Play without owning rules books?

[Xath]

Whenever I enter into a long term campaign, I try to buy at least the core rulebook. But I've played plenty of one-shots without owning the book.

 

[wedgeski]

MERP, Paranoia, Rolemaster.... erm, that's it. I tend to like to have at least one rule book if I'm gonna try and be an effective player.

Now, if you'd asked how many rulebooks I have that I've never played the game...

 

[delericho]

I've played a bunch of one-offs without owning the rulebook. However, whenever I'm involved in a long-term campaign, I try to get at least the core rulebook for the system reasonably soon. Assuming, of course, that the game is still in print. (If the GM requests that we don't get the book I will, of course, respect that.)

 

[SweeneyTodd]

The last campaigns I've run have been FATE, Sorcerer, and a homebrew that drew a lot from Primetime Adventurers.

None of the players ever read the rulebooks. (I offered excerpts and "quickstarts" online if they wanted them; one or two might have glanced at them.) It didn't hurt play at all.

For several of my players, being required to read a rulebook before play would be a deal-breaker. I can't really blame them -- we're a rules-light kind of group, and what time people do have between sessions to prep, it's better off spent coming up with character and setting-related material.

 

[francisca]

Shadowrun.

Well, I mooched a copy of the 3rd edition 64 page quickstart book, but I've never purchased anything for SR. (Actually, that's not entirely true, I bought some Ral Partha SR minis from StiggyBaby.)

If my pal comes through and establishes a regular SR 4e game early next year, I'll spring for a copy of the core book.