"Autographed Copies" Topic

For which game designers would you be willing to pay extra in order to get an autographed copy of their rules?

None.

None.

None

None….sorry to designers

Why would anyone?

Although I did consider not cashing a cheque from Jack Scruby. But only for a minute.

None. I wouldn't pay for an autograph from anyone else either.

I couldn't even tell you the names of the designers of half the games I play, why would I bother paying extra for them to scribble in them? There's no collectors market for unsigned games books, let alone signed…

I've been on the other side of this one -- I've had people ask for my autograph. It boggled my mind, the first time I had an article published in Dragon and I went to my local game store to buy a few extra copies to send to all the relatives, and some guy in there wanted me to scribble on his issue. Since then, I've scrawled my name on another couple issues of Dragon, a few TableMaster manuals, and even an obscure teeny RPG I once wrote called Legends & Loot.

Every time, I've been flattered … but also bewildered. Particularly by the people who wanted me to autograph Dragon articles. (note: I was one of the zillion-and-nine obscure writers who sold them a few articles … not anybody you'd ever heard of, except that I was in line at the game store) They didn't want to talk about the article, they just wanted me to sign my name on it.

So, yeah, I don't get it, and I've been there, on the autographing side. I recognize that there are people who want autographed stuff -- hell, if they want my scrawl on something, they'll want anyone's! -- but I'm not one of those people. If I have $X to spend on gaming products, I'm not going to waste some part of that amount on an extra price for an autographed version (or, for that matter, a special edition, gold-stamped cover, or anything else) -- I want to get as much bang for my buck as I can, which means maximum content, minimum glitz.

Your mileage may vary.

Hmmm … does this mean if I do do that Kickstarter for TableMaster II, people buying physical copies will want me to autograph the manuals?

I might go to the trouble of getting a copy autographed, but I wouldn't pay for it.

I like get autographs from People, who have positively effect my life.

If they wrote a story that made me think, or drew a great piece of art or design a game that I have spent hours playing.

I want a memento of the experience of meet them and thanking them for the happiness they have brought to my life.

I have paid for autographs before because in most cases it how that person makes a living.

I'd be happy to autograph some of the really old FOW books that I'm named in. Free of charge of course.(who'd pay for my autograph anyway)

None, although I am quite pleased to have a few signed copies of rules in my collection, including Charles Grant and Tony Bath.

Not any.

None, I'm just not into autographs.

What irishserb said

None, if they sign it for free that would be fine.

I don't collect (or consider it worth money) anything with anyone's signature.

None.

But I do have a framed signature from Don Featherstone in my wargaming room.

None.

I have never paid extra to get an autograph of a set of rules.

Not big on autographs. However, it is cool to play in games GMed a rule's author. Access to the how and why puts more meat on the bones of the rules.

People do like dedications and signatures on books – I did a pile of them yesterday on sets of 'Mad Misadventures' – but they aren't a commercial commodity.

Unless you have a book signed, say, 'To Abraham Lincoln, best wishes, Geoffrey Chaucer', and it's real.

None, not even me :)

I would only want it if it were from a few individuals such as the Barkers, Featherstone, RB Scott, Gygax, Greenwood…

I'm old enough so that most of the people I would possibly want an autograph from are people I know anyway.

Donald Featherstone

I'm old enough so that most of the people I would possibly want an autograph from are people I know anyway.

I'm old enough so that most of the people I would possibly want an autograph from are dead. :(

None.

John Hill signed a play test version of JR3 for doing some play testing and gave it to me.

Pay extra? No, but when I was a kid, I got autographs from a few GW personalities in my rulebook.

People do like dedications and signatures on books – I did a pile of them yesterday on sets of 'Mad Misadventures' – but they aren't a commercial commodity.

This. I would probably get a book autographed, but I certainly wouldn't PAY for it.

Since the subject came up: When I do the Kickstarter for TableMaster (look for it in a week or so) I'll autograph your manual if you want (and of course if you buy the physical version that actually has a manual, instead of the all-electronic version). I'm a little uncertain why someone would actually want my signature on anything, but it's happened before, so I suppose I should offer it.

There is a difference between an autograph and a personaL dedication, I think.

I've been asked for both and am always flattered. The number of autographed things I have is zero but I do own a few with personal dedications.

Paid extra for them? Na..

John T

Interesting point there about autograph versus personal dedication.

From what I understand, among collectors, a naked autograph on some item is apparently valued more than something personal. That is, a book just signed "John Smith" is worth more than one signed "Thanks for all the help, Fred -- John Smith." I honestly don't get that. The latter has some meaning, some interest, some history. It's like what I collect -- vintage large letter postcards.They're more valuable if they were never mailed. This is fine by me, because I prefer used ones. Each one is a tiny snapshot of life in the 30s and 40s, when they were popular. True, most are variants on "having a great time, wish you were here" or "write if you get work" but even then, they're interesting. It's the same thing with any other autographed item. Every so often in a bookstore I'll see a display of books by some local author labeled "autographed copy" … but what's the point? A game rulebook signed "Thanks for the software, Wintertree -- John Smith" would mean something -- and probably to one of y'all, too -- whereas just a naked "John Smith" could be put on with a rubber stamp, for all it means.

(on which note, if I wind up signing stuff for the Kickstarter, it'll be "Thanks for backing the Kickstarter, John")

One qualification to the above. An inscription CAN be more valuable, IF it is for another famous person.

Ex: "Richard M.Nixon" on a copy of "Six Crises" would be worth more than "To Joe Blow,thanks for the haircut,Richard Nixon", but less than "To Jack Kennedy,thanks for beating me,you bxz#×+!"