3.0 must have books

[sjmiller]

After reading, and commenting in, a thread on what books are 3.0 and which are 3.5, and a thread on recent purchases, I started to think about a few things. I thought I would ask the assembled throng (and I mean that in a good way) what they think are the essential 3.0 books I should own. I have a few criteria for the suggestions, which should help you in helping me:

1. I do not plan on converting to 3.5 any time soon (if ever).
2. I am not a big fan of psionics (I could do without, to be honest).
3. I really could care less about the Forgotten Realms setting.
4. The list does not have to concentrate on WotC books, but I would need to know the publisher's name for those that are not from WotC.

With that in mind, what books (other than the core three) should I have in my collection? I am rather curious to see what people think are the "must have" and maybe a few that are the "must avoid" (but please concentrate on the positive and not the negative).

Thanks!

 

[diaglo]

Tome of Horrors.
Kingdoms of Kalamar Atlas, Campaign book, and Player's guide
SRD

 

[painandgreed]

Must have (besides core books):
Savage Species ( I love the idea of playing monsters and the feats they may get.)
Tome of Horrors (I want lurker aboves, rot grubs, and other classic monsters)

Should Avoid:
Arms & Equipment (I'm torn because it's a wonderful resource but much of it is stupid and much more of it doesn't have the slighted bit of thought behind it)

 

[diaglo]

Should Avoid:
Arms & Equipment (I'm torn because it's a wonderful resource but much of it is stupid and much more of it doesn't have the slighted bit of thought behind it)

i can give you a much longer list than this.

PHB
DMG
MM
Relics & Rituals
Creature Collection I and II
Divine & Defeated
PsiHandbook
DDG
ELH
and so on and so on and... ad naseum.

 

[the Jester]

I really like:

Manual of the Planes
Tome of Horrors (Necromancer Games)
3 core books
Epic Level Handbook
Book of Vile Darkness
Fiend Folio
Monster Manual 2
Masters of the Wild

 

[painandgreed]

i can give you a much longer list than this.

Yes. Yes. We know that your opinion is that OD&D rules and all others are "teh suk" but thePHB isn't going to charge you twice the yearly annual income of a commoner for a pound of fish from the local river.

 

[Ghostwind]

Mercenaries (AEG)
Spells & Magic (Bastion Press)
Alchemy & Herbalists (Bastion Press)
Pale Designs: A Poisoner's Handbook (Bastion Press)
Way of the Witch (Citizen Games)
Dweomercraft: Familiars (Dark Quest Games) - will work for either 3.0 or 3.5 with little changes.
Traps & Treachery I and II (Fantasy Flight Games)
Path of ... (Faith, Magic, Shadow) books (Fantasy Flight Games)
Monster's Handbook (Fantasy Flight Games)
Hammer & Helm (Green Ronin)
Redhurst: Academy of Magic (Human Head)
Broadsides! (Living Imagination)
Books of Eldritch Might I-III (Malhavoc Press)
Unveiled Masters: Essential Guide to Mind Flayers (Paradigm Concepts)
Master At Arms (Second World Simulations)
Relics & Rituals (Sword & Sorcery)

 

[Joshua Randall]

Player's Handbook
Dungeon Master's Guide
Monster Manual

All the rest is optional. You could play D&D for the rest of your life with just the 3 core books and be fine.

 

[sjmiller]

Player's Handbook
Dungeon Master's Guide
Monster Manual

All the rest is optional. You could play D&D for the rest of your life with just the 3 core books and be fine.

I realize that. I asked this because I wanted to see what books there are out there that are really great additions to the game. Heck, I played A&D (1st ed) for decades without anything more than the three core books. It's just nice to see what others think are useful and important.

 

[sjmiller]

Tome of Horrors.
Kingdoms of Kalamar Atlas, Campaign book, and Player's guide
SRD

I am curious as to why you suggest the Kingdoms of Kalamar books. I tend to run my own campaign worlds, so I would be interested in hearing why you think those are essential.

As a side note, as an old curmudgeon I applaude your steadfast loyalty to OD&D. I am playing in n OD&D game that has been going continuously for over 20 years and is working on its third generation of players. Not characters, PLAYERS.