Recommend me a RPG for reading.

[Reynard]

I just got paid for a freelance writing gig and it has been a while since I have bought an RPG just for reading, that I really don't intend to play. So recommend me one!

Rules:
1) It has to be available as a hardcover, but bonus points if you get the PDF along with it.
2) It has to be self contained.
3) It can be a setting but if so it has to be comprehensible on its own.
4) Games I own you might be thinking of: The One Ring, Alien, Blades in the Dark, Numenera, Star Trek Adventures, Mutant Year Zero (all of them), Conan 2d20.
5) Pure rulebooks with no setting need to be either super great or at least really good genre discussions.
6) POD is ok.

Thanks.

 

[humble minion]

Good Society, Flying Circus?

 

[CleverNickName]

Allow me to recommend Coyote & Crow.

 

[payn]

So, this might not make a few of the rules but at some point it will, but Cowboy Bebop using the Hexsys.

 

[jdrakeh]

Monster Care Squad. Best game I've picked up in a long while. Scroll down the page for physical books ($65 with PDF).

 

[schneeland]

If you enjoy things that are heavy on (visual) design: Mörk Borg.
If you'd rather have something with a deep setting: Symbaroum (the core rulebook has general setting info).

 

[TheAlkaizer]

I found the Symbaroum books to be great read. It's a great setting and the art is gorgeous.

 

[aramis erak]

I just got paid for a freelance writing gig and it has been a while since I have bought an RPG just for reading, that I really don't intend to play. So recommend me one!

Rules:
1) It has to be available as a hardcover, but bonus points if you get the PDF along with it.
2) It has to be self contained.
3) It can be a setting but if so it has to be comprehensible on its own.
4) Games I own you might be thinking of: The One Ring, Alien, Blades in the Dark, Numenera, Star Trek Adventures, Mutant Year Zero (all of them), Conan 2d20.
5) Pure rulebooks with no setting need to be either super great or at least really good genre discussions.
6) POD is ok.

Thanks.

Rifts has a hardcover... but many printings are softcover. It's an excellent setting read, but not great mechanics.

I'd recommend The Mechanoids & The Mechanoids Trilogy, as well, as excellent setting work.

Siembieda writes great settings.

 

[overgeeked]

Over the Edge 3rd Edition.

Viking Death Squad.

Index Card RPG Master Edition.

Doctor Who RPG 2nd Edition.

 

[hawkeyefan]

My go to recommendation:

Spire: The City Must Fall

Great game, great setting, evocative writing, jam-packed with ideas on every page.

Available in hardcover with pdf. Self-contained, though there have been a couple of supplements.