Must have books

[Ace]

What?!! What about Books of Eldritch Might? Book of the Righteous? Hell even Relics and Rituals 1! Book of Hallow might man. All these books I think should be in people's collection in some fashion.

Our group has RR1 and all the WOTC books. We have never even opened them

We used

Core Book 1-2-3
Swashbuckling Adventures (a little for one campaign)
Monte's Ranger
and 1!! Monster from Creature Catalog.

Thats it

JMO but the three core books are sufficient

 

[John Crichton]

well, i've been DMing and playing 3e since it came out, over the course of 5 different campaigns, and neither i nor anyone i've gamed with have ever owned or used one of those books.

so no, i don't see them as "must haves."

supplements are nice, don't get me wrong, but they are, well, supplemental. the only essential books are the core rules.

While this is true, the spirit of the thread is books that folks use that they now cannot stop using. It's the bread & water thing all over again: one can live on it but it gets a little bland after a while. Of course, there are many folks who get along just fine with the Core Books and that is actually quite neat (and saves a ton of money!).

Now, if a person never looked at any of the supplemental material then that person would never know what may be missing. That isn't why this discussion is here. But it's cool that y'all use the basics as I have no problem with that what-so-ever. My question to you is: Have you looked through or read any of these books? They may just add something that you never knew was missing.

 

[Nightfall]

Re: It's all about the Iron Lich, baby.

Monsternomicon . I know it says Iron Kingdoms on the cover, but I've never seen so many monsters I couldn't wait to throw at my players, IK or no.

I guess I would throw in WOTC's splat books and, because Nightfall will vomit if I don't mention something SL, Relics and Rituals I.

Wouldn't say vomit. Just be a mit upset...

 

[Tuerny]

These are the books that I will use no matter what the campaign:
3 core rulebooks
Psionic's Handbook
Book of Vile Darkness
Mindscapes
Monster Manual 2

If I am using a campaign setting I will of course use the books that are appropriate for them.
If I am running a homebrew setting I will add Oriental Adventures and Elements of Magic to that list. If I am running a published one I will add the Books of Eldritch Might 1 and 2.

Beyond that I really don't use the other books all that much. Though Psion has reminded me that now that I am DMing again I might have to pick up the Monster's Handbook.

 

[Nightfall]

While this is true, the spirit of the thread is books that folks use that they now cannot stop using. It's the bread & water thing all over again: one can live on it but it gets a little bland after a while. Of course, there are many folks who get along just fine with the Core Books and that is actually quite neat (and saves a ton of money!).

Now, if a person never looked at any of the supplemental material then that person would never know what may be missing. That isn't why this discussion is here. But it's cool that y'all use the basics as I have no problem with that what-so-ever. My question to you is: Have you looked through or read any of these books? They may just add something that you never knew was missing.

I know what you mean and thank you John for again explaining my own position. (Bread and butter is nice but come on, is that ALL you're going to eat for the rest of your life?)

 

[Nightfall]

Our group has RR1 and all the WOTC books. We have never even opened them

There's a difference between "sufficient" and living. I mean you can live on bread and water. Doesn't mean you don't want more. (Which is kind of how a veiw each and every gaming product as a new "flavor" to try out." )

 

[Nightfall]

About the only things that remotely qualify as "must haves" would be the five WotC splatbooks, just because I have seen so many DM's that allow them, ours included. But the books Nightfall mentioned have received too many complaints from various gamers on these boards as "too powerful" or too "out there" to be considered universally important. I own the first two of Monte's BoEM's and the BoHM, and NOT ONE PLAYER has expressed an interest in my games to play them.

I'm willing to admit that. But I do think some might have importance. Example: In a place like say Oathbound, where much of these spells might be available, say we have a praticing Shadow Mage. He, in an attempt to rule, casts a quickened "Shadow Strike" and then "Shadow Twin". You have then just initiated a pretty potent combo to defeat most non-SR using monsters and/or NPCs. Or another example, this time just using a druid from FR. Said druid casts greater marks of Earth on the party. Now they have greater Con and the ability to smash stuff in a particular hard fight.