How much of your collection do you use?

[Psion]

I keep way too many gaming books around that I don't use, but I don't have it in me to dispense with them if I can't find them a good home.

But I try to use as much as I can, even if it's just an idea here and there.

 

[Turanil]

Very little of what I got saw an actual use in game.

 

[MonsterMash]

I'm probably unlike many people in having a small collection, but making use of most of it.

 

[Khairn]

Based on a typical month's worth of playing I would say just over 20%. But then again I'm GMing 2 different settings and playing in 2 others so that's not so bad a number IMHO.

 

[kolikeos]

about 75
my 'collection' consists of only the core books, but i don't use all the stuff in them

 

[tetsujin28]

About 90%. But all I own these days is the PH and Iron Heroes. All the rest is settings (Dark Sun, Ravenloft, Birthright) which I only use when I'm running those campaigns.

 

[arwink]

About 40% of my collection gets regular use (every two games, minimum), the rest has all seen use somewhere along the line, either as an occasional reference or the basis of a one-off game.

 

[yangnome]

Most of it probably sits on the shelves to be honest. I'll use different core books when running different games obviously, or setting books when running a specific setting, or adventures when I need adventures. Other than that, they mostly sit and make for good bathroom reading. That said, I do develop ideas from teh other books. I might see a small idea I like and alter it to adapt it to my games in some manner. This stuff is rarely composed of PrCs, classes and feats though.

 

[Luthien Greyspear]

I find myself using quite a lot of a small number of books. Aside from the essential three, I find myself using almost everything from the Complete Class books, and quite a bit from Races of the Wild. On top of that, I draw heavily from the FRCS, PGtF, RoF, and MoF, because I'm currently running a FR campaign. Most of the other FR books see heavy use when appropriate; for instance, the party just entered Waterdeep for the first time, so that book is gonna stay open all session for quite a while.

I'd probably use the books mentioned less frequently if the players weren't absolute packrats for spells, abilities, and multi-class options. I have party members trying to go into a prestige class from all of these books (Bladesinger, Wild Mage, Thief-Acrobat, Contemplative, and Ruathar). Come to think of it, the cleric also is looking at Master of Radiance, so add Libris Mortis to the list. They have found or researched spells from all of the FR-specific books, and I like the villains to have the same flavor of spells, to add to the campaign's tone.

In the past, I've made do with a tighter reading list, but with 3.5 and the amount of player-accessible power and options, I find myself cracking open a lot of books every session.

 

[Voadam]

Most of it does not get used, but I could see using almost everything in some way, I like having options and knowing what I could use. I never know everything that will come up in the future and I consider RPG books as references to be used as needed. They are also there to inspire and just be good reads as well.