What books do you use EVERY session?

[Olive]

We've got the very cool what books did you use last session thread, and it's going strong with lots of regular contributors.

But it seems that there are some books people use every time, because characters have options from them etc.

I use:
the core books - obviously
tome and blood - I have an alienist PC, who also has the energy substitution feat
defenders of the faith - I have a holy liberator PC (although it's actually a slightly modified homebrewed version based on the PrC paladin from UA)
Book of Exalted Deeds - one PC has a intelligent mace that grants the Intuitive Attack feat
Complete Warrior - one PC has the divine might feat (incidently, this feat breaks the 'is it broken test' - you'd be an idiot to not take it as a paladin, but it's not broken. If anything it should be an option for paladins instead of turn undead)

Everything else is less regular, although the Book of Vile darkness sees a lot of use, as does the Draconomicon at the moment.

So what books would you not want to play without, because they're used every game?

 

[MonsterMash]

For me the only three I use every session are the three core books. Others with frequent use are: Players Guide to the Wilderlands (NG/JG), Wilderlands of High Fantasy (Judges Guild 1978), Tome of Horrors (NG), Tome of Horrors II (Necromancer Games), City State of the Invincible Overlord (JG 1978).

 

[haiiro]

For every session:

- PHB (surprisingly, the DMG doesn't always put in an appearance)
- Complete Book of Eldritch Might (several PCs have spells from it)
- Pocket Grimoire Arcane (same)

In the non-books category:

- Sovelior/Sage HTML SRD (from http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/)
- d20 Stat Blocks for Summon Spells (from http://www.greyhawkonline.com/smetzger/summon/)

Those two are both recent additions, but amazingly useful. Very neat question, Olive -- offhand, I would have said that my group used more books every session than we actually do.

 

[Thanee]

PHB.

To a lesser degree the DMG and MM, as well as the FRCS.

Nothing else (every session, that is).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Telperion]

PHB 3.5 and Relics and Rituals.

I don't even recall when I last opened the DMG while on a session. Occasionally I use the MM, but for the most part everything I use has been printed out on a paper before session.

 

[johnsemlak]

For preparation, I use the SRD everytime.

 

[Davelozzi]

Just the core books and Psionics Handbook (though we'll be switching to the Expanded Psionics Handbook starting with tonight's session). Plus the DM's screen, though it's not a book.

 

[Desdichado]

For me it's pretty much the same list, at least for this campaign. It's also in my sig...

 

[dren]

PhB 100% of the time.

MM - 99%, DMG - 20%, SRD - 90%, XPH - 75%+, Other Monster Books: 30%

Anything non-WoTC or splatbook type: 10%

 

[tensen]

For every session:

- PHB (surprisingly, the DMG doesn't always put in an appearance)
- Complete Book of Eldritch Might (several PCs have spells from it)
- Pocket Grimoire Arcane (same)

For me, the DMG has always been a non-requirement for play. Any use is prior to the game.. writing down the stats for any magic item needed. And a little research for setup. But it has been rarely needed in 2nd and 3rd editions. It saw much more heavy use back in 1st edition.