So I've never played any kind of RPG game whatsoever and am jumping in for this game also made by FFG - End of the World - because the idea of it being average Joe people, not elfs or demi-gods, such as my friends and I is fascinating. But I know ZIP about RPG style games. So:

1: Is everything I need included in the single purchase?

2: Can you recommend/link any resources for learning the general RP game mechanic?

3: Can the GM be a player as well?

Thanks! Sorry for being so OT but the forum for the game is a deadzone and I've seen people reference RPG games a lot.

Frankly the FFG Star Wars RPG games look cool but are a ton of money given the number of expansions.This seems straightforward and has a neat twist in that you design the character as you with the setting being wherever you are at.

Usually with an RPG you will need the main rulebook or two, paper and dice. I don't remember what kind of dice the End of the World games are using, I'm sure the other players can tell you, and if they are exotic (as FFG RPGs tend to be) the players can probably all share dice until everyone starts getting their own. The only significant purchase you should need is the book.

The best way to learn role-playing games is o just do it. I don't know a whole lot about the EotW games so I can't really help you with specifics, but the really nice thing about RPGs is that you can just go with it. Especially for new players, you can just tell the GM what your character is doing in real world terms (something experienced RPGers should do as well) and the GM can explain what rolls are needed.

GMs ... can... also run PCs, but it usually s not a very good idea. GMing is hard work and requires a lot of focus and juggling of various bits of information, not many people can run a full PC on top of that and do a good job, plus, the GM by definition has access to privileged information and it can be very difficult for some people to not use information they have as a GM that the players and their characters shouldn't. Stuff like which door is trapped, whether the guy in the bar is being honest, where the bad guy's base is REALLY located.

As for the Star Wars games. The thing about RPGs is, you only "need" the core rules, but typically you pretty quickly end up "wanting" more supplements. Despite that though, RPGs are probably one of the cheapest hobbies on the planet. You could get just the core rulebook for one of the SW RPGs and play perfectly fine with just it, dice and paper. I also virtually guarantee you that the End of the World games will end up having their fair share of supplements as well. Don't let that put you off. Once you have played with the core rules for a while its pretty easy to identify what supplements you might want, which ones you won't care about and which ones just the GM is really going to need.

You might look into online dice roller sites or dice roller apps for your smartphone/tablet (if you have one).

Many RPGs are playable out of a single box/book, but most also have a wide variety of "splat" books that include expanded rules, more character progression options, extra gear lists, new premade adventures, etc. Generally I'd recommend trying out the basic game first. If you don't like how the rules work, then you don't want to blow your money on a bunch of books you aren't going to be using.

Y'know, an FFG made RPG might just have its own forum here.

http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/forum/412-the-end-of-the-world/

1: Is everything I need included in the single purchase?

2: Can you recommend/link any resources for learning the general RP game mechanic?

3: Can the GM be a player as well?

1. Rarely unless purchased as some kind of package deal. In general most RPGs have a core rulebook that covers most of the basics you will need to play although having pen and paper (hence the P&P) are additional (official character sheets are rarely needed) and then the games randomizer which is usually some form of dice. In some RPGs you probably have the dice you need but for others, FFGs are possibly the worst, you need special dice.

2. No. Sorry but I just don't have any recommendations here and part of that stems from different RPGs having vastly different mechanics. I guess I can explain them in the most basic of terms as playing "let's pretend" except that RPGs have some mechanics to resolve actions (I shoot you. No you didn't. Oh yes I did!) instead of getting into arguments over what really happen.

3. Yes and no. Although there are GMs who try to play a character like the other players the experience really is not the same. Separating GM knowledge from player knowledge can be very challenging at time. Now the truth is that while GMs SHOULD NOT be a "player" like the others who have PCs (Player Characters) he still gets to play characters; namely the GM gets to play all of the NON-PCs (NPC) and occasionally some of them may be part of the group.

Going back over things most RPGs can be played, although not alway run, with a single core rulebook/box some kind of dice, which may be specialized, and a few misc supplies. From there almost all games produce supplemental material and also have all kinds of accessories.

When it comes to StarWars RPGs I'm not familiar with FFGs new version but know a bit about the three previous versions of the game from WotC and WEG. While it may not include everything I've found that the SAGA Edition of StarWars will allow someone to play with just the Core Rulebook and a set of standard game dice; there may be a dozen other books available for the game to give the GM the "official" stats for various setting and offer some expansions but just using the SECR one can make a character that is perfectly viable without any outside help.