I don't want to be a D&D collector

[Ranes]

I'm not a collector. I used to be and, wow, what a collection I had - but it's all gone and I like not being obsessed with collecting any more.

I don't write in books, though. And I always try to handle pages only by their edges, using clean fingers - I don't want sticky marks gluing pages together.

My weirdness admitted, I do think that rpg books, D&D books in particular, might be valuable, one day. Who's to say, of course? But in a century or two, book or game collectors or even anthropologists may be fascinated by these strangely complex games that so many people enjoyed while electronic entertainment was still in its infancy.

Maybe. Maybe not.

 

[diaglo]

Am I alone in this? Am I crazy?

buy multiple copies. that's what i do.

one pristine (unused and sealed away) and one "well loved"

 

[JoeGKushner]

I try to keep my books like new because I like the way they look when their new. I respect them. I hate it when people smack 'em up.

I'm the same way with my miniatures and comics.

Collectibility has a factor in things, but RPGs', especially with so many being available either in print through e-bay or in PDF from a few sources, aren't really a factor.

That said, if you find a copy of Dune RPG, sell it on e-bay for easy money. Or the old Warhammer Chaos hardcovers.

 

[Henry]

I can't imagine what I could sell a Gygax/Arneson signed PHB for.

Yes, you could.

Yes, that's about how much they're worth, because Gary and Dave are nice guys and, unless they're in a mad hurry, they'll sign for anyone, any time. Almost every fan of D&D could have a Gygax and Arneson signed book of any sort, if they put in the effort. Now, a MINT ORIGINAL Dungeons and Dragons January 1974 first printing with them signed on it? THAT might have some value, but not thousands-high-dollar, mind you.

I like the idea of getting ENWorlders to sign my PHB. I think I'll do that next year at GenCon. Like a big high school annual. That'd be cool.

And the memories generated from actually doing that is worth far more than money, in the end. I've still got a poster from Gencon 2002 that P.A. sent me, with about 20 ENWorlders signed on it. They took the time to sign for me and about 10 other posters who couldn't be there. Monetarily worthless, but important to me, nonetheless.

 

[diaglo]

Now, a MINT ORIGINAL Dungeons and Dragons January 1974 first printing with them signed on it? THAT might have some value, but not thousands-high-dollar, mind you.

this one time at Gen Con...

i mean last year at Gen Con i got Dave to sign Olgar Shiverstone's copy of Men & Magic.

i stood there dumbfounded. i couldn't even get a word out of my mouth.

just handed over the booklet and left....

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

This thread, combined with the amount of used 3rd and 3.5 books I see at my gaming store (for low, low prices) has not only inspired me to actually begin marking in my Player and DM books but to tab them, highlight certain passages and do all kinds of things to make them more useful and less like paper treasures.

 

[howandwhy99]

Well after selling quite a few of my books on Ebay, I must agree. The values of the books just don't hold up. Some of the ones I bought retail for 35-40% off SRP gave me a pretty good return, but most declined in value greatly.

Of course, these were almost all 3E and D20 books, so the nostalgia factor may not have kicked in yet. The only real standout was the Witchfire adventure book one: "The Longest Night". I bought that on discount for $7 and it went for $36. Surprisingly, number three in that series sold for only $7 from the original $13 I paid. (I never owned the 2nd adventure)

 

[Scribble]

I'm not a collector for the I hope they're worth more some day. I'm more of a collector for the I really like games and gaming... I also don't like to damage my books. I want to keep them in good condition, but I'm not super paranoid about it... Carrying them around in a backpack tends to do some damage.

But I hate "intentional damage" like writing in books, doggy earing books and excessive bending of paperback book bindings... It just bugs me.

 

[MonsterMash]

Got to admit I'm fussy about how I keep my books - no writing in them, turning down page corners, etc, but I did used to work in a library and that does tend to make you worry about the condition of books.

I tend to be glad of low second hand prices as it makes it easy to pick up stuff I want cheaper than from new - though I feel a bit guilty not supporting my FLGS,

I really don't believe in collecting per se, I have odds and ends of things that could be classed as collectable, but it just doesn't suit my personality that much. Probably lead wargames figures are my strongest area of collectionitis, and even they do get used for games.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I like the idea of getting ENWorlders to sign my PHB. I think I'll do that next year at GenCon. Like a big high school annual. That'd be cool.

Very cool idea!...now if I can only get to GenCon next year