D&D Books That Don't Really Get Used

[Thunt]

How many times have you purchased a D&D text book only to look at all the cool pics, read some of it and then end up using... say... one or two tables from the $40 - $60 monstrousity? I've done this so many times it's crazy. Now this is not at all a bash against the books. Oh no, this is a bash against my own weird habit. I've done this so many times that I have a mountain of books on my DMing table and every month or two I look over and think to myself, "I really should find a reason to incorporate stuff from all these books".

So does anyone else do this?

 

[Wormwood]

Expanded Psionics Handbook. Used it once and never again...but I can'tr bring myself to sell it.

Hope springs eternal.

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

I'm a fiend when it comes to that. This is how it goes: Buy the book, take the book home, read the book, see cool things I want to use from the book, put book on the shelves with the rest, never pick it up again. Unless I am specifically looking for something...

 

[Crothian]

The trick is to use the book. Sure you might not being using it now, but remember the cool ideas in it and when in a few years they fit into what you are doing using it then. RPG books and ideas don't spoil with time.

 

[Infernal Teddy]

Monster books - I see cool new monsters, buy the damn book...

And never use anything outside the MM V3.5...

 

[philreed]

Monster books - I see cool new monsters, buy the damn book...

And never use anything outside the MM V3.5...

Just force yourself to use something from all of the books that you own before buying anything new.

 

[Masquerade]

I've done it a couple of times. "Planar Handbook" and "Sorcery and Steam" come to mind.

 

[delericho]

Many, if not most, of my books have never been used. That said, I've found I've been referencing them more lately, and don't really know why. Oddly, it tends to be books that I initially dismissed that I seem to be referencing most.

However, there are a few that I expect I'll never use:

Epic Level Handbook - I just prefer playing a much lower levels. When you start a campaign at level 1, I find it's quite unusual to have the patience to take it above the mid-teens.

Deities & Demigods - I used this once exactly, when creating an Oriental Adventures setting that featured an incarnate god as the Big Bad. I don't expect to use it again.

Book of Exalted Deeds - I liked BoVD, and have used it on occasion. I did not like BoED, and just can't see myself ever using it.

 

[Crothian]

Well, for books that you will truely never use head over the the Marketplace forum and see if you can trade them for something you can use.

 

[IronWolf]

I try to watch my purchases and only buy books I think I will get some use out of. So for the most part I have used a little something from most of my books at some point or other. Really, the core books have what I really need to play the game and will most likely see the bulk of my use. All the other books I pick up I pretty much realize I will only use bits and pieces from them to add flavor to my game or character. Maybe a character class from a Complete book or feat, etc, etc. As long as I use some bit or piece at some point in the books life I am happy.