burntwire wrote:I think it is real. However, the value is up in the air. I have bought several tourneys and have never paid very much. My personal opinion is that if someone paid what the Acaeum states as the value for an R tourney they over paid by quite a bit. Also I have the tourney for I-10 and if this goes for a huge amount of cash I may contact the buyer and offer it to him. After all it is a Pre-Pub.
Ralf Toth wrote:In essence, I'd like to know, what is the big difference between the "pre-publication" versions of R1-R3 and any other official tournament (e.g. GenCon) module that explains their extremely high value? Is it only because R1-R3 were later released officially? Is it because of Mentzers autograph? Is it because they were sold at the convention through the hands of TSR employees? Or are all tournament copies worth around $800?
Ralf Toth wrote:Ah, and did anyone see a sale of a pre-pub R1, R2 or R3 on eBay?
Tournament modules that fall outside this definition of "collectible" are modules that A) never developed into TSR modules, and/or B) have no easy way to tell if they are original copies used at the tournament. Genuine, original tournament modules that were simply photocopies unfortunately fall into this category. Again, this is my opinion. The eBay auction right now seems to fall into this latter category.
FoulFoot wrote:Ralf Toth wrote:In essence, I'd like to know, what is the big difference between the "pre-publication" versions of R1-R3 and any other official tournament (e.g. GenCon) module that explains their extremely high value? Is it only because R1-R3 were later released officially? Is it because of Mentzers autograph? Is it because they were sold at the convention through the hands of TSR employees? Or are all tournament copies worth around $800? The pre-pub R-modules were indeed tournament modules. Unlike most tournament modules, they were developed into retail TSR modules later, which is the real basis for their worth. The term "pre-pub" is a bit misleading, and is only used to describe these modules in order to differentiate them from their mass-produced brethren.Of identical rarity (and IMHO, value) are such modules as Lost Tamoachan, Lost Caverns of Tsojconth, and Quest for the Fazzlewood. All were used as tournament modules, all were produced in very limited quantities, and all were developed into later TSR modules. Therefore, they're highly collectible.Tournament modules that fall outside this definition of "collectible" are modules that A) never developed into TSR modules, and/or B) have no easy way to tell if they are original copies used at the tournament. Genuine, original tournament modules that were simply photocopies unfortunately fall into this category. Again, this is my opinion. The eBay auction right now seems to fall into this latter category.Deadlord: I don't necessarily think that the module has to be a "post-pub". It could easily have been printed earlier, with knowledge that the module would be used in the future at GenCon South (the modules to be used at tournaments are often identified months before the actual tournament). The missing mention of GenCon East adds credence to the belief that the module was printed earlier than the numbered Pre-Pubs -- they hadn't yet decided to use the module at GC East.Lastly: Frank Mentzer's comment is a little murky. He indicates the module is genuine, and that he signed and numbered all the early copies -- but he doesn't explain how this copy does not have said signature and number?Foul
FoulFoot wrote:Point out that the current auction features a module that isn't signed and doesn't have a serial number, and appears to be slightly different than the other pre-pub R modules we've seen. Ask him if there were any copies distributed prior (or after) the run of numbered pre-pubs.Foul
I'm suspicious. The Lake Geneva area didn't have a Pamida store, so I don't know where the binder came from (TSR got office supplies from BAT). I numbered and signed all the copies that I recall making. This might be a copy of one of the originals, with the number/signature left off (a piece of white paper across 'em will do it). I was in sole control of RPGA at the time, with only 1 staff aide, and no other staff would have handled such things. otoh and contrariwise... I don't recall if I had started signing/numbering as early as the 1st-ever RPGA-sponsored tourney at GenCon South. There mighta been 4-5 tables at most. We might have brought the copies in bulk in a box (flew down) and bindered 'em there. So it's still up in the air. Possibly authentic, possibly a copy... still rare in any event.I've queried the seller to see if I know him. I'll let you know if anything changes. F
dathon wrote:Can you ask Frank Mentzer how many pre-pubs were published?
Sotterraneo wrote:dathon wrote:Can you ask Frank Mentzer how many pre-pubs were published? Do you have Frank Mentezer e mail address? I'd love to do an interview with him. Would you be willing to ask him if he would be willing to do such an interview?
muaddib5 wrote: [email protected]He's a pretty friendly guy. Don't think he'd mind hearing from you