D&D 5E Your 5E Library

[Stormonu]

Inspired by the "What 5E books you've bought this year", I'm curious about what purchased book products are in various folks 5E library. I'm primarily looking for physical, professional products (something you paid $1 or more for) - both what you liked, and anything you regret getting.

For me:

Spoiler

D&D Starter Set (2014, used Mines of Phandelver to learn the rules)
PHB
Xanathar's Guide
DMG
MM
Monster Manual Expanded 1 (thumbs up)
Monster Manual Expanded 2 (thumbs up)
Monster Manual Expanded 3 (double thumbs up)
Creature Codex
Tome of Beasts
Tome of Beasts 2
Asian Monsters (by Legendary Games)
Latin American Monsters (by Legendary Games)
Mordenkainen's Monsters of the Multiverse (replacing my Volo's & Mord's Tome of Foes)
Curse of Strahd (if I had an extra hand, triple thumbs up)
Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft
Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Icewind Dale - Rime of the Frostmaiden
OAR4 - The Lost City
Tegel Manor
Tehautl Campaign setting
Spelljammer (disappointed with content, but not regretting it)
Campaign Guide Zakhara (Al-Qadim)
Eberron - Rising from the Last War
Chronicles of Aeres

REGRET PURCHASES

Spoiler

Hoard of the Dragon Queen (Was intending to run it after Mines of Phandelver, but too railroady, would prefer the combined books if I ever run)
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons (Got it as a gift, mainly interested for Draconian stats, which will be in Dragonlance, prefer 3Es Draconomicon)
Ravnica (Don't know much about Magic so bringing it life is difficult for me)
Strixhaven (Too shallow, more adventure than setting)
Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (Don't like the changes or creep)
Tome of Horrors (bad monster formatting)
Tome of Horrors 2020 (even worse monster formatting)

I'm sure I've forgotten/left out several lesser items, but I'd like to get a sense of what folks are putting in their collection (especially any stand-outs) - and what they're avoiding.

 

[Neonchameleon]

For me

Spoiler

PHB
DMG
MM
Xanathar's
Volo's
Monsters of the Multiverse
Tasha's
Curse of Strahd Deluxe
van Richtens
Witchlight
Strixhaven
Wildemount
Spelljammer
Radiant Citadel
Netherdeep

Regrets

Spoiler

Strixhaven
Spelljammer - kinda. I'm running a Spelljammer campaign and absolutely getting use out of it - but it absolutely is not worth what I paid
Volo's - never found it useful and MMotM has made it obsolete.

 

[Fanaelialae]

Spoiler

PHB
MM
DMG
Xanathar's
Tasha's
Spelljammer
Volo's
Fizban's
Van Richten's
Mordenkainen's
Monsters of the Multiverse
Witchlight
Acquisitions Inc
Explorer's Guide to Wildmount
Dungeon of the Mad Mage
OotA
RotF
GoS
Candlekeep Mysteries
Strixhaven
ToA
PotA
CoS
Theros
Ravnica
Dragon Heist
TftYP
Radiant Citadel
Descent into Avernus
SKT
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
Eberron Rising from the Last War
Spelljammer

Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy
Strongholds and Followers
Kingdoms and Warfare
Kingmaker Bestiary (5e)
Level Up
Monster Manual Expanded
Monster Manual Expanded II
Anime 5e
Fateforge
Primeval Thule
Out of the Box
Gods and Monsters
Masters and Minions
Curse of the Lost Memories
Arcana of the Ancients
Midgard Worldbook
Midgard Heroes Handbook
The Book of the Righteous
Into the Borderlands (Goodman)
The Isle of Dread (Goodman)
The Lost Citadel
Stargate SG-1
Mist of Akuma
Quests of Doom
Book of Lost Spells
Fifth Edition Foes
Rappan Athuk
The World of the Lost Lands
Zodiac Empires
Talislanta: The Savage Land (5e)
Ebonclad
AiME
Dungeons of Drakkenheim
Tome of Beasts
Creature Codex
Scarred Lands Creature Collection
Scarred Lands Players Guide
Arcanis Forged In Magic Reforged
Tome of Horrors
Limitless Encounters Vol 2
Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting
Odyssey of the Dragonlords
Sandy Peterson's Chthulu Mythos
Ptolus (5e)
Adventures in Rokugan
Izirion's Enchiridion of the West Marches
Pugmire
Monarchies of Mau
Into the Unknown

 

[Li Shenron]

I probably don't need a spoiler even...

Spoiler

Player's Handbook
Monster Manual
Dungeon Master's Guide
Volo's Guide to Monsters
Xanathar's Guide to Everything

Had a plan to get some of the campaign settings books as well (Mythic Odisseys of Theros, in primis) but now having second thoughts due to the new edition.

 

[iserith]

I have every official WotC published book for D&D 5e. I don't buy any third-party D&D 5e material.

I do buy the odd OSR adventure because I find them to be of higher quality and better design than what WotC puts out. Sometimes I convert them to D&D 5e.

 

[Xamnam]

Pretty short for me:

Spoiler

PHB
DMG
MM
Tasha's
Xanathar's
MotM
The Lost Mine of Phandelver

No regrets, though I'm not sure how much I'm going to actually use MotM. If I pick up another anytime soon, it'll be an adventure.

 

[Stormonu]

Oh, forgot about Theros!

@Fanaelialae, is the SG-1 book any good (if it is 5E)? I had the one from 3.5, but don't remember really liking it very much - and I was a big fan of the show.

 

[Enrico Poli1]

My 5E Library:

PHB
DMG
MM
Screen Reincarnated
Starter Set
Essentials Kit
Starter Set Stormwreck Isle
Starter Set Rick & Morty
Curse of Strahd
Icewind Dale
Tomb of Annihilation
Descent into Avernus
Tales of Yawning Portal
Ghosts of Saltmarsh (special cover)
Dragon Heist
Dungeon of the Mad Mage
The Light beyond the Witchlight
Call of the Netherdeep
Volo's Guide to Monsters
Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (special cover)
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
SCAG
Ravnica
Ravenloft
Eberron (special cover)
Wildemount

3rd Party:
Tal'Dorei (original setting book)
Adventurer's Guide to Theria
(Kolb's) Neverland
Brancalonia

I'm also going to buy Spelljammer and Dragonlance, and (Kolb's) Oz

 

[Fanaelialae]

Oh, forgot about Theros!

@Fanaelialae, is the SG-1 book any good (if it is 5E)? I had the one from 3.5, but don't remember really liking it very much - and I was a big fan of the show.

I haven't run it, but based on my read through I liked what I saw.

They did quite a bit of tinkering with 5e. The core is still there, but it's significantly modified.

It's intended by default to model the kinds of stories in SG-1. So, for example, the default is that combat is non-lethal because the members of SG-1 don't normally get killed.

There are classes but only 5 levels. After that, you can still advance but it's more freeform, granting additional feats. There's also an option to start classless from level 1 and just use feats.

There's a tension die that's used throughout the system. It affects a lot of things and is meant to convey the tone of the campaign or scene. A d4 is comedic, with little risk. A d12 is grim dark, and combat defaults to full lethality.

They have a different mechanic called Determination Points, which kind of model a character's willpower. You have to wager them in certain scenes to participate (mechanically) which is intended to share spotlight time.

They have a sizable section dealing with the setting.

The only thing that jumped out at me as kind of weird is how tough the average Goa'uld is (CR 13 with 200 HP and regeneration). System Lords are significantly tougher. That seems a bit excessive to me, considering that a staff blast does 3d6 damage.

 

[DarkCrisis]

PHB, DMG, MM.

I had a few adventure books and splatbooks like Xanathars, but I sold them when I decided I was done DMing 5th ed.

But let me tell you about my AD&D collection...

 

[Voadam]

Spoiler: For me:

Original Starter Set with Phandelver
Stranger Things Starter set with the demogorgon

PH
DMG
MM

Xanathar's
Tasha's

Volo's
Monsters of the Multiverse

Eberron
Ravenloft
Strixhaven

Curse of Strahd
Curse of Strahd Tarrokka Deck
Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Rhime of the Frostmaiden

3rd party physical 5e
Creature Codex
Odyssey of the Dragon Lords Player's Guide
Sanctuary of Belches

Spoiler: Regrets

Probably regret putting the second starter set, Odyssey of the Dragon Lords, and Sanctuary of Belches on my gift lists.

Not much besides the demogorgon that I really like from the second starter set as additions to what I have from my first starter set. The starter sets are great, they just overlap a lot.
The Dragon Lord one since I never got the big adventure it goes with is just eh. Haven't really gone through it since I first got it.
Belches as a humor theme is not really to my taste. I could work with it though if I wanted a short in person game to throw together. I generally like having a physical book if I am running at a table so I put all the Kobold Press short module ones on my amazon gift list for this purpose. Should have known my brother in law would go for the sillier end as a gift idea if it was on the list.

 

[DND_Reborn]

You want just the list of what I actually bought... Oh, that is a pretty short list.

 

[Malmuria]

Spoiler: Still have

phb
mm
mtof
xgte (my favorite 5e book)

Spoiler: Regret

volo's
dmg
scag
dm screen
-- I sold or gave away all of those

 

[Stormonu]

PHB, DMG, MM.

I had a few adventure books and splatbooks like Xanathars, but I sold them when I decided I was done DMing 5th ed.

But let me tell you about my AD&D collection...

I literally have a storage unit of 2E (& 3E) material I am trying to purge, replacing it with electronic copies of the stuff worth remembering and keeping only the physical books that I am endeared to. I kept all my 1E modules and the core books from that edition, the rest I have as PDF (Like Manual of the Planes and Wilderness Survival Guide). And still my bookshelves are bending with the weight...

 

[Swedish Chef]

Bought:
PHB
DMG
Xanathar's
Volo's
MTOF
MP:MOM
Tasha
Descent to Avernus
Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Fizban
Dungeon of the Mad Mage
DragonLance (this week)

I regret none.

 

[ersatzphil]

Spoiler: Own (some were gifts):

PHB
DMG
Tashas

Fizbans Big Book 'o Dragons
Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

Curse of Strahd
Beadle & Grimm Curse of Strahd
Rime of the Frostmaiden
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Candlekeep Mysteries

Var RIchten's Ravenloft
Theros
Spelljammer
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
Eberron
S. Peterson's Cthulhu Mythos for 5e

Spoiler: Regrets:

Theros
Rime
Spelljammer
S. Peterson's Cthulhu Mythos

...frankly, I'm not sure they're every going to hit the table, even if I want them to.

tl:dr I'm a sucker for campaign settings.

 

[Weiley31]

My 5E Library is fairly/decently sized.

Official: Starting from Tyranny of Dragon's 2019, been collecting the Alt covers of the books up until fairly recentlyish now. Missed out on the Alt covers to Xanathar, Volo's, and the original Tasha's alt cover. (I'm still mad about the Tasha alt cover since that was STOLEN around the holidays during the start of Covid since NONE of the delivery people wanted to touch anything that was a flat screen. Including the Amazon Hub located in the lobby of my apartment complex.)

Exceptions: Volo's Guide to Monsters, Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Radiant Citadel, Dragon Heist, tomb of Horrors, Tales from the Yawning Portal, Out of The Abyss, Mad Mage, Princes of the Apocalypse, Curse of Strahd, Monster Manual, and DMG are the ones I'm missing. Of that range, I would want to get the first three.

When it comes to 5E 3PP Stand-Outs:
-Animal Adventures: Secrets of Gullet Cover
-Iron Kingdom Requiem
-Various Kobold Press such as Tome of Heroes and what not
-Humblewood
-Exploring Eberron
-Tal'dorei Campaign Setting Reborn
-Adventures in Rokugan
-Blue Rose Adventurer's Guide

Now to end/cap that section off: Adventures in Middle-Earth 5E. Which I got into/started wanting at the time when the license for it went right out the window. THANKFULLY, through some HARD Google/Internet searching, was able to get a number of the books, such as the Player's Guide and Loremaster's Guidebook, for NORMAL retail value. The only ones I had to pay decently well, but not like in the 200 range, were Mirkwood (90), Rivendell (64 IIRC), and Lonely Mountain (98). There's perhaps like, three more books I want, and I'll be good.

My only 5E related regret purchase is The Red Opera: Last days of the Warlock. Had I known what was going to eventually happen, I would've never backed the Kickstarter.

 

[Scribe]

PHB
MM
DMG
Volo's Guide to Monsters
Xanathar's Guide to Everything - Great
Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes - Meh?
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide - For the fixed Tiefling alone.
Eberron: Rising from the Last War - Most recent purchase because of this forum's Eberron supporters...
Princes of the Apocalypse
Out of the Abyss
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

I think thats it, I dont think I regret anything really, I look at things for a long time before I buy them.

I'll probably end up getting Spelljammer (I love the Astral Elves they are actually replacing High Elves for me completely and Plasmoids) and maybe even DL on sale with some house rules to fix the feats.

 

[Shiroiken]

Pretty short for me: PHB, MM, DMG, Saltmarsh. I've bummed info off other's books, but the core books and Saltmarsh were the only ones to appeal to me enough to spend money on it. Saltmarsh was pretty good, but I do regret getting it just because it was partially Greyhawk themed.

 

[DarkCrisis]

I literally have a storage unit of 2E (& 3E) material I am trying to purge, replacing it with electronic copies of the stuff worth remembering and keeping only the physical books that I am endeared to. I kept all my 1E modules and the core books from that edition, the rest I have as PDF (Like Manual of the Planes and Wilderness Survival Guide). And still my bookshelves are bending with the weight...

Well if you need some place else to store them, I’m happy to use my space. Just ship them on over and they will be used and cared for