to new and interesting concepts... new shiny, must have. Considering the actual amount (ie the small amount) of prep time I use for playing, the fact that I am in and also run nothing larger than solo campaigns, and given that life at 30 is much busier than life at 15... I really have no need of as many books as I have.

Granted, I do enjoy reading game manuals, if only to jog potential new ideas to try. 'Course, when I try and wedge every new idea into my still-forming solo campaign, it's just not worth it. I'll be looking to unload most of my rag-tag collection on eBay.

On the plus side, my solo player gave me a box of books to sell on eBay, and in his collection (mostly 2e stuff), I've rediscovered the joy that is Spelljammer. Wait 'till he finds out his nemesis race is from space... he'll hate me.

 

[beepeearr]

I wouldn't say I have too many, but I do have alot. I use some more than others, some I only use to cull ideas from, some I almost never look at, and have no plans to do so any time soon. I can sympathize with the storage thing, I have had three different bookshelves collapse on me within the last three. Now I use a 6' x 3' x 18" galvanized steel shelves that I added backing and sidewalls to. It fits 100+ hardbacks, with two other shelves filled with soft back books and Dragons and Dungeons, then I use the top for various odds and ends. It cost hundred bucks for the shelves and other materials, but so far it has lasted me over a year, plus the fact that the shelves are very deep allow me to keep other stuff I use in my game handy as well. One problem though, the edges are a bit sharp, not enough to cut flesh, but sharp enough to scar a book.

 

[frankthedm]

Yep!

I had about ALL the 3.0 wotc hardcovers but decided to cherry pick 3.5. The book of vile furries really caused my wallet to clench up.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I do regular purges of unused books. So while I always feel I'm close to too many books (and I'm probably much stricter than most about that definition), it's still pretty under control. (About 20 D&D books of all eras, not including modules.)

 

[Tsillanabor]

Considering that I have about 5000 regular books, my 40-50 RPG books aren't too worrisome.

 

[noffham]

Some of my physical book collection could use culling though. Anyone need some 1e Midnight or Exalted books?

Heck, I never pass up a chance at more books! I'll take them if no one else steps up!

noffham@yahoo.com

 

[bolen]

There is no such thing as "too many books" !!!!!!

Except if you move