Essential system/edition independent books

[Nilbog]

So I'm currently playing PF2 and I have the books I need for that system. However I really want some good reading that will hopefully enhance my campaign.

So are there any books you'd recommend that could do this, either system neutral ones or maybe even books of a particular system that you find that useful they transcend that system?

 

[prenzie]

Midkemia Press’ Cities book. Random encounters I’ve used in every system I’ve played for almost 40 years.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

So I'm currently playing PF2 and I have the books I need for that system. However I really want some good reading that will hopefully enhance my campaign.

So are there any books you'd recommend that could do this, either system neutral ones or maybe even books of a particular system that you find that useful they transcend that system?

Heroes of The Feywild is an excellent book for imagining adventures in Faerie and characters from there. The mechanics don’t matter, and it’s just a great read.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Aurora's Whole Realms Catalog - for the prices on random widgets and whatnots
Madeline Hale's Table Fables I & II - for when I need a random bit of treasure, NPC, book, or hook
The Dungeon Alphabet - always good for inspiring me when I'm stuck
Grimtooth's Traps - for when I'm feeling mean and need a gonzo trap

 

[Nilbog]

Heroes of The Feywild is an excellent book for imagining adventures in Faerie and characters from there. The mechanics don’t matter, and it’s just a great read.

I bought a lot of 4e books when it was coming round to end of life and never read them heroes of the feywild included, I shall give it a read, thank you

 

[Nytmare]

I don't know how much of it you'd be able to port into your world, but I always push any edition of the Scarred Lands setting.

In the same vein, I think that the new Spire book by Rowan, Rook, and Decard is absolutely brilliant, but that one will be even harder to shuffle into an existing campaign.

Michael Prescott's free and Trilemma one page Adventures are really great. Have you looked at those? Trilemma Adventures

 

[Campbell]

While they are not strictly system neutral Stars Without Number (or Godbound), Blades in the Dark, and Apocalypse World Second Edition are common reference material when I am running something more traditional. These games really shaped the way I approach game prep and are incredibly useful aids to me when laying out threat maps, factions, and sandbox content in general. I would also recommend Sine Nomine's Red Tide setting. It's written for BX (Labyrinth Lord), but has great material for creating dungeons and fantasy cities.

 

[Fanaelialae]

"Creative Campaigning" and the "Campaign Sourcebook and Catacomb Guide" (both 2e era books) are good for stepping up your DMing game and being inspired.

 

[Nilbog]

Aurora's Whole Realms Catalog - for the prices on random widgets and whatnots
Madeline Hale's Table Fables I & II - for when I need a random bit of treasure, NPC, book, or hook
The Dungeon Alphabet - always good for inspiring me when I'm stuck
Grimtooth's Traps - for when I'm feeling mean and need a gonzo trap

I'm curious how do approach using grimtooths traps? Do you convert it into the system you are running and allow the characters to make relevent checks to spot and disarm the trap, or do you just drop in enough hints and hope the players work it out?

 

[Nilbog]

Some great suggestions here, and even though I count myself a gaming veteran, I'm ashamed to admit there are a lot of products I've not heard of, certainly some food for thought