Official Books vs Unofficial: Your group's standard is?

[ThirdWizard]

We'd have no problem using OGL stuff if one of the players were to buy any. So far that hasn't really happened yet. As DM I've used material from non-WotC publishers, but not much and most of it goes unused (for example, Iron Heroes isn't easily integrated into a D&D game). So, theoretically, it doesn't matter who the publisher is, but in practice, no one is willing to take a chance on non-WotC stuff. We don't buy many books anyway. The last book I bought was... erm... perhaps Complete Warrior?

 

[smilinggm]

IMHO Unless you are Playing in an one of the RPGA's Living campaings there are no "Official Books". In the RGPA, campaing staff will decied on which books are "Official" and therfore allowed in the specific Living Campaing. Some will be allowed and some will be banned. Also unless you are playing in an RPGA campaing and following the specific campagn rules there are no "Official" or "Tournamant Legal" characters. Otherwise it is up to the DM of your campaing to decide what books are to be used in the campaing, and what characters will be allowed into the campaing.

Having said that; Your use of the word "Official Books" seams to mean Published by WOTC.
Only books published by WOTC and a very small fiew others can publish a book with the Dungeons and Dragons logo on it. All other publishers must strictly follow the OGL too use the D20 logo. So, IMHO this makes the book an "Official D20" product. This does not however grant the book any automatic status to be allowed in any campaing that I am running. The only three books that have an automatic buy in any of my campaings are the Core 3 books. IE the PHB, DMG and MM1. All other books must be looked over to see if the book will fit into my campaing. This is the same regardless if the book is Published by WOTC or a 3rd party publisher. If you look at my sig you will see that I am a big fan of Paradigm Concepts. I am also a big fan of Green Ronin. But even as a big fan of PCI I will not automatically use their material in my campaing just because they published a book. I will review the book 1st to see how it will fit into the camaing, and if it fits I will use it if not I will not use it.

As to the quality of the book, just because it was published by WOTC does not make it a great book. Also just because it was published by a 3rd party publisher does not make it a bad book. Both WOTC and 3rd party publishers have published jems and bothe WOTC and 3rd party publishers have published real stinkers. I will read reviews of the book before I buy it and I will look through it at my FLGS before I buy this book. These days I am a bit more discriminating but this has nothing to do with the quality of the book but more based on my bank account.

 

[Starman]

Unfortunately, most of the gamers I know are "Wizards only." When I see all of the quality stuff from other publishers that they miss out on, I just shake my head. I just don't understand it.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Mostly Wizards, but third party as well when it's brought up (I think I'm the only one to own any). For the most part, it's on a case by case basis though. Wraithstrike may be Wizards, but it's not showing up in at least two of our campaigns (we trade off DMing duties). Similarly, Avalanche and Altherian Flintlocks are from the Player's Guide to Arcanis (Paradigm Concepts) but both are allowed in at least one campaign. In the campaign I run, I've pretty heavily restricted even some core materials in order to give the setting the flavor I want. There's a fair number of homebrew feats, etc, but no PC clerics or wizards (favored souls, on the other hand are OK as long as they run their spell selection by me first).

 

[Psion]

Mostly third party.

I review lots of both, but the sheer variety of what exists in third party makes it all the more likely that what scratches my itch is going to be third party.

 

[Greg K]

All material has to be approved by the GM whether from WOTC or another publisher. With rare exception, WOTC generic material just doesn't work me and, as the DM, I have banned several of their books in their enitrety from the table.

 

[babomb]

Last group I played in was only WotC and everything WotC (which is how I voted). When I GM, though, it's core only, with other material on a case-by-case basis.

 

[MadMaxim]

All Wizards of the Coast all the time. As Joe pointed out, their products may not be the best concerning content or the most flawless, but in my mind they have the highest production values. I do own Warcraft and Mutants & Masterminds, but other than that it's Wizards of the Coast through and through. It's also what the players seem most comfortable with.

 

[Lord Mhoram]

About 40% d20 and about 60% WotC for all the general stuff. I'd likely have more of third party support stuff, but not a whole lot has come out recently - I generally want "generic" or setting-free books, and most d20 publishers aren't putting out a whole lot of that. And what does come out, well, about half of it I don't really need.

Edited to add - I generally shy away from PDFs - I don't game anywhere near a computer, so to get use out of one, I print it out anyway.

I have many more 3rd party monster books than WotC.; about 30 hardcovers.

 

[Man-thing]

My more experienced players use 3rd party material frequently and they tend to evaluate it themselves (as they also DM from time to time). Patrick's rule of thumb is if he thinks its really cool, it's probably broken.

My newer players only use WOTC, and only buy WOTC because they have shiny colourful pictures. Except one who uses everyone else stuff and has bought nothing, at all.