D&D 5E What Books Would You Buy

[Jester David]

There's a good chance 5e will release updated versions of certain standard books.

But many gamers will have purchased these before and many are still usable. Copies of earlier versions might be available as cheap PDFs on sites such as DnDClassics.com or avaiable for reasonable prices in used book stores.
For some of these books, there's a benefit to having the updated mechanics. For others, the lore was the strongest part so there might be less impetus to repurchase.

Which books would you buy... again?

 

[Obryn]

I'm not sure I understand the question. Are you asking what books that existed before that we'd buy for D&D Next, sight-unseen?

 

[Jester David]

I'm not sure I understand the question. Are you asking what books that existed before that we'd buy for D&D Next, sight-unseen?

Yes.

Obviously this question assumes the book isn't going to be ass. The question is irrelevant if the book is terrible: it doesn't matter if you have three versions of the Manuals of the Planes or are brand new game if the new version of MotP is craptastic.

 

[Cadence]

Assuming someone in our group runs a game of it and we like it, then I'll get the PhB and maybe a rules compendium. They seem like must haves for a player. In 3.5 I also liked the spell compendium so I'd probably get that down the road after there were enough spells in other books for it to collect.

Right now the others are a no. Having an OGL equivalent has become a big deal for me psychologically for DMing. If I'm going to put tons of time into making a campaign or materials or whatever... I like having the option to do something with them if I ever thought they were good enough (big if there!). I'd also like for whatever edition I make stuff for to have life (in the sense of stuff still being publishable for it) even after subsequent editions are released.

 

[Raith5]

I have also liked the idea of taking out the core rules out of the PH and putting them in a dedicated book. So I like the normal PH, DMG and MM trinity plus a rules compendium.

 

[Argyle King]

How can I buy 5E books again if I haven't yet bought any?



edit: Ok, so you're asking what books I would buy "sight unseen" as expressed a few posts prior to mine? "Sight unseen," I would purchase none of the books. I would not blindly buy the books without knowing what is in them or what the finished product of the game is like.

 

[delericho]

Hard to say. Unlike 4e, I'm not going to buy this edition sight-unseen, so I'll wait for reviews I think I can trust before making a decision. But if it's good, I'll get the core set (whatever that is).

After that, a crucial question will be over what they do with DDI. If they continue in the 4e vein, with all the crunch material online, then I'll probably subscribe and skip all the books entirely - I have very little interest in new fluff, but wouldn't mind updated crunch.

But if they don't include all the crunch in DDI, then I'll rebuy on a case-by-case basis... but probably won't rebuy much at all. (Then again, I said that with 3e, and then with 3.5e...)

 

[Lord Vangarel]

Core rules and Monster Manual. Possibly the DMG if it gets good reviews. After that I don't know I already own most other versions of the common books and they'd have to bring something new to the table. Of course they'd have to be available as pdf's for me to buy them as well.

I'm really hoping we don't see a glut of rule books as has happened in previous recent editions. Extra rules add to the complexity. I want Wizards to concentrate on adventures and adventure paths with maybe 1-2 additional rule books per year.

 

[Ichneumon]

Apart from the core three, the only ones to really make my wallet quiver would be Psionics Handbook, Oriental Adventures and Rules Compendium for the sheer usefulness. All else will be decided on merit & cover prettiness.

 

[Plaguescarred]

I'd buy again the Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, Monster Manual, Manual of the Planes, Dungeoneer's Survival Guide, Wilderness Survival Guide, Tome of Magic, Rules Compendium and Magic Item Compendium.

Alonng with from the core books, the 'Guides one have always been useful for me as a DM, along with Rules Compendium and Tome of Magic & Kagic Items Compendium. Manual of the Planes for the new edition is a must have for me. Other books TBD