After the core, what is the "must have" 3.5 book?

[ColonelHardisson]

No, it really isn't. Do you even own the book?

I suspect not, given the commentary. I think your assessment is fair, as I said back when you originally made the comparison, but I prefer the DMG II to the AGMG. I have, and like, the AGMG, but I just find DMG II more appealing. A number of the things you find to be not very useful in it are things I actually like a lot - the encounter tables and the complex NPCs, for two examples. I've found that a lot of content that I initially didn't have an opinion about one way or the other has been growing on me - the material about apprentices/mentors and teamwork are good examples. The DMG II is a good DM "grab bag," in my opinion. However, the AGMG is also a good "grab bag." I don't think one would lose out by having either one. Having both is even better.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

For DM useful, I really like Arcana Unearthed.

I know there is a lot of new material in AU, but isn't a lot of it material found in the PHB? Not bashing it, but does AU have a lot of DM specific material? I'm genuinely asking, as I don't own AU. Perhaps you were talking about Unearthed Arcana?

 

[WizarDru]

DMG II, first and foremost. As a DM, it provides some of the best aids to running a game in one tome that I can think of. A completely fleshed-out town for immediate use (Saltmarsh), stats for ready-made sophisticated NPCs of differing CRs, DMing advice from Robin Laws, and lots of interesting and new mechanics (not to mention new magic items and other material).

The PHB II is also good, with lots of good player options and some interesting PC classes. Things like manuevers, player change-ups and variants to spice up a game that may have gotten a tad boring.

Unearthed Arcana is the toolkit to end all toolkits. Don't like the core class system? Completely scrap it and use the a la carte system. Want to remove the damage model? Step over here. Want a new magic system? On the left. There are more ideas in this book than most DMs will ever have a chance to implement. It's like Willy Wonka's factory...so many ideas, so little time!

 

[Coplen]

Unearthed Arcana

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

Draconomicon. Best 3.5 book I've seen to date. I'm coming at this considering the book's overall quality and I can't think of anything I don't like in it: written text, "fluff," "crunch," artwork, layout. Hell, even the editing was well done; I can't remember finding many (if any!) typos or mistakes.

The book may or may not be useful to someone from a gaming perspective, but I believe it's the book that really set the bar for supplementals.

 

[JVisgaitis]

I know there is a lot of new material in AU, but isn't a lot of it material found in the PHB?

Not really. I mean its a lot of supplemental material that covers classes, races, characters, and then a whole bunch of misc material that covers a lot of mechanics. For me, I like tweaking the rules a lot and mechanically, this shows how to do it. DMG II was really good as well and was probably the first D&D book I actually read cover to cover. You did say you weren't looking for advice books though. I would also consider Monte Cook Presents The Year's Best d20. Lot of great material in that little book. What do you want specifically? Cool monsters, new classes, new subsystems, etc... If you can narrow it down, I can probably point you in the right direction.

 

[Greylock]

I've read this whole thread and sit here shaking my head.

I cannot possibly be the first poster to bring up Unearthed Arcana, can I?

Unearthed Arcana, FTW.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

You haven't read the thread very carefully, then! It is mentioned in like the third post and it gets mentioned quite frewquently after that. In fact - somewhere in the middle is a debate about whether UA is appropriate for the OP because it is for people who are familiar with the game and not just learning (or relearning!).

Unless you meant AU and not UA. Arcana Unearthed and Unearthed Arcana are two seperate books.

 

[Greylock]

You haven't read the thread very carefully, then!

*checks glasses and rereads the entire thread again*

Nope. I was the first, the very first. Not a single mention of Unearthed Arcana above.

Do I have too many people on ignore?

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

*checks glasses and rereads the entire thread again*

Nope. I was the first, the very first. Not a single mention of Unearthed Arcana above.

Do I have too many people on ignore?

You are a bit late, but thanks anway.