How the hell do you keep up with Zelda and AC??

[Iwatasan]

I used to collect the Mother series so I know what it's like to collect for a series that only has a few games. You're right about how it's nice to have a manageable, well-defined list of editions and merch that you're trying to get. Unfortunately the Mother series is also painfully expensive to collect for, so I did have to give up on that one in order to focus totally on Zelda.

When it comes to series like the ones mentioned so far, GameTrigger is right, you have to be focused. Make your own manageable, well-defined list out of the plethora of items that exist. If you're trying to collect every pen and pack of gum with a Zelda logo on it, you're right, you're never going to finish. I would emphatically recommend against a strategy like that. My strategy is primarily games, guides, soundtracks, and consoles. I narrow it further by sticking to US region unless Japan gets a soundtrack we don't, for example. I spring for sought-after merch occasionally too; I just picked up the Phantom Hourglass promo keychain for example. But I definitely stay away from posters and most anything unofficial---I can't afford it, I don't have room to display or store it, and it would take away resources from collecting the more interesting items.

For Zelda specifically, there actually is a knowable list of editions and the most sought-after merch, and there's several good forums around that can help guide you on what those lists contain if you're really interested. And I agree with Knight that, at least for now, the best buying strategy is to get limited editions/merch at MSRP with a preorder if a possible. Look at the recent Hyrule Warriors CE that went from $79.99 to $500-$1,000 overnight.

[JRPGFan]

Originally Posted by Iwatasan

Look at the recent Hyrule Warriors CE that went from $79.99 to $500-$1,000 overnight.

There'd were 200-300 of them, you COULDN'T pre-order it online AND you could only get it at Nintendo World IN NEW YORK! Which you had to show up for, for it was "first-come, first serve" basis. Which is just bullshit for Zelda fans everywhere.

[Iwatasan]

Originally Posted by JRPGFan

There'd were 200-300 of them, you COULDN'T pre-order it online AND you could only get it at Nintendo World IN NEW YORK! Which you had to show up for, for it was "first-come, first serve" basis. Which is just bullshit for Zelda fans everywhere.

Exactly. If you weren't there and couldn't get someone else to get one for you at release, you now have to pay hundreds of dollars over MSRP for it. It's a bit of an extreme example because of how limited it is and how concentrated its distribution was, I'll grant you that, but there are other examples of Zelda editions and merch that are comparable in that regard, and some that are considerably more expensive.

On the other hand, the standard edition of Hyrule Warriors, in 5 years, sealed and mint, might maintain MSRP, but probably won't be worth more than that. So regarding your original question, a collection of just the standard edition of Zelda games, unsealed, from whichever single region you prefer, would be a good (and cheap) place to start, and you could potentially expand from there. By my count, that's 17 games not counting remakes or spin-offs; 22 if you also count the more substantial re-releases of LADX, Master Quest, "Collector's Edition", OoT3D, and TWWHD.