After the core, what is the "must have" 3.5 book?
- Thread starter Flexor the Mighty!
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Goblyn
Explorer
I say Unearthed Arcana. I know little of the PHII, so I can say nothing of it; definitely XPH, I think, if you so much as don't mind psionics.
Of course, the Book of Vile Darkness has a lot of meaty stuff for the most wretched of villians, though it is a 'For mature audiences only' deal.
Of course, the Book of Vile Darkness has a lot of meaty stuff for the most wretched of villians, though it is a 'For mature audiences only' deal.
Shadowslayer
Explorer
The only book beyond the main 3 that also qualifies as a "core DMing book" for my campaigns is the Tome Of Horrors from Necromancer.
But I could get behind the PHB2 as well.
But I could get behind the PHB2 as well.
From WOTC
Mechanics: Unearthed Arcana
Monsters: Dragonomicon, Fiendish Codex I, Libris Mortis, Lords of Madness
Equipment: Arms and Equipment Guide
Other: Book of Vile Darkness
If you are interested in environment books, I would recommend Stormwrack. However, unlike some others here, I say stay away from both Frostburn and Sandstorm ( and buy either Wilds (AEG) or Wildcraft (Fantasy Flight Games) despite their being 3.0)
Non WOTC:
Advanced Beastiary (Green Ronin)
Psychic's Handbook (Green Ronin): If you are looking to introduce mental powers, I say get this instead of the Expanded Psionics Handbook from WOTC.
Mechanics: Unearthed Arcana
Monsters: Dragonomicon, Fiendish Codex I, Libris Mortis, Lords of Madness
Equipment: Arms and Equipment Guide
Other: Book of Vile Darkness
If you are interested in environment books, I would recommend Stormwrack. However, unlike some others here, I say stay away from both Frostburn and Sandstorm ( and buy either Wilds (AEG) or Wildcraft (Fantasy Flight Games) despite their being 3.0)
Non WOTC:
Advanced Beastiary (Green Ronin)
Psychic's Handbook (Green Ronin): If you are looking to introduce mental powers, I say get this instead of the Expanded Psionics Handbook from WOTC.
Mitchbones
First Post
What does Unearthed Arcana bring to the table?
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
10,000 options. Anyone who can't find anything in it they don't want to use decided that before opening the book, IMO.Mitchbones said:
Honestly, it really depends on your interests. I'd say Manual of the Planes is pretty close to a core book. Most of the others on this thread are great, too.
Odhanan
Adventurer
Either Unearthed Arcana if you are into the mastery of the system and houserules, PHB2 to expand the general possibilities of the players, or Spell Compendium for a wide array of new spells and effects.
All in all, I think I'd go with PHB2 from an "ever so useful at the game table" standpoint. Unearthed Arcana is more useful to a DM, but is more theoretically so than PHB2, and Spell Compendium is rather specialized for well, spellcasters and DMs (spells for NPCs, plot devices and magical elements of the game).
All in all, I think I'd go with PHB2 from an "ever so useful at the game table" standpoint. Unearthed Arcana is more useful to a DM, but is more theoretically so than PHB2, and Spell Compendium is rather specialized for well, spellcasters and DMs (spells for NPCs, plot devices and magical elements of the game).
smootrk
First Post
Coming from the perspective as a player, then Spell Compendium or Player's Handbook 2.
DM point of view, then it would be a critter book, probably Tome of Horrors 1 (better yet, the revised 3.5 pdf), or if staying with WotC it would be Monster Manual 3, with Fiendish Codex 1 close behind in rankings.
DM point of view, then it would be a critter book, probably Tome of Horrors 1 (better yet, the revised 3.5 pdf), or if staying with WotC it would be Monster Manual 3, with Fiendish Codex 1 close behind in rankings.
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