To buy PHB now, or not to buy?

[Henry]

did you guys not read the whole post?

Yes, I did; and I was reinforcing that my opinion on it agreed with yours. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

However, that fact that you do not know him is different; I was going on the assumption that you had met him before, and it wasn't clear in your post - I've never myself invited someone to a game before that I haven't met personally.

In this case, like you said, let him know, and give him the option if he wants to buy it now, or learn as he goes.

 

[Utrecht]

Since you do not know him/her - go the route of warn him about the new version - offer to let him borrow yours during play and sugges eBay as a method to pick up a 3e book on the cheap.

 

[DanMcS]

Since the revised books are coming out in 4 months, and we may (probably) update our game to 3.5 soon after that, should I advise him to not buy the PHB right now? Since he is unfamiliar with D&D3, he needs the rulebook to read and get up to speed for the campaign. And as our newly forming group is mostly complete strangers to each other right now, loaning probably isn't a comfortable idea.

Yes, tell him not to buy the book. Even if no one can lend him a book, he can use them in game while you all are playing, and you can have the first game session be just building him a character (and other people if they don't have one) and some play combats to get a feel for the rules. That's how my group learned Mutants and Masterminds- two or three of the guys have the book, I don't but have played 3e and d20modern and lots of other RPGs, and my friend has never played any before, but we all learned the rules right quick.

 

[Christian]

Quasqueton-

Whatever you do, just make sure to warn him about the upcoming revision.

 

[Garmorn]

You might also point out the SRD for his use. This would by pass any problems with loaning and still give him the basics he needs to put together a character.

 

[Painfully]

I have a player in my group that is also in need of a PHB, mostly because he is a wizard and doesn't know what all his spells can do.

After informing him of the new books, he seems more than willing to buy my old PHB. Since I'm buying the new ones anyway, I'm giving him half off and selling it for $15 (even though I got it for $20). Hehehe.

I told him all that though, and he is still happy to get the book for half what he would have to pay for a new one. And I get to pay for half of my new book to boot! Hooray!

 

[aurin777]

Loan the good ol boy your phb. Most players in the group I played with only had the PHB, if that. Most just learned out of the same PHB. The only reason people who know how to play need one is character creation. It shouldn't be much of a hassle for him to go without. He may as well wait for the updated version.
So, to make a long story short, I agree with everyone else. Loan, wait, buy.
~~Brandon