When to Cull Your Collection?

[Retreater]

My wife and I have been reorganizing our game room. We've purchased new shelves, and I'm now putting my stuff in some semblance of order (which is a task, because I'm a librarian by trade). The problem is, I have a lot of stuff that is now very prominent that I don't expect I'll be using at any point in the near future (or possibly, ever).

I have large boxed sets of Kickstarter "All-In Pledges" for game systems that didn't connect with my group. I have multiple copies of core books that I bought so my players wouldn't need to - and we don't even play that system anymore. I have books that I've had for decades from old systems that I haven't used but have a nice historic pedigree (like a complete, never used boxed set of The Night Below). For most of the newer stuff, I also got PDFs with the book purchases - so I can still access the content in many cases.

What do I get rid of? How do I do it? I don't really have a gaming store or used books place in my area. (Well, I do have a local game store that takes trades, but I've already got hundreds in store credit there and don't want to buy anything they've got anyway.)

Re: Donating to libraries. As I mentioned, I'm a librarian by trade. Our local library could possibly use some of the newest D&D/PF books, but they're not going to want the boxed sets that have fiddly bits or obscure RPG titles.

P.S. I'm not getting out of the hobby. Just downsizing. I've bought so much due to FOMO, especially during the pandemic and because of Kickstarters. My gaming tastes have also changed (after realizing how unhappy I was with certain systems.)

 

[Reef]

I’ve run into the same issue. I have loads of hard copies I could live to get rid of. But I have nowhere for them to go. I’d be happy to give them away, but I just can’t bring myself to trash them.

 

[Mannahnin]

Collectible/relatively old stuff like that copy of Night Below would be best I think either held or liquidated for real value on an auction site.

Superfluous, extra copies and newer products that are not of use anymore I'd consider offering up on sites like this and just asking interested folks to pay shipping.

 

[payn]

My ranking system of what to keep usually starts with collector items, then core rule books, and then everything else. Its the everything else category that gets the eyeballs and chopping block.

I have buddies really into mini and wargaming and every summer we have a gamers garage sale. Board games, RPGs, minis, wargames, etc.. Its been very successful and its always fun to see old friends and meet new people. Its a nice way to spend a day and see people excited about getting your old unused stuff.

 

[Umbran]

What do I get rid of?

Nobody can really answer that one for you. You have your own priorities.

How do I do it?

I have several friends who have been collecting board games, comics, and RPGs for decades, and are similarly downsizing to remove cruft from their homes as their lives change.

They typically make up a spreadsheet of what they are willing to part with, and then distribute that list to friends and acquaintances (by e-mail and/or social media) and say, in essence, "If you want it, come and get it." It has worked remarkably well for them.

I had another friend, who I'll call Percival. He instituted, "National Percival Day." On Percival Day, he, Percival, would choose someone he knew, and find an inexpensive gift for them, and give it to them without warning. "Happy National Percival Day! Have this adorable ceramic box with chameleons on it!" or, "Happy National Percival Day! Have this copy of Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon!" and so on. He never failed to bring a smile to someone's face.

It sounds like you have a stock of gifts available for National Retreater Day.

 

[Reynard]

A couple years ago now we had a really big move and I decided to eliminate 95% of my RPGs. I kept the things I actually used, as well as the things that help good memories for me (I kept core rulebooks sets for all my editions of D&D but got rid of almost everything else besides the 3E era Eberron and FR main setting books, for example). In my case, I gave the books to a con organizer friend of mine who was able to either sell them to support the con, or put them in the prize room.

 

[dragoner]

I’ve run into the same issue. I have loads of hard copies I could live to get rid of. But I have nowhere for them to go. I’d be happy to give them away, but I just can’t bring myself to trash them.

Same here. I have given a lot away. Selling them is weird as the postage is usually as much or what I sell something for. I think a lot of my game stuff will simply wind up thrown away.

 

[Reynard]

Same here. I have given a lot away. Selling them is weird as the postage is usually as much or what I sell something for. I think a lot of my game stuff will simply wind up thrown away.

Noble Knight will take them and pay for the shipping. They won't pay much but it is still better, IMO, than throwing them out.

 

[Retreater]

Noble Knight will take them and pay for the shipping. They won't pay much but it is still better, IMO, than throwing them out.

It's not so much about making money. It's the value of having space and feeling like these books can be used and loved by someone who might actually play them.

 

[dragoner]

I have never dealt with Noble Knight. I mean a lot will simply be thrown away after I die.