Should I sell the old RPG books that I don't use?

[dreaded_beast]

I have a small collection of RPG books consisting of various settings, systems, etc.

Now, there are some books that I will definately keep although I probably will not play, just because they are the "core" books for that particular system: Shadowrun, Earthdawn, Gurps, etc.

And there are books that I just like because they have some interesting ideas or are a good "read". There was a good 10 years in my life when I would just get RPG books and read them, never playing them for lack of people to play with.

Anyways, going through my books I have found 4 that (at the moment) I don't think I will have any use for or just don't strike me as useful. In my opinion, the rules are a bit unbalanced for me, the writing poor, etc.

I'm thinking about selling these books, but I would hate to look back a few days, months, years later and think "I shoulda kept those books!"

The books are:

d20:
Deadlands d20 (this one I kinda like for the flavor, but the mechanics are wanting in my opinion)
The Quintessential Fighter (just a poor book for flavor and mechanics in general, in my opinion)
Mystic Warriors (interesting flavor, but just poor mechanics in my opinion)

And a non-d20 book made in 1991 by Seventh Street Games:

Mecha! (now why did I get this book again?)

 

[Derulbaskul]

Do what I do: give them away.

I've given away about 20 books this year to guys I game with. This also means that if I ever really need the book (not likely... I gave away some rubbish) I can always borrow it again.

 

[arwink]

Nope, keep them unless you need to sell them for financial/space reasons.

I tend to keep all my old RPG's, even the stuff I can't imagine myself using ever again. Mainly because I always end up flicking through them and raiding them for ideas, even though I can't use the mechanics. It doesn't sound like much, but when you think of an idea you want to steal from a book you've gotten rid of and spend the next six hours searching through your RPG collection trying to remember where it came from, it'll suddenly seem worthwhile

 

[Desdichado]

I don't. I have books that are years and years old, and I still pull them out once in a while to flip through. The setting info in MegaTraveller is still an interesting read.

 

[CombatWombat51]

I've begun selling my old RPG books I don't use anymore on Ebay. My biggest problem is like you described: the fear of selling a book I haven't used in 10 years, or ever, and then suddenly needing it a week later. So it's slow going while I pry myself from the dusty tomes I never use. Certain ones I'm keeping, despite their usefulness, because they're just cool. And hey, 5 or 10 bucks on Ebay for an extra book's worth of space in my house is a fine deal to me!

 

[Altalazar]

The easy thing to do is just never ever get rid of a book. Problem solved.

I have probably 2500 or so books - and, by far, most of them aren't gaming books. I just love books.

 

[LostWorldsMike]

Short answer: No!

It never fails, at least for me, whenever I get rid of a book I find I "need" that book within a few weeks. I don't get rid of books anymore.

That said, however, if you feel you REALLY need to trim your collection, you should give them to me.

 

[johnsemlak]

My greatest regret in life is losing (mostly after moving from my parents and some other moves) my old RPG stuff.

DOn't part with them unless you simply can't store them.

At least be very selective about what you sell or otherwise part with.

 

[kenjib]

You do realize that you're not going to get a helpful response on this from a board filled with people obsessed with game books, right? You might get a better answer for that kick-you-in-the-rear spring cleaning motivational boost you need here:

www.wivesofgamers.com

Only four books to offload? Pshhhh!

 

[MythosaAkira]

That's what I've been doing recently (both selling and giving books away). I realize that there are lots of ideas in the various books I've had, but I also realize I don't have time to go through them all to find them. Basically, I went through my collection, and kept what I felt I might still want to use for ideas (1E DMG, all my WFRP stuff, a number of Rolemaster books), or which may have some value (a number of 1E books), or naturally which I still use (3.5 books). Fairly repetitive books I'm purging (I have the 4th edition Talislanta, for instance, so I got rid of my original cyclopedias - I know, they're slightly different, but close enough for me), as well as things I know I'll really never use (the Harnmaster RPG or my old 2E books, though I have the latter on the "Core Rules" CD-ROM).

I still have bookshelves, boxes, and disks filled with gaming and inspirational material, so I don't think the loss is something I'll feel So, I'd say if you really don't think those few books are useful, don't worry about keeping them (in case you think you will, the suggestion about giving them to friends that will loan them back is a good fall-back option).