Which book would you try to replace first?

I'm thinking OSE Classic Fantasy; just to start out with a complete fantasy genre game, all in one book. 

Then next after that, the 1E AD&D Monster Manual.  I probably don't need everything else I have, but I do like having them.

If something happened to my "books" I'd either pull up the PDFs or Word Documents for the game systems I've written and either hit print or move them onto my backup tablet. I haven't used physical books for RPGs since about 2010 (and my last physical purchase of an RPG book was 2012).

If the "something" that happened to the closest equivalent involved my laptop, I'd obviously replace the laptop and then pull my PDFs/Word Docs off one of my backup drives (I keep at least three backup copies because I've had backup drives fail in the past) or the cloud (I don't like the cloud; its "other people's servers"; but its the best option I have for offsite storage as an emergency backup).

I'd probably start with "Ruins & Realms" (Science-Fantasy RPG; think Thundarr or He-Man), then "White Book Mage" (Urban Fantasy RPG; probably will be the bedrock for "Hunters of the Damned" if I ever get around to getting that started), my "Rebuild of Robotech" (Mecha Combat RPG and passion project), and my "SWTOR for SWADE" documents as the first four.

After that I'd probably just re-download my SWADE, Battletech, Mutants & Masterminds, and Spycraft PDFs from DriveThruRPG and get on with my morning.

I'd be fucked. I've got an estimated $8000 invested in my hobby and would be hard pressed to rebuild because a lot of it is OPP. I know it would be tough to replace my Ringworld and Thieves World boxed sets.

If I had to choose just one, it would probably be The Traveller Book.

Quote from: jeff37923 on August 09, 2024, 01:11:25 AMI'd be fucked. I've got an estimated $8000 invested in my hobby and would be hard pressed to rebuild because a lot of it is OPP. I know it would be tough to replace my Ringworld and Thieves World boxed sets.

If I had to choose just one, it would probably be The Traveller Book.

***JEALOUS***  I'm a Niven fan.  I really wish I'd picked up Ringworld back in the day.

I would replace my Ad&D Player's Handbook, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master's Guide, then rebuild my collection from there.

I would start with Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, first edition, have been playing that for almost 30 years

When I moved from AK to WA, I lost a lot of my RPG and TT game stuff in the move. Luckily, my local game pub also deals in used RPG material. I replaced my Basic/Expert boxed sets, got a lot of RIFTS books, (Core rules, first few world and sourcebooks), and a full set of 2nd edition AD&D core books. Those were the biggies.

Notable mentions is the Star Wars D6 reprints, the AD&D core rulebook reprints, and I got the PDF of 1st edition Earthdawn, and a stack of POD modules like Keep on the Borderlands, etc.

All in one book? Rules Cyclopedia.

But TBH I've got the main parts I care about in my memory, so maybe the Monstrous Manual could be a good idea.

Mutants and Masterminds 3E.

Probably the Villains & Vigilantes book my brother gave me when we were kids; a lot of sentimental value there. Possibly Robotech or Rifts, again for sentimental value. But I suppose those books' value is purely on their actual tangible presence, so if they all burned up in a house fire replacing them wouldn't be the same.

Based purely on content, Rules Cyclopedia, followed closely by AD&D. Since I have all that stuff in PDF it would be pretty easy to just do POD.

Quote from: Aharai on August 09, 2024, 03:29:27 AMI would start with Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, first edition, have been playing that for almost 30 years

So many people speak well, of WFRP first edition.

I would just order another hardcopy of 'Index Card RPG Master Edition'.

then rebuild my AD&D 1e collection as time allows.
meantime pdfs will work.

The only books I would replace are my OSE (Old School Essentials) books.  It's all I really need

None. Print is dead plus I already overpayed for a Rules Cyclopedia once already. Next time: ALL PDFs. I mean my current digital library is establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with, indeed.

The ONLY THING I would/might go after is Chainmail. It'd be worth it. But imagine the cost LOL!

Quote from: Aharai on August 09, 2024, 03:29:27 AMI would start with Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, first edition, have been playing that for almost 30 years :Dt

That is an amazing book, so packed dense with goodness. I've never needed anything else as a Warhammer GM.