Should a DM buy the player splats?

[Rechan]

I started a thread asking about suggested purchases for DMs buying into an edition, and one (possibly more) suggested picking up various player books.

But I have to question, why should a DM buy a book that's about player options? Why should he be the one spending the money, when it's 1) the players using it, and 2) the only reason the DM has it is to check the rules?

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

Does a DM have to own the book for it to be allowed in the group? I know that this is how quite a few Dms operate (if I don't own it you can't use it), but that 1) assumes the DM reads the entire thing and knows all the broken bits anyways, 2) puts the purchasing burden on the DM.

 

[Rogue765]

3) the player can use any splat book as long as he buys a copy for the DM.

 

[Pentius]

I buy a decent amount of player splats because I also play, but my rule as a DM is that if you want something from a splat I don't have, you have to make it available to me before you can use it. I'm not really worried about it being broken, if I have it.

 

[Thunderfoot]

Mostly because NO book should be allowed at the table that the DM hasn't thoroughly read first. That being said, the DM's copy doesn't have to be available to use for the players; they should have their own.

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.

Also remember that anything beyond the core rules are "suggestions" and that even the core rules can be altered heavily if the DM so desires, but the players should have fore knowledge and access to the rules changes (we used to keep a log of house rules that eventually turned into a player's guide.)

 

[Shadus]

Thing is, there are two kinds of players. Those who DND seriously and those who take DND as just a game. The people who take DND seriously will end up buying there own stuff, but what about those who just want to play a game? There not the type to sit around studying a DND book all day, and probably won't know what their options are unless the DM points them out. Therefore, A DM should collect some books for his players who are just playing a game.

 

[Pentius]

For those people, a DM need not make available any more than the core rulebook.

 

[prosfilaes]

That being said, the DM's copy doesn't have to be available to use for the players; they should have their own.

That's silly; it would be lovely if we could all have huge libraries full of expensive RPG books, but I'm playing 3.5, and I don't have $50 to spend on the Spell Compendium, $50 on the Magic Item Compendium, another $20 each on the Complete series and $15 a piece for Races and oh yeah we're playing Dragonlance 3.5, so we need those books... In a group, there needs to be one copy of the books available, and everyone else can work from that copy. It doesn't have to be the DM, but he's usually the most into the game and thus splurge on a bunch of books, and he's the one most likely to need them after hours.

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

I don't recall the word "demand' being used, and I'm sceptical that there was ever a time when DMs were worshiped; I also think the deification of mere humans is problematic.

 

[Thunderfoot]

I agree, because, I've never met a gamer that isn't committed to the game in at least a small capacity. So why invest someone who will most likely flake and drop out of the gaming group in a couple of months.

And if you tell me you have a player that has been with you for years but won't read the books, I will tell you they are either lazy or you have been duped by a very good con artist.

Mod Note: Over-generalizatiosn are not your friend, folks. Please, think about what you're actually saying about whom before you write such a thing. ~Umbran

 

[prosfilaes]

For those people, a DM need not make available any more than the core rulebook.

I wouldn't want to play, then. I'm more than willing to buy the core book for any game, and I understand that not having the expansion books makes it harder for me to do stuff. But "Yes, we have the Jedi book. Yes, Jim is playing a Jedi. No, you can't look at the book; if you want to play a Jedi, you have to go out and buy your own copy. You can play the affable smuggler, though." is just going to get heading for the door.

 

[Pentius]

I wouldn't want to play, then. I'm more than willing to buy the core book for any game, and I understand that not having the expansion books makes it harder for me to do stuff. But "Yes, we have the Jedi book. Yes, Jim is playing a Jedi. No, you can't look at the book; if you want to play a Jedi, you have to go out and buy your own copy. You can play the affable smuggler, though." is just going to get heading for the door.

There's a big difference between "No, you can't use Jim's book." and "No, I will not go out and buy you a book."