What are your favorite pre-3e D&D/AD&D books.

[johnsemlak]

This is inspired by the worst pre 3e products.

However, I think this thread will work much better if we exclude the following:

The 1e PHB, DMG, and MM

Modules deemed to have 'classic' status. For this thread let's say all Gygax modules and others made by 1983. This includes D&D & AD&D modules.

I'm not saying the above products are better than everything else, but their so imbedded in many veteren gamers' consciousness that it's hard to compare them with other products. Plus, there have been numerous threads debating the merits (mostly lauding) of the above products.

Other than that, it's pretty much open. D&D, 1e AD&D, 2e, or OD&D.

 

[Dark Jezter]

Unearthed Arcana: One of the best D&D suppliments ever. Let's hope that the upcoming UA for 3e is just as cool.

Planescape Campaigns Setting: Great artwork, incredibly unique setting, interesting new rules, good writing. What's not to like about Planescape?

 

[Blue_Kryptonite]

My absolute favourites would be WG7 - Castle Greyhawk (I've run that at least a half-dozen times for various groups), and the original Oriental Adventures. Hengeyoki, Ninjas, Samurai.. Just so frelling cool. The Fiend Folio, hands down. The Basic D&D Compendium and the Hollow Earth boxed set. Oh, and Player's Option: Skills and Powers.

 

[RichGreen]

My favourites

Hi,

Here's my list:

Planescape Campaign Setting & supplements

1e Oriental Adventures, the OA modules, Kara-Tur boxed set

Spelljammer

The Horde module trilogy

FR grey box

Cheers


Richard

 

[Ahrimon]

SpellJammer - I love that setting.

Undermountain - Never ran or played it, but I loved reading it.

Ahrimon

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Grey box FR and the Fiend Folio.

 

[S'mon]

Thinking of the most worn-out books & box-sets in my collection. For some reason they're all campaign settings.

1. Dawn of the Emperors, by Aaron Allston - I got a huge amount of play from this one, it provides a fantastic backdrop for years of truly epic gaming as Thyatis & Alphatia square off for domination of Mystara.

2. The 1983 World of Greyhawk Boxed Set by EGG - it has that old-style cool factor, with great descriptions of the gods, endless encounter tables, and a nicely mythic back-history with the Invoked Devastation, Rain of Colourless Fire, migration of the Oerid, Suel and Bakluni peoples, etc. A bit skimpy by today's standards though.

3. The 1e Lankhmar setting book & the two scenario packs - unlike the 2e dreck, these do a great job in capturing the Nehwon flavvour. Marred by poor editing, but extremely atmospheric and great fun for a grimy/gritty rogues/assassins/Slayers-based campaign.

4. The Hollow Earth boxed set - I got this as a follow up to Dawn of the Emperors, and used it with the Nightscream (I think) scenario, the one set in Hollow Earth's version of India. Very different, lots of fun for a short-term 'journey to the centre of the Earth' type campaign.

 

[diaglo]

OD&D(1974) boxed set

 

[Wee Jas]

Dietys and Demigods : With the Elric and Cthulhu mythos in them
MM2: It had the cat lord!
Fiend Folio: Githyanki goodness
Unearthed Arcana: go cavalier! Not to mention elf subraces.
Dragon magazines (Anti-paladin and the whole half-ogre) "Those whimpy little kobolds clutch their ridiculously little spears as 6'8 of solid muscle bashes their door in"
Planescape: Can you speak the cant?

 

[kengar]

Basic D&D (Moldvay edit).
Expert D&D (Cook edit).