Product Grading Guide

At RPG Market, we carefully inspect and grade all items to provide buyers with an accurate representation of condition. Our grading system follows established industry standards for RPG collectibles, incorporating best practices for evaluating books, modules, and boxed games. This guide is inspired by detailed grading methodologies used by respected RPG collectors.

Grading Scale

Near Mint (NM)

  • Nearly perfect condition, appearing almost new.
  • No major flaws; corners remain sharp.
  • Covers are clean, with no significant creases, markings, or stains.
  • Interior pages are crisp and free of damage, showing little to no handling wear.

Very Fine (VF)

  • Very minor wear from careful handling or storage.
  • Corners may have slight bumps, and edges may show light wear.
  • Covers remain clean with a few tiny stress marks that do not break the color.
  • A highly collectible grade with only minimal signs of use.

Fine (FN)

  • Moderate wear but remains solid and collectible.
  • Edges and corners may show visible rounding or small nicks.
  • Some minor creases, scuffing, or slight discoloration may be present.
  • A solid, well-kept copy with noticeable but not severe wear.

Very Good (VG)

  • Clearly used, with visible signs of wear.
  • Cover may have creasing, spine stress, or scuffing.
  • Pages may have some discoloration or small marks but remain intact and readable.
  • A solid play copy, though no longer ideal for pristine collecting.

Good (GD)

  • Well-worn, with significant signs of use.
  • Spine may have small splits or minor detachments.
  • Cover may show heavier creases, staining, or worn edges.
  • Some writing, stamps, or previous ownership marks may be present.

Fair (FR)

  • Heavy wear with multiple flaws.
  • Cover may be partially detached, with large creases or stains.
  • Some pages may be loose but are still present.
  • Suitable as a filler copy for someone who just wants a reference edition.

Poor (PR)

  • Very damaged or incomplete.
  • May have missing pages, heavy tears, water damage, or extreme wear.
  • Typically only useful for parts, restoration, or reference.

Shrinkwrapped (SW)

Inspired by detailed collector standards, our policy ensures fair assessment of shrinkwrapped items.

  • Shrinkwrapping is not a grade but an enhancement to an item’s condition.
  • Items in original publisher shrinkwrap must still be graded separately (e.g., VG/SW).
  • Re-shrinkwrapping by dealers to increase perceived value is not valid or ethical. If an item has been re-shrinkwrapped, this must be disclosed.
  • Assuming a shrinkwrapped item is automatically Mint can be misleading—corners may be dinged, the spine could have creases, or there might be minor defects under the wrapping. These issues must be noted in the condition description.
  • Minor tears in shrinkwrap do not necessarily affect value since its primary purpose is an assurance of unhandled condition, not physical protection.

Additional Notations

  • Punched/Unpunched – Board game counters are assumed to be punched unless otherwise noted.
  • Box Condition – Boxed sets receive two grades (e.g., VG/FN), where the first applies to the box and the second to the contents.
  • Remainder Marks – Some books may have small markings on the page edge indicating discount sales.

Grading Integrity & Collector Standards

This grading system is based on widely accepted RPG grading principles developed by experienced collectors and RPG historians. Longtime collectors of classic RPG materials have set a high standard for grading, ensuring transparency and fairness. Our methodology is inspired by comprehensive grading systems used by the RPG collecting community, including those who have carefully documented the condition of role-playing materials for decades.

By following these guidelines, RPG Market ensures that buyers and collectors receive a clear, fair, and honest evaluation of every item.