Good Fluff Books?

[DMZ2112]

I'm working on completing a collection of all the D&D4 books containing maximum fluff regarding the D&D core setting, because it is well done and I am very concerned Wizards will end up tossing the baby out with the bathwater in D&D5.

I'm finding myself on the fence about some of the releases regarding their fluff to crunch content. Can any of you guys with more exhaustive libraries help me make the decision on whether to purchase the following?

• Book of Vile Darkness
• Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons
• Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons
• Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale
• Open Grave: Secrets of the Undead
• Player's Option: Heroes of Shadow
• Player's Option: Heroes of the Feywild
• Player's Option: Heroes of the Elemental Chaos

Crunch is unfortunately useless to me, because while I enjoy running and playing D&D4 I only ever use the PHB1 and the first run of Powers books.

If you have recommendations about any other stealth fluff products that I don't have on this list, I'd love to hear them. I'm pretty sure I already own all the obvious fluff books.

 

[delericho]

I really liked the "Eberron Campaign Guide". I wasn't so keen on the player's book, but the main guide was a very good read, even from the perspective of a non-4e DM.

 

[Phototoxin]

I liked the undead book, it has a fair bit of crunch but a lot of fluff and ideas too.

 

[DMZ2112]

Thanks, guys. Any other advice anyone wants to give?

 

[Warbringer]

Make sure to check "half price books" a lot of new books are being dumped into the discount channel.

Heroes of Feywild is very good from a fluff pov

 

[Storminator]

Did you not list the Plane Above and Plane Below books because you already have them? Those are the best IMO.

PS

 

[DMZ2112]

Yes, I own Plane Above, Plane Below, and the Manual of the Planes, as well as most other books that are clearly setting-only -- they are all excellent. I think Gloomwrought is the only exception, and in retrospect I don't know why I put it on the list -- I clearly need to pick it up.

What I'm really trying to figure out is if the Player's Option and monster books contain enough unique /core setting/ material to make them worthwhile purchases for someone who is categorically not interested in the crunch they contain.

 

[sabrinathecat]

I have to say that while the crunch was abysmal, the fluff for HoS was pretty good.
I would also have liked to see more in the way of Race splat-books. We only got 2 from WotC. Having one for each race (like 2nd, 3rd, and 3.5) would have been a good move. Or at least a book for origin type (fey, goblinoid, undead, extra-planar, etc).
HoF seemed to have both good crunch and fluff, though there were a lot of missed opportunities with it.

 

[jacktannery]

Heroes of the Feywild is really VERY good for fluff on every level. I particularly like the alternative rewards and equipment sections, which I use in my games frequently. This one I strongly recommend. I was less drawn to HoS and HotEC.

Monster Vault: TtoNV is the best monster book produced and the fluff is AMAZING. I strongly recommend this book. For a GM, this book alone can be the starting point for a hundred campaigns.

Avoid Draconomicon - these are useless in terms of fluff (if you ever played any prior edition you already know about dragons) and particularly useless in terms on crunch (the dragons in here are completely unplayable pre-MM3 solos and should not be used). Open Grave is really good but unfortunately it is pre-MM3 too (though this matters less because the undead monsters are rarely high-level solos like dragons) and in general I wouldn't bother buying it now.

 

[Rune]

I'll echo the good words for Heroes of the Feywild and Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale. And the Eberron campaign book.

And, if you're just looking for fluff, I'll point you to one of my favorites from 3e: Kenzer & Co's Kingdoms of Kalamar campaign book. It is all fluff. And an awesome setting (all the tension of Europe just prior to WWI, a powder-keg waiting for a DM to spark it).

Crunch is unfortunately useless to me, because while I enjoy running and playing D&D4 I only ever use the PHB1 and the first run of Powers books.

Out of curiosity, why?