Have you bought a second copy of a book for table use?

[freebfrost]

I usually will buy multiple books for games that I plan on running that aren't standard D&D - for my Conan game I picked up 2 copies of the hardcover and a copy of the paperback rulebook for player reference. I also typically have multiple copies of the core books for D&D on hand.

In both cases, it just seems to help to have extra copies around for people who don't own the book or have misplaced their copy, etc.

I aslo buy books for players for holidays - what else could you expect from your DM?

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I don't think I'm generous enough to give them the book, but a copy to lend out to players in turn and pass around the table. I figure if they learn the rules, they might get more interested, which can happen.
Basically when you GM/DM a game, you can't lend out your book otherwise what do you use to prepare? Hence you need another copy.

Well, I have the SRD, the 3.0 PHB, the 3.5 PHB, and the Special Edition PHB (50% off, I couldn't resist). I don't have to get copies just to lend out.

Lastly, the stupid cost of shipping things out here means that a game book tends to cost a little more than it costs most of you. ie for the cost of the PHB I can probably take my wife out to dinner quite comfortably. Which in a sense is two nights out.

Where are you from?

 

[bubbalin]

Where are you from?

Oz, the land down under.
but I'm also in the 'little' provincial capital that sits on the western end of the island.

 

[IronWolf]

I would pick up a second book for table use. We play standard D&D though and are all mature adults that are pretty into the game, so for the most part the player's own everything that is needed. We do play Forgotten Realms and not everyone has those books but between the lot of us we have enough copies for people to look at and use. If necessary though I would seriously consider picking up a second copy for table use.

 

[Storyteller01]

Don't generally6 have to. My players always seem to have their own copy

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Yes, primarilly so that the new players can take the book home to study character generation.

The Auld Grump

 

[billd91]

I picked up 4 copies of 1st ed Oriental Adventures for sharing around the table. I'd pick them up at used book stores for $10 and under. It wasn't that much of an investment and turned out to be very useful since it was a book most people didn't have.

 

[D-rock]

I bought multiple players handbooks for my players during christmas, and I got one extra because I knew after a few months that they would brutilize it to the point that it looked like a twenty year old high school math textbook. Other than that I don't buy any extra, I just let them use my stuff when I can supervise them and make sure that everything comes out in one peice.

 

[Bront]

I haven't done it reciently, but I own 2 copies of the Battletech Companion, which is quite usefull for reference. I also purchased 2 copies of the Alternity Handbook (the limited edition one, not the first full release) for posterity and so I had 2 for others.

 

[Sieobahn]

Back when I was the only one working and all the other players were full time students, I bought an extra PHB and DMG (2nd edition).

Last year I bought an extra copy of Arcana Unearthed when it was on special. And occasionally I by some books on special. When I wave it in front of the players one usually coughs up the cash to buy it. (No local retails around here for D&D stuff)