How much of a Collector are you?

[Treebore]

I try to read everything. Sometimes I get a bunch of books at one time, so will "forget" that there are some I haven't read. Then when I discover a book that I had forgot to read, then I have a pleasant surprise and get around to reading it ASAP.

 

[Echohawk]

One of my dear friends buys almost everything D&D but reads only about 10% of what he buys. His goal is to have a complete D&D library.

Your dear friend has my commiserations. In the process of compiling a complete index of D&D monsters I've accumulated a somewhat complete collection of D&D books. However, about 25% of my D&D library -- mostly older products -- consists of PDFs (back when they could still be purchased ), so I'm still a very long way from a complete print D&D library.

Come to think of it, I'm not sure if there is now anyone on the planet who has a complete print D&D library. For starters, there are number of extremely rare D&D titles, such as Up the Garden Path, a copy of which will set you back as much as US$2000 if you can find one. Which means the barrier to completeness starts rather high. There are a number of folks (perhaps a few dozen?) over at The Acaeum who do have complete sets of early D&D products, but most of those collectors have not followed 3e or 4e (or even 2e in some cases). Similarly, I'm sure there are plenty of collectors who have complete 3e libraries, and even more who have everything for 4e. But I doubt any of the more recent collectors have copies of the original Lost Tamoachan or complete sets of Dragon, Dungeon, Polyhedron and Imagine magazines.

A complete D&D library is a mammoth undertaking. Even assuming that by D&D "library" we are talking about D&D game books and boxed sets, and not including the hundreds of D&D novels and comics, dozens of computer games, thousands of miniatures, nor things like the Planescape belt buckle, flask and key-chains, the D&D beach towel (of which there were apparently three varieties!) or the official D&D Halloween costumes, we are still talking about a very large number of books.

WotC, by their own admission do not have a complete D&D collection. I'm doubtful if there is anyone on the planet who does have a truly complete D&D library. Of course, if there is someone, chances are high that they read ENWorld, and will soon post in this thread .

 

[Echohawk]

we are still talking about a very large number of books.

More than a thousand, I reckon. Based on a fairly quick check, I count:

• 112 D&D boxed sets
• 167 hardcover D&D game books
• 432 D&D accessories
• 412 D&D modules/adventures
• 708 issues of D&D magazines
• 572 D&D novels (not including reprints)
• 211 D&D comics/graphic novels
• 74 D&D computer games and expansion packs

 

[Knightfall]

More than a thousand, I reckon. Based on a fairly quick check, I count:

• 112 D&D boxed sets
• 167 hardcover D&D game books
• 432 D&D accessories
• 412 D&D modules/adventures
• 708 issues of D&D magazines
• 572 D&D novels (not including reprints)
• 211 D&D comics/graphic novels
• 74 D&D computer games and expansion packs

That is scary.

 

[ShadowDenizen]

I think I fall mainly into the "Collector" category, though I also fall into the "Completionist" category as well, especially when it comes to settings I enjoy.

I have a ton of assorted stuff, ranging from OD+D to 3.5. My favorite stuff? I have a complete run of the 2E Dark Sun line, the 2E Planescape line, the 3.5 Ravenloft line, and the 3.x Midnight line. (Of course, I also have just about everything White Wolf put out for the oWoD settings, too [barring Demon:The Fallen, which was a crap line, IMHO.])

 

[DaveMage]

More than a thousand, I reckon. Based on a fairly quick check, I count:

• 112 D&D boxed sets
• 167 hardcover D&D game books
• 432 D&D accessories
• 412 D&D modules/adventures
• 708 issues of D&D magazines
• 572 D&D novels (not including reprints)
• 211 D&D comics/graphic novels
• 74 D&D computer games and expansion packs

Interesting. For my collecting, I'm not interested in acquiring all of the novels, comics, or computer games, as those do not help me play the RPG. Also, I've noticed a marked decline in the quality of some of the novels recently, so I've lost interest in those.

I'd guess I have about 95% of the others, though (although I cheat a bit with Dragon Magazine, as I'm not interested in acquiring the print versions of all of the first 250, as I have the CD Archive). I am missing about 1/3 of the Dungeon Mags, though I'm slowly completing that too...

 

[Tinker Gnome]

I myself am trying to be a Completionist when it comes to anything Dragonlance.

 

[frankthedm]

I was going to be a collector for 3rd edition, but the quality level of "Sword and Fist" and the authors follow up comments cured me of that pretty damned fast.

 

[Aus_Snow]

The only time I've been a sort of 'completionist' with RPGs was when those massive sales were going on, for both WotC stuff (unofficially) and 3rd party stuff (officially). Bought a lot of stuff then. Too much probably, even though prices were generally from $0.01 to $2.00 a book.

Oh, and whenever there's been a ridiculous PDF sale (like, $1.00 a PDF or so) I've bought up moderately big as well, sometimes getting an entire line from say, EN Publishing or Adamant Entertainment.

Can't see the point otherwise, of even being a collector. Well, for me. Never been one, most likely never will be one. I buy RPG stuff to use, and I don't even do that so very much nowadays. Not for a while now, really.

And that's a good thing.

 

[Tinker Gnome]

As a collector or completionist do you read/ use/ delve into your purchases or after a quick look through do they go on the shelf?

The reason why I'm asking is have you ever made a purchase sight unseen or a game product and then sat down with it and went... yuck! Why did I buy that!

Well, for me. If it is Dragonlance related, and I have the money, I will buy it. Regardless of how bad it is supposed to be.