My back ground in the hobby was D&D Basic, AD&D up to around the Fiend Folio days...and then I dropped out. I did buy a copy of the Players Handbook 3.0 but played perhaps twice. I only recently got heavily back into RPGS through a PFS game in the middle of last year and now...well curse Paizo for taking so much of my money freely given to them. (I play PFS and am in two AP games at the moment – a lot of fun.)
I just discovered – very later – that there were a series of books that added to 3.5 and even had a module or two in them. At a friend’s suggestion I recently picked up Libris Mortis and Ghostwalk – great stuff! It’s a nice format (my only prior experience for RPG hardcover books are rule books.) Is there a link somewhere that gives the history of these type of books? I’m interested in the content as well as how the books did in the marketplace/reviews. (I got the books at cover price or less at Amazon and they were in great condition – which makes me wonder if they sold well or not....)
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Actually, Book of Vile Darkness sucks donkey balls and FCII is so-so. FCI is pure gold and Lords of Madness is very very nice as well (coincidence, both were written in large parts by the current Paizo staff).
If I were to recommend four 3.5 books, I would suggest:
Draconomicon
Player's Handbook II
Magic Item Compendium
Fiendish Codex II
that's the WotC stuff. And if you want to dig into 3PP products, I would say:
Book of Fiends (Green Ronin)
Beyond Countless Doorways (Malhavoc)
City of Brass (Necromancer Games)
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I didn't list the Spell Compendium or any of the Complete Books up there because the books mentioned in the OP are more about fluff and less about PC builds.
For PC builds, yeah, the Spell Compendium is easily as important as the Player's Handbook. It really needs to be considered a Core book, maybe even more than the Monster Manual considering only DMs need that one.
As far as the other PC books,
Complete Arcane, Adventurer and Warrior are must haves; PHB II, Complete Mage and Miniatures HB suck gangrene WotC bum.
Oh, and most folks are vehement that the Rules Compendium is an ABSOLUTE must-have. Maybe even a Core Book #1! Unfortunately, WotC published it after many gamers (including myself) refused to ever purchase from them -- thus, I've never used it and can't recommend it.
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When I first got the Magic Item Compendium I was hugely disapointed. After my initial 25-minute browse after I opened the package it sat on my shelf, unopened, for a couple years.
It wasn't until one of my Players purchased something from it in one of my games that my eyebrows where raised again in interest. In the next handful of sessions a new magic item was presented in play that I didn't know about and I had to crack open the old boy and take another look.
The Magic Item Compendium is a solid accessory -- maybe at its best when used to spice up a game for "seen-it-all-before" Players with a new toy. But ultimately, unlike the SC, you can play without it. Besides, half of the items in the MIC are also in the DMG.
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I find most poeple who hate the Rules Compendium didn't understand the concept behind it. Some people blasted it because they saw it as a glorified reprint of the PHB without any of the fluff. Some hated it because they saw it as being incomplete, in that it didn't give you all the rules that WotC had published for 3.5 since 3.5 launched, such as massive amounts of character options, feats, prestige classes, etc.
But among poeple who actually understand what it's supposed to be - a quick reference guide for the most frequently needed rules you will need during a gaming session - it is seen as an invaluable tool. I've almost completely transitioned away from my 3.5 books to the Pathfinder RPG, but I plan on keeping this books for a while (along with my collection of tomes full of monsters, feats, and spells). I'll probably keep it at least until the Pathfinder RPG comes out with an equivalent volume. (And with such a huge and heavy Core Rulebook, it wouldn't be a bad idea).
Thanks for the responses – a couple of books suggested books I may borrow from friends and check out. Rez is right, I was looking for a little bit about the “development history" as well - but it makes sense that information isn't available. (I thought there may have been an off chance that someone from the boards had been obsessed with the back ground on how these books were produced and posted a personal website somewhere….as someone shared a link a while back that covered the chorological order of the “worlds” TSR launched.)
Another book I recently picked up was the Advanced Bestiary – mainly because it was referenced a few times in Season 0 modules for PFS. It provides templates rather than actual monsters (although they provide examples) but I really like the book.
I'm tempted to pick up a copy of the Spell Compendium - but I've heard it has a lot of errors in it - and copies I've found online tend to be pretty expensive.
Monte Cook and Sean K. Reynolds did an interview about the development of Ghostwalk around the time it first came out. It might answer some of your questions. Check it out.
I have packed my complete books in storage, along with my DMG and PH. I Keep my Magic Item Compendium and all the monster books on the shelf with my PFRPG stuff.
The Advanced Bestiary and Tome of Horrors are MUST haves for any DM. Nothing like adding a template to an existing creature to make it something new and fun. Or to fit a theme.
I have a lot of 3PP books that I scavenge for little bits here and there.
I know most people hate the EQ 3.0. But I take a few magic items from it for flavor (gotta be careful with that though, some are very powerful)
I have all the Monte Cook's Books of in either hardcover or PDF format. also excellent.
I first bought Libris Mortis because I love the Van Richten guides in 2e, and it was similar to that line of books. Lords of Madness was a solid purchase as well.
While I have all the Monster Manuals, the only ones I typically use are MM1, MM3, Monsters of Faerun, and Fiend Folio.
MMIV and MMV were pretty much test beds for 4e, same as the "Expedition" series of Module books, in addition to Tome of Battle.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Expanded Psionics Handbook. Hands down, the least remembered of the four core (Yes it's four core books, the Complete Psionic said so itself).
Book of 9 swords if you like a Wuixa style game.
PHB II
Draconomicon for fluff and rules.
3PP, I'll mention the Pact Magic books. It's the binder from WotC's Tome of Magic, but better.
3.5 DMG2
Just for Saltmarsh write-up
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To the OP:
Please let me know if you're still seeking a review guide to v.3.5 gaming books?
I think that might be what you were asking for, and I would be willing to search the Web for you to help you.
I own, AND USE, a complete collection of v.3.5 books plus those written by Monte cook, and the Tome of Horrors I, II, III, along with about 20 other v.3.5 compatible books that are good, such as those from Bastion Press or AEG, or the Creature Collection series, etc.
I can provide commentary on each, but am sure we can find a good source on the Web if that's what you're looking for.
Also, note that these are compatible with Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. I use my entire collection of v.3.5 easily with Pathfindinder RPG, my game of choice. I play this weekly.
Let me know if you are still looking for information. I won't evaluate the books, but can help you find some good reviews if you're seeing to build a good collection.
Regards,
Pax
Monte Cook and Sean K. Reynolds did an interview about the development of Ghostwalk around the time it first came out. It might answer some of your questions. Check it out.
Very cool - thanks!
Please let me know if you're still seeking a review guide to v.3.5 gaming books? I think that might be what you were asking for, and I would be willing to search the Web for you to help you. Pax
Thank you Pax - that's generous of you. If you can just point me in the right general direction that would be great.
It's funny – I know that part of the pitch for Pathfinder was that it was 3.5 compatible and you could use all the “old" stuff that was out there. I didn’t think much of that fact – but I liked 3.0 so I suspected I would like Pathfinder. I was out of the hobby so I haven’t invested heavily in 3.0/3.5 content, but it’s become an added charm of the system for me. I mostly play now – 95% of my time in AD&D was as a GM - but there’s some great stuff out there that I would love to incorporate into a game I would run.
(More money out of my pocket, freely given...grumble, grumble, grumble....)
Duh ... can't believe I didn't think of THIS before. R.
(Slaps forehead) Ditto...especially since Dove Arrow shared a related link...
Thanks!