Comments on: Rulebooks For Reading

By: Nojo

Nojo — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:08:14 +0000

BTW, the cool Robin Laws bit from D&D 3.5 DM II is a stripped down version of Robin’s Laws of Good Games Mastering.

http://www.sjgames.com/robinslaws/

The SJG version includes sections on how to choose the right gaming system for your group, which for some reason didn’t make it in the D&D book.

By: Jeff Carlsen

Jeff Carlsen — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:51:20 +0000

I was buying up all the D&D 4e books for this very reason, until I realized just how much money I was spending on a game I don't play. Shadowrun is my second guilty pleasure. Gaming blogs would be my third. The truth is, I now have so many games I want to play, and campaigns I want to run, that I will always feel overwhelmed by it, and a little disappointed. But I also want to keep an eye on what's going on in the industry, so it's a fate I'll have to live with. --Jeff Carlsen, Apathy Games

By: Patrick Benson

Patrick Benson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:56:06 +0000

I'm avoiding RPG games as reading material right now. My new rule is I cannot buy it unless I run it for one month. Like Scott, I'm tired of buying cool games but never playing them.

By: Razjah

Razjah — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:25:32 +0000

Something I found really useful was a Cultural Anthropology book. The different parts of the world and tribes I can use to add more flavor to things that the PCs don't normally run into. I also plan to find raid some of the local stores for more books. Can't have enough can you?

By: Kurt "Telas" Schneider

Kurt "Telas" Schneider — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:20:19 +0000

I try to avoid rulebooks when running a game; I tend to borrow and fiddle with the rules when I should just keep things simple. But sourcebooks and supplements - those are very handy. I just don't find myself reading sourcebooks when there's so much fiction and nonfiction to catch up on. Gotta make more room in my reading schedule... *sigh*

By: Scott Martin

Scott Martin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:07:51 +0000

Reading game books is an addiction I'm trying to break-- mostly so I don't wind up buying too many cool systems that I'll never get to experience. You're right-- particularly for GMs, there's a lot of different takes out there, and the advice is often generally applicable, just slightly out of focus. That said, I read a lot of Diaspora in waiting rooms this last week. It is interesting to see where they broke from the Spirit of the Century/FATE 3 assumptions, and why. It looks like a game that I'd enjoy creating clusters for, even independent of characters.

By: Virgil Vansant

Virgil Vansant — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:12:37 +0000

I must agree with Walt on the GURPS books. I run one short-lived sci-fi GURPS campaign many years ago, but I own dozens of GURPS books. I especially love the historical and world books.

By: callin

callin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:52:56 +0000

I always have a stack of game books waiting to be read. Some, such as Orks, has been there for years and others get read before reaching the stack.

Of late I have been focused on reading books I can possibly use; Revenge of the Giants.

But I do dabble on the side; Reign, the newest edition of White Wolf (World of Darkness, Vampire, Changling),

Sometimes I will go back and reread older stuff. Necessary Evil, Masterbook/Torg, Savage Worlds. Rereading things I’ve read awhile ago can also be fun.

My Blog- http://bigballofnofun.blogspot.com/

By: mobuttu

mobuttu — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:43:08 +0000

I have tons of Rifts sourcebooks to read and on the side I also read Indies games (HQ2, DitV, Don't Rest your Head, InSpectres... -They are short and focused so great for fast read) and things such as Reign and Burning Wheel.

By: Walt Ciechanowski

Walt Ciechanowski — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:31:03 +0000

A few spring to mind:

Primetime Adventures – lots of great advice on making an RPG session seem like a TV show. It translates well to other systems.

Heroes Unlimited – Sure, the system’s a bit of a mess, but this was one of the first superhero games that made playing a cyborg feel really different than playing a mutant or weapons specialist. It’s a fun read.

Harn – An awesome low-magic setting that draws you in and makes you feel like it really exists.

Lands of Mystery (Justice Inc) – Great inspiration for running lost world games or just making an interesting fantasy setting. I haven’t read the latest version for Pulp Hero. Honorable mention goes to Justice Inc. itself…the tropes section is fun to read.

Any GURPS supplement – Even if you don’t use GURPS, these books were like the encyclopedia of RPGs, chock full of well-researched material and interesting ideas.

Any Pathfinder Adventure Path – These are awesome reads in and of themselves, even if you never plan to run a Pathfinder/3.5e campaign.