What are the best of the classbooks?

[nikolai]

There are loads of d20 class books on the market. I'm thinking of getting some of them, as are some of my players. Which are the best, for each class? There are lot of reviews in the database, but not much comparative stuff.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

I really think that there are almost too many. There are so many publishers putting out their own spin on the same classes. Call me a purist if you like but I've somewhat stayed away from the classbooks for 3.5.

 

[Chunklets]

I've gotten good mileage out of Masters of the Wild, and I was little disappointed not to see more of it hauled over to Complete Divine. Although, given the editing job on the latter, it's entirely possible that I simply couldn't find what I was looking for...

 

[Greg K]

There are loads of d20 class books on the market. I'm thinking of getting some of them, as are some of my players. Which are the best, for each class? There are lot of reviews in the database, but not much comparative stuff.

I really like The Psychic's Handbook, The Shaman's Handbook, and The Witch's Handbook all of which are by Green Ronin.

 

[Psion]

Prestige class style books:

Masters of Arms - a neat system presenting dozens of "weapon" and "style" specialist type classes. All class abilities are also usable as feats, and the maneuvers are explicitly measured in power, and a system for making your own maneuvers is included.

Spells & Magic - one of my favorite magic books (BoEM I & III are also favorites, but less so for the classes.)

Quint Wizard, Monk, Rogue, and Sorcerer. Especially sorcerer. Neat stuff.

New Class Style books

Shaman's Handbook
ED: Shamans
Beyond Monks: Art of the Fight
Quintessential Chaos Mage

Mindscapes is a great classbook for psions, but if you want the 3.5 revamp, you'll have to wait for Hyperconscious.

 

[Myrddin ap Taliesen]

I've gotten a lot of use out of Master's of the Wild and The Sword and Fist.

 

[Chunklets]

I've gotten a lot of use out of Master's of the Wild and The Sword and Fist.

What have you been using from Sword & Fist? I'm curious becuase, although I don't share the very low opinion that many seem to have of that book, you're the first person I've seen who's actually said they've found it useful. For my own part, I've used a couple of little things (feats, mostly) from S&F, but no more than that.

 

[Raflar]

My favourite class books are all the Quintessential books (Mongoose Publishing) and the Legends & Lairs Series Path of Faith, Path of Shadow, Path of Magic, & Path of the Sword. (Fantasy Flight Games) and the D&D Splatbooks aren't too bad.

 

[Ghostwind]

My preferences:

-Psychic's Handbook (Green Ronin) - beats Expanded Psionics Handbook all to heck.
-Shaman's Handbook (Green Ronin) - best of the bunch.
-Way of the Witch (Citizen Games) - you can probably find this in a bargin bin someplace. Get it. It was written by three women (one of the Jean Rabe) and it puts an interesting spin to witches. I really like it amd think it is the best of the 'witch' books out there.
-Path of ... (Fantasy Flight Games) - These books are much better than the Wotc class books in my opinion. There are a few overpowered classes, but nothing a wise GM can't work around.
-Spells & Magic (Bastion Press) - Some really good alternative spellcasting options.
-Mercenaries (AEG) - Some really good combat-oriented classes. Has both core and prestige classes.

 

[Crothian]

I suggest naming a class that someone plays and then asking for opinions on the books that are about that class.