This cannot apply to computer games distributed on CD or DVD

In 1980 a new section was amendend to the 1976 United States Copyright Act, section 117. This new section provided the basis for owners of computer programs to back up them up for their protection and use in certain specific circumstances. But this provision did not extended to any other media and books and printed matter were not then nor are they now covered by this provision. It has since gotten more difficult to legally back up privately purchased software as the 1998 amendments under the Digital Millennum Copyright Act made it illegal to defeat technological copy prevention built into software.

In 1992 an amendement was added to the Copyright Act allowing consumers to make personal back up copies of legally purchased music and media stored on CD, but it was explicitly stated that these backup copies were for personal use only and never under any circumstances to be given to others or distributed, even if given away for free. These provisions have since been updated and challenged so they have evolved, but at no time did this extend to other media that a consumer may purchase or own so books and printed mater would not fall under this either.

I have a few copies of CZ:UW and have considered making a pdf for myself as well. I bought one copy when it first became available for my family campaign, but grabbed some more as soon as I heard about GG yanking the license from TLG, knowing that the number of copies distributed couldn't possibly have been that many in just a few months (a few thousand I figured, never would have guessed it might be less than 500).

My first copy I sat down and read the first two days after it arrived, but I was careful with it as I am with all books. My other two copies I've done nothing more than check to make sure the contents were all there (none of my copies were shrink wrapped). All three have some box damage that apparently was a problem in the warehouse or whatever.

Anyways, as much as I'd like to run the adventure, I can't bring myself to open those boxes again and risk damaging them at the gaming table. I tucked them up on a shelf, and am waiting to see what happens in 5 years or so to the price (I'm guessing in 5 years they go for $500 for a mint or NM).

While I don't think CZ:UW is the best Gary ever wrote (the G-D series tops them all IMO), its still a good adventure. Making a pdf for my own use seems like the least of all evils if I ever want to actually play the damned thing without losing out on my investment potential.

If that makes me a pirate, then ARRR matey!

For being as rare as UW is I've come across and subsequently purchased 6 box sets brand new in the past 3-4 months. I found 3 for $10 on a discount rack at a game store booth at a convention, and 2 others for original price at a local game store. I've also picked up one on ebay for $29 as well. This is all since the New Year when it was pulled. For being so rare either I'm really, really lucky or there are more than we think floating around.

jcp wrote:For being as rare as UW is I've come across and subsequently purchased 6 box sets brand new in the past 3-4 months. I found 3 for $10 on a discount rack at a game store booth at a convention, and 2 others for original price at a local game store. I've also picked up one on ebay for $29 as well. This is all since the New Year when it was pulled. For being so rare either I'm really, really lucky or there are more than we think floating around.

If they're not that rare, then why are you buying them up?  

Grug Greyskin wrote:And 3 for $10 at a convention?  What convention was this?

No kidding, that retailer must be grouped among  the stupidest retailers around.  Regardless of the current Ebay price - discounting stock that is at best 6 months old to less than 25% of retail is ridiculous - considering the Castles & Crusades line is still going.  If it was a going out of business sale then it makes sense why.

serleran wrote:The number of copies is not less than 500.

Care to put an approximate figure on it?
Greater than 600?

Well, it seems to be greater that 500 and less that 700.

Grognard wrote:When the news broke that GG had pulled the license from TLG, I figured there would have been a mad rush by both casual gamers and collectors to get as many copies as they could, considering the price was really low compared to the quality and quantity of material included in CZ:UW. I would have guessed at least a few thousand were snatched up before the deadline for TLG to pulp the rest came and went.

However, I'd think if there were thousands of copies they'd be more widely available (at whatever price). Not everyone is a reseller, and there are always people who aren't impressed with any given product and simply want to get their money back on it, or who don't know that the thing might actually be a bit valuable. But it seems pretty scare to me over the last few months, with comparatively few copies available for any price.

Serl already indicated less that 700 in an earlier post.
Now he's indicated greater than 500. That's how we're narrowing it down.
That already makes it rarer that Rappan Athuk Reloaded for a remarkably recent publication. Your purchases, damaged as the boxes are, are probably worth over $100 each at the moments. Of those  reading this thread, we are probably accounting for maybe 70-80 copies stock piled in small quants (well, except for JZ). If the bulk of the balance went to GH fans and C&C fans as earlier adoptors, I doubt we'll ever see many of these on eBay in the future. A couple of dozen a year at the moment as people cash in on the early price hike. But they'll disappear quickly enough. I agree, we could see $500 a piece on mint copies within 5 years. Only a reprint will cap the price of this boxed set in the long term.

Are you Grognard of 'Castle of the Mad Archmage' blog?

Imagine if CZ:UW was published with Necromancer Games' quality and production instead of TLG's.
As a collectable, TLG's poor manufacture and cheap printing make for a good price spread eventually between mint and non-mint copies.