3.5 Book Recommendations [Archive] - Wizards Community

3.5 Book Recommendations [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kad153
10-22-06, 04:09 PM Hello everyone. I'm new to these boards, and only recently getting back into playing / reading D&D. I have a fairly extensive library of books (everything from original D&D in the 70s through 3.0, however most of them would be considered outdated from a 3.5 standpoint. As far as newer books are concerned, I only have the following:
-PHB (3.0 & 3.5)
-DMG (3.0 & 3.5)
-MM (3.0 & 3.5)
- Tome and Blood
- Sword and Fist
- Defenders of the Faith
- Epic Level Handbook
- Manual of the Planes
- Psionics Handbook
- Forgotten Realms Campain Setting
- Complete Arcane
- Complete Divine
- Complete Warrior
- Spell Compendium (just got as a gift)

Now, I've notices a lot of newer books lately (meaining in the last couple of years): (PHB II, DMG II, etc.) Complete Mage, Dragon Magic, Complete Psionic, Expanded Psionic Handbook, Magic of Incarnium/Eberron, Races of the Wild / Stone, Complete Adventurer, Races of Destiny, Libris Mortis, Frostburn, Unearthed Arcana, Draconomican, Vile Darkness, tons of MMs, just to name some. My question is of all thee newer books, which do people recommend as "must haves" or really nice books. I apologize in advance if there is some resource on this site where it is easy to see everyone ranking these books or something like that, and appreciate any thoughts or links that you might provide. I am probably going to play some kind of a wizard in my next game, and always see people posting all these specialist classes that are unfamiliar to me if that seems a good place to start.

Thanks in advance.
frasmage
10-22-06, 04:57 PM I really love PHB2, DMG2, Heroes of horror and magic of incarnum

those would be my suggestions
PolasKasDorion
10-22-06, 05:19 PM echo the PHBII, DMGII, and Heroes of Horror..

Also, I'm a big fan of Races of the Dragon.

Optional if you like environmental stuff: I like Frostburn a lot... mostly because my current character is built around cold spells though.

Definitely pass on Expanded Psionics Handbook... the Complete Books are debatable... they have some nice stuff in them... I own Warrior, Divine, and Adventurer... never have used Divine, barely use Adventurer.

Anywho... just my two copper.
Seeker95
10-22-06, 06:05 PM echo the PHBII, DMGII, and Heroes of Horror..Ditto on the first two. The third one is very hit or miss. If you are drawn to the title, you probably like the book. if the title does not wow you, then the book won't either.
Count Arioch the 28th
10-22-06, 06:08 PM I like all the monster books they've printed so far. (Draconomicon, Libris Mortis, Lords of Madness, Fiendish Codex, and so forth)
supernerd222
10-22-06, 06:11 PM The Paizo D&D books are consistently good. Shackled city and Age of worms adventure paths, and the Drragon compendium.
Celestine_AutumnStar
10-22-06, 06:16 PM PHB II
Unearthed Arcana
Draconomicon
Complete Arcana
Complete Divine
Complete Warrior
Complete Adventurer
Shiikeras
10-22-06, 06:22 PM I would say that All the 'Complete Books' are good, and the 'Heroes' books. And Dragon Magic, Races of the Dragon, and Draconomicon
The Vorpal Tribble
10-22-06, 06:46 PM If you use psionics toss your 3.0 edition out. QUICK! The Expanded Psionics Handbook makes it obsolete and fixes all its problems plus adding alot of stuff the old one didn't. The XPH makes psionics balanced for the first time in D&D history.

I do 'not' suggest getting Complete Psionics though. Those that actually liked it are far outweighed by the rest of us whom were literally angered by it.

Aside from that, my favorite books consist of the Monster Manual III, Heroes of Horror and Frostburn (though all of the enviromental books are great). I also have a soft spot for Book of Exalted Deeds. Its got a number of annoying bugs in it, but despite whatever so many say its a pretty good book.
TheMeanOne
10-22-06, 07:38 PM I use the DMG II, PHB II and Unearthered Arcana all the time.

I personally like the enviromental books and the races books quite a bit. But I don't know if I'd call them "must haves" - I use them a bunch but I think it depends on the sort of game you like.

I also really enjoy Heroes of Horror, if you like a bit of horror in your games it's great.
Voldar_Mecorthio
10-22-06, 07:47 PM Heros of Horror is awesome, especially now with Halloween fast approaching. The Completes are okay, but I would go with books that add new systems and concepts instead of expanding existing ones. Thus, I recomend Tome of Magic, Tome of Battle, Magic of Incarnum, Expanded Psionics Handbook (use you're 3.0 one as toilet paper, that book is the phisical manifistation of a natural 1), and similar books.

If you must have splatbooks, Complete Arcane is basicly just reprinted 3.0 stuff (Complete Mage might be better though, I don't know), Complete Adventurerer is okay, Complete Warrior is okay, but I prefer ToB fighters instead of normal fighters, Complete Divine is good if you play divine casters a lot (I rarely do), and Complete Psionic rivals the 3.0 psionics handbook in suckiness. PHBII and DMGII are rather unsatisfying IMO, but that's because I don't like splatbooks (PHBII) and DMGII is for begining DMs. If you want to run a horror-movie style game, Heros of Horror is invaluble, and if you want to run a war style game Heros of Battle is good, but not 100% nessary.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kad153 10-22-06, 04:09 PM	Hello everyone. I'm new to these boards, and only recently getting back into playing / reading D&D. I have a fairly extensive library of books (everything from original D&D in the 70s through 3.0, however most of them would be considered outdated from a 3.5 standpoint. As far as newer books are concerned, I only have the following: -PHB (3.0 & 3.5) -DMG (3.0 & 3.5) -MM (3.0 & 3.5) - Tome and Blood - Sword and Fist - Defenders of the Faith - Epic Level Handbook - Manual of the Planes - Psionics Handbook - Forgotten Realms Campain Setting - Complete Arcane - Complete Divine - Complete Warrior - Spell Compendium (just got as a gift) Now, I've notices a lot of newer books lately (meaining in the last couple of years): (PHB II, DMG II, etc.) Complete Mage, Dragon Magic, Complete Psionic, Expanded Psionic Handbook, Magic of Incarnium/Eberron, Races of the Wild / Stone, Complete Adventurer, Races of Destiny, Libris Mortis, Frostburn, Unearthed Arcana, Draconomican, Vile Darkness, tons of MMs, just to name some. My question is of all thee newer books, which do people recommend as "must haves" or really nice books. I apologize in advance if there is some resource on this site where it is easy to see everyone ranking these books or something like that, and appreciate any thoughts or links that you might provide. I am probably going to play some kind of a wizard in my next game, and always see people posting all these specialist classes that are unfamiliar to me if that seems a good place to start. Thanks in advance.
frasmage 10-22-06, 04:57 PM	I really love PHB2, DMG2, Heroes of horror and magic of incarnum those would be my suggestions
PolasKasDorion 10-22-06, 05:19 PM	echo the PHBII, DMGII, and Heroes of Horror.. Also, I'm a big fan of Races of the Dragon. Optional if you like environmental stuff: I like Frostburn a lot... mostly because my current character is built around cold spells though. Definitely pass on Expanded Psionics Handbook... the Complete Books are debatable... they have some nice stuff in them... I own Warrior, Divine, and Adventurer... never have used Divine, barely use Adventurer. Anywho... just my two copper.
Seeker95 10-22-06, 06:05 PM	echo the PHBII, DMGII, and Heroes of Horror..Ditto on the first two. The third one is very hit or miss. If you are drawn to the title, you probably like the book. if the title does not wow you, then the book won't either.
Count Arioch the 28th 10-22-06, 06:08 PM	I like all the monster books they've printed so far. (Draconomicon, Libris Mortis, Lords of Madness, Fiendish Codex, and so forth)
supernerd222 10-22-06, 06:11 PM	The Paizo D&D books are consistently good. Shackled city and Age of worms adventure paths, and the Drragon compendium.
Celestine_AutumnStar 10-22-06, 06:16 PM	PHB II Unearthed Arcana Draconomicon Complete Arcana Complete Divine Complete Warrior Complete Adventurer
Shiikeras 10-22-06, 06:22 PM	I would say that All the 'Complete Books' are good, and the 'Heroes' books. And Dragon Magic, Races of the Dragon, and Draconomicon
The Vorpal Tribble 10-22-06, 06:46 PM	If you use psionics toss your 3.0 edition out. QUICK! The Expanded Psionics Handbook makes it obsolete and fixes all its problems plus adding alot of stuff the old one didn't. The XPH makes psionics balanced for the first time in D&D history. I do 'not' suggest getting Complete Psionics though. Those that actually liked it are far outweighed by the rest of us whom were literally angered by it. Aside from that, my favorite books consist of the Monster Manual III, Heroes of Horror and Frostburn (though all of the enviromental books are great). I also have a soft spot for Book of Exalted Deeds. Its got a number of annoying bugs in it, but despite whatever so many say its a pretty good book.
TheMeanOne 10-22-06, 07:38 PM	I use the DMG II, PHB II and Unearthered Arcana all the time. I personally like the enviromental books and the races books quite a bit. But I don't know if I'd call them "must haves" - I use them a bunch but I think it depends on the sort of game you like. I also really enjoy Heroes of Horror, if you like a bit of horror in your games it's great.
Voldar_Mecorthio 10-22-06, 07:47 PM	Heros of Horror is awesome, especially now with Halloween fast approaching. The Completes are okay, but I would go with books that add new systems and concepts instead of expanding existing ones. Thus, I recomend Tome of Magic, Tome of Battle, Magic of Incarnum, Expanded Psionics Handbook (use you're 3.0 one as toilet paper, that book is the phisical manifistation of a natural 1), and similar books. If you must have splatbooks, Complete Arcane is basicly just reprinted 3.0 stuff (Complete Mage might be better though, I don't know), Complete Adventurerer is okay, Complete Warrior is okay, but I prefer ToB fighters instead of normal fighters, Complete Divine is good if you play divine casters a lot (I rarely do), and Complete Psionic rivals the 3.0 psionics handbook in suckiness. PHBII and DMGII are rather unsatisfying IMO, but that's because I don't like splatbooks (PHBII) and DMGII is for begining DMs. If you want to run a horror-movie style game, Heros of Horror is invaluble, and if you want to run a war style game Heros of Battle is good, but not 100% nessary.