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

[Wombat]

Truer words were never spoken. In my last campaign, I let players use anything in a d20 product. It was a disaster to say the least. They were using spells I'd never even heard of to do all sorts of things.

Actually, I have instituted a once-a-year-one-shot game (the Saturday closest to April Fools' Day) to run the Anything Goes game.

Play any race you want!
Play any class or PrC you want!
Use any spells you want!

Since the game is silly, the parameters that way don't matter as much. The game was a gas last year and people are already designing characters (gp & level limits set ahead of time, by common consent) to fit the feel.

And this year we will have the Flaming Drow Poodlemancer for sure

 

[jasper]

Is that fair to limit a player's resources, just because you don't have it yourself?

by orcus, asmo, and demogorgon YES!

 

[Piratecat]

You'll have a poodlemancer? YES!

 

[diaglo]

You'll have a poodlemancer? YES!

i see......a grell monk in his future.

 

[glass]

If I ever shake of the horror of my last attempt and DM again, I will probably institute a rule of if you want to play it, I have to own it (or borrow it for an extended period of time first, like a month minimum). That is not really a huge limitation, however, as I own quite a few books.

Both my current DMs are more liberal than I would be in this regard, although one doesn't have lot of choice (since AFAIK, he doesn't even own a PHB).

glass.

 

[WayneLigon]

When I start a campaign, I give players a list of books where they can choose feats, PrC's, etc. I might allow something from another book if I look over it; then I'd photocopy the relevant pages and stick it in the campaign binder for future reference. I'd allow feats and spells, etc; nothing like a new means of using magic.

I'm pretty open to what the player's bring me, but it depends on if the thing they bring fits the overall tone of the campaign or any metarules I've set up.

 

[TwoSix]

Boy, if a player came to me with a book they bought themselves and said they really wanted something in it they read about, I'd get out of my chair and do a little dance of joy. And then I'd read it, and if its unbalanced, I'd nerf the heck out of it or disallow it. This whole process shouldn't take more than 5 minutes. Of course, you do have to share with the other players. But I certainly don't need to own it. How long does it take to figure out something is unbalanced, anyway? It normally jumps right out at you.

 

[Grazzt]

It's not only fair, it's necessary.

I mean, I've seen some whacked-out unbalanced crap in 3rd party stuff... heck, even in WotC products. Things I'd never allow into my campaign. If I don't have it, I need plenty of time to look it over and examine the implications before I'll let it in.

Agreed. That's how I do it too.

Although, in all fairness, I will allow stuff from books I don't have once I've looked em over closely, assuming it passes my dm test. However, if the player doesn't bring the resource and tries to use something from it, any disputes about its functionality lead me to rule in the most conservative way. The onus is on the player to bring that material every time if I don't own it.

Me too. If I dont own the books (which is rare since I seem to own way more "crap" than all of my players put together), then I have to see the book and review whatever it is the player wants to play. If it passes, great...its probably in. If it doesnt....then "sorry about ya...better luck next time."

 

[Voadam]

Actually, I have instituted a once-a-year-one-shot game (the Saturday closest to April Fools' Day) to run the Anything Goes game.

Play any race you want!
Play any class or PrC you want!
Use any spells you want!

Since the game is silly, the parameters that way don't matter as much. The game was a gas last year and people are already designing characters (gp & level limits set ahead of time, by common consent) to fit the feel.

And this year we will have the Flaming Drow Poodlemancer for sure

If you have somebody summon a blind, deaf kobold, let me know so I can beam as a proud freelance contributor.

 

[Bendris Noulg]

I'm with Davelozzi here. While I *might* vet a class or two from a player's book, I'm loathe to allow much -- if anything -- from books I don't have, since I need time to think and look things over.

This is how I stand on it. If a Player brings me material for consideration (my only two restrictions being that the material must be OGC and cannot be a Prestige Class), I'll most definately consider it. I'll read it (even keeping the book with me for a day or three if something lengthy). If I approve it, I transcribe it into our own rule books, and now everyone has it (which, btw, is why it must be OGC).

(Consequently, I found this easier than trying to find everything I will allow and then getting the rules done before play begins... Add it as I use it, as it were.)