Best RPG Books to Read

Current faves are the HackMaster Players Handbook and GameMaster's Guide (two of the most fun rulebooks to read ever), Unearthed Arcana, Manual of the Planes, Ars Magica 5th edition, and just about any Midnight book. I have a number of old standards that I drag out sometimes: any of a number of the old Traveller booklets, any of the TORG setting books, and the 1e DMG (but a lot of it is in the HM GMG).
 

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Reading threads like this makes me realize just how many games are out there. It's mind boggling. No one could ever play or read everything! (well, maybe)

I would vote for:

Midnight CS: The most interesting setting ever. Tons of fluff and not too much crunch. Evocative, dark artwork and interwoven themes.

Masks of Nyarlathotep: Best campaign i've ever read. It's just fun, even if you don't play Cthulhu. There is information in the game that won't even come up during play, like background details of NPC's and how their personalities became the way they are.

Monsternomicon, Fiend Folio, Monsters of Faerun, MM3, Plansecape Monsters 3 by Monte Cook and Monster's Handbook for fav monster books. These are fun to read for inspiration, and IMO Monster's Handbook is just fun.

ARS MAGICA! Talk about a fun book. It takes magic to a whole new level. For instance, the chapter on acquiring a familiar takes several pages by itself, including forging the three cords, the traits the animal gains per season, and the intricate details of the friendship you are building for life. DnD takes a slightly different slant. But Ars isn't for everyone, although rules for character personality and background can be adapted to any game system.

Planescape: yeah, these were fun to read. Monte's monster book has the originals of tons of monsters that made it into 3e, like the Devourer, and his descriptions in that book are often 2 pages per monster.

Lots of game systems i've never had the chance to explore, mostly because of time and monetary contraints.
 

Here's my list:

Beyond Countless Doorways
Monsternomicon
Chaositech
IKCG
IKWG
Denizens of Avandnu
M&M Freedom City

Those are the books that I love to use and read.

Kane
 

Midnight. The book is just fun to read and it provides so many ideas for a game, even if you do not want to use the setting.
 

Yet another vote for Planescape. Why can't we have books like this that are simply a pleasure to read anymore?

And most any of the Shadowrun sourcebooks. Ye gods they're amusing for the 'shadowtalk' alone at times. And, similarly, any of the Earthdawn books that I've managed to read, they're just as good.
 

diaglo said:
Men & Magic
Monsters & Treasure
The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures
Those set me off on a whole heap of things - very inspiring.

Also
Paranoia 2e
Runequest 2
City State of the Invicible Overlord
Conan RPG mainly for the RE Howard quotes
Generally adventures are good for both spurring the imagination and being more readable.
 



The_Universe said:
Oh yeah -

Add The Darkmatter Campaign Setting for Alternity. I friggin' love that book!

And here I thought I'd be the first one to mention it. I started reading the d20 Menace Manual recently just for the Dark*Matteriness of it (could have been called the Dark*Matter Menace Manual).

I also find anything with the Exalted logo on the cover interesting to read.
 

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