A great list of books but I had to go with Ptolus because it's just so awesome. The Spell Compendium and Magic Item Compendium are very useful though and I'm also a big fan of the Complete Book of Eldritch Might and Pathfinder.
For me it wasn't much of a choice. I think Ptolus is amazing, and as a DM I find myself bragging about it to people who don't even really game. It's more than just a campaign setting.
Huh? Wasnt there some sort of hissy fit from some posters that it was even mentioned on Monte's board, but now that its coming from the piazo board its ok?
Thats how I voted. I have pathfinder and its good.
But Ptolus is worth every penny, and even more. One of its incredible strengths is its corss indexed to hell....they mention a place or person and its in teh sidebar of what page its on....
Charles Ryan has the right of it. For me, the choice was between Arcana Evolved and Ptolus, but only Ptolus was on the list Unearthed Arcana was a very good book w/lots of interesting tweaks, but Ptolus is insanely complete. I, like other in this thread, have shown Ptolus off to just about everyone. A cousin of mine has never gamed in her life but loves books and she was pretty wowed by the book. I also liked Eberron, but I always liked the articles talking about the ramifications of magic on society and how things would be different. I just wish my setting had won instead of Keith's
It's the internet, it isn't like Monte's boards, Paizo's boards and ENWorld are all in different galaxies, people belong to all 3 and of course you will see people post a thread they're interested in supporting. This isn't hard science or the Presidential elections tho, so its not worth getting bent out of shape over FWIW, Ptolus is siting at 215 for a very solid 3rd place right now.