D20 Book Suggestions, Need Quickly

[gariig]

My FLGS is running a buy-1-get-1-free sale and I was stumped on books to buy today. I'm looking for some D20 books that you like and have slipped under people's radar. I'm not really sure what I want to get, but interesting rules that can enhance my game are what I'm mostly looking for. Any suggestions will be most appreciated.

Thank you,

Gariig

 

[Nightfall]

If you don't already have it, GET Tome of Horrors! That, Midnight CS, Oathbound, and probably Pale Designs by Bastion Press.

 

[Carnifex]

Monsternomicon.

The way a monster book should be done.

 

[Gothmog]

These are the books I find myself referencing a lot:

Penumbra Fantasy Bestiary- probably THE best monster book out there- and NO STEAMPUNK!!!
Liber Bestarius- Eden's monster book- also very good, full of very unusual critters
Book of the Righteous- nuff said
Path of .... Series by FFG- best classbooks out there
Unholy Warrior's Handbook by Green Ronin
Midnight
Monster's Handbook by FFG- greak book full of ideas and templates for critters
Occult Lore by Atlas Games
Dynasties & Demagogues- political sourcebook by Atlas Games
Crime & Punishment- law and crime sourcebook by Atlas Games

 

[gariig]

These are the books I find myself referencing a lot:

I think I will look at some of those. I might get the Penumbra one since it's expensive and it's like "getting a discount"

Gariig

 

[MrFilthyIke]

My FLGS is running a buy-1-get-1-free sale and I was stumped on books to buy today.

Gariig

Was it Sci-Fi City? Or a different O-town store?

 

[Psion]

I find it odd that he asked for rules variants and half the respondants are spewing monster books and campaign settings.

Not that there is anything wrong with most of the campaign settnigs and monster books that have been recommended above, but more to the point:

Monster's Handbook - interesting methods for making your monsters unique
Dynasties & Demagogues - rules and advice for political gaming
Relics & Rituals - in addition to the bevy of spells, has a great ritual system.
Portals & Planes - Lots of great campaign ideas and rules supporting planar travel and intrusions
Heroes of High Favor: Elves - nice variants on ley lines and magic
Quintessential Sorcerer - Great material on true names and ley lines
AEG's Magic - A bunch of different takes on magic

 

[CCamfield]

Dynasties & Demagogues- political sourcebook by Atlas Games
Crime & Punishment- law and crime sourcebook by Atlas Games

I like a lot of the Penumbra books but let me just underline these recommendations.

Dynasties & Demagogues
Crime & Punishment

I love these books. I gave D&D a 5/5 in a review, and I think C&P is actually even better. The great thing about them is that they are not just another book of monsters, classes, etc (although they do have classes and feats) but open up some really cool and different campaign possibilities.

 

[Krieg]

Ultimate Games Designer's Companion by Mongoose - If you are looking for new rule mechanics this is it. Everything from chariot racing & jousting to drinking & fishing (also includes Ken Hood's Grim & Gritty rules).

The Second World Sourcebook by Second World publishing - Very thorough rules for mixing & matching (in just about any combination) D20 Modern with D&D. Has a built in campaign setting that is just so-so, but the crunch more than makes up for it. This one is currently out of print, but is a nice pick-up if you can find it.

The Modern Player's Companion (Vol 1 & 2) by The Game Mechanics - A great add-on for D20 Modern. Plenty of rules that should have been in the core book.

Beyond Monks: The Art of the Fight (Goodman Games) and Blood & Fists (RPGObjects) - Good add-on martial arts rules for D&D and D20 Mod respectively.

Of course Midnight & Arcana Unearthed are the hottest thing in "alt" rules, but they are hardly flying under the radar. Still if you don't have either one, pick it up now.

 

[Voadam]

My FLGS is running a buy-1-get-1-free sale and I was stumped on books to buy today. I'm looking for some D20 books that you like and have slipped under people's radar. I'm not really sure what I want to get, but interesting rules that can enhance my game are what I'm mostly looking for. Any suggestions will be most appreciated.

Thank you,

Gariig

For enhancing a game on the fly reference manuals like FFGs Traps and Treachery I and II are good to have. I don't have it but I hear good things about Toolbox as well for quick on the fly tables of stuff. Book of Challenges by WotC is also a good set of short, "more than just combat" encounters. Penumbra Bestiary is a monster book that has lots of adventure hooks built in and a good guide for what encounter niche (trickster, combat, magical, epic) the monsters fit in.

For ritual magic either Relics and Rituals by SSS or Living Imaginations Twin Crowns campaign setting or their divine or arcane sourcebooks. Heroes of High Favor Elves by Badaxe Games has neat ley line rules. Complete Witch's Handbook by Green Ronin has some ley line rules as well and ritual rules derived from Relics and Rituals.

For in-depth naval rules, Living imagination's Broadsides or its Twin Crowns campaign setting. FFG and Mongoose have systems as well.

Beyond monks has good martial arts stuff (no real new rules but well developed feats and classes to support the genre).