How Do You Deal With Splatbooks?

[FreeTheSlaves]

I just don't have the energy for them, whether as a player of when I dm. Given that I'm the most dedicated gamer in our group, there isn't any drive to include them. Yeah, I guess I'd accomodate options to flesh out a character concept if the core couldn't do it.

However when I dm it's been proven I need to read everything relevant once, so my conservatism is really just based on avoiding work.

 

[Hussar]

When I started out with my World's Largest Dungeon game, I was really anal about not letting in splat books. However, my players have won me over and I've realized that it's not terribly unbalancing usually. So, I went with vetting this or that book. My players simply ask if they can try this or that and I usually say yes now, with the caveat that I refuse to do any hand holding. Know your class and if I have a question about it, you better have an answer.

 

[Mr Vergee]

As a DM my preference would be to only use the core and Forgotten Realms books, but since some of my players are enthusiastic build specialists, I allow core books, PHBII, FR and complete books. This generally leads to rather powerful characters, which is not really a problem, as long as it stays balanced. The problem is that I cannot keep up with all this material myself, since I focus on adventures, not on accesory books, so the NPCs do not use the same sources as the PCs. So I'm ot really very happy about this broad variety of sources, but my players got their say as well ...

 

[Diomeneus]

I'm entirely in favor of using a list of books allowed. If the DM doesn't specify which books are allowed are which aren't then he is going to get approached by every PC with a million little things they want to add from some obscure source that he doesn't know.

when you start your campaign say what books you allow/unnallow.

 

[Particle_Man]

I tend to run things in different settings (like Legends of Excalibur, etc.) so I will use the Setting Book + Core - specific setting restriction from Core.

My motive is to encourage people to take the setting based feats and stuff, and also to make things easier on my poor back.

 

[was]

I use the case by case basis option. If it is more of a case of character flavor vs powergaming I usually let it in.

 

[Nightfall]

Depends,

If I'm running a Scarred Lands game, I already got splat books and they are pretty nice ones too! (I especially like the Ranger one since I wrote some of it! )

If I'm running what I'm running now (Age of Worms) not that concerned since it's not likely no matter how good a feat is, it will stop some of the juggernauts of this AP.

 

[boredgremlin]

i allow the core books with D20 and some 3rd party stuff if i own it. Most of the splat stuff from WOTC i thought either was overpowered or rehashed something most of us remember from 2e.

However i have to read everything thoroughly before incorporating it into my game. Which in practice means if i own it then its probably in. If your willing to let me borrow it for a few weeks its got a good chance of coming in if i like it...

However if it means spending all weekend reading a few players books and options rather then taking my son hiking or spending a night alone with my wife... then sorry but your splat options are just a hell of a lot less important then my family and my involvement in it and your just gonna have to stick to core.

 

[Nightfall]

Good for you bored.

Me I have no life so reading splatbooks is fine by me.

 

[boredgremlin]

I used to be like that. But since my son turned 3 and spending time with him meant more then disney music and stinky diapers i have found spending family time far more fullfilling then any gaming. I still play but its every other week now instead of every week and i just dont have the time and money to spend on every shred of paper that someone wants to print or a player wants to use.

To be honest though i think my DMing has gotten better since i stopped obsessing on it so much. Adventures are more free form now. I need more time to prepare a campaign, but now i build the framework and lay out the major players and a timeline then let the PCs just wander around my world doing whatever catches thier interest. Some players havent liked the lack of structure, but most have enjoyed the freedom. So now i have a good group and a nice free flowing game.

Getting rid of most splat books also cut down on page flipping mid-adventure by a hell of a lot. It gave us much more to time to play the game and stop worrying about minutia.