Should a DM buy the player splats?

[Crothian]

Do you think DMs should be the ones buying the splats?

For himself yes. If the players want the book they can buy it themselves.

 

[Greg K]

As a DM, I only buy those that I will be using/allowing for my campaign(s) provided it is more than just a few pages of content. For 3e, the player splats I use/allow would be: Green Ronin's Cavalier, Psychic, Shaman, and Witch's Handbooks.

I tend to treat such products as GM tools for campaign building- I look at what fits the setting and does so in a manner that I like.

I also own several other products (mostly third party) that I consider more DM campaign oriented with a little bit of player content. For such products, I let the players know which player content is available (just as I do with the player splats).

 

[Thunderfoot]

My wife is another.

You got that, Thunderfoot? You've just insulted the wife of one of the moderators! Excellent work, Sir!

I think you want to think very, very carefully about whether you think others are apt to be forgiving about calling their loved ones lazy or liars before you continue.

It is for reasons like this that we ask you not to over-generalize, folks. Please attempt to learn from Thunderfoot's mistake.

Yes, dumb move on my part, go back and read the post, memorize and don't make the same mistake - good call Umbran

 

[Shadus]

Um, the people who aren't playing it "just as a game" are doing what, exactly, Blackleaf?

The difference is that some people are passionate about DND as a hobby, and will put hours into building a character while others are just playing a game.

For example, I'm part of the first group, and will write up a back story filled with drama or conflict. I give my characters a mission and personality. Then after that I build the character making sure to twink him the best I can without doing something that goes against the characters story.

My friend on the other hands, puts minimum into her characters. She just shows up, says she wants to play her character and the DM gives a general overview of what that class is like. She doesn't really do anything to build her character's personality. She just sits back and waits for her turn in combat or occasionally say a out of character dirty joke.

We're both playing a game, but I take the game more seriously than her.

 

[Michael Silverbane]

Do you think DMs should be the ones buying the splats?

As a gamer, you should buy the books you think you will use or enjoy...

In the game that I am most recently running, I am allowing all 3.5 WotC sources and all Paizo Pathfinder sources, plus Psionics unleashed from Dreamscarred press. I own about one-third of those titles.

The first four sessions have been pretty awesome.

 

[TheYeti1775]

I buy a lot of books. I use maybe a tenth of what I have.
I primarily am a player.
On occassion I DM. Generally DM'ing I'm more comfortable with Core only or maybe a few things from the splats.

The one exception I've found from the rule is Star Wars Saga. All the books are 'core' in our game.

I'm also the only one in the group that owns a physical copy of all the books and I only play. But others are free to borrow a book if needed.

 

[was]

no...a DM isnt required to buy the splats...if a player wants to use something in a splat, he needs to meet w/ the DM and allow him to read the desired content in the players copy prior to character creation

 

[Traveon Wyvernspur]

I find it odd that some players demand that the DM do anything - there was a time that DMs were minor deities... these are sad times indeed.

Whatcha talkin' bout Willis?!

At my table the DM is not only a minor deity, I'm more powerful than the mighty Ao! Psssh, I can create other gods and destroy them at a whim!

 

[jasper]

As a player the Dm can not tell me what splats books I can buy with my hard earned money. And if he does I will spit in his Mt. Dew.
As THE DM I can tell that goober Jasper. You can take your splat book and fold it. Because it is my campaign and he can’t use his precious splat book character. And then I will spit in his MT. Dew. And no I will not read the splat book if loaned to me. And I will spit on Jasper photocopies of just the pages I need.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

As a player the Dm can not tell me what splats books I can buy with my hard earned money. And if he does I will spit in his Mt. Dew.
As THE DM I can tell that goober Jasper. You can take your splat book and fold it. Because it is my campaign and he can’t use his precious splat book character. And then I will spit in his MT. Dew. And no I will not read the splat book if loaned to me. And I will spit on Jasper photocopies of just the pages I need.

Alright, you with the sneakers. *Whistle* Outta the pool!

I won't tell you what you can buy - if you want the Complete Book of Elf Cheese then go ahead and buy it. Do NOT expect me to allow you to use it in my game without my vetting it first.

I actually had a player try that in 2e - 'It's official! You have to allow it!' 'No, no I don't, and no, I am not.' That Complete Elf was one badly balanced Splat....

The Auld Grump