What 2E Books should you keep in your collection?

[Arnwyn]

I use much of my 2e stuff:

- I've obviously kept all my campaign material (that stuff is perfectly usable) - notably all my FR, PS, AQ, and SJ books
- I've kept and converted every single Monstrous Compendium (just skipping what's already been converted in 3e books such as MM, MM2, and ToH)
- all my modules are still used (and easily converted)
- I've converted all three of the Monstrous Arcana books
- I've kept all the Encyclopedia Magicas (convert when needed)
- I convert the spells from the WSCs and PSCs when needed
- and loads of other 2e stuff that is too much to list here.

P.S. maddman75 and Psion are right on the mark.

P.P.S. Yes, I do suggest that you get a new bookshelf!

 

[Shapermc]

The Encyclopedia Magica's Are great rescources for ideas about Wonderous Items for Campeigns.

 

[Henry]

All the setting-flavor materials are importable - so if you use or ever plan to use a specific setting, it's worth keeping. In part, this is why I voted "All of it."

However, I wound up throwing out a HUGE helping of my gaming materials years ago (actually, I gave it to several friends in a big "gamer's goodwill" box. ) It was taking over my home, I had so much material, and the fact was I don't want to take on a recurring cost of paying for a storage garage. So I figured to let others get some possible use out of it.

However, I kept a copy of Factol's Manifesto, because I can use that one book to pretty much totally recreate the Planescape Setting, should I ever want to run a version of it for 3E. The Factions, as well as the "Lady of Pain" and "city of doors" concept, are the three most important elements of a Planescape atmosphere. The rest I can sculpt to taste.

Now, I am facing that SAME dilemma with the ever-increasing volume of 3E and d20 products I've been buying. I may have to amputate yet again...

 

[Kerrwyn]

I voted for the Player's Option stuff, General aids, the Magic item guides, and the priest/wizard books. Too much conversion material to lose if I got rid of those.
Speaking of older materials, my stepfather just gave me his entire collection of 1st ed stuff. Everything from the player's guides to the fiend folio and deities and demigods. Can't beat that with a stick.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

...
Now, I am facing that SAME dilemma with the ever-increasing volume of 3E and d20 products I've been buying. I may have to amputate yet again...

I hear ya Henry,

That in fact, is what prompted me to post this poll. I was preparing a box of d20 stuff to go to Noble Night Games ( for trade value ) and thought I should consider parting with some 2E stuff too, especially as it is just sitting in magazine boxes.

I'm gonna keep the PS/FR/DS stuff for sure. I'll wait until the poll results are finished to decide the rest...

 

[Gez]

I voted everything except dang simple flavorless rules (core books and such). Campaign setting material ? Keep what pertain to the setting you use. Monsters and magic ? Unless everything in the book has been reprinted in an updated form, this may still prove useful -- and then again, most creatures are less detailed now, with the removal of the ecology and such entries.

 

[DanMcS]

Greyhawk Adventures: i've never seen this book... what are the apprenticeship rules like?

It's the old Greyhawk hardcover, with the spiffy picture of the guy riding a griffon on the front. First D&D book I ever owned.

Sheesh, the apprenticeship rules, da, um... Vague, hazy recollections are returning... You played a zero level guy. If you spent a certain amount of time training, you could learn class abilities; so you could end up being able to use a sword and cast wizard spells, something like that. Once you had received enough training and earned some XP, you were eligable to become a first level guy of appropriate class, but you could keep any bizarro abilities you picked up while 0-level. There were rules for how much time to learn which ability, but darn if I can remember them.

What really reminded me of it (in spirit) was the 1st level multiclass rules in the 3e DMG, where you get some of the benefits of the first level of both classes. It was sort of like that, only you'd only have one partial class instead of two.

In answer to the thread's poll, I voted for Birthright and Planescape, two product lines I loved to death. I have a soft spot for spelljammer and dragonlance, too, and some old greyhawk stuff, but if I think of the stuff I've moved from my parent's place to my apartment, it's all BR and PS. The rest sits in boxes awaiting reinspiration.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

None! And put the 2e Greyhawk stuff to the torch!

 

[Chacal]

What I really liked in 2e supplements were the ecology sections of the monsters compendiums and the monster's mythologies(?) (where elven/dwarven/... deities were described).

Chacal

 

[ghettognome]

I still have most of the books that I had. The ones I particularly want to save are Tome of Magic and Skills and Powers. And of course Gnomes and Haflings. Also keeping te Oriental Adventures, though it was 1e it worked well for 2e.