requiring players to buy books

[der_kluge]

I've heard of cases where the DM bought two copies of the book, so the players could use one or both for character creation.

I made everyone in my last group purchase the 3.5 books when they came out. That was a serious investment on their part (at least those who opted to purchase all 3).

My current DM is an ENWorld regular, so he and I both have HARP and Grim Tales, so we're cool with each other no matter what he runs.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

I don't require that players buy books.

Considering about a quarter of them can't even remember their character sheet, I think an entire book would be a stretch.

 

[TheYeti1775]

PHB or its Equivalent - Yes

For the PHB or its equivalent in your system, then yes with the exception being if they are just trying the system to see if they like it.
Otherwise can't think of any required purchases, as long as they have the rule concept down and the DM/GM is agreeable to their take on it.

 

[Crothian]

I don't require that players buy books.

Considering about a quarter of them can't even remember their character sheet, I think an entire book would be a stretch.

I've found that if I require more from the players they deliever. Having such low expectations is not good.

 

[GlassJaw]

Glassjaw, if I remember well, you are planning a Grim Tales campaign, don't you?

Indeed. One guy bought the book. I'm planning to run a one-shot GT session before my campaign starts to give everyone a feel for it. Hopefully they'll buy the book afterwards.

Just make sure everyone is on board. Don't want to alienate anyone. Run the game the players want to play.

Hmm, this could be a whole other discussion. There is a fine line between what they want to play and what I want run. Isn't the DM supposed to have fun too? Our group is actually pretty open to letting people DM whatever they want. Whoever wants to put in the work to run something gets a bigger vote in our group. We also alternate campaigns which keeps things from getting stale and gives everyone a chance to play.

As long as there is are two copies of the main PHB book, so two people can access the book at the same time, I'm fine. Both copies just float around the table and all is cool.

Well I'm assuming everyone has the PHB. I'm talking about books beyond the PHB, specifically campaign books or books that contain alternate rules.

I've found that if I require more from the players they deliever. Having such low expectations is not good.

I agree. I want my players to be excited about coming to each session and look forward to it. If I see they are putting some effort into it, then I feel like I did my job. The worst feeling as a DM (especially for newer players) is to feel that they haven't cracked the PHB since the previous session. If you don't want to learn the rules, what's the point?

Wow, there's a bunch of different topics going on in this thread right now. LOL. Great stuff so far though . Some good advice.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Ok, I would not require my players to buy a game setting book or an optional players book for a particular setting or something like that. I just hope a few buy some PHB's, beyond that I don't make an issue of it.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Personally, I would like every player IMC to have the 3.5 PH. If they don't want to buy it due to money issues, I'll let them use just the SRD. However, if they are going to be a spellcaster then I expect them to either buy the 3.5 PH or print all their spells off the SRD (which can be a big job). One thing I can't stand is someone constantly asking to borrow someone else's PH to look up spells when that someone else went to the expense of buying their own book and now have a mooch constantly mooching off them.

 

[Darkness]

Considering I do the calculations for stats at new levels and such for my players anyway*, there's little need for me to require my players to have more than the PHB and whatever books they constantly need for their character.

I get slightly annoyed if someone has no PHB and constantly needs mine, though. Sure, I have my laptop running and can use the SRD, but I don't like doing that.

*More precisely, I let my laptop do it.

 

[Pants]

Ok, I would not require my players to buy a game setting book or an optional players book for a particular setting or something like that. I just hope a few buy some PHB's, beyond that I don't make an issue of it.

Ditto. If a player wants to go out and buy some optional stuff that would speed up game time, that's their choice. I just let everyone use my books. So what if it slows down game time a bit, we ALL need some time just to sit back and BS.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I've generally, over the years, required that there be a couple extra of the PHB-type book at the table. How the players got there was up to them. Usually couples or roommates would pick up one and share it, so it hasn't ever been a problem. Most of the people I've played serious campaigns with were either a) as big a game junky as myself, or b) fortunate to be in a position where $20-30 for a copy of the book wasn't a hardship.