Getting Back Into Gaming

[paulsometimes]

I've been out of gaming for a bit and have recently become very interested in it again. Due to some current circumstances, it'll be a few months before I'll be able to actually get into a game, but until then I figrued I'd get myself reacquainted with the game. I've got the 3.5 core books and I was wondering what other books would anyone here reccomend for someone that's been out for a few years (I pretty much got out when 3.0 came out). Thanks.

Paul

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

That's a tough one to answer without knowing a little more about what you like and whether you'll be playing or DM'ing (I'm assuming playing).

I'd certainly look at the Complete Warrior, C. Divine, C. Adventurer, and C. Arcane books. They're the closest to being "core" outside of the actual core books, and the player-centric. Beyond that, if you know what game you're going to be getting into, and the setting, you might pick up those books. Lots of the FR books are very nice.

After that, there's a ton of 3rd party stuff that kind of depends on your particular interests. Some of it is really good, some of it is dreck. The reviews page here at ENWorld can be a godsend in sorting out one from the other.

 

[Ron]

You'll do fine with the core books and I wouldn't recommend you anything else at this point. Perhaps, if you explain better your preferences I can make some additional sugestions.

 

[diaglo]

i'd recommend:

Men & Magic
Monsters & Treasure
and The Wilderness & Underworld Adventures

plus Chainmail

and Outdoor Survival from Avalon Hill

 

[Stormborn]

If you knew the world you would be playing in I would suggest getting the core book for the setting, but beyond that it gets tricky. My suggestion is simply to read some of the reviews or ask more specific questions about games you used to play and how they might have been up dated and then just find something you will enjoy reading. The Complete books are fine, but a DM may not allow them. Back issues of Dragon might be good if you can find them, some are available on Paizo's website. If you look at race books I would suggest Heroes of High Favor from Bad Axe over some other companies, or Wizards own, race books.

 

[Ed Cha]

You're terrible, Diaglo.

How about a 1st-level adventure complete with a mini-setting?

 

[Ed Cha]

If you look at race books I would suggest Heroes of High Favor from Bad Axe over some other companies, or Wizards own, race books.

Funny you mentioned that. There's now a Heroes of High Favor bundle for 33% off that was just made available today.

 

[paulsometimes]

Back in the day I did more DMing than playing and that's the way I'm thinking it'll end up going again. I just don't meet too many people that are interested in being the DM.
As for a campaign setting, I've always been a big fan of the DragonLance books, but in the past we only used Forgotten Realms when we played D&D. I'd definitely like to steer clear of FR this time. I've also thought the Wheel of Time setting looked like fun, at least from the novels of it I've read. I'm not really all that familiar with any other settings other than from what I read on here.

Paul

 

[John Morrow]

I've got the 3.5 core books and I was wondering what other books would anyone here reccomend for someone that's been out for a few years (I pretty much got out when 3.0 came out). Thanks.

As someone who hadn't played D&D for over a decade before deciding to run a 3.5 game for my group (we generally played other role-playing games), I'll toss out a few suggestions:

1) I agree with the idea of getting a low-level adventure, though I'll broaden the suggestion to any low-level adventures or even any adventure, actually, be they modules or campaign books. That will help give you a good idea of what 3.5E monsters look like at various challenge ratings and and idea of what they can do.

2) If you have a computer with a decent amount of memory (PC, Mac, or Linux) and are at least a little computer savvy and willing to figure things out, take a look at PCGen at http://pcgen.sourceforge.net/. It's free software for creating characters and includes data from the SRD, which is most of the core material. It produces pretty PDF character sheets that calculate all of the modifiers, limits, spell lists, and such for you. It will help you know if you are doing things right during character creation. As a warning, the software is quirky and can be difficult to use at times, but the results can be great and the price is right.

3) Take a look at the Hyptertext d20 SRD at http://www.d20srd.org/. In some situations, such as looking at spell lists to see what a magic using character can do at a certain level, the ability to click through on an item in the rules to see the full description or or explanation of the term can be an incredible time-saver. Again, the d20 SRD contains most of the important material in the core books as well as Psionic and a few other things.

I'm not sure that you really need books full of more spells, more prestige classes, or more feats until you've learned the ones in the core books. So I think that's pretty much it, thought the Expanded Psionics Handbook is pretty nifty, if you want to go in that direction. If you are planning on GMing, I've got some additional suggestions.

 

[GlassJaw]

i'd recommend:

Men & Magic
Monsters & Treasure
and The Wilderness & Underworld Adventure

How is this at all useful to someone asking a legitimate question? I know it's funny and it's your "schtick" but do you have to answer every question with the same response?

I've got the 3.5 core books and I was wondering what other books would anyone here reccomend for someone that's been out for a few years

I wouldn't recommend anything else...yet. You can go a long way with just the core books. Get comfortable with the system and then branch out. Having a ton of material at the beginning can be detrimental.

The module advice is good, especially if you are the DM. You could run Sunless Citadel or pick up some issues of Dungeon. The Necromancer Games modules are generally very good as well.

Have fun!