What RPG books/manuals do you really regret buying?

[Captain NeMo]

(sorry if this topic is already here)

Mostly inspired by the fact that I just made a spur-of-the-moment purchase on eBay for the Creature Collection Swords & Sorcery book I'm wondering what you all really regret spending your hard earned cash on in the name of your hobby.

For me I'd have to say the d20 warcraft book was a bit of a waste. Bought it along with the PHB and sorta find it to be...bleh. Just looking forward to the second edition of it...hopefully it won't suck so much.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

I bought Book of Erotic Fantasy as something of a novelty. It is sort of worthless in many ways, really. Anything with 'Aberrant on the cover is a waste.

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

I would have to say Relics and Rituals and Creature Collection. I bought them the day they hit the shelves in 2000, and have used each precisely once. I guess "regret" is too strong a word, but I was caught up in d20/3e frenzy.

 

[diaglo]

The Shady Dragon Inn...


the all time worst piece of trash EVAR written for a rpg.

 

[Geoff Watson]

Creatute Collection. Absolute garbage. Obviously rushed to get it out before the MM. Nothing original or interesting.

A 'romantic' RPG called Heart Quest. I was looking for ideas for adding more character interaction to other games. Unfortunately, the entirety of the 'romance/social interaction' rules were "Whatever the GM feels like." There were plenty of rules for combat and magic, though.

Way of the Samurai. The Rokugan authors obviously have no idea on balance or how D&D rules work.

Deities and Demigods. I don't need stat blocks for gods, especially when they're so repetitive.

Geoff.

 

[Turanil]

Me too I was not so glad to have bought Creatures Collection and Relic & Rituals. Then, Book of Exalted Deeds was also a total waste of money.

However, the book I was really angry to have bought was, above all other things: Beyond countless Doorways. I made it available for sale in my gaming group (others may enjoy it after all), but told them to get a thorough look to it first (I am no deceiver after all). One of them initially thought that my review of the book (on Enworld) was really harsh, but then after looking at the book carefully said he in fact agreed with me. It seems that I will never get rid of this book...

Fortunately I bought the C&C PHB three weeks later, which really helped me forget about this unpleasant purchase. (Sorry for Monte Cook, who otherwise has produced really good stuff, but not this one.)

 

[JoeGKushner]

The Shady Dragon Inn...


the all time worst piece of trash EVAR written for a rpg.

If nothing else, I love the map.

 

[JoeGKushner]

The original Creature Collection. Failure to provide timely updates and instead make a brand new book with minimum errata and web support even for the revised version, is just bad business.

Most of the small adventurers. It's not that they were bad per say, just... well, once run, because I have the same people in my group, useless. Three Days to Kill for example... well, after I ran it in like 4 hours I was wondering what I'd do with it. Most Atlas adventurers were too brief for my taste.

I also regret getting the C&C boxed set. Not because it's a bad game but beacause, even though it's cool for nostalgia, I've got so much stuff going on, I haven't even opened it yet.

Beyond Countless Doorways can probalby be sold on E-Bay for a fair price. Just mention on Monte's boards that you're selling it. I personally found a lot to enjoy about it.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Dundjinni Platinum (plus expansion) was a complete waste of $96.

I wish I could have that choice back again.

 

[DaveMage]

It's not so much that I regret buying any book, but rather I regret having paid full price for many of them, such as the early Fast Forward books. They are of such a poor production value, and the Encyclopedias of Demons and Devils are so bad with regard to the rules that I'm embarassed to have paid full price. (Now, I wouldn't mind buying them today, when you can get them for 80% off...)