GreatLemur
Explorer
I used to do that all the time. These days, I'm making a very serious effort not to. Sometimes this means I only actually buy a book after we've decided that I'm going to run a game using it.
Do You Sometimes Purchase RPG Books Just To Read (Not For Play Purposes)?
- Thread starter Mark
- Start date
I just did for the first time.
Up until this time, I had always purchased books that I intended to use in play. However, I just bought Angel, Monster Smackdown, and the Slayer's Handbook at about 60-65% off with the intent of references for the show/universe. For a brief moment, I started to consider giving Cinematic Unisystem a try. However, looking at the sample archetypes from the Eden previews, the skills seem to be even broader than Star Wars:SE- both of which are already too broad for my tastes.
Up until this time, I had always purchased books that I intended to use in play. However, I just bought Angel, Monster Smackdown, and the Slayer's Handbook at about 60-65% off with the intent of references for the show/universe. For a brief moment, I started to consider giving Cinematic Unisystem a try. However, looking at the sample archetypes from the Eden previews, the skills seem to be even broader than Star Wars:SE- both of which are already too broad for my tastes.
I have so much White Wolf stuff I've never used it's not even funny. Most of the Mage: the Ascension and Wraith: the Oblivion books, most of the Werewolf: the Apocalypse books (I played one game, but that was before I had any of the books). Most of the Vampire: Dark Age books (again, we played a campaign set in the dark ages, but that was before the Dark Age book was even announced). Many of the Clan/Tribe/House books are very cool and breath new life into groups that I wouldn't have originally thought cool (the first Clanbooks Nosferatu and Lasombra were amazing! The second ones for Vampire Revised, not so much, but I bought them anyway.).
I *love* reading Aberrant, Trinity and Adventure! books, despite limited chances to ever play any of them.
If I want to read a book, I buy it. Doesn't matter if I ever 'use' it. I don't 'use' comic books or novels, either. If it's a good read, it's a good read, and some setting books, such as the Scarred Lands books, are often good reads. Eberron books are a bit dry, I'm not sure why. Realms books are often interesting.
I have no idea what Greyhawk books would be like, since they haven't had one since the Living Greyhawk RPG doc... But I'd buy them, just because I'm like that.
D&D splatbooks, on the other hand, have to have something in them I would like. I don't have any of the 'Races of' books (except Races of Eberron, which was a huge letdown). I do have all of the Completes, the PHB2, etc. which I *do* use.
The only reason I have a job is to pay for my reading habit...
I *love* reading Aberrant, Trinity and Adventure! books, despite limited chances to ever play any of them.
If I want to read a book, I buy it. Doesn't matter if I ever 'use' it. I don't 'use' comic books or novels, either. If it's a good read, it's a good read, and some setting books, such as the Scarred Lands books, are often good reads. Eberron books are a bit dry, I'm not sure why. Realms books are often interesting.
I have no idea what Greyhawk books would be like, since they haven't had one since the Living Greyhawk RPG doc... But I'd buy them, just because I'm like that.
D&D splatbooks, on the other hand, have to have something in them I would like. I don't have any of the 'Races of' books (except Races of Eberron, which was a huge letdown). I do have all of the Completes, the PHB2, etc. which I *do* use.
The only reason I have a job is to pay for my reading habit...
Last edited:
Angel Tarragon
Dawn Dragon
No, never. I always buy books that I intend to plunder for my homebrew. $150 a month isn't enough to spend frivolously.
Mercule
Adventurer
Not often, but I have. Sometimes it's a mixed reason.
I bought Aces & Eights knowing it's unlikely that I'll ever play it, but that it'd be a good read. I still hope to play it, so it wasn't just an fluff purchase. But I'm okay if that's all it ever is.
The same goes for Promethean. And most of the oWoD Wraith books.
I bought Aces & Eights knowing it's unlikely that I'll ever play it, but that it'd be a good read. I still hope to play it, so it wasn't just an fluff purchase. But I'm okay if that's all it ever is.
The same goes for Promethean. And most of the oWoD Wraith books.
Darrin Drader
Explorer
Hey look, another two year old thread necromancy! 
I do sometimes buy a book that I'm not interested in running if it meets one of two criteria: it has fluff that looks interesting, or it has innovative game mechanics that I would like to study.
I do sometimes buy a book that I'm not interested in running if it meets one of two criteria: it has fluff that looks interesting, or it has innovative game mechanics that I would like to study.
mcrow
Explorer
Yes, I buy games jsut for the purpose of reading them.
Not that I don't have the intention or desire to play them but there are a lot of games that my group wont play. However, If I get the chance I play them.
I'd say that probably about 40% of the books I buy just to read, with no current plan to play it, end up getting played sometime.
Not that I don't have the intention or desire to play them but there are a lot of games that my group wont play. However, If I get the chance I play them.
I'd say that probably about 40% of the books I buy just to read, with no current plan to play it, end up getting played sometime.
I have a huge collection of Rifts books. I used to collect them just to read them. The lack of balance and the clumsy rules pretty much gauruntee I'll never run or play it, but the story is great. A very well done kitchen-sink setting. I only stopped collecting after seeing the way they ran shop on their forums. If I don't like the people, I won't but their product if I can help it.
Beyond that venture I have a few other game books I got to use as inspiration rather than to run them directly.
Beyond that venture I have a few other game books I got to use as inspiration rather than to run them directly.
