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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Azgulor" data-source="post: 3026375" data-attributes="member: 14291">My first six have become the cornerstones of d20 fantasy gaming for me.  I left D&D and its baggage long before 3E in search of systems that could produce a fantasy gaming experience comparable to what I read in novels and saw in movies.  The perfect d20 mix for Modern & Sci-fi gaming is still an elusive holy grail for me, but some of my main building blocks are also listed.1. Conan RPG, Atlantean Edition - convinced me that d20 could do Swords-n-Sorcery and escape the default D&D style of play.  It's become the foundation of all my d20 fantasy gaming.2. Book of the Righteous - the gold standard of what religious-themed sourcebooks should be.3. Grim Tales - My construction kit of choice and 2nd "core rulebook" behind Conan.4. Game of Thrones - Aside from being a wonderful resource on the book, I quickly adopted the rules for Influence, several prestige classes, and some other bits for my campaign.  Another great example of a licensed property done right.5. True Sorcery - the magic system I've been seeking for 20 years.  A customizable spell system that allows me to develop a multitude of spells without being slaved to D&D's high-fantasy approach.  Having rules for blending with Thieves' World was icing on the cake.6. Thieves' World Player's Manual - Another licensed setting I have always wanted, this was a first-rate d20 treatment (although I would have preferred OGL).  I Conan-ized several of the classes.  Thanks to Green Ronin for providing the sorcery style separation (mage, priest, witch) I have been trying to emulate with various systems for years.7. Spycraft 2.0 - This would have made the list on the basis of Dramatic Conflicts alone.  The skills, feats, firearm rules and campaign qualities make the game shine.8. Mutants & Masterminds 2e - And people said d20 couldn't do superheroes.  I'm still blown away at the quality of the game and how well it reproduces comic-style combat.9. Monsternomicon - The gold standard of monster books.  One of the few monster books that is entertaining to sit down and read in addition to being filled with setting flavor/fluff.10. Fields of Blood - A flexible mass combat system that doesn't slow play.  This was the first mass combat system I've ever used where my players enjoyed large-scale battles as much as personal combats.I have to say, if the list were inclusive of WotC books, very few would make the list.  I would give WotC kudos for the d20 license and OGL at #1 but every one of the books I've listed would beat a D&D rulebook.  If D&D didn't focus primarily on "fantasy superhero action hour (now with better magic items!)", it would probably be a different story.Azgulor(Very) Close runner-ups include the Kingdoms of Kalamar Campaign Setting, A Magical Medievel Society: Western Europe, and the Iron Kingdoms Character's Guide.</blockquote>

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