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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2015 16:34:35 GMT -6
So many rulebooks work better as something to prep with but which rulebook works best for you as an aid during play, and what about it makes it useful ?
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Post by ritt on Dec 14, 2015 20:04:13 GMT -6
The 5E Monster Manual is very nice in this regard. Laid out in such a way that it's friendly to DM's running random or otherwise unexpected encounters right out of the book.
Vornheim might be the gold standard: Very useful book for generating weird stuff on the fly. The random books chart has proven unexpected useful several times. It's size and shape are very table-friendly too.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2015 1:21:10 GMT -6
From my campaign journal: Books you'll find on my table for any setting or ruleset are the "Penumbra Bestiary" by Atlas Games, "The Black Company Campaign Setting" by Green Ronin (personal favorite), as well as, lately, our own Geoff's "Isle of the Unknown" for short encounters. When I look for inspiration, or ready-to-run adventures, my first choice is always old "White Dwarf" magazines, from back in the day when WD still supported D&D. For me, those choices are more of an intuitive thing; they trigger my imagination, and that in turn, is the trigger for better in-game encounters. (I think.) |
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Post by Finarvyn on Dec 16, 2015 4:42:19 GMT -6
During play I try to avoid as many rulebooks as possible. That's really part of "the OD&D way" in my opinion. I typically run my games with a GM screen handy (I like the old yellow JG one) and little else.
The books I have at my table typically are monster books. I like the AD&D 2E Monsterous Manual because it's a single volume with nice color artwork, but I often have the C&C Monsters & Treasures book because it already has AC statted to ascending (which saves me one tiny step in math).
My other at-table rulebook is the "Classic" D&D Rules Cyclopedia becasue it's a single volume which has pretty much anything I need, from a spell list to a comprehensive monster list, to equipment, or whatever I might have to look up quickly. It's a sturdy hardback and probably the most useful single D&D volume I've ever seen because of its completeness. (And while it's not actually OD&D, it's not too far from it.)
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Post by Zulgyan on Dec 16, 2015 10:30:13 GMT -6
When I run AD&D: I have to say the AD&D1 Monster Manual and the PHB (mainly to reference spells). The rest is mostly in my notebook for the session. Magic Items I usually write them down in my notebook most of the time, since I also like to give some twist to the originals from the DMG.
When I run OD&D: M&M, to reference spells. Monsters I usually write them down in my notebook for the session, since they are so simple.
When I run 5e: MM and PHB, the rest is on my notebook, similar to AD&D.
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Post by scottenkainen on Dec 16, 2015 13:45:21 GMT -6
No matter what game I'm playing, the book with the spell (or powers, or what have you) descriptions gets consulted a lot. What was the range on that again? How many turns does it last? Can I fork the bolt in this edition? These things get looked up routinely during the game sessions. Also, whatever book has the to-hit tables and saving throw tables in it gets consulted a lot.
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