Do You Sometimes Purchase RPG Books Just To Read (Not For Play Purposes)?

[lukelightning]

Technically no, but I have several books that I have not had the opportunity to use at all.

 

[jdrakeh]

No. I used to. I had a copy of every book ever printed for well over 100 different game lines (including complete collections of multiple editions of the same RPG). Not until recently did I realize that this isn't normal. It's a full-blown obsession. An obsession that costs a bunch of money that I can no longer afford to spend. So, today? no.

 

[Agamon]

No...it just sometimes (okay, more than sometimes) turns out that way.

 

[Vague Jayhawk]

I normally do not. I just own the core books for the few games that I own.

But I broke down for The Black Company.

I have a feeling I will never find a group for that, but I just had to.

 

[mach1.9pants]

I spent almost 15 yrs not gaming, during the 2E into 3E era. I own almost every 3E book, and about 20 or so standalone system books (Iron Heroes, Arcana Unearthed, True20, new LotR RPG, etc) none of which I had any intention of using.
Now I am playing 4E...it is bizarre only to have 3 books in my collection!

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Technically, not intentionally. I see the book (usually a system) and say "Hey, that looks like fun." I buy the book. I know my group will never play anything other than D&D, and I'll never actually play the game I just bought. But that doesn't mean I don't WANT to.

That's a little how do it, too.

I've bought Exalted 2e, Traveller and Changling: The Lost recently. I reserve doubts that my group will enjoy much of either system, though they all contain interesting stuff and I wanted to know what they were about.

 

[Ginnel]

I was tempted by a no, but then about 4-5 months back I went on Ebay and bought just about everything to do with planescape 2nd edition, which I knew in my heart of hearts I wasn't going to use all of it, still I like the pretty pictures and I got some use out of most of it, I really enjoyed reading Tribe 8 and count myself as amazingly lucky to have got to play it.

My introduction to this hobby was when I was little and my older brother left behind his Call of Cthulu books (main game and a couple of adventures) and his AD&D DMG, I read them cover to cover numerous times.

 

[Ginnel]

*does the double post dance*

very similar to the snoopy dance if your wondering

 

[eyebeams]

I usually purchase game books to either use for play or for professional reasons. Occasionally I stretch "professional reasons," but even then, anything I get has at least an indirect effect on what I write, design or play.

 

[SavageRobby]

I was looking for the "yes, is this a trick question?" answer, but had to settle for just "yes".


If I used all of my gaming material, I'd probably do nothing but game. Heck, if I did nothing but read all the gaming material I've accumulated, I wouldn't even have time for gaming.


Sigh. I wish I had the time I used to, when I could spend entire afternoons and weekends devouring and memorizing game books. Now I have way more purchasing power and can buy more, but way less time to read it all.