Do you Read all the books?

[palleomortis]

Just seemed like a good question. I don't really like to read it all, seems like a text book. And I get enough school as it is.

 

[Laman Stahros]

At least once, yes. Hard to know what is in a book if I don't read said book. Some of them can be a bit dry, but . . . every time I didn't read a book all the way through immediately, and came back to it later, wow, how did I miss that!?!

 

[haiiro]

Nope. Very rarely, actually.

I know I read the 3.0 PHB in full, and I think I read the 3.0 DMG in full -- but I wouldn't swear to it.

In the past couple of years, I think I've only read a few books all the way through: the Eberron CS, and three for DragonMech (the CS, Shardsfall Quest and Mech Manual). Most books I'll read bits and pieces of -- what interested me in the first place, or is directly relevant to my game, etc. -- and return to later if/when I need to.

 

[IronWolf]

I read the whole thing, mainly so I could have a chance of recalling what was or was not covered in there somewhere. Despite having read it all, I still need a lot of work to recall rules quickly....

 

[palleomortis]

I usually only go back and look at what I need. I know this sucks as a DM, but I pretty much know the rules enoughe to dm for me and my groupe, seeing as we are a lot newer to it. Every time I think I may have done somthing wrong, I look it up after the session (If I can remember), and just wing it during the session.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Not the 3.5 ones but definitley 3.0. Not all in one sitting obviously. But it's more entertaining then half the junk on TV or the internet.

 

[Mixmaster]

If you're going to be a GOOD DM (or player), why wouldn't you?? It's not like I have it memorized or anything.

More arguements come from people who don't read the entire description or assume......

 

[derbacher]

I've read all 36 3.0/3.5 books I have cover to cover. I don't have anything but the PHB anywhere close to memorized. Heck, I probably only use six of them at all, but I still love to read them and get ideas for things to tortur... er, challenge my players with!

 

[Mercule]

I read all my gaming books cover-to-cover. Sometimes because it's fun (Complete Arcane, Complete Adventurer, and Draconomicon), sometimes because they're the rules.

The best book, ever, was the 1E DMG. I think I've read every page in it at least 10 times. Many sections have been read over 50 times. And that isn't including the tables, some of which (gem properties are the basis for huge chunks of significant history) formed cornerstone concepts in my homebrew just because they were so interesting. I still reference the 1E DMG.

The least interesting read I've ever had, though, was the Hero rulebook. I love the system, but the rulesbook reads like a dictionary.

 

[palleomortis]

So, new question. In order to be a good DM, do you have to have them memorized?

MY answer is no. As a player, I try not to mention when my DM goes off on a rule (Barley ever, he seems to have a photografic memory, and when I do, I'm usually wrong). I just say that it is a house rule, which he seems to have a mound of now. The measure of a DM, is how good he makes the sesion. Not whether he was right about the rules, but that the game in itself was fun and enjoyed. And for that to happen, all of the players must overlook the rules sometimes.