Inspired by / requested by Paladin Blake

Obviously encouraging or enabling copyright violation is a strict no-no and will be punished harshly. This poll exists to get a rough idea of how prevalent it is amongst the wargaming community, not to increase it.

I voted I don't own any physical copies, but I don't even own a full army yet (though I suppose I could do a 1000 point game, albeit not with a list I like). Once I get 3 more chimeras, I'll be ready to go to a GW to play a few people outside my group of 4 friends. I plan to buy a codex as the army finishes up - I'm just hoping to catch a Guard codex on Ebay for less than $15.

For me at least, not using a hardcopy is just a temporary thing.

I downloaded codexes to get an understanding of the armies before I tried one out for myself, and certainly before I spent money on the books and models required to play this game the way it was intended. It worked out incredibly well. I now own codexes for the armies that I play and a rule book, but I have every codex ever made on .pdf files. I would reccomend that strategy to anyone interested in the hobby (note: I speak for myself, not for anyone else. If you have a problem with this, take it up with me.)

I downloaded the codecies to plan armies and junk before I buy, but I'll only play if I have my codex on hand. Likewise, I don't really like playing against people that don't have their army's codex on hand.

I have every new Armybook on my laptop, but I have a physical, legally bought copy of every army I play (expect for my newest army, High Elves, whiches book I'm gonna buy soonadays).
I have other Army Books to get a rough idea what are the new things of the new Army books and to just have nice time reading them.

I always buy a real copy for any army I'm playing or that I have built up to a reasonable size, but I do also have pdf's of all of them, I want to be morally superior when I play, but I don't want to pay £12 when I'm sitting at home and suddenly wonder how good a carnifex is againsed tanks...:S

Yep, I buy them all. I'm a firm believer in "Know Your Enemy".

I buy every codex, expansion and IA book as they come out. I have digital copies of them all on my netbook, which I bring to games to avoid having to carry all those books.

Before I started collecting, I did browse the pdf's out there, but I have since been building a legal collection of codexes and have the 5e rulebook. This has less to do with moral flexibility and more to do with my disdain for PDFs as light reading before going to bed.

I own the original rulebook and the IG and Ork Codices.

I must admit I've looked for digital copies, so I don't have to break out the books every time I want to check something. I haven't looked very hard obviously, as it doesn't seem, after seeing this poll, to be very hard to find.

I'm lucky enough to live in the same house as the guy I regularly play against, though, and we usually play in my apt. so his SM codex is regularly left here for my viewing pleasure.

I always grab a pdf when I find myself at work for instance, and my dex is at home.

And I sometimes grab a pdf of an army i'm thinking of collecting. If I like it, I go out and buy it.

I tend to download Codexes for armies I'm interested in. If I then decide to collect that army, I'll usually have no problem buying the Codex. I just download to get an idea of the army's playstyle (without needing to spend a while in a FLGS reading one).

However, the army I'm focusing on currently is Blood Angels, whose Codex is only in White Dwarf or an official PDF, so I can't use a hard copy there

In second edition 40K I purchased nearly every Codex, then was a bit cheesed when they all became obsolete on the release of third edition, leaving me with approximately $200 in obsolete books. To avoid this problem after that I stopped buying so many army books for armies I didn't own or play, but I still buy a few here and there that interest me at times beyond my main army collections. I never go for bootlegs or photocopies. If I really want a book I buy a legitimate copy.

I own legit necron, ork, and SM codecies as those are the armies i actually have pieces for...i also have an older edition IG codex (because i like them) as well as old SM and ork (even though I didnt have those armies at the time) Im also considering buying a witch hunters...i like to read the lore contained in them...as the whole 40k universe is what really keeps me playing this game...

I always have Pdf. files on my laptop . I have all codexes/army books on my laptop , becouse i like reading them from time to time , but i would never buy a codex for a army i dont own just to read the fluff ..

But I do have a SM and Dwarf's codex/army books , and im waiting to get my hands on the real O&G since I only have that one on pdf.

I have a copy of Nids and Chaos, as I started with nids and moved to chaos, lol.

I try not to download PDFs of any rulebook out there unless I plan on buying it soon after and need the rules right then.

I have some friends who have PDFs of codexes, but as stated above, it was only to get the feel of an army before committing to a hard copy.

I legally own a copy of every army I play, except one: Witch Hunters. It's discontinued in Spain, I can only get it in english in some web stores. And I have some originals that I don't play (like SM & IG), and some pdfs.

I own the codex's for the armies I play, but I have digital copies of those I dont, simply for the interesting stories and history about the armies! I figured that I can just go to GW and read the codex's for free, so Im just reading them at home.

I own a pdf copy of all the codexes; I don't see the point in paying for something I can get for free in a better format.

I have grievances against GW for the way they format the books anyway. Witchblade and Eldar Jetbike rules should be in the Eldar codex, not in the fething BGB. I shouldn't have to buy every codex to make sure my opponent is playing his army legit either.

I think the poll options may be missing out on the mixed tactic of buying what a person is seriously interested in, and downloading everything else "just to see what it's like".

I own: Store bought codices for the three armies I'm assembling; store bought codex for the nephew's army; a small but growing collection of outdated codices because they're nice for seeing how the rules and fluff have changed over the years; and copies of the Japanese downloadable PDF's because I haven't given up yet. I may or may not have a collection of scanned English codices used for academic purposes in my apartment.

there's illegal ones?!

I own every single Warhammer 40k Codex and rulebook from 3rd edition onwards (and a couple of 2nd edition ones), including the 2nd printings of the 3rd edition Dark Angel and Dark Eldar Codexes but not the stealth 2nd printings of the Witch Hunters and Necron Codexes, lovingly collected over the course of the last 10 years.

The Most Current Rulebook and Codexes I have used the magic of "t3h Scanzorz" and have a backup copy on my HDD, so that I may quickly reference them when I am busy slaving away helping Dakka with their Roolz

I own the codices for the armies I play (chaos, space marines, sisters of battle) and use pirated versions for all the others. It makes me a better player, and it makes skirmishes at my FLGS go faster because nobody has to explain to me how their rules work, because i'm already familiar with them.

I used to buy all the codexes as soon as they were released that way i could keep up with how new editions felt and played. Onto 5th ed I only have copies of IG, Orks and Sm as those are the armies we play at my house. I cant keep up with the costs these days.

If I need to check out other armies I usually borrow friends copies.

I have the most current version of each Codex. I want to know what I'm up against when I play an army that I don't own.

That said I have in the past used pdf or other electronic copies as previews or for online reference. I don't use it as a replacement for buying the real deal though.

I have the Tyranid codex,
but I'm getting the Eldar codex soon

Alright, lets see

Dark Elves
Orcs and Goblins
Old Lizardmen
Ogre Kingdoms
2 Warriors of Chaos
Dwarfs

Daemonhunters
Orks

Out of all these books, only 2 have standing armies behind them.

I only codexs/army books that i have the armies for though sometimes i will flick through another army book in GW. I also own the WHFB and 40K rulebooks, however they are both small versions as i prefer to get them free with loads of models rather than pay a ridicolous price for the full, big rulebook.

I own the core rulebooks for both Fantasy Battle and 40k. I only have codexes and army books for armies I play, though. I like fluff, so I'll download pdfs to read up on stuff that I otherwise wouldn't know. As a note, I always buy physical copies of books for armies I'm interested in/playing. Pdfs are just so damned inconvenient.

I buy the books for the armies I play and the main rulebook, but download the forgeworld books and expansion books. I dont print them out, i just skim through them and dont use them.

I own the books for the armies I play and a couple extras too. I do, however, prefer to play using photocopies in page protectors in binders. I like my codices to stay in good condition.

I legally own virtually every 40K Codex that's ever come out. There are some gaps, but I have most of them.

I also have PDF's of most of them as well, as having an electronic copy is very, very handy.

I own most of the books I need, except a few recent ones. And a few extras.

I have a book for every army I play plus a few more.

Once upon a time I would buy every book released to read fluff, look over army pics and just read up on the rules.

Sadly funds over the last four or five years has restricted that idea. However I do expect to get back to that position once my debts are cleared in around two to three years.

I keep copies as backup; I lost my Guard codex but luckily I have photocopies of all the character profiles, summary and armory pages. This is enough to let me keep playing until I buy a replacement Codex.

I own codices for all the armies I play, although I have a lot of armies so my collection doesn't necessarily have all the latest editions.

I purchase every book that comes out, regardless of my intentions to ever play the army. I also keep PDF's of them around, I find that having a PDF on hand is always a boon (especially for boring days a work!).

I have hard copies and pdfs of the codices for the 2 armies I play. Also have a pdf of the full 5e rulebook, but my hard copy is the mini AoBR book.

I've been meaning to grab scans of other dexes just to glance over. My first game was against a necron player and I had no idea what "phase out" meant. Luckily it didn't come into play in such a small game, but that's the kind of thing you want to avoid by reading up on other armies. I have no plans to pirate the books to cheat GW out of money. I'm just electronically borrowing the book to gloss over it, from a very distant friend I've never met. :p

I'm a bad panda and own PDFs of all the armies in 40k including my own and the rulebook. In my defense though I have bought a pile of models

I just recent broke down and bought the codex for my own army, but couldn't justify $25 on any other codex.

I have a 5' x 3' bookshelf filled with 40k material, the only things I download is Apoc datasheets/rules for Forge World units
.

As I don't actually play the game or anything, I just have .pdfs of the books. I figure the moral justification of this is - I mainly skim them for inspiration and to look at the painting tips.

Reading the pdfs are what got me interested into Ogre Kingdoms for instance - so GW made a good 100 bucks off of me (battallion, hunter, tyrant - just ordered yesterday) because of my piracy. Had I not downloaded the armybooks, I probably wouldn't have bought them. So I see it as fair trade. (GW crazy overpricing helps me feel justified as well).

If, theoretically, I ever would start playing - I think I would want the actual book.

I started off with just the codices for the armies I owned, then I bought a Black Templars one, just to read it. I ended up with a Black Templars army, and then I bought the Dark Angels codex just for a read, and now I'm collecting a Dark Angels army.

So i'm not buying any more codices as it appears I lack willpower, and will just end up buying a new army

Edit: I have copies of the baneblade page from the apocalypse rules that a friend gave me, needless to say I've bought a baneblade

I cant bring myself to download the PDF for witchhunters. After I buy the physical book, then I might, but I feel so wrong when I go looking for them on the interwebs.

EDIT: Although, after reading some more comments, I WILL be downloading the SM 5th ed to my PC. I already own it, and am too lazy to get the copy machine up and running.

I own SM, Nids, WH, Chaos and Orks and have all the rest on .pdf

Someone said above (and I agree 100%) you should not have to own every book just to know what your enemy can do. That is where games like Warmachine / Hordes really shines.

If I play an army, I'll buy the book otherwise I'll gladly grab a digital copy.

I own all the books for my armies plus the rule sets but none of the expansion. I have no copied versions.

I have Hard Copy Codexes for the armies I play and coppies of everything. I use the copies to read on tactics [Know your enmies] and when i decide to play an army i buy the Hard Copy

GW have enough $$$ i'll leave it at that ;o)

I download legal copies eg. Blood Angels to get an idea of it. I had a look through the BA codex before going to buy the DA codex. Also looking through my friends codexes and stuff. I have no illegal codexes/armybooks/pets/food!

i dont have any books about wargaming, but i am definitely getting the Tyranid codex in January

Gwar! wrote:I own every single Warhammer 40k Codex and rulebook from 3rd edition onwards (and a couple of 2nd edition ones), including the 2nd printings of the 3rd edition Dark Angel and Dark Eldar Codexes but not the stealth 2nd printings of the Witch Hunters and Necron Codexes, lovingly collected over the course of the last 10 years.

The Most Current Rulebook and Codexes I have used the magic of "t3h Scanzorz" and have a backup copy on my HDD, so that I may quickly reference them when I am busy slaving away helping Dakka with their Roolz

Like myself there Gwar, plus I also have 1ed rouge trader ( love t3h scanzorz )
I tend to update the pdfs to my blackberry if I am of to a tourney/game/pissup so I can consult it if needs be.

I like reading the background and rules for all of the 40k armies so when a new codex comes out I usually pick it up. It's a bit costly but means that at times I know more about an opponents army than they do (which is fun).

I own nearly all the army books, and I only have three armies.

I just like knowing what an enemy can field against me, and the potency/tricks of that unit, so I don't get caught off guard.

If I own an army I have its codex. I don't get rid of codices when I get rid of one though. I have been guilty of downloading a codex before investing money in an army. I at least delete it if I don't intend on starting the army. The Eldar have been purged from my computer but the Daemons became a reality. :3

GW charge so much for their codex that it's absurd to think anyone should be expected to buy them all...

I mean, maybe if they were written decently with good fluff and well written rules I would consider them to be almost worth it.

As it stands, it's pretty clear they are just charging as much as they think they can get away with, and care little for the quality of the product they put out.

They would rather sell 4000 books at $30 than 12000 at $10, so I'll let them.

It is very easy to torrent a pack with every single current codex as a pdf.

I've not voted because I think the poll is asking the question to current edition players. But I do legally own almost every book for the editions that I play, namely 2nd ed 40K and 5th ed Fantasy.

i voted "I legally own every book for armies I play and have copied versions of those I dont play"

in the ideal world i'd rather own hard copies but it's the cost of doing it, students aren't exactly rich, mostly have the "other" ones so i know what people are going on about, one tau player where i play had units with upgrades they can't take, it's about being prepared for me. also it's nice to have some older stuff like rogue trader just for laughs

legally own all the armies I play and several others

I own several generations of books for all the armies in the game. and i would totally buy the ones that are out of print if i could find them!

Buy them when I have funds available. One army has a dex and the other I have to borrow the store copy for games till I can afford to buy it.

I was interested in 40k, so I went out and pirated all the books. I looked 'em over, decided I wanted to play SM, then went and bought the SM codex. I'll buy the main rulebook soon.

As for the other Codices? I'll probably buy the ones I'm potentially interested in playing someday (Orks, Eldar). In the meantime, I'll keep the PDFs of everything, so I know how to play against every army.

There's already a huge startup cost for 40k; no fething way I'm going to buy all the codices just to be competitive when they're going to be obsolete in 2 years when 6th edition is released.

No fething way.

Now, if they were released for $5-$10 legitimately on PDF? I'd buy 'em. I don't like pirating for pirating's sake; I pay for things when I want them and when I can. If it were cheap enough I'd be giving GW my money. Right now the cost to own everything is ludicrous (I mean, I could afford it all if it were my one interest in life, but GW asking that of me is ridiculous).

It helps me plan armies if I'm thinking of trying different things. Also helps to know what's out there. But I have proper dead-tree copies of armies I play (and a couple of spares )

I used to have store bought copies of pretty much all the going armies at the time, plus fluff books, but with GW rising the price of Codexes to a ridiculous £17 I can hardly see myself going out and buying the latest versions for my armies when it only takes a minute to print them off a site for free, plus a lack of interest in the actual gaming side of the hobby and constant drain on money that is my social life really swings my opion. =P

I have one for my own army and just a few others for the fun of it.

I have a whole shelf of books lol.
IA, books for armys I do and don't play as well as a full size and 4 compact size 40k rule books

You can never have enough books! and as with everything else I truly enjoy I kow they won't make more unless I buy em

I own both books for my armies, ig and orks, and have copies of the renegade dex form ia. I really only play renegades and ork sometimes.

I thought about spending another 100 bucks when i started but i decided it to be a waste of cash for the time being.

I own every codex exept for black templars (wich I plan to get once I have some spare cash) and I have the empire, britonia, high elf, and skaven army books. I even have a section on the book case in my room wich I named "The Black Library".

I download to get quick access to rules so I can get to know the army, but I always try to buy the books as I can afford them. Try before you buy, I guess. But I love books. I'd buy all the rulebooks and codices if I could afford to.

Well I used to play SM, now BT, and I have the rulebook of course. When I look at other armies I download a .pdf to decide if I like them.

I am legal...

Got all of the codexs for my armty and 4th (picked up from show)and 5th edtion rule books

I own almost every current 40K codex except for BT and DA. I just added BA and SW for $33 and $29 USD during my recent cross-country trip. One of the stores had not changed the prices on their books to match the current MSRP (which is a detestable practice in my opinion).

I also have a few of the 4th Edition 40K codices for the armies I was playing then.

I'll likely continue to buy the current 40K codices as they come out but I stopped buying WHFB army books entirely except for O&G, TK, and Dwarfs. I also want the Imperial Armour books if I can get them at reduced prices or in trade. I like Apoc so I have that book and plan to buy the supplement. I don't plan to get any of the other supplements.

I also want to get a current IG codex in German, just for laughs.

I only have pdfs, I don't even own a legal copy of the codex for the army that I play.

I really want to buy all the codi, but unfortunately I cannot afford such luxuries.. >.<

I have the codexes for the armies i play, Dont really see why if I spend x amount of money on moddels & moddeling supply/paint I shouldt also buy the codex?

I own all the current 40K codices and many out of date. I own all the 40K core rulebooks from rogue trader to present.

If I wasn't spending money on collecting my hobby stuff I'd be pissing it away on rock and roll.

makr wrote:I don't own any physical copies

crazypsyko666 wrote:I downloaded codexes

Fafnir wrote:I downloaded the codecies

nyyman wrote:I have every new Armybook on my laptop

Kyley wrote:I do also have pdf's of all of them

GW are coming for you. All of you.

Only for what I play.

My Space Wolf codex , my Tyranid codex and the rulebook. All you need!

As many others have said before me; I get a PDF version as a temporary solution for getting to know the army before I really commit. I always get the real deal for the armies I play.

I buy them all. I can't find a DA one right now at my stores.

I was the first one in my gaming group to start playing, and I have the one room/area available to set up games so naturally, my friends and family come over to my place to play. (most of the time) As such, I have most of the dice, templates, rulebooks, and other fancy things related to wargaming. And as required, since most of us collect different armies, I have bought and own most of the codexes we use to play.

And to all of you wanting to get a Dark Angels Codex-buy from Games Workshop. It was a pain in the behind for me to find one, after two weeks of scouring ebay, and wargaming related sites, as well as my local stores, I finally found the last one on retail, and of course it costs the same as buying it from GW, only it took me two weeks of searching to get it. Just buy it from GW website, its the fastest and easiest way to get the book.

Im not quite the average on this pole.

Not a single one. Haven't bought one since the 4th ed space marine dex. They're dreaming if they think I'm gonna shell out 40 bucks for a paper back book for the privilege of playing with the army men that I already overpaid for.

Only have 1 army atm and sure enough i bought the book for black templars even though i've been told it's already outdated

I only buy for the armies I play whether they are good or not cos I go on what I find cool fluff and looks wise.

I don't see the point in buying for the armies I don't have, if I want to know my enemy I'll fight them instead lol

I have a legit codex for the armys I play (Necrons & Tau) and I have the Planetstrike book. I download pdf's on my friend's armys to make sure they play them correctly.

I buy the books needed for my armies but thats about it but I may have a couple of ones from my brothers armies

I don't own any illegal/copied army books/codices, I just don't buy from GW. There are many other places out there where army books/codices are sold a lot cheaper, so don't complain about the cost of them.

I also own several codices for armies I do not have, mainly for the background and so that I can know what to expect from them when I play them.

I only buy legal copies, from GW stores, usually. I own current copies of vanilla marines, Black Templars, Dark Angels, IG, Chaos Marines, Dark Eldar... I just love the fluff, and all the purdy lil' pictures...

I own legal copies of all the army's I play and can get a hold of a legal copy of any other as my friend owns them all

I own the CSM codex, 4th and 5th ed BGB, and Battle Missions (which is indispensable). In my house (thanks to my friends leaving all of their stuff strewn about my den and garage) I have SW, BA, CD, a second copy of CSM and soon to be SM and GK lying around, along with Cities of Death and Apocalypse.
I have seen a couple of pdfs in my day, but really I tend to wait until I get my hands on the real thing to give it a proper look. Dunno why, the book is just better.
IA, however, makes a good case for pirating. Kinda pricey. I definitely need to get a legit Siege of Vraks III for the Nurgle goodness.

I buy the books when I start an army, but I've downloaded the others so I can choose what my next army will be