Starting with items/Number of helpers
 

When the game starts, you are able to place before any turns take place? A player said "he say the creator of the game play that way" where you can't place an item until your first turn.

Secondly he clams that once some one helps you, if they are removed from being able to help you for what ever reason, you can't make a deal with anyone else from that point. is this true?

Re: Starting with items/Number of helpers
 

Steve Jackson appeared on the YouTube show TableTop and played that way. But that was for the benefit of the cameras. Some other rules were bent for the sake of showing as much as possible.

If a helper is removed one may or may not ask for other help depending on the card or method used. I suspect most cards would let you know if you can try to get another helper.

Re: Starting with items/Number of helpers
 

Thanks for the help. He.. still doesn't believe me about items, but I guess I'll have to convince him

Re: Starting with items/Number of helpers
 

Try showing him the rules. The very first page of the rules have a section called "Character Creation".

It says (quoting the relevant bits):

This is BEFORE the part of the rules about deciding who goes first. This is something everybody can do before the game even starts.