"If you can't share, don't bring it..."

[Ylis]

In my group, we all share everything. Most new books go into the "group library" and everyone has access to it - regardless as to who purchased it. Then again, we kind of have an odd group: we are longterm friends, and most of the group has been friends since they were diaper-age.

Now, if I was in a more "normal" group, I would say that everyone should have access to the book, or none could play from it. That's only fair, really....

 

[Janx]

I think most DMs stick with the "I have to approve it first" rule. Now if they're criteria for approval requires that the DM owns a copy...

I always have a House Rules document for every game system I run. Even if its blank. One of the first things I develop for it is the list of accepted rules sources. I have to approve it for it to get on that list. I also list a series of priorities, which generally imply the chances of any given item being approved. it tends to look like:
WoTC core rulebooks
WoTC supplements
Dragon Magazine
3rd party supplements
Internet freebies
homemade stuff a player made up

For my D&D3.0 campaign, the list is:
Player’s Handbook 3E
Dungeon Master’s Guide 3E
Monster Manual 3E
Monster Manual II 3E
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3E
Psionics Handbook 3E
Magic of Faerun 3E
Monsters of Faerun 3E
Defenders of the Faith
Sound and Silence
Fist and Fury
Tomb and Blood*
Masters of the Wild
SeaFarer’s Handbook

I generally accept the basic splat books, even if I don't own them. Anything else, I definitely need to read, and its its just a small piece, I'll republish that rule in my house rules doc (with a citation on where it came from). That generally takes care of everything.

Janx

 

[Ylis]

Oh, yes! I definitely think that the GM needs to read the book before anyone can play it...I assumed that GMs reading any/all books involved in their campaign was a given I can't see any GM agreeing that a player could play "class x" when the GM has never even read about "class x" and is forbidden to look at the book...that's just an accident waiting to happen!

 

[Nifelhein]

Anything is possible, no matter publisher or source, you made it? let me see and maybe comment, you got it on the web? let me see it, you have it in that Swashbuckilng adventures book? Good! Let me see it, and as I am at it, let me read it all, as others may interest in something.

Anything is allowed provided that i can read it before and that I can accoutn for it when I prepare my games. That said I usually am the only one who ahs many books, specially the player's handbook, and the players neevr interest in reading them, I would lend easily, if they damage it, that is their newly acquired book and I just got a new copy, with your money.

 

[Piratecat]

So it's your game, and the players are just guests who participate with your permission?

Do you mind explaining what has triggered the original question? My guess is that your DM has disallowed something that you want to play, and you consider it unfair.

Heck, it's the DM's responsibility to limit rules to ones that he is comfortable and familiar with. I'd certainly be cautious allowing rules that I didn't personally have a copy of in one way, shape or form. I've found that policy works well for preventing misunderstandings.

 

[Driddle]

Do you mind explaining what has triggered the original question? My guess is that ...

Regardless of my personal context, the question has engendered a lot of interesting discussion. And that's good enough.

-BVB

 

[Rel]

To me, it isn't even just an issue of "If I let Player A use something from Splatbook X then I need to let Player B use it too." If the races or classes or prestige classes or magic items from Splatbook X exist in my world, EVERYBODY gets access, including NPCs. Friend and foe alike.

If I don't have Splatbook X at home for a considerable length of time so I can peruse it at my leisure, don't expect me to let you take stuff from it. I need to be able to weave it into the campaign world and that means more than just letting your character, and him alone, take a sampling from it. It has little to do with how balanced it is (though I do take this into consideration).

Things get a lot more balanced when the bad guys can do them too.

 

[Mercule]

If I ever get a player that's willing to spend more money than me on this hobby, or even buy more than the player's handbook (or in some cases even that), then I'll let you know how I rule on it.

Likewise.

Although I've played in a couple of games with that rule. Which pretty much sucks when the DM is only using the Core rulebooks and I've got twenty books sitting on my shelf.

 

[Nightchilde-2]

In my opinion, yes it is. I need to be able to know what a PC's abilities are in order to plan a fun game for everyone.

That said, I have a lot more books then any of my players, and if one of them wanted something that I didn't have, I'd borrow it to see if it was something that I'd allow, and if it was, I'd probably go pick up my own copy.

Ditto.

I allow what I own mainly so that I can study it and make sure it fits. If someone wants something out of a book so bad that they want to buy me the book, I'll let them buy it for me and then I'll consider it.

Of course, as always, there are exceptions.

 

[dagger]

I use the same rule that they use at the gun range I go to...

"If you can carry it, you can shoot it."