Post/Author/DateTime	Post
deathbane 01-09-08, 07:28 PM	I need a suggestion of what to use to carry a large amount of books. I am looking for something with wheels, like a luggage case with the extended handle, but made of plastic like the big storage bins. I would like to know if anyone knows of something like that, or if not what they use to carry books(to many for a backpack).
pigknight 01-09-08, 07:31 PM	I carry them myself (an friends help).
deathbane 01-09-08, 07:39 PM	I carry them myself (an friends help). That is nice when friends are close by, but when you have over 20 books, and your friends are an hour apart. It is more convenient to make one trip from point A to point B, than make several trips to the car, especially if I am the first one there, and if the carrying device has wheels it makes those books feel a lot lighter. Sure I still have to lift it out of the car, but carrying(without wheels) is a lot harder than just picking up. Any other suggestions?
Mock26 01-09-08, 07:54 PM	http://www.zuca.com/ They are bulky and kind of lame looking, but they are great! I've seen them a lot at GenCon the last couple of years and I like the angular design of it, it allows you maximize your space. And, it doubles as a seat!
deathbane 01-09-08, 08:01 PM	http://www.zuca.com/ They are bulky and kind of lame looking, but they are great! I've seen them a lot at GenCon the last couple of years and I like the angular design of it, it allows you maximize your space. And, it doubles as a seat! Thanks
Mock26 01-09-08, 08:15 PM	Thanks You're welcome! However, be warned that they are pricey. But, they are very sturdy.
elonin 01-09-08, 08:18 PM	I use a regular back pack. However I find that some books get left behind.
Holy_Beholder 01-09-08, 08:22 PM	I don't have to carry books, since I GM and the game is always at my house, however some friends of mine use a flash drive, as all their books are PDFs. If you have to worry about carrying space it might be worth getting PDFs in the future.
Belkar 01-10-08, 12:27 PM	I reccommend, a Bag of Holding... ;) Actually, it looks like it won't hold too terribly much... but what a cool gaming accessory! http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/bags/88b9/
toucanbuzz 01-10-08, 01:24 PM	I use a gym bag (arm strap optional) to tote my books around and a tackle box for minis.
icuall 01-10-08, 01:27 PM	At my office for our reports (lots of paper) we have a little carrier on wheels, it reminds me of a collapsable milk crate on wheels with a handle like a typical carry-on luggage. It stores away nicely. It can definetly handle 20 books.
deathbane 01-10-08, 01:52 PM	At my office for our reports (lots of paper) we have a little carrier on wheels, it reminds me of a collapsable milk crate on wheels with a handle like a typical carry-on luggage. It stores away nicely. It can definetly handle 20 books. Who makes the carrying device?
celestialkin 01-10-08, 02:54 PM	I use one of those magazine sized comic boxes. You can get one for like $5 at any comic shop. Fits perfectly. I also put all my books in magazine sized comic bags and boards.
Mock26 01-10-08, 04:39 PM	I reccommend, a Bag of Holding... ;) Actually, it looks like it won't hold too terribly much... but what a cool gaming accessory! http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/bags/88b9/ But it is sooooo tiny. It can't possibly be a Bag of Holding. I don't think I could get my campaign notebook into that tiny little bag and have room for the three core books!
GeeBee 01-10-08, 07:05 PM	I'm going to go a little off topic here and suggest that you should look at cutting down the number of books you carry. I don't know how you run your game, but 20 books? Do you actually use that many? If you do, how many pages of them do you use? I've trimmed a number of books from my traveling collection just by making photocopies of the few pages I need from each one. Don't know if this helps or not, but seeing as it might save you some bucks on a pricey book carrier I thought I'd mention it.
deathbane 01-10-08, 08:07 PM	I'm going to go a little off topic here and suggest that you should look at cutting down the number of books you carry. I don't know how you run your game, but 20 books? Do you actually use that many? If you do, how many pages of them do you use? I've trimmed a number of books from my traveling collection just by making photocopies of the few pages I need from each one. Don't know if this helps or not, but seeing as it might save you some bucks on a pricey book carrier I thought I'd mention it. I don't actually carry 20, but I do carry enough stuff(about 6-10 books, my DM 3 inch binder, a smaller 1 inch binder, and extra paper...etc)so that carrying them in a backpack is not feasible, and if I have a container that allows me to carry 20 I can lift it out of the car, and roll it to the door step in one trip. P.S. I am also still buying 3.5 books(I own about 15 currently) until 4th edition wins me over. P.P.S. I don't carry as many books when I am not the DM, but I like to be prepared whenever I am the DM.
Wilkre 01-10-08, 08:56 PM	At my office for our reports (lots of paper) we have a little carrier on wheels, it reminds me of a collapsable milk crate on wheels with a handle like a typical carry-on luggage. It stores away nicely. It can definetly handle 20 books. I have such a collapsable carrier too and it's great. I put my books in a large fishing tackle bag - which has compartmentalized plastic boxes for mins (1 set for foes, one for NPCs, heros, and dice). It has pockets for a generous supply of 3x5" index cards (for initiative, name tents, and Bless spell reminders). Fishing tackle boxes work great (get a big one) Try Walmart. Editions? I cherish all my nostalgic collected editions, from the 1974 chainmail, 3 booklets (men and magic, etc), and Greyhawk supplement that introduces the 'thief' class, 1979 AD&D, 2nd ed, 3.0, and 3.5. As I would not play 2nd Ed anymore because there is no 5' step or +2 for flanking, I suspect I'll be quickly hooked on 4th because I'm a book of 9 swords junkie. Which I carry in my fishing tackle bag next to my DoD minis!
1red13 01-10-08, 09:55 PM	At walmart i've seen a rolling carry case that was a cross between rolling luggage and a legal sized box you see lawyers use when they go into court. Not a whole lot dissimilar to mock 26s link. Being from walmart i'm sure its about as cheap as you're going to find something like that.
Man in the Funny Hat 01-11-08, 11:46 AM	In the past I've used book tote bags, briefcases, and old-fashioned book straps. When I exceeded the capacity of my big, grey, hard-sided briefcase and did NOT want to move up to LUGGAGE bags full of 80# of books I loaded them in the car and carried them loose - and then wised up and said "NOTHING I do in running a D&D game should require that I carry this many books" and started to put the burden on players. I'll buy and read whatever supplements interest me - but if the players want to use them then THEY can bloody well buy their own copies and THEY can tote them around to games since they don't also have to carry the DMG, MM's, campaign setting books, campaign notebooks, etc. That said, a good-sized duffel bag should be able to handle your books.
GeeBee 01-11-08, 11:57 AM	I don't actually carry 20, but I do carry enough stuff(about 6-10 books, my DM 3 inch binder, a smaller 1 inch binder, and extra paper...etc) Oh, well that's not so bad...in that case, you might want to look at the Targus brand of rolling laptop computer cases. I got mine at Circuit City for $45, and it holds all my books and supplies for a convention weekend, including MREs for food. It also comes with some slick "backpack" style stuff like pencil loops and CD player holders, which are good for my gaming odds and ends.
PyrosSilvercaster 01-11-08, 01:07 PM	Have some kids, get them hooked on gaming, the rest will work itself out. Course we don't travel to game too much, usually have it at our house, but it does make set up and clean up a lot easier.
1 ton ghost 01-11-08, 01:22 PM	this is a good, practical thread all around. nj. during college and early 3rd ed, i used my grandfather's WWII army satchel, cuz' i was just lugging like the 3 core. then, it was a backpack, then it was a milkcrate (how dorm room chic),then 2. i found they were incredibly sturdy, the price was right (we swiped them when we were kids, never threw 'em out though), kept books uniform an a inch or so off the ground (important when unloading in the rain). we'd just bungee cord plastic around them so the voids wouldn't catch water, but after a while, the weight...God man, the weight. between 2 milk crates, 3 chessex cases for minis, grid map, plastic sheets, my personal backpack w/a ton of unrelated crap, DM's journal/folder, pens, art supplies, phone, food, at least 2 DVDs, some music, data discs, tools, etc, etc., it just...gah! thank God crystal is a massage therapist. nothing says bad back DMing like Atlas. hunched over a computer, lugging around behemoth text (weighted w/ authority!), bent over painting minis...i shudder to think what my golden years will be/look like. nice link on those wheelie cases. i saw a ton of guys in the RPGA (Gencon)rooms w/ those. practical and quick. nj.
Raastin 01-11-08, 02:02 PM	You could buy one Amazon.com's Kindle devices. Then load it with pdf versions of your gaming books. When the price of one of these comes down a bit I will probably get one myself....
deathbane 01-11-08, 03:59 PM	Have some kids, get them hooked on gaming, the rest will work itself out. Course we don't travel to game too much, usually have it at our house, but it does make set up and clean up a lot easier. Way to expensive.
sblaxman 01-11-08, 04:59 PM	Dunno, never carried more than 4-5 books (phb/dmg/mm/1-2 others) plus a binder, could usually fit it in a backpack. Of course I played 2E (and never found a problem w/ just adding 5' step if you like it)... A comic-box is probably the most cost efficient way, you can get a good amount of stuff in one of those and they don't cost much...
Mock26 01-11-08, 05:08 PM	A comic-box is probably the most cost efficient way, you can get a good amount of stuff in one of those and they don't cost much... ...but aren't the easiest thing to lug around.
sblaxman 01-12-08, 12:15 AM	Not sure how not... stick it in the back of the car and drive.. There are plenty of options though, there was the wheeled thing that was posted earlier if you are having trouble
deathbane 01-12-08, 12:28 AM	Right now the thing at walmart, and the device that someone uses at the office seem to be the top 2, with the online thing in 3rd, only because I don't feel like waiting for it in the mail, or paying S&H.
StevenO 01-12-08, 02:43 PM	If you are the DM I feel for you. If you are a player just carry what you need and leave the rest at home. If you NEED 20 books to play your character I suggest simplifying or just copying the couple pieces you need from most of the sources.
Man in the Funny Hat 01-12-08, 02:55 PM	The "milk crate" option is a good idea. They're available at any decent office supply store, durable, and not expensive. If cheaper is more important then I'd say use cardboard file boxes. They won't last as long but are probably cheaper and at least will make things easier to carry.
CryoSilver 01-12-08, 02:57 PM	Cardboard boxes last longer if you wrap them in duct tape BEFORE they start falling apart.