Name your favorite D&D book

[der_kluge]

Indeed, a tough question. I think the best books are the ones that can withstand a given edition, or are rules independent. Things that just have great ideas, even without the constraints of the rules that they're based on.

I'm gonna have to go with the Al-Qadim book. Just for sheer imaginative writing, solid rules, and just all-around great presentation. That, and no one else mentioned it, and that really saddens me. Some of the greatest games I ever ran were set in this setting.

Runners up:
Planescape Boxed Set. Again, just sheer awesomeness that continues to inspire even after 2nd edition.

The Aurora's Whole Realms Cataloque. I still pack this in my backpack, even though I'm playing 3rd edition now.

Bluffside - even if you don't run the city, the numerous NPCs, places of interest, and all the other bits are extremely valuable. Not to mention the fact that I helped write it, and the seed of the idea for the city was mine!

 

[Voadam]

The SRD.

So much there, easily cut and pastable, free, allows others to develop stuff legally, easily accessible and searchable, I use it all the time in running my games and as a player.

 

[spider_minion]

Factory, published by Perpetrated Press.

This book really captured my imagination with its amusing take on technomagic computers, robots, mechs, and cyberware. Solid game mechanics and really cool illustrations sealed its place as my all-time favorite D&D book.

Of course, just when I became a huge fan of Perpetrated Press, they mysteriously vanished off the face of the earth.

My other favorites are Arsenal (also Perpetrated Press) and Masters of Arms (Second World Simulations).

 

[Arkhandus]

My favorite D&D book was the 2nd Edition AD&D Complete Book of Ninja, or Complete Ninja's Handbook, whichever it was called....... Too bad I wasn't able to find a copy in the local gamestore when 2E went out of print and 3E was about to be released. I had borrowed a copy occasionally from one of my friends, before he had to move. I just didn't have a job until shortly before 3E was released, so I couldn't afford any D&D books until 2E was out of print, and missed out on owning the CBoN/CNH/whatever, dangit....

The favorite D&D book I actually own is 3E Oriental Adventures. It has a few tiny flaws, and it's irritating to have Rokugan as the featured setting in 3E (meaning no WotC support! and half the book's material doesn't even work with Rokugan.... *sob* how am I supposed to use Spiritfolk, Vanara, Wu Jen, Sohei, and such?!). But nonetheless I enjoy the non-Rokugan elements of it, and at least most of it I can adapt to my own games.

Edit: Sidenote, I never had the opportunity to browse, buy, nor use Planescape, Dark Sun, Al Qadim, or the original Oriental Adventures. One of those may have changed my choice otherwise, perhaps.

 

[Krieg]

My favorite D&D book was the 2nd Edition AD&D Complete Book of Ninja, or Complete Ninja's Handbook, whichever it was called....... .

It's odd as the 2e Ninja book is very often listed as one of the worst 2e products. Personally I found it to one of the better CHBs and never understood the disdain in which it is held.

Perhaps it just isn't overpowered enough.

 

[megamania]

You ask for the impossible.

Favorite (based on personal importance) .....Darksun boxed set.

If not for that product, I never would have played DnD or any other roleplaying game

for 3.0 / 3.5 Savage Species Opened a whole new way of using critters in a game

 

[KB9JMQ]

The Fire Efreeti DMG.
That books sums up D&D to me.

 

[Nighthawk]

Monsternomicon. A wonderful monster book.

GDQ1-7 Quuen of the Spiders super module. For all of its flaws, a fantastic series.

World of Greyhawk.

 

[Voadam]

My favorite D&D book was the 2nd Edition AD&D Complete Book of Ninja, or Complete Ninja's Handbook, whichever it was called....... Too bad I wasn't able to find a copy in the local gamestore when 2E went out of print and 3E was about to be released. I had borrowed a copy occasionally from one of my friends, before he had to move. I just didn't have a job until shortly before 3E was released, so I couldn't afford any D&D books until 2E was out of print, and missed out on owning the CBoN/CNH/whatever, dangit....

The favorite D&D book I actually own is 3E Oriental Adventures. It has a few tiny flaws, and it's irritating to have Rokugan as the featured setting in 3E (meaning no WotC support! and half the book's material doesn't even work with Rokugan.... *sob* how am I supposed to use Spiritfolk, Vanara, Wu Jen, Sohei, and such?!). But nonetheless I enjoy the non-Rokugan elements of it, and at least most of it I can adapt to my own games.

Edit: Sidenote, I never had the opportunity to browse, buy, nor use Planescape, Dark Sun, Al Qadim, or the original Oriental Adventures. One of those may have changed my choice otherwise, perhaps.

You can get them as $5 pdfs at www.rpgnow.com

I got a bunch of planescape, dark sun, and al quadim sourcebooks this way plus the Complete Ninja Handbook one. A few are free on the WoTC archives section as well.

 

[Dinkeldog]

The Expanded Psionics Handbook