Questions tagged [books]

For questions about game books - such as rules, adventures, and related materials - that are published in print or digital form, and are not periodicals or websites. (If the question is about in-game books that characters can read or interact with, use the [equipment] tag instead.)

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What are the differences between regular and limited version of Planescape - Adventures in the Multiverse set?

The set of books for Planescape - Adventures in the Multiverse will start shipping 20.10.2023, in a bit less than a month from when this question is written. Limited edition is much more expensive, ...
Mołot's user avatar
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11 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is "Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms" a reliable source for Forgotten Realms lore for D&D 5e campaigns?

I am researching the Forgotten Realms universe to improve my GM skill in the 5th edition and came across a fact that upset me: there is not a single source in 5e that would fully describe the state of ...
Kasoda's user avatar
  • 499
12 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is "The GM's Book of Legendary Dragons" a valid D&D 5e rulebook?

True to the holiday season, I recently received an RPG rulebook titled "The Game Master's Book of Legendary Dragons." At first glance, there was no doubt in my mind that it was meant to be ...
Dopplegamer's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
309 views

I have the Players Handbook, Monster Manual and Dungeon Master's Guide; What other D&D books are most often sold? [closed]

I was wondering what manuals I should get next.
SuperNine09's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
975 views

Besides Volo's Guide, do any of the other published sourcebooks have in-universe counterparts?

Volo's Guide to Monsters, published by Wizards of the Coast in 2016, is a monster book, expanding on the monsters available to DMs. The book's namesake, Volo, is a real character in the Forgotten ...
Thomas Markov's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
242 views

Will there be "upgrades" from the current physical DnD 5e PHB (and other official materials) to the One D&D versions? [closed]

Do we know whether there will be an upgrade path, i.e. a set of errata that can be glued in or something like that, so existing physical PHBs into the eventual One D&D versions?
AnoE's user avatar
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12 votes
2 answers
930 views

Is there an official statement about which printing of PHB/DMG is the latest?

I would like to know where I can find a list, or anything really, that indicates which printing of the PHB/DMG is the latest. To make this extremely clear, I am not asking how to identify which print ...
StevenA77's user avatar
  • 123
11 votes
1 answer
462 views

Searching for late '80s/early '90s AD&D book of modules with specific encounters

Back in the late 80s or early 90s, I purchased an AD&D book containing a dozen or more goofy/silly one-shot modules. I gave this book away as a birthday present, but I'm trying to remember what ...
Tim Reddy's user avatar
  • 213
4 votes
1 answer
899 views

Where can I find the basic rules for D&D?

I’ve never played D&D before and I don’t know anyone who does. I want to get into it but I can’t figure out where to find the rules I need. Is there a free version of the rules that I can learn ...
user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
259 views

What are the differences between the 1st and 2nd printings of the "Fiend Folio"?

RPGGeek lists two printings for the original Fiend Folio. So as to identify different printings, what are the observable differences (if any) between the first and second printing?
outis's user avatar
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44 votes
5 answers
4k views

How can I preserve books, but keep them accessible?

How can I preserve my older, or more delicate, RPG books? My collection includes some older books (from the 1970s-1980s), some of which are in less than stellar condition. They may be paperbacks, have ...
indigochild's user avatar
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16 votes
2 answers
3k views

What to do when the new "Monsters of the Multiverse" book doesn't match "Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes" and "Volo's Guide to Monsters"?

The new book official 5e book, Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse, contains a lot of the same content as the two previous books Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes and Volo's Guide to Monsters. ...
Guillaume F.'s user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
150 views

Where is the Midgard Dwarf Valkyrie

I was perusing Frostburn 3.5 a few days ago, reading about Midgard Dwarves. I remember opening another rulebook or Web Enhancement that had an NPC/Monster/Prc that was a female Midgard Dwarf Valkyrie. ...
Randy's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
94 views

Are the times listed in The Castle Guide in weeks or days?

In The Castle Guide supplement page 54 is a table detailing several building types and their associated costs and requirements. Are the values under the column for build time meant to represent person-...
Juoa's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
482 views

Is there a work-around solution to restrict a search to a specific sourcebook?

I know that the D&D Beyond search engine lacks a filter for specific sourcebooks, but is there are work-around that lets you restrict the search to a selected sourcebook?
Akixkisu is on Strike's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
726 views

Why was the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting for 3e not updated to 3.5?

The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (3e) was a supplement published in 2001. Then, in 2003, D&D 3.5e was released... I have been waiting for a 3.5 version of the Forgotten Realms Campaign ...
Randy's user avatar
  • 681
25 votes
1 answer
3k views

Identifying a tabletop book that has a panther with blue swirls on the cover

I'm likely fishing for a needle in a haystack but my daughter spotted a tabletop RPG book in a game store a while back and I'm trying to track it down as a possible Christmas gift. Unfortunately, I ...
McGlone's user avatar
  • 353
10 votes
1 answer
416 views

Can anyone help me find this old RPG system using books to battle?

This is probably from the 80s at some point - each player had a book that represented their character - so your book could have been a dragon, or a goblin. As I recall, each player picked an attack ...
Josh's user avatar
  • 211
12 votes
3 answers
3k views

What were these CYOA-style books?

In the (late?) '80s I "played" some books. They were choose-your-own-adventure-like, but with a big caveat: there was a character sheet (within the first few pages, or maybe the inside of ...
nitsua60's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
683 views

In what edition did Volo first appear?

In what edition did Volo first appear? I was talking to my friend about Volo's Guide to Monsters and he said Volo is from a previous edition. He wasn’t sure which, but said it was not from the 5th ...
Wolpertinger's user avatar
25 votes
3 answers
2k views

Where can I find information about the characters named in official D&D 5e books?

I'm wondering where the characters in the titles of official D&D 5e books came from. What is the lore behind Tasha, Xanathar, Mordenkainen and Volo? Where can I learn more about their stories? Is ...
Camorri's user avatar
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19 votes
1 answer
2k views

What is the "Ultimate Book of The Master"

Dragon magazine #82 features an article from Bruce Heard referencing magical research. One early chapter contains the following line: To begin finding the answer to that question, we must first roll ...
SeriousBri's user avatar
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-1 votes
1 answer
3k views

Should I get the Dungeon Master's Guide, the Player's Handbook, or the Monster Manual? [duplicate]

So I'm a fairly new player in the game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). I'm known about the game/played a very loose version of the game a little over a year ago and I started getting serious about ...
EvalynEpidemic's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
608 views

What material currently appears in the "Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron" that wasn't reprinted in the "Eberron: Rising from the Last War" book?

The Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron (WGtE) was originally released on DMsGuild as a PDF (and on D&D Beyond) in July 2018. (See also this Q&A: What is "Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron"?)...
V2Blast's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
382 views

Examples of using Dream spell in official material

The Dream spell gained a lot of power in 5th edition, and while perhaps a bit "meh" at a first glance, on a second thought it seems incredibly powerful for a mere 5th level spell (so needs ...
WakiNadiVellir's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
585 views

Is there a standard hierarchy when two supplemental books contradict each other?

The spell, Energy Vortex, is found in: Complete Divine (p.164) as a 4th level Cleric/Druid spell (published May 2004) Spell Compendium (p.81) as a 3rd level Cleric/Druid spell (published Dec 2005) ...
Nifusion's user avatar
  • 165
11 votes
1 answer
385 views

How do I identify the edition of a Shadowrun book?

There is guidance on how trade dress of WoD and D&D changes over the editions, but how do you do that in Shadowrun? How can I tell what edition a particular Shadowrun book is for?
Trish's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
6k views

How "official" is the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount book?

What's the state of Explorer's Guide to Wildemount? Was it playtested? Is it a valid resource for a Forgotten Realms campaign? Is it an AL-legal sourcebook - can I use it for the "+1" rule? ...
enkryptor's user avatar
  • 64k
4 votes
1 answer
533 views

Is the "Immortals Handbook" series official WotC material?

Is the Immortals Handbook series official WotC material? Regardless of any thoughts on the general quality, as sources seem conflicted on that, my question only relates to how official these books are....
Arthaban's user avatar
  • 7,748
2 votes
0 answers
29 views

How can I tell which version a classic World of Darkness book is for? [duplicate]

I'm a novice in the World of Darkness games. Most of my books are purchased piece-meal through game stores. This answer has been incredibly helpful in laying out the various games and editions that ...
indigochild's user avatar
  • 18.7k
6 votes
1 answer
936 views

What are the default subraces in the D&D 3.5 Player's Handbook?

I am having difficulty finding information on the default subraces offered in the D&D 3.5 Player's Handbook: What is the default elf subrace? What is the default gnome subrace? What is the ...
user28536's user avatar
  • 3,402
2 votes
1 answer
201 views

How to read the elven on the 3rd edition Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting cover?

The cover for the book in question has inscriptions in the espruar script on its outer circle. According to one of the authors, it means: “We remember cities now in ruin and forests murdered, yet ...
Attonwizard's user avatar
  • 2,155
5 votes
1 answer
297 views

Has Brian Jacques's estate licensed the Redwall IP for an official role-playing game?

Pretty much what it says on the tin. Is there an RPG system that has been licensed for the Redwall setting created by Brian Jacques? I expect the answer to be "No" so as a follow up, has there been ...
RevanantBacon's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
2k views

What are the official abbreviations or short forms of the 3rd edition of the D&D books?

What are the official abbreviations or short forms of the titles of 3rd edition of the D&D books? There appear to be a few different styles or forms online.
nijineko's user avatar
  • 11.1k
2 votes
1 answer
430 views

Which sourcebooks can be used as the additional resource for AL PHB+1?

The Adventurers League Players Guide for Season 9 explains PHB+1 as follows: Forgotten Realms characters can choose race and class options from the Player’s Handbook and one other resource—a rule ...
intuited's user avatar
  • 561
13 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is there an easy way to know what edition a World of Darkness sourcebook is?

I've recently started getting into World of Darkness and I'm realizing there are 5 different editions of sourcebooks: First edition Second edition Revised (3rd) edition V20 (4th) edition Fifth ...
Howard's user avatar
  • 529
17 votes
1 answer
815 views

Which 4e monster books used the new monster math?

After Monster Manual 3, 4e had new monster math that updated the game. However, there are a number of other books with monsters, including in things like Dragon magazine, where I can't tell if it's ...
mAcular Chaotic's user avatar
34 votes
10 answers
3k views

How does one track/incorporate errata in relation to printed rulebooks without having to memorize, or constantly check against, the errata?

I bought myself a shiny new rulebook for a relatively new system and, of course, there's already a full document of errata! In order to make this easier for myself, I sat down with a pen and sticky ...
Jason_c_o's user avatar
  • 8,564
14 votes
2 answers
489 views

Are D&D novelizations considered canonical source materials?

I'm curious if the works of R.A. Salvatore and the like are considered canon source material for D&D campaign games. Or if they are treated more like fanfictions.
Bradley Lindsey's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
828 views

Who is the narrator of the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide book?

Some of the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide appears to be written from an in-universe character in first person. Evidence of this can be found throughout, but as an example, from the section on ...
NathanS's user avatar
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16 votes
5 answers
5k views

Starting with D&D: Starter Set vs Dungeon Master's Guide

I have been GMing Call of Cthulhu 7th Ed. for some time and now want to try something different. I would like to go with D&D 5.0 since it will be available in my native tongue in a few weeks - the ...
DeMo's user avatar
  • 429
2 votes
1 answer
145 views

What books did WotC give Arthaus's official permission to publish?

I'm looking for the titles that include Arthaus's Ravenloft with this and Arthaus's Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game?
Zarus's user avatar
  • 3,169
1 vote
1 answer
251 views

Which books are in AEG's Oriental Adventures product line?

Which books are in AEG's Oriental Adventures product line? The books in that line are the ones that WotC gave permission to use this logo.
Zarus's user avatar
  • 3,169
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

Which D&D 3.0 & 3.5 Kingdoms of Kalamar books are considered officially licensed third-party products?

Hey I Can Chan's answer to the question "How do you tell if a D&D book is 3.0 or 3.5?" describes a category of products as follows (emphasis mine): officially licensed Kingdoms of Kalamar third ...
Zarus's user avatar
  • 3,169
1 vote
1 answer
577 views

Which D&D 3.0 & 3.5 Dragonlance books are considered officially licensed third-party products?

Hey I Can Chan's answer to the question "How do you tell if a D&D book is 3.0 or 3.5?" describes a category of products as follows (emphasis mine): officially licensed Dragonlance third party ...
Zarus's user avatar
  • 3,169
13 votes
3 answers
521 views

Should we use modules or the monster manuals if they disagree?

In the module Out of the Abyss on page 231, it lists the creatures Male Steeder and Female Steeder. These creatures are listed as beasts. In MToF on page 238, it lists these same creatures with the ...
Eternallord66's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is the "5th Edition Adventures" book series?

I recently was looking through an online games store for tabletop games and in the section for D&D 5e I found a book series called "5th Edition Adventures". I have never seen these books, the ...
darnok's user avatar
  • 4,700
11 votes
1 answer
6k views

What are sources for Magic Items that are not adventure-specific?

As a DM, I like to award items to my players. These may not be in the module I'm currently running, so I often draw from the DMG. I recently found that XGtE also has a list of magical items (this ...
BlueMoon93's user avatar
  • 45.6k
13 votes
1 answer
9k views

What is "Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron"?

I have seen that WotC is coming out with a Eberron campaign source book titled Eberron: Rising from the Last War - but I have seen references to something called Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron, which I ...
Q Paul's user avatar
  • 4,044
4 votes
1 answer
540 views

What is the consensus on which books should be banned due to either exploitability, lack of balance, or poor editing? [closed]

At first this may seem to be a largely opinion-based question, but the more that I read the more that there appears to be a consensus. For example, in something resembling decreasing order of the ...
J. Mini's user avatar
  • 6,284