How many chess sets do you own?

I want to know if I'm the only freak here who can't resist a chess set if
it (a) looks different than what I already have, and (b) falls within my
price range. Of course, I have several of the same magnetic sets,
which are the ones I use to keep track ofmy games here. But, all told,
I have around 25 sets. I'm willing to bet someone here has more...
Tim
The Dark Squire

How many of those sets are actually playable? I have a very nice looking set where all the pieces
are different colors of glass, but I couldn't imagine actually playing a game with them. It would be
way too confusing. It seems to me that the more expensive the set, the less functional it is. I saw
a custom set at the Michigan Renaissance Festival recently where no two pawns were the same.
Imagine trying to keep track of that game. What would be the most unusual set that you have
collected?

Actually, every single one of my sets is playable-- that's part of my
criteria when I buy one. I do have some sets that are so small that
they would not be EASY to play with. But even my more "exotic" sets
are still fairly easy in terms of recognizing the pieces. My favorite set
is a reproduction of the Isle of Lewis pieces. I've seen a few that I
could have bought, particularly African ones, that just would have been
too hard to play with-- and my addiction to collecting sets hasn't
reached that point... yet.
Tim
The Dark Squire

Ahhh, but what are one's addictions for if not to be fed? You should avariciously pile chess sets
upon your burgeoning collection, higgeldy-piggeldy, one after another. Civil war sets. The Simpsons
sets. College football sets. Then you should play them all against each other to see which set
comes up with the best record. Then, yes then, you would have the ultimate chess set of doom with
which to smite your foes and render them impotent before you. In the best of all possible worlds it
would be the one with the coolest chess set that would be ensconsed at the top of ratings list, not
somone with something so mundane as the most ability.

My oh my! What a fun point of view. Of course, it would be way too
simple (and way too difficult) to view addictions as something to be
overcome. And, though I do view them that way, there's lots less fun
in my view than in yours.

Coyote

I saw you could get Simpson's chess set moulds,so you can start
making plenty and go car-booting.
Lyn.

I have one made up of Spanish style pottery figures, each of which
looks liable to shatter if ever I dared play with it. The practibility rating
isn't helped by the fact that all the pieces are dressed in different
combinatrions of red, brown and yellow, topped of with orange straw
hats, and therefore look entirely identical from above. In total I have
5 sets, but the only one I ever play with is a battered, hand carved set
from Rio de Janeiro that I was bought for my 12th birthday.

Rich.

I currently only own 1 set, which is a problem - it's a "Lord of the
Rings" set that was a 21st birthday gift from my parents. I love it, but
1st time anyone plays on it they gat bishops and knights confused -
which might explain why I have never lost a game on it. I can't use it
to play out my games here, because it would confuse me too much.

And Arogorn was knocked over by a child, and his head is now
detachable...

lets see ...
a nice set bought in germany where the pieces are metallic, an
expensive classic looking wooden set in a nice wooden carrying case,
two wooden sets that i actually use to for RHP analysis, and one
miniture chess set.

I own -and they are all set up in my too small flat!- 8 official-sized
chess sets: 3 wooden (1 I have already 44 years and is the one I like
most) and 5 plastic folding boards + plastic pieces
(ungortunately 'Made in China!). I also have 4 similar magnetic
pocket sets. I use them all to analyse OTB, since I can't do that 'on
screen' (a great disadvantage). I also have a 'Middle Ages' ersatz
plastic set, but it's unplayable, though it looks nice since I've painted
them (they came in ALL white). Jan