Copying over every candidate from
the original thread, in their original order (but sorted by edition):
OD&D products:
Dungeons & Dragons, the original boxed set. Where the game got its start.
Greyhawk, Supplement I for the original D&D game (where the game as we know it really began to take shape).
Blackmoor, Supplement II for original D&D. Monks, assassins, and the first pre-made adventure for the game.
Eldritch Wizardry, Supplement III for original D&D. Psionics and demons!
Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes, Supplement IV of the original D&D game.
Basic D&D products:
Moldvay Basic Set. With the Erol Otus cover and Keep on the Borderlands.
Cook Expert Set. With the Isle of Dread.
The Basic Rules set (1983), the famous "red box" introduction to the Basic D&D rules.
The Expert Rules set (1983), the update of the 1981 Expert Set that followed the 1983 "red box".
The Companion Rules set (1984), third in the BECMI series of Basic D&D rules.
The Master Rules set (1985), fourth in the BECMI series of Basic D&D rules, aimed at high-level play.
The Immortals Rules set (1986), fifth and final set in the BECMI series of Basic D&D rules, aimed at letting players be godlike "immortals".
Rules Cyclopedia (1991), the all-in-one compilation of the BECMI rules (minus the I).
Night Howlers, for Basic D&D, with rules for playing lycanthropes!
X2 Castle Amber, for Basic D&D.
B4: The Lost City (BD&D)
B2: Keep on the Borderlands (BD&D)
GAZ3: The Principalities of Glantri (BD&D)
Wrath of the Immortals, updating the immortals rules for the Basic D&D Rules Cyclopedia era.
GAZ 1, The Grand Duchy of Karameikos
1e products:
Monster Manual (1e). The original compilation of monsters and the first Advanced D&D book.
Players Handbook (1e). The original player's handbook and the true beginning of the Advanced D&D rules.
Dungeon Masters Guide (1e). The original guide for DMs and the final core rulebook for Advanced D&D.
Tomb of Horrors (1e). One of the game's deadliest and most infamous adventures.
Fiend Folio (1e). The second monster compilation for Advanced D&D, notable for its weirder and largely British creatures.
N1: Against the Cult of the Reptile God for 1E
I6 Ravenloft
The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (1e), 1980. The original campaign setting product for the original D&D campaign setting.
Unearthed Arcana (1e), the final official rules expansion for the game by Gary Gygax.
G1, 2, 3: Against the Giants. Gygax
Dragons of Despair (1e), the first Dragonlance module.
T1 Village of Hommlet. The original AD&D starter adventure. Gygax.
S3 Expedition to the Barrier Peaks. The OG champion of "you got sci-fi in my fantasy!"
Rogues Gallery (1E) - Randomly generated NPCs, bandit gangs, etc. and -- more importantly -- full NPC write-ups (with illustrations) for many of the TSR staff's own characters, including some of the biggest names in the game, even today.
The Book of Lairs (1e), a collection of easy-to-insert adventures centered around various monsters.
Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (1e), the original version of the setting.
U1: The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh (1E)
UK1: Beyond the Crystal Cave (1E)
Deities & Demigods (1E)
Oriental Adventures (1E)
Kara-Tur Campaign Setting (1E)
Battlesystem (1E)
2e products:
Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (2e)
Planescape Campaign Setting (2e)
Player's Option: Skills and Powers (2e), providing massive customization for characters in AD&D 2e.
Player's Handbook (2e), the second version of the Advanced D&D rules for players.
Dungeon Master Guide (2e), the second version of the Advanced D&D rules for DMs.
Monstrous Compendium Volume 1 (2e), one of two looseleaf core monster books at the beginning of 2e.
Monstrous Compendium Volume 2 (2e), second of two looseleaf core monster books at the beginning of 2e.
Monstrous Manual (2e), compilation of the two looseleaf Monstrous Compendiums for 2e plus many more from other sources.
Council of Wyrms (2e), which let you play dragons!
ALQ4 - Secrets of the Lamp. A treasure trove of lore on genies and the Inner Planes, especially the Plane of Fire.
The Complete Book of Elves (2e), which gave us the bladesinger (among other things).
Tome of Magic (2e), including the first appearance of the wild mage!
The Book of Villains (2E)
Campaign Sourcebook and Catacomb Guide (2E)
Aurora’s Whole Realms Catalog
Complete Wizard's Handbook (2E)
Ravenloft Campaign Set (2E pre-conjuction / pre-shadow rift)
Complete Book of Necromancers (2E)
Ravenloft Campaign Set (post Conjunction/ Shadow Rift)
Monster Mythology (2E)
Van Richten's Guide to Vampires (2E)
I'm also very fond of the core al Qadim book.
The Great Modron March (2e)
A Paladin in Hell (2e)
Legends & Lore (2e), the update of the 1e Deities & Demigods.
Wizard's Spell Compendium, volume 1-4 (2E)
Priest's Spell Compendium, volume 1-3 (2E)
Encyclopedia Magica (2e), 4-volume set of all 2e magic items.
Lankhmar Campaign Boxed Set - The New Adventures of Fafhrd and Gray Mouser (2E)
Battlesystem (2E)
Domains of Dread (2E) - This was a hardcover book of the Ravenloft Campaign setting, put out after the completion of the Grim Harvest adventure series.
3e products:
Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords (3e), one of the precursors to the 4e rules.
Manual of the Planes (3E)
Player's Handbook (3.0), the first player rulebook for 3e.
Player's Handbook (3.5), the second player rulebook for 3e.
Dungeon Master's Guide (3.0), the first DM rulebook for 3e.
Dungeon Master's Guide (3.5), the second DM rulebook for 3e.
Monster Manual (3.0), the original core monster book for 3e.
Monster Manual (3.5), the revised core monster book for 3e.
Dragon Magic (3e)
Draconomicon (3E)
The Sunless Citadel (3E). The first adventure in the 3E adventure path, introducing the world to Meepo, the most famous (mortal) kobold in the game's history.
Red Hand of Doom (3e)
Epic Level Handbook (3e)
The Forge of Fury (3E)
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (3E)
Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss (3E)
Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations (3E)
Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead (3E)
Unearthed Arcana (3E)
Deities & Demigods (3e).
Eberron Campaign Setting (3E)
Magic Item Compendium (3.5)
Oriental Adventures (3E)
4e products:
Player's Handbook (4e), the first core player book for 4e.
Dungeon Master's Guide (4e), the first core DM book for 4e.
Monster Manual (4e), the first core monster book for 4e.
Heroes of the Fallen Lands (4e), one of two player-focused books for the 4e Essentials line.
Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms (4e), second of two player-focused books for the 4e Essentials line.
Monster Vault (4e), the updated monster boxed set for the 4e Essentials line.
Dungeon Master's Kit (4e), the DM-focused boxed set for the 4e Essentials line.
Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons (4e)
Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons (4e)
Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale (4e), closest we got to a Nentir Vale campaign setting.
Open Grave (4e), 4e's guide to undead!
Madness at Gardmore Abbey (4e)
5e products:
Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (5e)
Player's Handbook (5e), 2014. The original player rulebook for 5e.
Player's Handbook (5e), 2024. The revised player rulebook for 5e.
Dungeon Master's Guide (5e), 2014. The original DM rulebook for 5e.
Monster Manual (5e), 2014. The original monster book for 5e.
Volo's Guide to Monsters (5e)
Xanathar's Guide to Everything (5e)
Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel (5e)
Wild Beyond the Witchlight (5E). Feywild! Encounters where you can (mostly) resolve them without violence!
Lost Mine of Phandelver (5E); Note: The remake/expansion is a separate product
D&D Essentials Kit (5e), including Dragon of Icespire Peak.
