Gnat the Beggar wrote:I just aquired a MERP Book and wondered what it is worth.
Copyright 1984.

http://homepage.mac.com/guyf/MERP/PrintingEditionReference.html#8000

That site linked above tells me this is likely a first edition second print rule book.

I do not understand what or where the so called 8 Page Catalog is supposed to be though.
This book has no such thing.

Never have collected any MERP stuff, but the price was too sweet to resist at just $2.00.....

Even if the book is not worth anything I am fine with that as I plan to study it first and then keep it if its not worth anything.
But, If it is worth something then I will likely sell it later since I dont play or collect anything MERP.
After a good long complete reading period that is.
Who knows, I may change my mind and start playing it.

As you can see from the scan below, the cover is well worn with shelf wear and color fading.
The inside pages are in VERY NICE unmarked condition though.
Except the PC Sheet has been partly filled in with pencil.

[ Image ]

I would guess that is worth about the amount you paid for it.  The copies I have were a part of a boxed set which included color catalogs for other I.C.E. products.  I can only assume that the black & white catalogs listed on the referenced site were bound into the rulebooks.

As for playing it...good luck.  From what I have read and what others have told me it has some very advanced rules based on the Rolemaster system.

In my opinion, what sets MERP apart from a lot of other systems is the detail they put into the supplements and adventures.  If you have some interest in Middle-Earth you really should pick up some of the regional books like The Lost Realm of Cardolan, Rangers of the North, or one of the Mirkwood books.  The adventures are kinda so-so.  A few are worth mentioning.  I liked Dagorlad and the Dead Marshes and Gates of Mordor, but most of the others arent very memorable.

For me collecting MERP has been a lot of fun.  It is a fairly small system so you could finish up a collection pretty quick (unless you are a completist and have to have every printing and all of the periodicals as well).  A few of the second edition books are pretty tough to find though and go for upwards of $100 or more.  But most of the first edition items are pretty affordable.

Gnat the Beggar wrote:I do not understand what or where the so called 8 Page Catalog is supposed to be though.
This book has no such thing.

The 8 page catalog would have originally been bound to the center of the book via the book's staples. Sounds like someone removed it; based on the copies I've acquired & seen, this is not uncommon.

Never have collected any MERP stuff, but the price was too sweet to resist at just $2.00.....

Yeah, that's about right. I'd pay about $5 for a copy in Fine+ condition that still has the catalog pages bound into the middle.