Are DMs subsidizing player fun?

[Olaf the Stout]

I find that GMs pay more than Players. As a GM I purchase majority of the books, adventures, ink for my printer, etc...

In the last D&D game I tried to play in and run, in a group of 6, only two of us has PHBs (which is still higher than the majority of other games I've tried running that are NOT D&D games). We played for a while, and some of the other players have money, they play D&D all the time, and yet they don't have one. Two refuse to purchase books of their own. I ask them once, and it was simple for them... as long as they were around others (such as me) who forked over their money (my money) for their enjoyment (theirs, not mine) then they didn't see a reason why they should contribute and buy their own books.

It was the last time I've ever played a game with them. I hate my time being wasted, I hate being taken advantage of, and I despise players that smooch off others who don't, or are not willing, to contribute.

Despite me bitching about my group, when I asked everyone to chip in for a group PHB, they were all willing to do so. If I had 2 players like yours that reasoned that they didn't need to bother because they could just mooch off of you I also would have booted them. That attitude just shows a complete lack of respect and a misplaced sense of entitlement.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Arkhandus]

I love DM ing.

And it gives me an excuse for the time and money I spend on the hobby. It'd get spent anyway, but at least this way some other people (my friends) also get to benefit.

I'd also be happy to run a game at any Con I was already attending. It'd guarantee me a seat at the table, which is the main thing.

I basically agree. Gaming is gaming is gaming. I'm more than willing to DM/GM if that means I'll get to be part of a gaming group for a few hours a week/month/whatever. I don't mind the responsibilities and work of being DM, and I like worldbuilding and tinkering. Though I would prefer to be a player more often.

Heck, I first started buying D&D books so I could DM and get my buddies to stop being so lazy and noncommital with gaming; they kept abandoning their campaigns after DMing just a session or two, which sucked. So I started trying to learn more of the rules and get a campaign started just so I could game again and get my buddies motivated to possibly run a campaign later that wouldn't die after one or two sessions. Didn't work out since my family moved, and now I mostly just DM online for lack of much opportunity to join games as a player.

 

[buzz]

I must be in exceptional (meaning, "not the norm," not "better") groups, as almost all of us are Game Buying Whores™. There's no one person who does all of the buying. If anything, people have to actively avoid reading their copies of the adventures we play.