Best Books of 2003

[Paka]

Midnight - Well written world, well wrought rules changes, just enough support.

Arcana Unearthed - Wow, so, this is what a d20 game can be.

A Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe - Probably the only sourcebook on the market with no feats or PrC's, just smart background and interesting stuff for medieval games.

 

[Buttercup]

• Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe (print edition)
• Hamlet of Thumble
• From Stone to Steel
• Player's Guide to the Wilderlands
• Penumbra Fantasy Bestiary
• Testament

 

[2d6]

Underdark
Draconomicon.
Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe print edition
Warcraft

 

[Krieg]

In no particular order...
AU
Midnight
Darwin's World II
Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe

Honorable mention from WoTC...
Draconimicon

 

[Golem2176]

In first place:
Stargate SG1 Campaign Book

Runners up:
Legends and Lairs: Portals & Planes
Legends and Lairs: Sorcery & Seam
Babylon 5 Campaign Book
Book of Erotic Fantasy
Book of Exalted Deeds

 

[Tenbones]

Best books of 2003 (that I purchased) -

Arcana Unearthed - I like it a *lot* more than the PHB. Although I think Monte could have pushed it a lot further and done more. I really liked the classes and some of the races.

]Torn Asunder - What's there not to like? CRUNCH!

Swashbuckling Adventures d20 - I'm not sure if it came out this year, but I bought it this year, and THIS BOOK ROCKS. Sure there's some editorial issues, but this is hands down the best swashbuckling book out there.

Lastly, contrary to popular opinion around here...

Underdark Adventures from Goodman Games, rocks on the Underdark book from WotC. They're similar, but UA does it better. I think Mike Mearls did this book with some other guy (sorry man, you're not famous!). Since I'm running an Underdark campaign, I got more bang for my buck out of this book than most of these others.

 

[Psion]

Portals & Planes
Draconomicon
Requiem for a God (that was this year, right?)
Skull & Bones
Blood & Fists
Menace Manual
Spycraft 60's decade book

I'm probably missing lots of worthies...

 

[Arnwyn]

Lost City of Barakus - Necro. Games
Underdark - WotC
Vampires & Liches - Necro. Games

Draconomicon - It's just a great read!

The most astonishingly boring book I've read in ages; no more interesting than most of my university textbooks. (The first two chapters nearly killed me.) It's the worst read this year.

 

[Henry]

The best I've bought is Arcana Unearthed, Period.

Based on recommendations, I may want to check out MMS. Western Europe, and Skull and Bones.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

MIDNIGHT!!

...and Arcana Unearthed

I'm also pretty fond of the 3.5 revision of the core books.