Is this inhibition a good thing?

Ever since I can remember, I've had an aversion to writing stories based around collecting a set number of objects and using them for X purpose, because, to me, something like that belongs in a video game, not a book.

Am I shutting myself out, or is the "Collect ___ objects" idea so cliche that my inhibition is a good thing?

You've probably read a lot of books where the "collect things" plot is done in a cliche way, right? The fact that it has been done many times in a cliche way, in no way indicates that it is impossible to do that kind of plot in a fresh, original way.

I think that the Horcrux hunt in Harry Potter, while essentially a "collect the objects" plot, was interesting and engaging because many other things happened at the same time, and not all of the objects were found in the same way, or with the same amount of drama. For example, finding some of the Horcruxes almost killed them, while Harry basically plucked the tiara out of the Room of Requirement (there was a lot of action immediately after this, but not the cliche "big quest to find it" beforehand).

Another element is the whole thing of "as soon as we have the objects, evil will be zapped". I think there's got to be more to it than that to generate an effective climactic scene.

Ideas in themselves aren't cliche. Any plot will seem good if done in a fresh, original way. Combination with a number of subplots and mysteries is good too. In short, don't go out of your way to write a story about collecting stuff, but if you have an idea for one, I wouldn't chuck it out based on that factor alone.

Basically? If you want to write it, go ahead and have fun. That sort of stuff can be really cool. If you don't want to write it and the very idea of writing it sucks out your soul and makes you want to eat marbles, don't write it. But really, that's the cool part about writing. It's all about you.

Thanks. I guess the "find 6 pieces of an artifact to destroy the Dark Lord" plotline should die though.