"It's how you use it!": Tiny collectors, REPRESENT!

[Theo R Cwithin]

The recent "collection size" poll, and the one in which people are describing their Colossal collections got me thinking....

There are quite a few people who have substantial collections, but just a scant few who have small ones. I don't expect much of a response, because apparently there aren't many of us here, but I'm still curious:

• Why is your collection so tiny?
• And why on earth are you on ENWorld?

As for me, I'm one of those dozen or so whose entire RPG collection fits in a single book box. Even counting individual dice and minis, I probably still have fewer than 150 items.

Why is my collection tiny?

• I've had precious few gaming opportunities over time, so little reason to acquire. Moreover, gaming ime has always been exclusively D&D, with few if anyone interested in exploring other systems.
• Moving around a frequently, and far and wide (and having family that also moves a lot) makes big book collections difficult.
• Psychological hang-ups: I've personally had two acquaintances with colossal collections, and neither was exactly the type to emulate (yes, stereotypes have grounding in reality: think "catpiss man"). So, sadly, I think there's a little stigma attached to huge collections in my mind.
• I have little use for countless volumes of setting canon and splats, and have found core rules and a few supplements enough to fit my needs.

Why on earth am I on ENWorld?

• Because I. LOVE. THIS. GAME. And apparently the other people here do, too. Especially all those freakish Colossals. Most importantly, most everyone seems willing to help with ideas, rules, and anything else. Good stuff!

 

[kitsune9]

Psychological hang-ups: I've personally had two acquaintances with colossal collections, and neither was exactly the type to emulate (yes, stereotypes have grounding in reality: think "catpiss man").

Actually, your reaction is quite understandable. Seeing anyone who represents something that we don't like or find loathsome would be a turnoff on just about anything. How many times have we had a DM tell us about this awesome rpg for us to play only to be a total jerk or idiot in running it? Does it make us want to run out and buy it? No, becuase the DM prejudiced our decision and now we associate the rpg with the bad experience.

So, when you see people who have colossal collections, but don't take care of other aspects of their life in which a normal person would or should do, then associating the collection to the bad lifestyle choice is a normal psychological reaction.

Happy gaming!

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Heh, it's actually a wonder I've stuck with gaming, considering some of the weirdos I've run into. But I've met a fair number of really great casual gamers. And I think that-- plus just a general love of world-building and mechanics-- is what's kept me really interested, taking a place halfway between the hardcore gamers and the casual gamers.

Still curious to hear about others' non-Colossal collections...

 

[Pseudonym]

PDFs aside, my current gaming collection consists of 1 shelf on a rather small bookshelf.

Over the years I have gotten rid of most of my unplayed games; mainly for store credit towards the purchase of stuff I currently play. Another contributing factor is my self-imposed moratorium of buying gaming books in favor of things for my daughter,

I have the 4E PHB and the class books for characters I actually play, or at least did until the campaign ending TPK. I also have the new Gamma World and all the Essentials releases, but that was due to free Amazon cash. Those aside, I have the MM 2E book, Ultimate Power and Golden Age, because that is the era I play/run. Rounding out my collection are some really old Dragon magazines which I can't decide if they are worth selling, two of the Burning Wheel books and the Harn boxed set.

 

[scourger]

I have a small gaming collection, too; about 1.5 shelves of books & magazines currently. When I got back into gaming in the 90s, I had very little. I was very happy when everything fit into 1 small shelf. But, then I got into 3e and bought a lot of stuff.

The paring started when I sold off my 2e collection. I did everything with it that I really wanted to do. I had moved on to 3e, and I knew I wasn't going back. So, I just got rid of everything but a PHB that I kept for nostalgia and to go with the 1e PHB that I still had.

After that, it was relatively easy to periodically purge new & old gaming material for whatever system. I could probably easily cut my collection in half right now and really not miss any of it. I have a bunch of Dungeon Magazines that could probably go--I just haven't culled them yet.

Plus, I buy much less new stuff these days. I didn't get into 4e, so that is a big time, money & space saver. I got the new Gamma World, and that will take some space; but hopefully they will be used heavily, too. My Savage Worlds habit is under control, too, as I have really refined my tastes and just don't buy or keep things as much as I used to do.

Part of my appraoch is that I really don't enjoy owning much for the sake of owning (or collecting). I like getting & reading new material. But, then I either want to play it or be rid of it. There are a few things that I have for nostalgia, but those are the exceptions.

Also, I just don't have the same time & effort to put into gaming. As I've gotten older with a family and other responsibilities, my game time needs to deliver the most return for the least investment. That goes for buying new stuff, too. I have more than I will probably use now, so the new hotness has to be really good for me to get into it. And, it's a subjective standard. So, what is popular or selling well might not be the thing for me at the moment.

In short, less is more for me.

 

[steenan]

I have few physical rpg books and most of them are quite old. I only bought one gaming book in last three years.

I have many more pdfs. They are cheaper to buy, don't need storage space, are not in danger of being eaten by my baby daughter and may be easily used by more than one person at the same time. They also don't tempt players to keep them at the game table and browse them during game.

Even counting pdfs, I own much less gaming material than some posters here. I buy few supplements and generally prefer games that are fully playable with one book only. Majority of my collection consists of indie games.

As for why I am on ENWorld:
I'm generally not interested in D&D of any edition, for various reasons. I only visit General RPG here, in search of interesting threads that are useful no matter what game I play. There is enough of them to keep me interesting.

 

[Hussar]

As I get older, my ... collection gets smaller and smaller. Sigh. I've gone from having this giant sack, to one tiny little bag that holds everything.

Ok, enough of that.

But seriously, after 3e released, I bought a whole ton of books then realized that I never used them and pretty much just stopped buying. The only books I buy now are ones that I absolutely know I will use at the table. The whole "buy RPG books for reading material" has completely gone by the wayside for me.