DMs: Do you ask players to contribute money for materials?

[Pseudonym]

I find the concept of charging people to play in my games more than a little abhorent. I'd never think of charging my players, nor would I pay to play in anyone else's game.

 

[Holy Bovine]

For the love of god - why doesn't Bugaboo post anymore?

You read my mind.

I always took the stance that a player not only has to buy the books for himself but also must contribute to the DM Bank if he expects his precious PC to last past the Tavern Scene. I can't believe that so many DMs here have given in to the players (ever notice how DM is always capitialized while players is not? There's a reason for that you know...) and are now purchasing their own books. What has this business turned into?! Next thing we see reduction in the hourly DMing fee or some other such nonsense!


Joshua - shush you!

 

[LostSoul]

I used to charge about $5 (Can), but then I felt like I had a responsibility to run a monty haul game. So now I only charge a buck per game, and it works out well.

 

[Sanackranib]

charge to play

I have never charged to run a game but I always apriciate it when a player contributes minis, lunch, coffie etc. esp sice I don't make the players go out and buy a lot of books.

 

[HellHound]

When we game here on weekends, Leonard springs for dinner one night, and we spring for breakfast the next morning. We game most of the night, and either game the next morning or just hang out. We cover snacks usually, but Leonard and his fiance bring their own pop.

I own all the books.

ALL the books.

With the exception of the ENnie judges and a few other d20 writers / publishers, I have one of the better d20 collections I've seen (212 d20 books and counting). I'm not going to ask for someone to help cover the cost of books that I buy anyways for my research work.

 

[Fade]

No charge, but players often buy supplements, which they lend to the GM. Sometimes that forget to get them back (My GM still has two of mine for games we don't even play any more).

 

[Silver Moon]

Player Contributions

Our group has been running now for over twenty years, and I would never have considered asking anybody to chip in for materials. I make a practice of loaning out Player's Handbooks until a player decides they are going to stick with the group and buys their own. I also loan out the other books and gaming suppliments to new DM's. We've had over three dozen different players, and I have always gotten all of the materials back. Heck, I even had one player go out on his own and purchase me a new copy of Best of Dragon Vol. 2 after the one I loaned him got damaged.

On the other hand I expect all players to bring food and beverages for the group to share. We've had one mooch since day one, but since he's my kid brother I've let it ride.

 

[Sanackranib]

Re: Player Contributions

Our group has been running now for over twenty years, and I would never have considered asking anybody to chip in for materials. I make a practice of loaning out Player's Handbooks until a player decides they are going to stick with the group and buys their own. I also loan out the other books and gaming suppliments to new DM's. We've had over three dozen different players, and I have always gotten all of the materials back. Heck, I even had one player go out on his own and purchase me a new copy of Best of Dragon Vol. 2 after the one I loaned him got damaged.

On the other hand I expect all players to bring food and beverages for the group to share. We've had one mooch since day one, but since he's my kid brother I've let it ride.

You are lucky you got all of your stuff back. I have loaned stuff out a few times and the record is closer to 50-50 with the guy who the stuff was loaned to moving unexpectedly on 2 seperate occassions (2 differn't guys, 2 differn't times)

 

[D-rock]

In my group I own almost everthing, and would never charge the people I play with. Most of them are family members. I even got them players handbooks to get them into roleplaying. Even though they own their own dice and I sill let them barrow some of mine, but I already told them if they ever roll the die on the floor and loose it the game WILL stop until its found. You would be amazed at how long it takes to find a die that should be in plain sight.

 

[tburdett]

Only once. I asked my players to split up Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, since it was pretty expensive.

Ouch! That's like having to pay for the bullet they use to execute you!