Treasure of the Ancients

Whenever I get a chance, I like going to Half-Price Books and checking out the games section.  There's usually a few role-playing books and supplements in that part of the store, and I occasionally find a treasure worth picking up.  I'm not a collector in the strict sense of the term, but I do like acquiring gaming materials I never had a chance to own in my youth.

So when I saw this box on the very top shelf, I knew I'd regret it if I didn't snag the item right then and there:

That white blotch is a reflection from the camera flash, not part of the box art.

That's right, it's a first-edition Gamma World boxed set.  It was missing the dice (I already have dice) and the map (which wasn't that great to begin with), but the $17.48 price tag made the game seem like a bargain.  I did get the second edition when it came out, but even then it seemed a little kiddified compared to what I had known about the original rules.  So I was mainly interested in the first edition book, and its approach to the game.  Like I said, I'm not really a collector. 

I've thumbed through it, and first-edition GW has a lot of interesting rules.  I'll have to do an in-depth post once I've had time to look it over.

Oh, and the best part: The particular store I was in had just moved to a new location, and everything was for sale at a 50 percent discount--on top of the usual half off.  So I paid nine bucks and change for a first edition Gamma World rulebook and box.  Definitely a fruitful treasure hunt!