[Help Wanted] Recommend me some books

[Byrons_Ghost]

Depending on how much setting stuff you want, you might want to check out the 1st edition Oriental Adventures setting, Kara-Tura. A large part of it is Chinese-inspired.

Jade & Steel is one of the better D20 books that Avalanche books put out, IMO. It has some nice, flavorful prestige classes, such as Alchemist and Dim Mak Master. There's also a pretty decent starting adventure. It's mostly a crunch book, though; there isn't a whole lot on history or cultural setting, so you'll need to be already familiar with the period.

 

[Mark Plemmons]

TSR put out a book for Second Edition AD&D called Aurora's Whole Realms Catalog which had some interesting equipment in it.
Of course, a good modern tool and hardware catalog can be a big help for DMs...

When you say "modern," do you mean ala d20 modern? Goods and Gear: the Ultimate Adventurer's Guide has plenty of common tools and items, like Aurora's.

 

[NewJeffCT]

I'm looking to expand my small collection with some critical books:

1. I need an excellent third-party (non-WotC) book of mundane equipment. I know that Mongoose's Ultimate Equipment Guides are out there, but I'm negatively biased towards them. Anything else is welcomed.

2. I need a book with an ancient Chinese flavor, if available. Oriental Adventures is out there too, but it's mostly ancient Japanese in flavor.

I appreciate any help on the specific topics.

I have not gone over the book thoroughly, but there is a 7th Sea book called "Cathay" that is based on China... they even have a Chinese language primer in the back.