Book picks similar to
Volo's Guide to Monsters by Wizards of the Coast
rpg
fantasy
dnd
dungeons-and-dragons
Monsterhearts
Avery Alder - 2012
When you play, you explore the terror and confusion that comes both with growing up and feeling like a monster.Based on the Apocalypse World engine, this is a game with emergent story, messy relationships, a structured MC role, and a focus on hard choices.It’s designed to evoke stories like True Blood, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ginger Snaps or The Twilight Saga. If you like supernatural romances, or stories of monstrosity and personal horror, or if you just like watching sexy people ruin their lives, then you’ll love this game.
The Monsters Know What They're Doing: Combat Tactics for Dungeon Masters
Keith Ammann - 2019
In The Monsters Know What They’re Doing, Keith Ammann lightens the DM’s burden by helping you understand your monsters’ abilities and develop battle plans before your fifth edition D&D game session begins. Just as soldiers don’t whip out their field manuals for the first time when they’re already under fire, a DM shouldn’t wait until the PCs have just encountered a dozen bullywugs to figure out how they advance, fight, and retreat. Easy to read and apply, The Monsters Know What They're Doing is essential reading for every DM.
The Complete Ranger's Handbook
Rick Swan - 1993
Until now. Come learn the innermost secrets of one of the most popular AD&D character classes. Details on every part of the Ranger's life, from allied forest brethren to unusual outdoor equipment. With 15 new and exciting character kits, this book is an information-packed accessory for the AD&D 2nd Edition Game. A special appendix gives the rules for the original AD&D ranger class.
Rules Compendium
Chris Sims - 2007
The definitive reference guide of Dungeons & Dragons(R) core rules.Tired of hauling all of your D&D rules supplements to the gaming table? Having trouble finding the rule you need? The Rules Compendium supplement takes all of the game's most important rules and presents them in a single comprehensive, easy-to-reference volume for players and Dungeon Masters.In addition to presenting the rules of the game, the Rules Compendium incorporates official errata as well as behind-the-scenes designer and developer commentary explaining how the rules system has evolved and why certain rules work the way they do.
Warriors and Weapons
Jim Zub - 2019
This guide includes detailed illustrations of the weapons, armor, clothing, and other equipment that fighters use, and offers the tools young, aspiring adventurers need for learning how to build their own characters, including sample profiles, a flowchart to help decide what type of warrior to be, and brainstorming challenges to start thinking like an adventurer whether on your own or in the midst of an exciting quest with friends and fellow players.
Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Basic Game
Cam Banks - 2012
It's one thing to stop an alien invasion or throw down with the Juggernaut, but sometimes you have to make the hard choices when you're saving the world. With the Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Game books, that great power and great responsibility is yours! Based on the Cortex Plus system, Marvel Heroic Roleplaying takes the award-winning events in the history of the Marvel Universe and gives you all of the heroes, villains, key decision points, and rich background you need to fight your own battles and forge a new destiny!
Races of the Wild (Dungeons & Dragons Supplement)
Skip WilliamsEmily Fiegenschuh - 2005
It explores the classic races of elves and halflings, including new rules, information for interaction, new spells, and new magic items attuned to each race. In addition to information on the two major races, a new race is introduced. There is expanded information on subraces, along with a wealth of cultural information and new prestige classes, feats, equipment, spells, and magic items.
Kobold Guide to Worldbuilding (Kobold Guides to Game Design)
Janna SilversteinMichael A. Stackpole - 2012
It took startling leaps of imagination as well as careful thought and planning to create places like these: places that readers and players want to come back to again and again.Now, eleven of adventure gaming's top designers come together to share their insights into building worlds that gamers will never forget. Learn the secrets of designing a pantheon, creating a setting that provokes conflict, determining which historical details are necessary, and so much more.Take that creative leap, and create dazzling worlds of your own!Essays by Wolfgang Baur, Keith Baker, Monte Cook, Jeff Grubb, Scott Hungerford, David "Zeb" Cook, Chris Pramas, Jonathan Roberts, Michael A. Stackpole, Steve Winter, with an introduction by Ken Scholes.
Sword and Fist: A Guidebook to Fighters and Monks (Dungeons & Dragons Accessory)
Jason Carl - 2001
Contains prestige classes, feats, combat tactics, weapons, and a discussion of the role of fighters and monks in the campaign world.
Exalted (Exalted, #1)
Alan Alexander - 2006
The natural history we know is a lie, a falsehood sold to us by wicked old men who would make the world a dull gray prison and protect us from the dangers inherent to freedom. They would have you believe our planet to be a lonely starship, hurtling through the void of space, barren of magic and in need of a stern hand upon the rudder. Close your mind to their deception. The time before our time was not a time of senseless natural struggle and reptilian rage, but a time of myth and sorcery. It was a time of legend, when heroes walked Creation and wielded the very power of the gods. It was a time before the world was bent, a time before the magic of Creation lessened, a time before the souls of men became the stunted, withered things they are today. This is the story of that time. THIS IS THE STORY OF THE EXALTED.
Blades in the Dark
John Harper - 2016
There are heists, chases, occult mysteries, dangerous bargains, bloody skirmishes, and, above all, riches to be had — if you’re bold enough to seize them.You and your fledgling crew must thrive amidst the threats of rival gangs, powerful noble families, vengeful ghosts, the Bluecoats of the city watch, and the siren song of your scoundrel’s own vices. Will you rise to power in the criminal underworld? What are you willing to do to get to the top?In this stand-alone game, you’ll find:* Rules to create your scoundrel using the following character archetypes: the Cutter, the Hound, the Leech, the Lurk, the Slide, the Spider, or the Whisper.* Rules to create your crew, built from types like Assassins, Bravos, a Cult, Hawkers, Shadows, or Smugglers.* A robust core mechanic which puts the fiction first—the strength of a character’s position (desperate, risky, or controlled) matters just as much as the character’s ability scores.* A lightning-fast mechanic for planning criminal operations to cut through the usual slog of planning at the game table.Rules for alchemical experiments, gadget tinkering, and weird occult powers—including rules for playing Ghosts and other strange beings.* A setting guide to the haunted city of Doskvol, with all the maps, factions, NPCs, schemes, and opportunities you need to run an exciting sandbox game.
Dungeon Master's Guide Rules Supplement: Campaign Sourcebook and Catacomb Guide
Paul Jaquays - 1990
We've included dozens of helpful tips to help you better organize your games, design adventures, and make your NPCs come to life. In addition, we've included a number of settings for unusual dungeons. In short, there's something for everybody in this exciting addition to the AD&D game system.
7th Sea (Seventh Sea) Player's Guide 1668
John Wick - 2000
Players take the roles of heroes bent on thwarting the plots of knaves and villains, exploring ancient ruins and plundering the treasure fleets of tyrants. Everything a player needs is included in the pages of this book. Easy to get started: The book opens with a Quick Start Guide so you can start playing within minutes.A Complete New World: Players will find almost one hundred pages devoted to Theah, the world of 7th Sea.Flexible rules: 7th Sea uses a unique bidding system, giving players and Game Masters control over the mechanics of the game.Advice for Novice and Experienced Players: If you've never played a roleplaying game before, or if you're an "old school" veteran, you'll find tons of hints and advice to help you act and interact within the world of 7th Sea.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Ultimate Equipment
Jason BulmahnBrian J. Cortijo - 2012
Included as well are handy rules references, convenient price lists, and extensive random treasure generation tables, all organized to help you find what you need, when you need it. With this vast catalog of tools and treasures, the days of boring dragon hoards are over, and your hero will never be caught unprepared again.Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Equipment is a must-have companion volume to the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook. This imaginative tabletop game builds on more than 10 years of system development and open playtests featuring more than 50,000 gamers to create a cutting-edge RPG experience that brings the all-time best-selling set of fantasy rules into the new millennium.Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Equipment includes:- Thousands of items both magical and mundane, including the best weapons, armors, magic items, and gear from the Pathfinder RPG hardcover line and select other Pathfinder sources, as well as hundreds of never-before-seen items.- Tons of special materials and magical abilities to help you create exactly the magic item you've been looking for.- A wealth of specific magic items, organized by type to ensure your character is always wearing as much magic as possible.- An innovative new treasure generation system, designed to help GMs roll up exactly what they need, every time.- New alchemical weapons, tools, and poisons.- Kits to help your character get the most out of her skills or profession, plus new mounts, animal companions, and retainers.- Descriptions of every item, plus hundreds of full-color illustrations to aid in window-shopping.... and much, much more!Cover art by Wayne Reynolds