Re: [DL] Buying Habits

[Martha Frey <natasha_corey@yahoo.com>]

Ross, I agree with you here.  Book buying patterns in
our group are based almost solely on financial access;
the Marshall and I have it, and therefore buy most of
the books.  I might have mentioned this before, but
when we first picked up DeadLands we easily spent $400
on all of what was out at the time, and recently did
it again getting caught up.  We currently own
-everything- short of three dime novels, the Boomtowns
set, and the three volume anthologies.  And that's
just because the Marshall's birthday is next month,
and I needed to get him -something.-  (When we ran out
of room on the game bookcase, we bought a new one!)

We're also notorious for buying everything and
anything, simply because we like new source material
and new systems, even if we have -no- intention of
ever playing the game.  I hate to use this as an
example here, but "Brave New World" ended up in that
camp.  We loved the concept and the art, but Zach (our
Marshall) was -constantly- frustrated with the lack of
information he got out of his sections of the books,
and we just decided if we were ever going to run the
concept, we'd take it to tried and true Champions.

As far as book access goes, our players are allowed
only Posse Territory for everything except Law Dogs
(and then only the Hexslinin' chapter; stop at the
"Lady J in a cowboy hat" picture) and the main rules. 
Everything else is strictly "I see you in it, I kill
you".  Keep in mind we (a) still play with "first
edition" rules, and (b) we're still in 1876, so the
Back East series is still inappicable.

We don't have any repeat books at this point; the main
benefit of the entire posse minue one player all
living in the same place.  For things we all need
copies of, like gear lists and gun lists, we ran some
copies and I put together folders for people.  Usually
in game play the books all sit on top of the ice chest
next to the Marshall, and we pass them back and forth
when we need a rules call.

Marguerite of EMGB, otherwise known as Maggie Jensen

(p.s.  I've forwarded Goff's original message on to
the Marshall, asking for a response to the book
division thing.)

--- Ross Coburn <coburn@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> Well, as far as books go, I have to preface this
> remark by mentioning that
> I am not a typical gamer in that respect; I buy
> LOADS of product (easily
> $2-3,000 per year), which goes into a few categories
> (and places in my
> apartment):
> 
> 1. Stuff I want, and know I'll need/benefit from in
> a game I'm involved in
> or planning soon.
> 2. Stuff I don't expect to need any time soon, but
> might someday and it
> looks mighty nifty (I tend to follow certain lines
> of games, or writers
> within, just as I avoid others for the same reason).
> 3. Stuff I kow darned well I'll never use, but looks
> intriguing.
> 4. Stuff I know I'll regret buying, but I'm in the
> gaming store, money
> burning a hole, and I haven't found anything more
> appealing.  I have poor
> impulse control, I admit it.
> 
> Of that whacking lot, some of category 2, about 2/3
> of category 3, and all
> of category 4 either get 'permanently loaned' to
> friends, or recycled (sold
> off at FLGS) each time I move, or when shelf space
> gets so limited that my
> fiancee is considering using the stuff to light the
> gas stove.
> 
> 
> All that said, when I run a game (Deadlands springs
> immediately to mind, as
> does Ars Magica, since I'm running those two right
> now, and Delta Green,
> because I'm considering running it), here's how I
> think/encourage players:
> 
> In Deadlands, I heartily encourage people to get the
> players' book (I lost
> my 1st Ed when I moved, and so since I am using my
> leatherbound, I do NOT
> loan it lightly, and besides, since the marshal's
> stuff is in there too, I
> NEED it often), and any supplements relating to
> their characters.  Most f
> my players do so (one is broke these days).  Same
> sort of approach that
> used to prevail in AD&D (you really do need your own
> players handbook,
> after all).
> 
> In Ars Magica, which is an elegant but way intricate
> game, I INSIST that
> players get their own copy, and preferably the
> Grimoire ('players' guide'
> for all intents and purposes).  Everyone has, but
> that one guy (and his
> repeated requests to borrow will eventually get him
> shot, so I suspect
> he'll get his soon).
> 
> As for Delta Green, I don't want the players going
> anywhere NEAR the books.
>  I catch 'em, I'll hang 'em (etc.)!  But that is a
> game predicated on an
> unusually high level of secrecy and paranoia after
> all...
> 
> Hope this helps,
> Ross Coburn
> 
> 
> To unsubscribe, send a message to esquire@gamerz.net
> with
> 	unsubscribe deadlands
> as the BODY of the message.  The SUBJECT is ignored.
> 


=====

Marguerite


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