In a perfect world, I'd have each player own a copy of the book. When spending xp and knowing what's next, passing around 1 book can take quite a lot longer than needed when having to pass the book around. Especially if a player wants to purchase a new Specialization and wants to see which Specialization fits with the background of the character.

In reality, I might just print out the Specialization Trees and keep them in a notebook and if a player wants to know about a certain Career's Specializations, they'd just be passed those Specializations.

The AoR beta book is on clearance at MM for a decent price. I already own one copy, but since my player's are stingy (with good reason. They're all broke college students or broke former college students), so I'll have 3 copies of the rules to pass around. I'm ok with this.

In a perfect world, I'd have each player own a copy of the book. When spending xp and knowing what's next, passing around 1 book can take quite a lot longer than needed when having to pass the book around. Especially if a player wants to purchase a new Specialization and wants to see which Specialization fits with the background of the character.

In reality, I might just print out the Specialization Trees and keep them in a notebook and if a player wants to know about a certain Career's Specializations, they'd just be passed those Specializations.

Yeah, I printed out the BeggingforXP talent sheets and gave them out. Really drops the need to pass the book around. I recommend it especially if you only have one book.

I have 5 players, and three of them have a book. So 4 CRBs for 6 people is really good. Some may end up getting a sourcebook or two, and I think we have about 4-6 sets of dice now. So we have pretty good set up going. I like it when players want to invest in the game as well, and read up on the rules, not just have me tell them. so I think in am pretty lucky so far with my group.

Yeah, I printed out the BeggingforXP talent sheets and gave them out. Really drops the need to pass the book around. I recommend it especially if you only have one book.

I emailed them to the group. Let them print off the ones they want. I'd like to get some for the AoR stuff though.

I have played various campaigns in D&D, Vampire, Werewolf and Star Wars Saga Edition, ranging from a one-off to a (still on-going) two-year campaign. However, I have yet to buy a book for any of those systems. I always play(ed) simple characters and learned the rules just well enough to play the game our GM was running. I never had the interest to buy a book, and lived by the "GM's word is final" rule enough to be good with just the basic rules and let them adjust me as needed.

That being said, after only one session of EotE (Escape from Mos Shuuta), I decided to buy this Core Rule book.

I bought the Core book, beginner game, GM kit and an extra set of dice. I learned the rules well enough to introduce the game to another group of friends (using Escape from Mos Shuuta again) and they liked it enough to start our own game with me as the GM.
We are currently in the middle of Long Arm of the Hutt, after which we will begin my campaign.

Just on the first session alone, one (of 3) of my players wanted to buy the book (but is waiting on funds) and a second was seriously considering it as well. By the second session, the short-of-funds player found a PDF (he didn't tell, I didn't ask, but he still plans to buy a hard copy when he has the money), the thinking-abobut-it player decided he does want a copy and the third player is now thinking about it.

In the meantime, I set my core book and the little rule book that came with the beginner game out for everyone to use; this has been going smooth enough for now. I have sticky notes poking out of the pages of both books where the most disputable/technical information/rules (in my opinion), the small details of things (exact numbers and ratings), and other such information can be found, which greatly reduces the hunt-and-poke for information time.

I don't require it, but I like to support my FLGS. So I offer obligation reduction for game investment(1 pt per $10usd spent on books/dice/etc) but they may not lower obligation lower than 5 doing so. If they buy beyond that level I offer exp equilivant to the starting player ratio of exp to obligation(5 exp per $10usd). Time spent not passing around books makes the session more fluid, it also gets them out of looking at PDF's in laptops transitioning thoughtlessly into faceyspaces. An attentive party is an engaged party, rewarding them to prepare is mutually rewarding.

I don't require it, but I like to support my FLGS. So I offer obligation reduction for game investment(1 pt per $10usd spent on books/dice/etc) but they may not lower obligation lower than 5 doing so. If they buy beyond that level I offer exp equilivant to the starting player ratio of exp to obligation(5 exp per $10usd). Time spent not passing around books makes the session more fluid, it also gets them out of looking at PDF's in laptops transitioning thoughtlessly into faceyspaces. An attentive party is an engaged party, rewarding them to prepare is mutually rewarding.

This is interesting idea. I am not sure I would feel right making my players even feel like they have to spend money for in-game bonuses. But I am intrigued. How did your players react when you suggested this?

Since I run my EotE campaign over the internet... yes, my players all have their own books.

If I were running in-person, I suppose some degree of book sharing would go on initially till they all had buy-in to the game. However, I have a good track record of convincing my players to acquire their own copies of the core book for whatever I am running.

i prefer my players having a CRB and being decently fluent in the rules. As the GM i still have the final call, but it helps if they know what they can or not do.

This is interesting idea. I am not sure I would feel right making my players even feel like they have to spend money for in-game bonuses. But I am intrigued. How did your players react when you suggested this?

The bonuses are meager, but they reacted really well to it. We play at the store, which has a heavy emphasis on community growth. In all reality the reduction in obligation gained at start does not unbalance the group nor does the 5xp give a significant leg up to one player or another. And having more than one main rulebook to pass around has a great effect mitigating the meta questions which have moved over to the Facebook group I created to air that.