Top 5 D&D Books

[Belen]

I would take the following:

Legends and Lore (2e)
Arcana Evolved
From Stone to Steel (Monkey God Enterprises)
Midnight CS
1e DMG/ D&D Rules Cyclopedia (it's a toss up, but DMG in the lead)

 

[robberbaron]

PHB, DMG, MM, LotR, an atlas of the world.

Basically, I can't be bothered with any more monsters other people have devised (just want the MM for the rules on how to make up new monsters) and don't need anymore ideas on optional rules, so the Core books will do.

Lord of the Rings to read between games.

An atlas because I can't be arsed to draw fancy world maps when someone has gone to all the trouble already.

Oh, and diaglo, you are the man!

 

[DungeonMaster]

3rd edition PHB ( not 3.5 )
3rd edition DMG
3rd edition MM
2nd edition World Builder's Guidebook
2nd edition Spell compendiums

 

[Captain NeMo]

What's sad is that I've never even read five D&D books, so it's kinda hard for me to pick. I guess i'll just go for the only books I own.

3.5 PHB
MM1
Warcraft RPG

 

[DaveMage]

If you were stranded on an island in the middle of nowhere and you had only dice, paper and the core books, what other 5 D&D books would you take with you[?]
Pinotage

World's Largest Dungeon (AEG)
Arms & Armor 3.5 (Bastion)
3E Fiend Folio (WotC)
1E DMG*
Planescape Box Set*

*If we're only talking about 3/3.5E products, substitute the Oathbound Campaign Setting core book and the Forgotten Realms Setting core book.

 

[Goblyn]

Over and above the core?

If core are assumed, then those 3 plus XPH and Unearthed Arcana.

If they are already on the island(hope I'm not voted off):

XPH(from above)
UA(from above)
Book of Vile Darkness
Savage Species
Call of Cthulhu d20

 

[Navar]

Arcana Evolved (Monte Cook) (this has all the rules I should need)
Warlords of the Accordlands RPG: The Master Codex
Warlords of the Accordlands RPG: Monster & Lairs
Warlords of the Accordlands RPG: Campaign Adventure Book
(This campaign should be a VERY long one with a good world, other character races, classes, etc.)
Midnight CS (I don't own it, and don't relly want to play it, but from what I hear it is awesome, so if I run out of Ideas from the other 2 CSes and the like Midnight would be a good place to start)

 

[Wombat]

Well, since other folks have already opened up the D20-vs-D&D box...

Arcana Evolved (probably would use this over the core rules anyway)
The Book of the Righteous (basis for many mythologies)
Skull & Bones (for that piratical touch)
The Complete Book of Eldritch Might (great spells, the bard, and great PrCs)
...and something else... (maybe Hollowfaust, maybe Swashbuckling Adventures, maybe Nyambe, maybe some other book; this last one is not nearly as important to my mix)

That should give me a fair range to deal with.

 

[wocky]

Unearthed Arcana
Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
Legacy of Dragons
Book of Exalted Deeds

 

[MetalBard]

Hmmm... tough choice, but I'd have to say (limiting myself to 3e stuff):

Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
Player's Guide to Faerun
Expanded Psionics Handbook
Manual of the Planes
Lost Empires of Faerun