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 :D
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 :D
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.
Eventually, I'd get around to replacing the Rules Cyclopedia, Dragon Quest and Runequest (probably 2nd edition, but I'd accept 1st, 3rd, MRQ II, or Legends). I supposed I'd eventually get Hero System again, though it would be tough to find 4th ed to replace it, and I'd rather have it than 6th.
I'd definitely find a copy of Toon.
There's about 30-40 other games I wouldn't toss in the trash, but wouldn't bother to replace in a hurry. Haven't played anything but my own system for a couple of years now.
Way before I replaced the games, I'd be restocking my source material on ancient and medieval life, Celtic and Norse culture, myths, etc.
Whatever I was running or playing at the time, so currently X-Plorers which would just be printing it off.
After that, who knows. Probably a POD Rules Cyclopedia or Cypher system core and genre books. Given I have most things on PDF I doubt I'd buy many books. I'd probably print needed pages and have rows of binders for at table reference.
Same as PulpHerb, currently playing Fabula Ultima so that would be the top of the queue. After that, Amber Diceless would be high on the list (high nostalgic value and I have a game on the back burner I need to play again.) But, there is a good chance that I would just write my own game at that point.
At a minimum, D6 fantasy-space-adventure, rules cyclopedia, osric.
Quote from: Svenhelgrim on August 09, 2024, 03:01:54 AMI would replace my Ad&D Player's Handbook, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master's Guide, then rebuild my collection from there.
Yep, me too.
Either Rifts or Pocket Fantasy.
They're polar opposite games. Rifts is complex, somewhat janky, and can take over an hour to make a character, but damn it is fun.
Pocket Fantasy is free, rules lite, tightly and efficiently written, free, and requires nothing more than picking a race and class. It stupidly easy to play.
I love both.
Quote from: Slipshot762 on August 12, 2024, 04:53:25 AMAt a minimum, D6 fantasy-space-adventure, rules cyclopedia, osric.
Have you ever checked out Mini-six Bare Bones?
It's free, first of all.
DT-RPG Mini-Six (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/144558/mini-six-bare-bones-edition)
It's a continuation of the Star Wars D6 rules, simplified a bit, and is now written to be setting agnostic. However, it still has a knockoff Star Wars setting in the back of the book called Imperium in Revolt. You play rebels or Star Paladins.
The thing is I have some many of them condensed down in my own notes, I often "rewrite" rules I encounter to streamline them so to speak, I generally think rules should be concise and fit in smaller page counts.
For me first edition DMG.
And I have to wonder, are some folks being "humorous" or are they the real life versions of MCU Drax?
Quote from: Mishihari on August 12, 2024, 06:56:32 PMFor me first edition DMG.
And I have to wonder, are some folks being "humorous" or are they the real life versions of MCU Drax?
You're not wrong.
My top 3 list quickly becomes a top 5, then a top 10, and then a top 20, ect, ect, ad naseum.
There are so many good RPG's that there are not enough players to try them all out.
I just wish more people looked outside the box and stop playing D&D.
Bit of a weird question for me. Most of the books I would most want to replace are ones that I either couldn't get again, or might not be willing to spend the money on twice. I assume this is also operating on the assumption that I'd lose my PDF collection as well.
Assuming money was no object, the first thing I'd do is get the pdfs of the games I'm playing right now. After that, I suppose I'd replace my Dragon Warriors books, since If I was only going to own one fantasy game, that'd probably be it. Next would likely be the Savage Worlds core book, since I can do pretty much anything else I need to with that. I'd probably rebuild my Warlock! collection, since I'm planning on running that in the near future. Then I'd move onto the books that whether or not I need them, I just like owning them. So that'd include the Hyperborea books, Carcosa, the 3e Manual of the Planes, Mentzer Basic and Peterson's Field Guide.
G1-3, Shadowdark handbook, City State of the Invincible Overlord.
That covers a high level module, the rules, and a place to start the adventure.
Quote from: Socratic-DM on August 12, 2024, 06:36:02 PMThe thing is I have some many of them condensed down in my own notes, I often "rewrite" rules I encounter to streamline them so to speak, I generally think rules should be concise and fit in smaller page counts.
Blasphemy !
Dont you know you have to have a 400+ page rules book with 390 pages of "Art" ??
so you can charge $95 for it !!
How we gonna kickstart with a massive book of art ??
/sarc of course, i also prefer concise rules with minimal, preferably b/w line art myself.
btw i like JPCoovert, but DANG, the guy charges like $1 a page for a 12pg zine format book. eek.
I might get a new Rifts 1st edition rulebook.
Not because I am stranded on an island, but because my brother and I thought it was a good idea to hand write in notes in the margins, or add the Magic Zone supplemental book spells to the spell list using ink pens.
Now it just looks like a mess.
Still, it was justified in a few spots to do this. Like the Coalition Robot Pilot doesn't include the Pilot Robot & Power armor skill as part of the class, but does come with the Robot Combat Elite skill. Go check it. Page 53. You need both to be a fully trained robot pilot.
Ah, Palladium. You guys never change. Janky as hell. I love them, but sometimes it's tough love.
Daredevils, no question. There are a lot of games I'd like to run, but that's the game I do run and have goals to run more. Runner-up would be Flashing Blades, which I've run a couple of games of and would like to run more, but I'm not sure I'll have the opportunity.
I don't know what I'd do about AD&D 1e. That's probably the game I play most often outside of my local group, but it's at cons and I don't usually reference the book during con games. I don't know that I'd want to pay the collector's markup to replace those books, even just the PHB.
Inside my local group, it's mostly 5e, but the increasing silliness of the games makes the rulebook more and more superfluous.
Quote from: orbitalair on August 13, 2024, 10:51:19 AMQuote from: Socratic-DM on August 12, 2024, 06:36:02 PMThe thing is I have some many of them condensed down in my own notes, I often "rewrite" rules I encounter to streamline them so to speak, I generally think rules should be concise and fit in smaller page counts.
Blasphemy !
Dont you know you have to have a 400+ page rules book with 390 pages of "Art" ??
so you can charge $95 for it !!
How we gonna kickstart with a massive book of art ??
/sarc of course, i also prefer concise rules with minimal, preferably b/w line art myself.
btw i like JPCoovert, but DANG, the guy charges like $1 a page for a 12pg zine format book. eek.
This is the reason I think Basic Fantasy is an amazing OSR product, it and OSE, the art is there but not the major expense of the book, and thus the costs for both products is reasonable, or in Basic Fantasy's case, Free! or print at cost.
Likewise a big reason I think RPG authors should use AI art or clip-art, drive overhead down so they don't feel pressured to re-coup costs.
Quote from: Mishihari on August 12, 2024, 06:56:32 PMFor me first edition DMG.
And I have to wonder, are some folks being "humorous" or are they the real life versions of MCU Drax?
This. The only book anyone really needs is the 1E DMG.
I've cut my collection down from something on the order of 500+ books down to 5, and 4 of those are Mechwarrior/Battletech books that are more for Classic BT than RPGs.