Hey, Lethe.
I'll clear up any questions of bias and state that I'm a tremendous fan of Dread. I've run a few sessions for my group with wonderful results: Killing, stealing, adultery, coveting of wives, and various other broken commandments, but wait 'til you see what the
bad guys did!
You can get 25 D12s at
dicepool.com for 11.25 (plus shipping & handling). This will probably be all the dice your group will ever need. Also, the folks at dicepool.com are helpful and friendly!
I agree with Chris, the core really is a complete game in a single book, but the supplements go the distance to give brand new depth (both in story and depravity) to the game. Spite, I think, will really put a whole new spin on the game. I wholly intend to snap it up as soon as it's available. Also, Rafael's scenarios in Pent (one of which is free for download on the site) don't flinch in showcasing just how dark and deadly the world of Dread can be. Pent also serves as a wonderful resource to help you get the hang of designing smooth, interesting scenarios.
I'd also like to lend my voice in support of Crux as a fan-contributor. The fans in the forum are just as much a reason to get into this game. We have one fellow with the handle of Kobayashi (he submitted the bulk of material to Crux) who is creating
worlds with this system and is continually making it do new and wonderful things.
Please do sign up in the forums and let us know about your game once you get the book. If you need any advice or help, we're all ready to blast you with ideas!