What are the best of the classbooks?

[rich]

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.

could someone please point me in the direction of this database?
I've been considering buying some non-WOTC books, and would love to find some good reviews on the various d20 publishers. I'm currently playing pretty straight 3.5 D&D, with a variety of WOTC 3.5 books. Is there some place where I can find out which books would work best for me?

OT: I like the Quint Ranger and the Complete Warrior. Complete Divine was OK, but a little disappointing (like was mentioned above, I had hoped for more updates on MotW).

EDIT: wow -- several posts showed up while I was typing
I see a couple mentions of the Fantasy Flight Games books -- are those pretty compatible with 3.5? Do they require a certain world setting?

 

[Psiblade]

I have really enjoyed the Complete Warrior and the various Scarred Lands Players Guidebooks. The Complete Divine looks interesting, but not much play testing yet. I also like additional books because options are always nice.

-Psiblade

 

[Ghostwind]

I'm currently playing pretty straight 3.5 D&D, with a variety of WOTC 3.5 books. Is there some place where I can find out which books would work best for me? I see a couple mentions of the Fantasy Flight Games books -- are those pretty compatible with 3.5? Do they require a certain world setting?

For reviews start here at EN World and also my site (d20 Magazine Rack). They are probably the two most comprehensive d20 databases on the net. As far as FFG's Path books, they are world neutral and will work for 3.5 with a few tweaks concerning skills and such mostly.

 

[Nareth]

My group and I have gotten very good milage out of the Quintessential books by Mongoose. There are a lot of good ideas, options and information in each specific class book. So far, the ones that have been most useful have been Quint Fighter and Quint Sorceror. Quint Sorceror has actually changed the fundamental way we look at the class in our campaigns.

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

My preferences:
-Mercenaries (AEG) - Some really good combat-oriented classes. Has both core and prestige classes.

I really, really liked this book too. I wasn't overly thrilled by the prestige classes (though many are perfectly good, just sort of bland IMO), but I am very big fan of several of the new base classes.


I think there are some hidden gems in Sword & Sorcery studios Scarred Lands player's guides as well, though they are, of course, primarily focused towards gaming in that setting.

 

[Crothian]

I think there are some hidden gems in Sword & Sorcery studios Scarred Lands player's guides as well, though they are, of course, primarily focused towards gaming in that setting.

I couldn't agree more. Those class books have some great feats and prestige classes in them, but then there is so much of those books that is scared lands specific it is hard to recomend them to people not using the setting.

 

[Nightfall]

Maybe so, but we do have some of the best darn ideas, like if you have magical wastelands, ways for rangers (and druids!) to notice and survive in them. Contact rules, (for making use of them "social" rogues), along with new rogue abilities are pretty sweet. The weapon speeds from PG: Fighters and Barbarians are nice too, along with Totem feats. While Scion feats might not appeal to everyone, they are pretty sweet way to distiniugh your sorcerer from the rest. Tradition feats too are nice for Bards. Plus the info on ways to make paladins, monks, barbarians hell even rangers "cooler" are nice too.

But then I'm biased and I feel all the PGs are good. Course buying them in E-book format helps. And the fact I feel PG: Rangers and Rogues is the coolest of them all. (Long live Bloody Yardarm Thesk and the Blood Sea Pirate!! )

 

[Ghostwind]

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program, the Nightfall Scarred Lands infomercial...

 

[Nightfall]

Hey I gotta get some love here.

Besides you know I still have love for my peeps.

 

[Teflon Billy]

I doubt it's what you meant, but I really enjoyed (and got use from) the Spycraft classbooks.

Particularly the Soldier/Wheelman one.