RPGs: Would you prefer a textbook or periodical model?

[EyeontheMountain]

I am willing to buy adventures (or rather, adventure paths) in a periodical format. I would not be willing to buy rulebooks in that format - I want to buy the rules as a one-off expense and then have everything I need for the game.

In fact, for 4th Edition, I am strongly considering getting the Core Rules and nothing else... but then I said much the same thing about 3rd Edition.

LOL, Me too. But I know if I go to 4E, and that is by no means a guarantee, I will probably end up buying a lot.

 

[Shades of Green]

I prefer to buy one big rulebook once in a while, especially if ALL the basic rules come in one book. I prefer having a hardcopy in my hand, and I prefer having a durable hard-covered hardcopy with which I could travel. Sure, I have a few sourcebooks as well, but generally speaking I prefer a few big purchases over many smaller ones (less shipping, easier to plan the budget, plus hardcover hardcopy is comfortable).

PDF pay-for-download I use for getting out-of-print rules for cheap.