#wargamers

And yeah, it can be painful.

I’m not going to say you should follow the Marie Kondo method. Hell, I wouldn’t let that lady near my wargaming stuff. People like her don’t really understand the nature of having collections. And I am also not saying it’s not a good idea to have a few “backup” copies of something rare and out of print. Accidents happen. Lord knows, I have duplicate copies of more than a few of my roleplaying books because most of those are of games I played in high school, and the companies are long out of business.

But that said, what are the principles that one should use when deciding “what to prune?”

“Am I going to play with this?” – To me, that’s the fundamental question. I’ve bought into projects or been given well-meaning gifts of things that just don’t fit with my armies or where I am going. There’s no shame in selling that stuff off. Let it go to someone who WILL make use of it.

 “I have too much of this” – To use an example, a French Napoleonics player can only have so many French Imperial Guard figures in their army. Soon, you’ll have more than Napoleon actually had serving under him. When I was in a wargaming club in NYC, we had a member who died unexpectedly. He had more painted and unpainted 15mm Confederates than were probably in both the Army of the Northern Virginia and the Army of the Tennessee! He needed to prune a bit.

“I’m already doing this in two other scales” – This is one I am guilty of. I once was doing World War II in 20mm and 15mm, as well as moderns in 20mm and 6mm. I still do the moderns in two scales because I have different focuses, but I now only do World War II in 20mm. Why? Because I felt I was duplicating my efforts in 20mm, plus, the reason I was getting into 15mm WWII was a ruleset, namely Fireball Forward. In retrospect? I am glad I made the decision. It just wasn’t a good idea. 

“It’s taking over the house.” – This is usually said by an exasperated spouse (Hi Honey!) And it’s best to listen if you value your marriage. I admit. Sometimes, it’s hard realizing it, especially when they have hobbies, and then you’re tempted to use the “Well, what about your hobbies” argument. My advice is, don’t. Wargaming is a space-intensive hobby. Even the board gaming end has monster games like War in the East and The African Campaign. Trust me. They’re unplayable monsters that make even VASSAL choke. 

So how do you prune? Well, there are plenty of options, and if you followed the advice of my last article, you’d have a list to go through and consult to start organizing what you want to get rid of into lots for sale. 

Now, as to where to go? Well, each has an up and a downside.

Conventions

Convention flea markets were traditionally the “go-to” for buying and selling used gaming stuff. This has been usurped to some extent by the Internet, but the upside? It’s a one-stop shopping extravaganza, and you can physically inspect the goods in many cases, not to mention a bit of patient looking can unveil some real gems. The downside? Not only are you limited to what’s there, but I’d say any savings over eBay or elsewhere on the Internet are long gone, as these institutions are often driving prices. Also, conventions may not be an option for a while (Thanks a lot, COVID!).

eBay

Often not-so-jokingly called “Fleabay” by the wargaming community, you can also find some real gems here. The problem is? You can find those gems for prices that would make a spendthrift blush. And because of that reputation, it’s now more challenging than ever to price and sell stuff on eBay. And the “fees” eBay charges can be a bit pricy, but they do protect buyers and sellers well. Someone tried to con me when I sold an old cell phone on eBay, but eBay came through and protected me from his scam).

Other Web Sites

While they seem to have all the advantages without all the disadvantages, it’s also the wild west out there. Buyers and sellers can and do get ripped off, though word gets around about the habitual scam artists. My advice? Check people’s feedback, as many of the websites have places now where you can praise a good seller or buyer. And use Paypal. The protections there are solid. I should know, having had to make use of them on occasion.

Consignment Stores

There are more than a few gaming stores who will take your used stuff and either buy it or exchange it for store credit. You’ll typically get more for store credit. One outfit I’ve had great success with is Noble Knight Games, and I recommend them heartily, but there are other stores out there, and a bit of research will help you find them. Be advised that “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” What you may consider “rare and out of print worth hundreds,” they may have fifty copies they can’t move on a good day. 

I hope this article has been helpful and has been something of food for thought. With the new year, it’s a perfect time to take stock of your gaming collections and decide, “do I really want this anymore?”

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