What 3 WOTC books to buy????

[MichaelSomething]

Best values for your money are probably Spell Compendium, Magic Item Compendium, and PHB2.

Fourthed...

 

[Doctor DM]

IMO, you can't beat the Complete series.

 

[Nifft]

Expanded Psionics Handbook -- I love Psionics, but almost all of the information is available online, and the online version has all the errata in already.

Tome of Magic -- I love the Binder, and I like the other two classes, but they are underpowered and non-trivial to fix, and also non-trivial to integrate into a "regular" campaign. Excellent value as inspiration for a world-builder or tinkerer; not much value otherwise.

Unearthed Arcana -- Good stuff, but also available online (same place as Psionics, but in the "Variants" section). If money is an issue, don't buy this book.

- - -

Tome of Battle: Book of Nine Swords -- Fun fun fun new system that integrates well with D&D and makes combat fun for melee guys again. I love this book.

Player's Handbook II -- Nice new classes, good selection of new spells, affiliations are cool. One of the best 3.5e supplements ever.

- - -

That's really it. I haven't gotten tons of value from the Spell Compendium -- there are enough bad things in there that it's been work sorting through what's merely good vs. what's seriously broken. No opinion on Magic Item Compendium yet.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Fourthed...

Fifthed.

 

[Morpheus]

Magic Item Compendium
DMGII
PHBII

 

[Moon-Lancer]

book of 9 swords
mic
wait for wod d20

 

[mhacdebhandia]

I already own MM 1+2, PHB, DMG, Libris Mortis, Eberron core book. Looking for Enworld's best recommendation.

Player's Handbook II, Lords of Madness, and Expanded Psionics Handbook would be my recommendations.

 

[freyar]

I loved Draconomicon and Lords of Madness. Draconomicon might be a little more expensive than what you want, though, depending on where you get it.

Also, if you're a DM, go for Magic Item Compendium. Lots of options and a very easy-to-use treasure generating system.

 

[Erratic K]

3.5 Books:

UA- Unearth Arcana- good for players and GMs.
XPH- Expanded Psionics Book- good for players and GMs, especially in Eberron
PGtE- Players Guide to Ebberon- good for players and GMs for Eberron, okay for GMs not doing Eberron (idea mining).

3.0 Books:
Manual of the Planes- great reading, good ideas for GMs/world builders, not as much for players

Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting- beautiful book good for players or GMS

 

[Odhanan]

PHB2
Unearthed Arcana
Magic Item Compendium

Switch UA for Spell Compendium if you prefer adding to the core mechanics instead of modifying/experimenting with them to create your own.