I hate it when I come across a real find, an old school product I'd love to buy and whose condition pretty much demands that I buy it, but that common sense tells me is far too expensive to justify.
I've often felt the same about early COC products, and actually did make a ridiculously large bid on a sealed 1st edition, 1st printing Call of Cthulhu box set. Lucky for my bank account, some other fool outbid me.
I'll post a link later, after I'm certain I really don't want to buy it. It's a nice enough find that, selfish bastard that I am, I worry a little that someone will swipe it out from under me if I post a link now while I'm still engaged in inner conflict.
So, dammit, I decided to check stuff out, and while I've got a good guess as to what you are talking about (I'm assuming it isn't a huge 4e collection), now I've found a grail object and am consumed with turmoil, too.
Don't worry: I'm talking about something in the $100 range, not the thousands. Much as I'd love to have an early printing OD&D boxed set, my financial resources are not such that I'd even begin to contemplate such a purchase, whereas $100 isn't quite as bad, though it's still more than I can probably justify :)
I never have to chase down old school products -- they seem to find me! A few years back, a (non-gamer) friend was cleaning out some family stuff and gave me near-mint boxed sets of Star Frontiers, James Bond, 1st Edition DMG, and red box D&D, with Keep on the Borderlands included! Quite a haul.
If you want some insight into the price and if it's worth dropping the $100 on it now vs. waiting for a cheaper copy later, James, feel free to email me.
Man, as a collector of old school games you've also got me very curious. Let me know when you're ready to release the information. I love all the old school gaming materials.
Beware! There's much collusion and artificial inflation of old school game prices on ebay right now! I understand the laws of supply & demand, but some of the print runs of so called "rare" items don’t justify the prices. I mean just a few years ago you could go to any half price book store and pick up a copy of Rules Cyclopedia for $7 and a mint or shrink-wrapped copy of the Immortals rules for like $10-12. Now $60-70 a pop and a new copy (or 2 or 3) is posted everyday! And how bout the unscrupulous ebay store owners trying to peddle the way overpriced items (you know what I’m talking about) to influence and false represent the market value? That combined with the maniacal bidders in collusion with the sellers tempting people to pay or even base their bidding on the over-inflated ebay store prices. Does anyone else see this? Be patient and don't get caught up in bidding wars!
Okay it's been two weeks and if you outlined the followup elsewhere and I missed it I apologize (but I do read every post every day and continue to love the blog). I need closure; what was this less than a dining room set priced bit of old school adventure that you agonized over procuring?
I've felt this a couple of times, such as when the price of the unreleased Dune rpg was down to just over a couple hundred bucks on Ebay.
ReplyDeleteIf a financial question is not too personal, what was yours and how much was it?
Curiosity gets the better of me? Link?
ReplyDeleteI've often felt the same about early COC products, and actually did make a ridiculously large bid on a sealed 1st edition, 1st printing Call of Cthulhu box set. Lucky for my bank account, some other fool outbid me.
"...such as when the price of the unreleased Dune rpg was down to just over a couple hundred bucks on Ebay."
ReplyDelete"Down to?" You mean I can finally sell that beast for a decent profit? Hmmm... tempting. Heheh
I'll post a link later, after I'm certain I really don't want to buy it. It's a nice enough find that, selfish bastard that I am, I worry a little that someone will swipe it out from under me if I post a link now while I'm still engaged in inner conflict.
ReplyDeleteLife is short, rpg goodness is long.
ReplyDeleteBuy it.
So, dammit, I decided to check stuff out, and while I've got a good guess as to what you are talking about (I'm assuming it isn't a huge 4e collection), now I've found a grail object and am consumed with turmoil, too.
ReplyDeleteCurse you!
Buy it. Money is garbage.
ReplyDeleteAssuming I found it too - don't do it! That's a ton of money. I mean, you could have a new living room suite. Or 83 cases of premium beer.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry: I'm talking about something in the $100 range, not the thousands. Much as I'd love to have an early printing OD&D boxed set, my financial resources are not such that I'd even begin to contemplate such a purchase, whereas $100 isn't quite as bad, though it's still more than I can probably justify :)
ReplyDeleteWhat is it already! Argh, the suspense! A mint in box copy of Cyborg Commando? :)
ReplyDeleteOne of the mythical d3?
ReplyDeleteIt would so be worth $100 to not have to decide whether to "use a d4 and just not count it if it comes up a four" or what. Psh. Darts.
I'm betting it's the Paul Jaquays-signed copy of first edition Metamorphosis Alpha, although that's going for $60 rather than $100.
ReplyDeleteThere's a NM 1st ed. 1st printing of Gamma World going for $150...
ReplyDeleteI never have to chase down old school products -- they seem to find me! A few years back, a (non-gamer) friend was cleaning out some family stuff and gave me near-mint boxed sets of Star Frontiers, James Bond, 1st Edition DMG, and red box D&D, with Keep on the Borderlands included! Quite a haul.
ReplyDeleteIf you want some insight into the price and if it's worth dropping the $100 on it now vs. waiting for a cheaper copy later, James, feel free to email me.
ReplyDeleteAllan.
Tell me about it. I found a couple of items that I spent way too much for.
ReplyDeleteThe first campaign setting was well worth it though....
Man, as a collector of old school games you've also got me very curious. Let me know when you're ready to release the information. I love all the old school gaming materials.
ReplyDeleteBeware! There's much collusion and artificial inflation of old school game prices on ebay right now! I understand the laws of supply & demand, but some of the print runs of so called "rare" items don’t justify the prices. I mean just a few years ago you could go to any half price book store and pick up a copy of Rules Cyclopedia for $7 and a mint or shrink-wrapped copy of the Immortals rules for like $10-12. Now $60-70 a pop and a new copy (or 2 or 3) is posted everyday! And how bout the unscrupulous ebay store owners trying to peddle the way overpriced items (you know what I’m talking about) to influence and false represent the market value? That combined with the maniacal bidders in collusion with the sellers tempting people to pay or even base their bidding on the over-inflated ebay store prices. Does anyone else see this? Be patient and don't get caught up in bidding wars!
ReplyDeleteI odnt bother with ebay. Noble knight games and other places make it much easier.
ReplyDeleteOkay it's been two weeks and if you outlined the followup elsewhere and I missed it I apologize (but I do read every post every day and continue to love the blog). I need closure; what was this less than a dining room set priced bit of old school adventure that you agonized over procuring?
ReplyDeleteHeh.
ReplyDeleteIt was a never-opened copy of the original Traveller (the one with the LBBs rather than any of the later editions).
I decided not to buy it.