Taking Care of RPG Books

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Books are meant to be used. If they get something spilled on it, well, that just gives them an...aged look I suppose. I do not mind people using my books, just as long as they do not crack the spine.

Exactly. The thing is, is the book well made? If not then it's gonna fall apart. My 1e books are still in far better shape, binding-wise, than any of the 3e books I've bought. And we beat the heck out of them. They were just well bound. I'd rather people don't beat up the books, but stuff happens during the course of gameplay. I'm sure not going to tell a friend he can't read my book because I'm trying to preserve it. We are playing a game with it and if it's gonna make the game better for a player to see one of my books at the table he can have at it.

 

[Turanil]

There are guys who have made nice "PDF Handhouts" of the SRD on the Internet (although I can't remember where). I would rather print that and bind it. So players can read the info and I don't have to bother about books being deteriorated. These books are expensive after all!

 

[ecliptic]

Uh keeping books standing up right is the number one cause for destroying binding of a book. Theres too much weight of the pages pulling down on the binding.

It would probably be best to keep them laying flat.

 

[Mythtify]

Printing out the PDF for players can get to be expensive. I can't abide players who won't buy so much as the PHB. Though I have mirrored Sovelior's SRD website onto my pc. I have also burned it onto cd and given it to my players.

The low cost of realy good SRD pdfs at RPGnow is also good for cheap players.
Basicly, as the DM, I end up buying all the books. As I am the one making the investment, I don't lend them out. Period. Most people just don't care for your books like you do.

Mead used to make some really nice fivestar notebook covers that fit your standard hardbound RPG book like a glove. I have all three core books protected in the "five star" covers. It nearly broke my heart when mead stopped making them.

I use transparent tape to reinforce the corners and spine. If I don't; those dang corners start to seperate very quickly.

I also make sure that I always transport them in a sturdy book bag or backpack, with nothing besides game supplies in the bag. No snacks, cd cases, ect. I never just toss the books into the back seat of the car.

 

[Turanil]

Basicly, as the DM, I end up buying all the books. As I am the one making the investment, I am don't lend them out. Period. Most people just don't care for your books like you do.

Exactly!

For my next campaign, I "invested" approximately 180$, so players must be able either to buy a book or live with just a few PDFs.

 

[DrZombie]

Well, euhm, depends on the book. I allways try to be carefull, but books are meant to be used. I loved the rolemaster book, you could cut off the back and put the book in a ringmap, rearranging it as you wish. Sacrilige to some, timesaver for me..

 

[Bran Blackbyrd]

If you are the only one to manipulate your books, and do it with care, they should be in good condition next 20 years.

My advice: don't let players who don't have their own books to touch yours. Get the SRD online;

Words to live by! People can promise to be careful, but that doesn't mean crap once they've ruined your book. Like I said in another thread, no one can promise that "nothing will happen" unless they are a god or Neo or something. And I don't think I've met "The One."
The DM of all people asked to borrow my PHB! I let him because the binding was shot anyway (not my fault, the first printing had a lot of shoddy spines ) and not two minutes later spilled some Sprite. Thankfully only a tiny bit got on the book, but it proves my point; no matter how responsible a person is, they can't make any promises. Accidents happen, but as long as it's me having the accidents with my stuff, then I just have to suck it up and accept it.
If YOU have the accident with MY stuff, I don't have to accept it; and then you have a problem.
Nobody touches my 3.5 boxed set, I don't care how much it was discounted!

Keep your books away from the floor. Tiny bugs like to eat books and if they're near the floor, it's that much easier for the crawlers to get to them. On that note, vaccuum often.
Low humidity, lots of air circulation... Those help keep a book in good condition.
No matter how careful you are when the book is in your hands, if you put a stack of them in your backpack loose, they will get damaged! Dog-eared corners, impacted corners, scuffed covers... Just from one trip to the DM's house. Amazon boxes are just the right size for D&D books. Imagine that! Line one with thin foam and you have a great way to transport your books. For Code Red Paranoiacs, put sheets of foam between the books so they won't get scuffed against each other .
Do not eat or drink near your books because, as was said, accidents happen.
Wash your hands. Pizza grease doesn't look as good as a Lockwood ilustration. Furthermore, just because you wiped "all" the grease off of your hands and onto your pants, that doesn't mean they're clean. Wash them!
This is why my old Magic cards and the like have pristine edges and a certain friend of mine's have greyish-black edges that look like the surface of a ten-year-old mouse pad.

 

[Bran Blackbyrd]

Oh yeah, aren't Paladin & company (Gamer's Bag) going to be making cloth bookcovers?

Also, a few years ago I got some of these Book Sox for my PHB and DMG. Ooh, they have dragon and gargoyle patterns now too.
I got mine at Staples, but all they had were the regular size. I'd recommend something bigger for most D&D books. Trust me, you'll do more damage to the book trying to stuff it into a protective cover than if you just left it off, if you're trying to fit it in a cover that's too small.

Another book care tip; Don't leave books unattended. They could get stolen, damaged, breathed on wrong, a pigeon could crap on it...
Take care when turning pages. My friend turns pages like he's shucking corn... Always make sure you have a good grip on the book. There's nothing like the sickening feeling in your stomach you get when you drop a book and only manage to grab a page. Rip goes the page, and down goes the book. Oy.

 

[Turanil]

Nobody touches my 3.5 boxed set, I don't care how much it was discounted!

DITTO!!

Pizza grease doesn't look as good as a Lockwood ilustration.

LOL!!

 

[JoeBlank]

Glad to hear so many others subscribe to the "books are meant to be used" philosophy. I feel the same way. Take care of them, but know that there will be some wear and tear with regular use.

Being too stressed about keeping books in pristine condition is like having those plastic slipcovers on all your furniture.