I think someone said to try rulers. See what others are using in your class and what you LQS uses. I would think there would be more than one brand. Try them. When I got to my 2nd Friday sew-in, cutters, rulers and mats are provided, but if I'm planning on cutting, I always take my cutter and ruler. I prefer my Ergo 2000 cutter to others on the market and I do not like the rulers they have at the shop.
The other thing to remember as you stay with quilting, you may find that you no longer use later down the road. Not because it was a bad purchase -- but because you find other ways to accomplish the task. I have at least 3 specialty rulers for making half square triangles & two different types of papers. I seldom use the papers for a list of reasons which others would consider a pro instead of a con (I often say if you ask 10 different quilters the best way to my HSTs, you'll get at least 12 answers). Of the rulers, I loved the first one I bought. The issues others list as cons I embrace as pros -- but I seldom use it any more. Not because I don't like it, but because my style of quilting has changed. That ruler is great when making tons of matching HSTs. I tend to make scrappy HSTs so I go to my other two rulers.
So, buy what you need when you need it, not because some one says "Oh, you have to get this because you won't be able to quilt without it" (I am referring to stuff other than the bare basics). Whoever said that to you may only know one way of doing whatever it is, or quilts in a style other than your own -- which will evolve.
Above all have fun.