I like to rummage through bargain bins/boxes in the dealer’s room at any convention I go to looking for out of print or obscure items that I might have missed out on earlier in my long gaming career. It’s just a thing I like to do because sometimes people don’t realize what they have. Honestly, most of these items have sentimental value to me more than anything, but I’m a collector and TTRPG junkie from way back.

I was at one of Des Moines’ only gaming conventions, Fields of Honor, digging through a box at this older woman’s table. I think she might have been a book seller or just trying to unload a couple of old collections. It wasn’t a regular retailer I recognized, and she didn’t have a card.

My friends, I found the mother of all bargain bin finds at a convention: The Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Fiend Folio for only $10. It was in what I would consider Very Good condition. The cover was a little loved, but otherwise it’s perfect. I really don’t think she realized what she had.

Out of respect for the dealer and the love of the book itself, I even asked if I was looking at the correct price. She said it was as marked, $10. I even made sure to ask if she knew what the book was going for online because I really worry about taking advantage of people. She said she didn’t care, so I bought it for $10.00. I almost fainted.

I haven’t priced it recently, but in terms of sentimental value it’s worth a mint to me. I never thought I’d find an original print copy of that book in my lifetime. The other Holy Grail find would be the AD&D Deities & Demigods with the Cthulhu Mythos included. But my copy of the Fiend Folio is the crown jewel of my AD&D collection.

I still collect every reprint, knockoff, or extension of the Fiend Folio written for other editions/games. It’s got some of the coolest monsters imaginable. Most recently I backed the Kickstarter for the Tome of Essential Horror for Old School Essentials, which contains Fiend Folio monsters. Necromancer games is probably the foremost company when it comes to preserving some of that Old School gaming history.

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate each and every reader so much from the bottom of my heart. Keep an eye open for those bargain bins at conventions. You just never know.