What are the best "fluff" PDFs or books?

[diaglo]

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

for me the child of a Brit... fluff in reference to the new editions is about right.

fluff is slang ...not quite improper ... for passing gas ... flatulence.

 

[IronWolf]

For Forgotten Realms, I hold 'Races of Faerun' high on my list of FR fluff books. A great detailing of various races and such on Faerun.

 

[Psion]

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

Is =/= should.

Edit: After all, "fluff" fans resent the use "fluff", because of the implication that it's not greatly valuable. I agree from a different standpoint: there is such material in books, but it's often not the material that the supposed "fluff" fans are really defending.

 

[GlassJaw]

What would be recommended as good "fluff" products?

What is the criteria? D&D only? d20/3.X only?

In all systems, I think the best fluff book of all time hands down bar none is the original Shadowrun Seattle Sourcebook. That book is just amazing. You feel like you are browsing a public travel website and reading the discussion boards. Every page is just oozing with adventure ideas and, as cliche as it sounds, you really feel like you are there. Just brilliant.

For D&D? I really like the City of Greyhawk and From the Ashes boxed sets. The Volo Guides are very nice too (I'm especially fond of the Dalelands and Waterdeep). The City of Splendors boxed set was awesome too but I'm a big fan of city boxed sets (if you couldn't tell).

3ed? Hmm. I think a lot of the FR books are really nice. The Campaign Sourcebook is what really got me interested in the Realms. I've been using Monte's Chaositech and EN Publishing's Steam & Steel lately and I think both have a very nice balance between fluff and crunch.

 

[IronWolf]

The Volo Guides are very nice too (I'm especially fond of the Dalelands and Waterdeep).

Oh yeah! How could I have forgotten those! Second this opinion. I find the Volo's Guides to the realms as *great* fluff books!

 

[Voadam]

I enjoyed the Mage the Sorcerer's Crusade: Book of Screams about evil wizards book.

 

[Man-thing]

Other genre:

Dragonlance 5th Age Bestiary (Much more a story than a monster book)

3rd Edition:

MGP - Book of the Planes
MGP - Book of the Immortals
WOTC - Manual of the Planes

(I may never use the mechanical parts of these books but I really loved the conceptual work that surrounds the crunch)

 

[Campbell]

My List of d20 Products with Excellent Fluff:

• Denizens of Avadnu
• Legends of Avadnu
• CoC d20
• The Iron Kingdoms Line
• Legacy of the Dragons
• Chaositech

Good Idea Material

• Most of Malhavoc Press's Material, specifically things like sentient spells of BoEM2.
• Manual of the Planes
• Joe G. Browning's work

 

[Ryltar]

I liked:

- Sharn, City of Towers, as well as the Oathbound CS for excellent city portrayal
- Stone to Steel (Atlas) for its historical overview
- Hamunaptra (Green Ronin) for successfully implementing Egyptian Culture into a D&D setting without falling for the dangerous Trap of ShoeHorns
- Beyond Countless Doorways and Chaositech for creativity
- The Book of Nod and The Ercyies Fragments (White Wolf), pure genius.

and the uncrowned king of them all:

- Faces of Sigil, the Best Planescape Accessory Ever (though Faces of Evil is a close 2nd).

 

[Cergorach]

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.

Same here.

None D20 fantasy:
Bladestorm Boxed set (ICE)
Eidolon City in the Sky (ICE)