Storytime...because I am bored.
I first played D&D in the summer of 1984. It was the summer vacation before I would go on to junior high. By the end of summer vacation, my friends who had introduced me to D&D moved away and I didn't know anyone who played D&D anymore.
At the beginning of 7th grade, I met a kid in school named Nic who also played D&D. At that time, I think I had a 1st edition Players Handbook and maybe the Red Basic D&D boxed set (classic Red Dragon Mentzer version). Nic had EVERYTHING! Nic was also very generous and let me borrow books on the condition I DM for him.
And I did.
One of the campaigns he wanted me to run for him was essentially D&D Fight Club for his Epic level munchkin character. The character's name was Hiryu, an Elven Ninja/Assassin. Super high level (20+), max'd out stats, and loaded to the gills with magic items.
The campaign he wanted me to run for his character was basically his character going to slay the Gods. He let me borrow Deities & Demigods and I went and plotted out a campaign that involved him going to Valhalla to fight the Norse pantheon.
We played that campaign for a couple of months, often during school lunch break, and Hiryu slayed all the Norse gods. By the end of 7th grade, Nic and I grew apart and I didn't play much D&D anymore, because the role-players I knew all played Twilight 2000. So that's what I played pretty much all through junior high.
The only time I ever laid hands on that Deities and Demigods book was when Nic let me borrow it. I never owned the book.
For the past 10 years or so, I have been watching eBay trying to find a cheap table quality Deities & Demigods for a reasonable price. I have only wanted this book to read again, not as a collector's item. Just something fun to read. The price I was looking to pay for this book was around $20.
The problem is this book is highly collectible, and very expensive, especially the 1st printing which contains the unauthorized Cthulhu and Melnibonean mythos. These mythos were purged from later printings, but even these later printings are quite expensive.
I have been watching eBay on and off for the last 10 years. Never found anything close to $20 for this book and the price has gone up and up and up.
About a week ago, I saw a 'Buy It Now' for this book: $59.99 for a book in really good condition. No bids. No auction. This is a reasonable price for the non-Cthulhu version of this book, so I said, "what the hell" and bought it.
It arrived today. Great shape. Clean pages. No markings. Intact cover and binding. I started reading it and what do I see?
I picked up a 1st printing Deities & Demigods for $60 without even trying! I didn't know that's what I was buying and I am pretty sure the seller didn't know what they were selling.
These books normally go for double or more than the price I paid.
I am not a collector, but it was kind of cool to get this unexpected surprise.
At any rate, just wanted to share.