What are the best "fluff" PDFs or books?

[Faraer]

I've expounded before on how 'fluff' is a lousy, stupid, destructive, and misanthropic way to refer to 'any written content other then game rules', that no one with any respect for themselves or anyone else would touch with a 20' pole. But it's self-evident.

A couple of outstanding d20-related works not mentioned yet are Gary Gygax's Living Fantasy and Vincent Darlage's Road of Kings.

 

[Chris Tavares]

The thread title mentioned PDF's, but I haven't seen many mentioned yet, so let me chime in on probably the best "background" (don't like the fluff word either) PDF on the market: Points In Space by Cumberland Games. Chock full of interesting characters, nifty locations, and even an alien poker game for the gambling hall (well, sort of poker, they're aliens after all!) Completely systemless, the book is 100% fluff, in the best possible way.

I've used a bunch of stuff from this book in my Dragonstar game and it worked out great.

 

[Psion]

The thread title mentioned PDF's, but I haven't seen many mentioned yet, so let me chime in on probably the best "background" (don't like the fluff word either) PDF on the market: Points In Space by Cumberland Games. Chock full of interesting characters, nifty locations, and even an alien poker game for the gambling hall (well, sort of poker, they're aliens after all!) Completely systemless, the book is 100% fluff, in the best possible way.

That's a good one, but I didn't think of it because I was thinking D&D. I planned to use it for my T20 campaign when I was running it. Q'nook was a cool little flavor bit.

 

[Teneb]

The recent PDF Legacies of Oathbound Volume 1 by Bastion Press has a very in-depth look at the bloodhold of Utopia. There's so much great info in there, my next OB campaign will definitely feature Utopia heavily.

Manual of Planes is very good, evoking mood and ambience in spades. Somewhat along those lines, the Sigil guide (don't recall name at the moment) was the #1 gaming purchase ever for me. I certainly know why PS is so dearly missed.

Fury of Shadow, the recent boxed set from FFG for the Midnight setting does a fabulous job of setting the tone and mood for the war against the elves. I can open the main book to any page and have campaign ideas jump off the page at me. Its a very very good set.

 

[RichGreen]

Hi,

More votes for Book of the Righteous, Chaositech and Beyond Countless Doorways. I'd also pick Serpent Kingdoms (despite no area map) and the Shining South.

Planescape had the best fluff though.

Cheers


Richard

 

[Cyberhawk]

Personally I liked Mongoose's Slayers Guide to Kraken ebook. Had some neat ideas in it and very little crunch.

 

[Starman]

For "fluff" content, I've really enjoyed:

D&D/d20:
Midnight CS
Dawnforge CS
Eberron CS
Ghelspad Gazeteer

Non-d20/D&D:
Dark Ages: Mage
Dark Ages: Inquisitor

Starman

 

[Shemeska]

3e:
MotP
Beyond Countless Doorways
Serpent Kingdoms

2e:
Uncaged: Faces of Sigil
Faces of Evil

Non d20:
Any shadowrun book ever, they're just fun to read honestly. Dragons of the 6th World kicked ass.

 

[Starman]

Non d20:
Any shadowrun book ever, they're just fun to read honestly. Dragons of the 6th World kicked ass.

Agreed. Shadows of Europe was another one I really enjoyed reading.

Starman

 

[Ant]

Living Greyhawk Gazetteer