What do you consider "de facto" core?

[Flynn]

I'll add to the chorus: Core is Core; DMG, MM1, PHB.

For my "de facto" core, I'd add Unearthed Arcana (only approved variants, though), the additional bestiaries (MM2, MM3, MM4, FF), and the Magic Item Compendium. I haven't reviewed Spell Compendium enough to know, but I think a lot of the spells therein may not be considered "de facto" core for my purposes.

My preference, though, is SRD, minus psionics. I've played with psionics, and they did not improve my game any, while adding some headaches, so I don't want them in my games. They're good, but they just don't work for me. YMMV.

Hope that helps,
Flynn

 

[ShadowX]

Great way to completely twist his question guys. He is asking if there are any other books you include in your game with little reservation, of course allowing for a needed rule 0. We all know what the core rules are and I severely doubt most of you play a pure game. Yes, I wouldn't necessarily have labelled it "defacto core", but that is why you actually read his post, to understand his intent.

I would consider the "classic" Complete books as in by default and the sequels to the core books (PHB2 and such). Though I would accept anything as long as it undergoes my review.

 

[Gez]

Psi and Arcana. "De facto core" is what I can find referenced in third-party books or copied legally on websites.

It also means that things like beholders are "de facto not core".

 

[Arnwyn]

Well, we all know what the literal core rulebooks are-- PHB, MM and DMG. My question to you all is... what do you consider "de facto" core? By this, I mean books that you think in general are, or should be, taken for granted to be allowed/used in a campaign.

I certainly assume you're talking about individual groups.

For our particular group, from the list above the 'de facto core' would be:
- FRCS
- MIC
- MM series
- Monster type series
- Planar

 

[Greg K]

Add me to core is core.

My key additional books (at this moment):
WOTC: Unearthed Arcana, MM2, Fiend Folio,
Green Ronin: Psychic's Handbook, Shaman's Handbook, Witch's Handbook

 

[Mercule]

Great way to completely twist his question guys. He is asking if there are any other books you include in your game with little reservation, of course allowing for a needed rule 0. We all know what the core rules are and I severely doubt most of you play a pure game. Yes, I wouldn't necessarily have labelled it "defacto core", but that is why you actually read his post, to understand his intent.

No, he asked what I think "general are, or should be, taken for granted to be allowed/used in a campaign". Those are his words. That is the question I answered, and I think most of the "core = core" people are answering.

What I allow IMC or what my group allows is a totally different question. It's also one that gets two completely different answers, since I'm running two completely different games. My Eberron/AoW game is explicitly "use any WotC published sourcebook that is either Eberron specific or non-setting specific". My homebrew doesn't even allow all of the PHB/DMG/MM options, and I retain line-item veto on everything else.

 

[Asmor]

Well... I've gotta say that I'm honestly surprised by how many people stick with just the core 3. I tend to chalk that up to ambiguity and/or a difference in terms... I don't really know how else to explain it better, myself. I just consider a lot of other books to be core, in that I'd have to specifically disallow them based on my campaign's premise, because otherwise I just assume that they're there regardless.

Still, lots of interesting results... In particular I'm surprised that the Magic Item Compendium is doing so well considering how recently released it is. I expected the classic complete books to be doing the best, although in retrospect I'm not surprised that the monster manuals are beating them... Am surprised that the MIC is, though. I'm also surprised by how poorly (relative) the Spell Compendium is doing, since a lot of people seem to worship the paper it's printed on.

Ironically, the biggest reason I left out the PHB 2 is because I use it so much-- while scanning my bookshelf for other things I left out, it wasn't up there! It almost never is, and it's probably the single most used book in my group after the PHB. I feel horrible for forgetting that option. Along the same lines, I probably should have included the DMG 2, which was another oversight on my part. Personally I don't own it, though.

As for the core 3 only, I definitely should have included an option for that. Oh well, live and learn.

 

[Mercule]

In particular I'm surprised that the Magic Item Compendium is doing so well considering how recently released it is. I expected the classic complete books to be doing the best,

I didn't vote for the MIC or SC, but came close. Speaking only for myself, I see the Compendiums as being the replacement for the Complete class books. The class books are generally spotty, but the Compendiums are a sort of distilled awesomeness from these books. If the Rules Compendium contains the "best of" classes/PrCs and feats from the Complete series, I'll be leaving the Complete books on my shelf permanently.

 

[fusangite]

Other - None of the above. Core is core. Full stop.

Good to be vehemently agreeing with you again Hussar. Spot on!

 

[fusangite]

Well... I've gotta say that I'm honestly surprised by how many people stick with just the core 3. I tend to chalk that up to ambiguity and/or a difference in terms... I don't really know how else to explain it better, myself. I just consider a lot of other books to be core, in that I'd have to specifically disallow them based on my campaign's premise, because otherwise I just assume that they're there regardless.

Well, this board is populated by an older demographic even than the aging average. I think a lot of us borderline grognards are (a) cheap (and therefore only buy a product when necessary) and (b) used to making our own stuff.

The last time I regularly used a book outside the core was 2002-04 when I used Green Ronin's Shaman's Handbook for a game set in an Ice Age world.