Will I need to read/buy Final Crisis along with Batman R.I.P? Or does the story arc stand on its own?

You need to either read final crisis or time and the batman. Time and the batman covers only Batman's part in final crisis, and final crisis is the whole story with everyone else too. If you only want Batman's part read time and the batman, and you will understand RIP. If you don't read either, you will be confused at the ending.

There are a bunch of other books that will help you understand RIP too, but they aren't necessary

And make sure you read it or time and the Batman after you read RIP. It takes place after.

@jayc1324: Thanks, would Batman and Son and the Black Glove be the only things need for reading beforehand? (I presume you were talking about the Black Casebook at the end of your first post.)

@maccyd: I was, and yeah those two would be all you need for background.

For me, Batman RIP wasn't really a hard story to understand without reading Final Crisis (I still don't see how Final Crisis can get you a better understanding for RIP). You only have to read Grant Morrison's previous issues, which leads to Bruce is trying to figure out who's linked to the Black Glove. There's also other short (or very short) brief references that gets mentioned, which relates to previous Batman stories.

As already mentioned, Batman and Son and Black Glove are the only stories you really need to have an understanding of what's going on in RIP.

@mysoulz: the ending of rip won't make sense without final crisis. You don't know what happened to batman otherwise, or understand the last two extra issues included at the end of batman rip

@jayc1324 said:

I was referring to the start of reading RIP when it begun for a good understanding, but that's my fault and I should have been clearer. Disregard my post about Final Crisis reading. You're right, the extra issues are important to read for the conclusion for RIP and fill in what's going on for Bruce in Final Crisis.

I should've read these stories in chronological order.

@maccyd: A bit late but here is a good order list for the whole super-arc : http://www.comicvine.com/batman/4005-1699/forums/reading-order-for-grant-morrisons-batman-run-by-tr-626591/