A Half-Dozen Useful PDFs

Fester

First Post
So I just got a shiny new color laser printer :) So what do you do? You print out some of those pdfs that have been sitting around for a while :D

So, here's some of the things I just printed out and, since I'd hate to think you might be missing out, some reasons why I think you should go buy them too :)

So, what pdfs have you bought and think are worth shouting about?

1. and 2. 101 Mundane Treasures and Another 101 Mundane Treasures by Ronin Arts: these are really cool and look great printed out. They really add a new dimension to mundane items and have given me loads of great ideas of my own. They've seriously helped spice up treasures and keep even the most mundane things interesting. So, if you're reading this, Phil, when is Yet Another 101 Mundane Treasures on its way?

3. A Dozen Plants and Herbs by Ronin Arts: Man, I need counseling - I'm a Ronin Art's junky! Another really good pdf. Probably not for everyone, but I really like these type of things. They add an extra dimension to nature and allow players with the Survival skill to do some really helpful stuff. And players love it too :) I like plants to have useful properties in my games, both good and bad, and this pdf really helps with that - not only does it supply a dozen useful descriptions, but is good for generating ideas too.

4. 40 Alchemical Items by Adamant Entertainment: I always thought there were never enough alchemical items in D&D, which meant the Craft alchemy skill had limited use. This pdf adds loads more and makes the skill really useful. Some are better than others, but then you don't have to use them all. I always like things that help fill out the game and this is another pdf that helps do that.

5. The Kyngdoms Campaign Setting by The Kyngdoms: A seriously cool setting. If this had been done by one of the bigger boys, it would have received a lot more attention. Its got loads of flavor, a great history and is amazingly detailed, but isn't pushy about it. And, if you're too mean to buy it ;) they even put it all on their website for free, which you find at http://www.thekyngdoms.com

6. A Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe by Expeditious Retreat Press: An amazing piece of work - there is just so much detail! A seriously fantastic resource for DMs which helps set out a fantasy social framework. There's far too much in it to implement it all, but its just one of those books you keep going back to, using a bit more in your own campaign each time.

So, that's my half-dozen. What are yours?
 

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Fester said:
So, if you're reading this, Phil, when is Yet Another 101 Mundane Treasures on its way?

I often wonder if there would be any demand for 101 More Mundane Treasures. I mean, between the various dozens and the DM's Idea Pipeline there are somewhere around 1,000 mundane treasures published by Ronin Arts.
 

philreed said:
I often wonder if there would be any demand for 101 More Mundane Treasures. I mean, between the various dozens and the DM's Idea Pipeline there are somewhere around 1,000 mundane treasures published by Ronin Arts.

Well, I'd buy it! Seriously, I wasn't joking when I said that i'd just printed these out. The 101 Mundane Items and Another 101 Mundane Items are nice looking PDFs - hey, I even printed out the covers :) Now they're nice looking books. I hope you do a third one!
 

Shaping the Self from Genjitsu- leveled templates and racial levels (better than those in UA IMO).

Bodies and Souls from Second World- templates that include the best insectoid one I have read. Some of the best horror type templates I own are in here. It also looks at possession.

The Book of Broken Dreams from Bloodstone doesn't get enough love IMO. It covers insanity and the negative personality quirks that make humans unique.

Any of the Enchiridion series from ST Cooley. Treasures and Objects D'Art rewrite the crafting and profession rules to make sense. Elided Enduements of the Expanse adds a new type of class that allows more feats. Mystical Music is for much more than bards.

The Kaiser's Bazaar series from Mad Kaiser is older but still very useful in city creation.

The Bits series from Tabletop is very much for the harried DM. Tons and tons of hooks and ideas.

The two Superior Synergy products from Misfit Studio allow for more use out of skills and feats.

And finally Primal Urge's Emerging Forms is a grab bag of very different races. I doubt there is anyone who would like them all, but also I doubt there are many who would dislike them all either. From living bits of planes to knowledge spreading bug people to desert antelopes to parasitic plants, this is a broad spectrum of peoples.
 


One is for fantasy and the other for d20M and F. Both take the synergy concept to rank 20, most are just bonuses to other skills with a few other things here and there (Spellcraft gives bonuses to a familiar and use magic device chaeck). The better part is the feats section. More or less it gives additional feat like abilities to those who have certain combinations of existing feats. I wish I could find the thread about it as Steve posted an example.
 


I'll Second the Pact System. Classiest treatment of demonology/summoning I have seen.

Others:

Well, seeings how you are planning on printing, I'll stick to relatively short entries:

  1. Metablades Extended Edition - Explore the exciting world of magic warriors.
  2. Hot Pursuit - Add chases to your game!
  3. Fantastic Stunts - For those without UA, action point rules (though it lackes the metamagic rule!), plus an extra stunt mechanic.
  4. DMs Directory of Demiplanes - A nice variety of demiplanes that can serve as exotic and challenging backdrops.
  5. Grim Tales Mass Combat - A nice, strategic scale combat system with Sun Tzu stylings.
  6. Year's Best d20 - Pull in some of the best material from across the d20 field.
 

Here are the ones that I have gotten the most use out of:

1. Tournaments, Fairs and Taverns
2. Wild Spellcraft
3. Hot Pursuit
4. True20 Adventure Roleplaying
5. A Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe
6. In The Saddle

Honorable mention to the two Mundane Treasures PDFs, Ars Magica 4th Ed., Four Color To Fantasy and the Books of Eldritch Might...
 


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