What are the best "fluff" PDFs or books?

philreed · Dec 3, 2004

We know that many, many people are tired of "crunch." What would be recommended as good "fluff" products? Other than Silver Marches, of course.

(I love that book . . . very well done!)

Eremite · Dec 3, 2004

Serpent Kingdoms was really interesting from a "fluff" POV as was Races of Faerun.

Li Shenron · Dec 3, 2004

For me, two books which have great and useful "fluff" are Manual of the Planes and Faith & Pantheons. Technically they're not probably fluff books

but the rules-free descriptions of planes in MotP and of deities in F&P are great, respectively for the DM and the players. While the deities stats in F&P are utterly useless, the rest it's still a good source for our character ideas.

Numion · Dec 3, 2004

Manual of the Planes and Monte Cooks Beyond Endless Doorways. Both are excellent, very imaginative, but if you aren't much into other planes they might lose some value. Great for mining ideas in any case.

Acid_crash · Dec 3, 2004

I think Sharn: City of Towers does an excellent job of delivering on the fluff and holding itself back on the crunch.

Zweischneid · Dec 3, 2004

Silver Marches is an old favorite of mine.

Many Scarred Lands books are good on flavor, as are the Ravenloft Gazetteers. (both somewhat specialized though)

Psion · Dec 3, 2004

Well, I don't share the definition that non-mechanical setting material = fluff, but as others seem to, I dig idea-laden books like:

WotC's Manaul of the Planes
Malhavoc's Beyond Countless Doorways
Necromancer Games' Book of Taverns
Green Ronin's Book of the Righteous

hong · Dec 3, 2004

GURPS Martial Arts
GURPS Wizards
GURPS Undead
Ninja HERO
Fantasy HERO
Exalted

Great fluff for a D&D game.

Li Shenron · Dec 3, 2004

Psion said:
Well, I don't share the definition that non-mechanical setting material = fluff, but as others seem to...

Mmm... isn't that how the word is commonly used around here?

JoeGKushner · Dec 3, 2004

Book of the Righteous is probably one of my all time favorite books for the way it reads. Very imaginative and full of ideas with a complete pantheon and religion that makes sense for a fantasy campaign.