It's a newer product, but I missed this back when it was offered:  
** expired/removed eBay auction **


Nice to get myself a copy.

What does the Seller mean by 'pre-release copy'? According to Schick's Heroic Worlds, the first edition was just 16 pages, self-covered and released in 1980. That seems like a later compact version in a perfect bound book. Does anyone know how many versions there are?

Mars wrote:This is the newer version of the book that was released not so long ago.  I seem to recall the book took a long time to develop and get out so they offered a pre-release.  It was a bit pricey so I didn't buy it.

Quite pricey.  I think it had the same price as the final release.  That's likewise the reason why I didn't buy it at the time.

As far as prints go, all the early ones are short.   There is a white covered version that says "not for resale" on the cover that came with the Runequest(?) boxed set

Yeah, Runequest 2nd ed. had the white paper cover "Not for Resale" copies.  Not certain what other sets it was in, if any.

and also a later print with a sci fi type cover:


** expired/removed eBay auction **

That's the print from around 2002 or so.  The cover's actually a Stormbringer-related piece of artwork; it was supposed to be used for "Straits of Chaos", their second d20 Stormbringer adventure, but the book was canceled.

I think there might be another version of this as well but my brain isn't functioning yet this morning.

Two other versions, actually:

There was the second version which had the same cover artwork as the pre-release copy I just bought.  It had a cardstock cover and a page of counters.

There was also a third version which came in two different formats: one looked the same as the "Not for Resale" version (white paper cover, etc) except it didn't have that text on it.  The other had a white cardstock cover with a green version of the above dragon.  This third printing can be found in Worlds of Wonder and possibly some other games.  The counters from the second version are no longer present.

Actually, 3 other versions now that I think of it.  The copies found in the Castle Paths, Village Paths, and Fantasy Paths tile sets had some extra text printed on them from what I recall.  (Just said they were special printings for whatever the company that made the tiles was called.  Otherwise they looked like the white paper cover versions.)

re: basic roleplaying

A lot of versions then! Here is a RQ2 with the original print it seems:


** expired/removed eBay auction **

Couldn't resist bidding on this. May have paid too much, no idea what it is worth. A$20 is now about US$12-13.


** expired/removed eBay auction **


The Seller mentions that it is re-bound - but I have seen other prints like this with the black spiral binding. Notably this one, which I assume is a tad overpriced:

Another one!

Glad to be of help!  

Is mine a good deal then? How many different versions are there? Anyone have any idea on what the different print versions should fetch?

At Gencon 2007 a copy (I do not know which print) went for around $100.  I was not willing to pay that much at that time.  I would say that you got a great deal.  These do not show up that often.

Martin

Hi Mars,

The Gencon copy may have been a 1st print.  I remember Frank really talked up telling us how his character was killed by a human baby with a silver spoon!!!  Any way, I remember dropping out of the bidding at $80.

Mars - how often do you see them up for auction?

Martin

Rakeesh sah Tarna wrote:helps if know which is 2nd seller with last $7 cover before presumed current one also had early prints other items from start to mid 70s had always thought $7 was 1st. magazine reviews agree i think but need to check space gamer

confirmed $7 should be first cover price tsg#8 oct-nov 76 release date intended aug 5 1976 tsg#6 discounts for tsg readers but $x.95 pricing not seen. still to check when was $5.95 but cannot see how to put that before first cover on tsg