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I know this is an iffy subject, so if it doesn't belong on the forums I ask a Mod to remove it.

I used to play the Armoured Battlegroup rules from IA1 a few years ago at my LGS. Unfortunately, while I was playing a game somebody swiped my book. Never caught the guy, and he better hope I never do. That was years ago, and I'm not too bummed because I ended up buying the 2nd Edition one when it came out so I can keep playing ABG.

Now that I'm in school and the LGS where the incident occurred is closed I'm looking into joining a gaming group. Would it be acceptable for me to bring a PDF of IA2 2nd Ed instead of my book? I simply cannot afford a $90 book being stolen again. Same goes for my $50 DA Codex. I realize some people may really not like the idea of this, but you gamers are a sly bunch...

Jokes aside I want your guys opinions. Also, the PDFs would be scans I would make from the books I own, not downloaded online, and I would not be handing out free copies to fellow gamers. In a nut shell, these files will never touch the internet. This is purely for my own use and protection of my expensive books.

Thanks in advance.

It depends on the group. Just ask them.

I found that even in GW store its fine to bring PDF copies so long as its been proven you own a legit book. but this may vary depending on location and the individual manager.

Personally wouldn't fault anyone for wanting to make a book copy to protect an original. (i wouldn't want to bring a WD sisters mag to a store all the time).


edit: what is not cool is downloading PDFS of things you down own. doesn't matter if GW is some evil enterprise out to take all your moneys. you still ARRRR a pirate.

I'd have no problem with it if you told your story! But I'm also the guy who for the past decade has had no problem downloading codexs to read.

Thanks for the feedback, it's much appreciated.

I bring print outs.

I have 3 ring binders with each page in plastic.

It make it much easier when each binder holds two books.

BloodAngels/Spacewolves

Orks/SpaceMarines

Necrons/DarkEldar

I've been doing it for years and have had no complaints.

The only thing that bothers me is when people complain that "You shouldn't buy 3rd party or pirate books".

To which I answer... "Yeah well, this store doesn't sell ForgeWorld... or each codex... or have prices I'm willing to pay".

Well, I personally wouldn't mind. I have had things like that happen to me before (someone stole my IG codex, had to run a pdf copy of it until I managed to buy a new one) so I can sympathize.

Honestly, I take a don't ask don't tell policy on things like that. I won't ask you why you have a printed PDF copy if you don't tell me. That is, as long as it doesn't cause any problems (like missing pages and the like)

Well I never take my books from the shelf .

I have brought my 5th and 6th edition books(from the AOBR and dark vengence ) and my C:SM and Guard Codex and have then safely guarded in the shelf along my other warhammer 40k books , when i go to play outside to a gamming club or to a friends house i have a PDF version of the books i own in my tablet . In Portugal if you own a physical copy of the item(the book in this case) its legal to have a personal use copy in other formats . even it that would not be the case I feel that since we already own the original book its ok to have a digital copy to safeguard the original book , ether from thief's/politicians or form a cup of coffee been spill over it .

As a TO and the Admin of a large gaming group as long as the player can show me he/she has the book then using a PDF is fine.

 Apostle Pat wrote:
As a TO and the Admin of a large gaming group as long as the player can show me he/she has the book then using a PDF is fine.

What would be the best way to show a TO/Admin that I own the books? I plan on leaving mine at home while I'm at school, so I'd like to have a 'method' already planned out.

I have only started playing 40K since early last year but have all ready got a 5000 point panted Necron army, IA13, 5-6 different codecies and a couple of models I like from other armies as well as GW paints (pretty much all of them) brushes, flocks etc...

I also fully intend to continue buying models and are in the process of picking another xenos army to start for a tale of gamer's my group is going to do..

I have little interest currently in starting an IG or Marine army. An opponent im going to play against this weekend has a marine army out of an IA book that I have not played before and don't know anything about.

Frankly I feel entitled to download an IA book to check out this guys army list before we play so I can better tailor my list. I would also not hold it against someone if they wanted to download a PDF of an army book before deciding what race they wanted to use, there's only so much cash to go around!!!

I don't really care about whether or not someone owns a copy or not. If I can see the rules, and we're having fun I couldn't give a toss. I don't attend tournaments because... well... competitive warhammer is kinda like the special olympics imo.

UnadoptedPuppy wrote:

 Apostle Pat wrote:
As a TO and the Admin of a large gaming group as long as the player can show me he/she has the book then using a PDF is fine.

What would be the best way to show a TO/Admin that I own the books? I plan on leaving mine at home while I'm at school, so I'd like to have a 'method' already planned out.

Take a picture of yourself holding the book? Proof of Life style.

I'm with everyone else here. If you legit own the book I don't mind if you photocopy pertinent parts of the book. Also, the iPad versions are cool. I'm thinking about getting an iPad simply in order to have my entire library in one easy to access place. It will also keep me from having to lug around a hundred pounds in books.

I photocopied the relevant parts of my copies of a certain pair of WD issues, then stuck them into a duotang and have been using that as my Sisters of Battle codex since roughly the time part 2 came out.

I mentioned doing as much to a GW employee at my local store - while having a huge anxiety spike as I was talking as I imagined the guy calling the cops to report me for copyright infringement (because I'm paranoid like that) - and he just let out a friendly laugh and said something like, "Awesome."

BRB, Codex, BRB FAQ, codex FAQ, IA, IA FAQ ... or just one folder with copy/print of latest core and codex rules.
I vote for the second.

Lathor wrote:
BRB, Codex, BRB FAQ, codex FAQ, IA, IA FAQ ... or just one folder with copy/print of latest core and codex rules.
I vote for the second.

Couldn't agree more. Especially since all the books are hardcover.

Well, if you get killed to a man, you'll know that it wasn't acceptable.

Personally I don't care. In fact in the US you are allowed a digital backup of print media for personal usage only iirc.

Codexes are expensive and I like to try new armies & allies so in a friendly game I've used PDFs many times. I still use the pdf of the newest CSM codex but back when I could afford it it was out of stock and now I'm a bit short on $$ so I can't afford it.

My general rules are if it's a tournament, have a legitimate copy. If it's a friendly game but it's an army you plan to build / play a lot idc provided you do intend to buy it at some point in the reasonable future. If you're just trying things out like when I run my CSM as Malal Marines (GKs) I don't really care.

I really don't mind.
For all I care you wrote down the rules in Word yourself from copies that some imageboard provided.
As long as the rules are the official rules, I really don't mind.

Many of our gamers pirate some of their stuff, no problem with that.
In fact: In my country it's perfectly legal to download a codex.

Here even if you own a book the store owner wouldn't let you play with a PDF codex or even a legal GW digital codex. If the , they say you are giving a bad example to new people , if you use a copied codex and if you use a digital codex your not supporting the store .But the most fun thing is that,even in the GW store they dont like to see people with the digital codex.

. In fact in the US you are allowed a digital backup of print media for personal usage only iirc.

Sort of, and... not really. There's a grey area that is currently being argued by consumers and corporations as to what, exactly, is considered "Fair Use".

I guess it varies for everyone...I'll bring a PDF anywhere and everywhere EXCEPT into a GW store to play a game.

I will actually use the PDF copy of my 2 codexes at home since when I am making lists I generally use my computer and its easier but when I go to my FLGS I bring the hardcover book.

Its just easier for me to bring the hardcover than flipping through a pdf but if someone was using a pdf and I knew they had purchased a copy of the codex that would be fine as long as you don't hand out free copies which you said you wouldn't do so go for it

This thread is making me a little paranoid about my Horus Heresy Book 1 Betrayal ...

If someone stole that from my FLGS I would be beyond angry (80 GBP + 15% shipping ) it is a beautiful book and I totally recommend the purchase, but the idea of having to replace it is killing me.

Granted, I looked at (read) the book from an online .pdf before I bought it, but that only sealed the deal for me actually purchasing the thing, but it is a bit of a beast to carry and the notion of bringing photocoppies/images of the relevant pages for game play is appealing...

Wait, you are worried, a $50 dollar book will be stolen but you are not worried about your computer/tablet/phone not being stolen?

Am I missing something here?

As for me, as long as you have the rules, lets have fun and play. I fully understand where you are coming from. I see no problem with it at all.

Davor wrote:
Wait, you are worried, a $50 dollar book will be stolen but you are not worried about your computer/tablet/phone not being stolen?

Am I missing something here?

Well said.

Anyway I'm shutting this down. This site, the games we love, the stores we at shot at all require a healthy community of people who are buying their products.

Discussion of when piracy is acceptable for an individual in the end only hurts the community as a whole - prisoner's dilemma and all that.