Have some books become 'definitive'?

[Krug]

Do you think some d20 books have become 'definitive'? For example, Mutants and Masterminds appears to have become the definitive supplement for d20 Superhero RPGs, while Call of Cthulhu is the definitive horror supplement. (Whether you use it for horror or not)

What other books would you classify as definitive, if any?

 

[TiQuinn]

Aside from the core rulebooks, which I consider the definitive books on magical fantasy roleplaying (but that's a bit too easy):

The Book of the Righteous: the definitive book on clerics, gods, and all things divine.

Manual of the Planes: the book to have if you are doing planar travel or dealing with anything other than the Prime Material plane.

Spycraft: Right now, this is my favorite spy RPG. Is it definitive? Well, I don't know of any other games that really inhabit its genre except perhaps d20 Modern, but I'm not sure if this counts.

I don't know if there is a definitive book of monsters aside from the Monster Manual, but the one I get the most mileage from is Monster's Handbook since it's more about customizing existing monsters rather than pages and pages of new ones.

 

[senodam]

I would say that Relics & Rituals has become the definitive book of magic spells and items- though Magic of Faerun follows close, and Traps Treachery is THE traps book. Hasn't been beaten yet, and I doubt it ever will be.

 

[Gothmog]

Definitive Traps Book: Traps & Treachery I and II

Definitive Monster Book: Monster's Handbook

Definitive Religious Book: Book of the Righteous

Definitive Book on Poisons: Pale Designs

Definitive Book on Herbs: Alchemy & Herbalists

Definitive Book on Undead: Slayer's Guide to Undead

 

[S'mon]

Do you think some d20 books have become 'definitive'? For example, Mutants and Masterminds appears to have become the definitive supplement for d20 Superhero RPGs, while Call of Cthulhu is the definitive horror supplement. (Whether you use it for horror or not)

What other books would you classify as definitive, if any?

I don't own it but I get the strong impression that Spycraft is the definitive d20 modern action game.

 

[Voadam]

Do you think some d20 books have become 'definitive'? For example, Mutants and Masterminds appears to have become the definitive supplement for d20 Superhero RPGs, while Call of Cthulhu is the definitive horror supplement. (Whether you use it for horror or not)

What other books would you classify as definitive, if any?

I wouldn't say any are definitive. Variety presents options, not exclusive dominance, for instance for horror I use Ravenloft, not CoC.

Is beyond monks the definitive martial arts book? What about OA, or Hong's martial artist class, or stuff from Sword and Fist?

 

[Umbran]

I don' t think you'll run into many books that are particularly "definitive". There are too many personal preferences in styles of play. There are many books, and everyone has their favorites. I don't think many are dominant enough to call "definitive".

 

[diaglo]

what's your definition of what is is?

for me. none of the books are definitive of D&D.

 

[Psion]

I agree with TiQuinn and (in part) senodam:
Spycraft, MotP, BotR, and Relics & Rituals.

Trap Books: Book of Challenges is the definitive trap book.

Definitive martial arts book (for d20)? Well, it's not in print yet, but nothing in print I have seen even compares to Beyond Monks.

I would not even agree that SGtU is the definitive undead book, unless "an undead template for everything" is what you desire out of an undead book.

 

[Arnwyn]

I don't agree with any of the "suggestions" posted above. With the morass that is d20, at this stage of the game nothing is definitive (yet). Not even close.

(Well, maybe not quite. I agree M&M, Call of Cthulhu, and MotP are all reasonably worthy of being called definitive. The others? Not a chance, IMO - heck, I haven't even *heard* of a couple of them, and I've got a lot of d20 stuff.)