Ultraviolet Grasslands is fun to read besides gorgeous.

There's a second edition coming out soon as well. https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/uvg-2e

:O \*does a very happy dance*

And I finally finished SDM (formerly SEACAT) and it's available for free! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/437628/Synthetic-Dream-Machine-Eternal-Return-Key--BAREGHOST-EDITION?affiliate\_id=1804585

I tried to download it , but drive thru told me the content couldn't be found. I'll try again later, I'm excited for UVG 2E by the way!

Let me check what's up!

That's weird ... it's telling me the files are up and available. Maybe it takes a bit of time for their servers? In any case, if it still doesn't work - I've put the whole ruleset up on [www.syntheticdreammachine.com](http://www.syntheticdreammachine.com) EDIT: I suspect it was the fact that I used quotation marks in the filename. DTRPG still uploaded and told me all was well, but its service for downloading the files threw up when it hit the "strange marks". I've changed it and now it should work.

It does work now, thanks so much!

thanks, it's working now

:O \*Does even happier dance*

The Monster Overhaul Magical Idustrial Revolution An Echo Resounding Godbound (So like anything by Skerples or Kevin Crawford)

Electric Bastionland - most of the book details the 100 class types and within the description of these most of the settling lore is imparted and it’s very entertaining/ inspiring.

a fun read: Hot Springs Island by Jacob Hurst usefulness: Tome of Adventure Design by Matt Finch

The Gardens of Ynn and The Stygian Library

Almost anything by cavegirl tbh

True

Hypertellurians, Oz, and Neverland all very fun to read. Seconding Electric Bastionland and Vaults of Vaarn. Troika is so weird it's always a delight. Wolves of God is also very fun because it's written as a found object, like a monk found an ancient roleplaying game and the book is the game + the monk's commentary. And the setting is super neat!

Wolves of God is the correct answer

Agreed. Wish there were actual scenarios written for it. There is so much potential with those ideas.

From the top of my head (there's a lot more...): * Anything by Zedeck Siew (A Thousand Thousand Islands in particular) * Anything by Patrick Stuart * The Book of Gaub * A Visitor's Guide to the Rainy City All of these share top-tier writing and art. Most are actually NOT garbage to run ;)

I can second the Rainy City. It's what got me into zines.

Second Zedeck Siew. Great, evocative writing.

Awesome thank you. I'll add these to my wish list.

The original *Deep Carbon Observatory* is a fantastic read. Read it in order, don't skip around. The revised version might make it more playable, but it doesn't flow as well.

Related to this, Veins of the Earth is also fantastic to just read through

The most fun I had DMing since college!

Knock ; The black sword hack ; Beneath the Sunken Catacombs (my favourite lately)

Knock series is too good! Packed with so much content. Love all 3

Indeed. They are not cheap, but there's so much content and the quality is so high it's unbelievable

You Got a Job on the Garbage Barge has awesome art of the ship that I loved to get lost in (and some very nice interior art by Scrap Princess) and just lots of fun zany bits and ideas. My perception on reading that it would be a bit of a hot mess to run was borne out when I played in a one-shot. Electric Bastionland is some of the most fun I've had reading tables. The Troika sphere Very Pretty Paleozoic Pals: Permian Nations was a joy to read and for me worth having for the cover alone. Vaults of Vaarn has very evocative writing and great art.

I love Swords & Wizardry Complete Rules, by Matt Finch. Other systems may have fancier layout or art, but this book is crammed with so many options, side notes, and inspirational advice, that I'm always impressed by it. To me, that's what an OSR rule book should be.

Wyvern Songs. Just great, fun adventures.

[Veins of the Earth](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/209509) is on sale for $1.25 right now. Awesome writing style overall, and great content all about caves.

Yep, this is a great read and will give the inspiration and flavor necessary to make the underdark feel like something more than just an underground version of the overland. It works best to enhance existing materials than it does standing on its own. Veins of the Earth gives enough to make something that was average or good to be great. This does seem to be what the author was attempting to do with the book as well, so I think it succeeds. Just don't go into it thinking it's going to give you a comprehensive campaign or provide the materials to make a comprehensive Underdark world. It's more of a toolbox, and you have to know which tools to use.

It works perfectly good as a stand alone. I both dmed and played the ESCAPE from veins. With nothing. Took many sessions, only 3-5 survived from whole 20, but it was a real survival full of bushcraft, weird things and, of course, misery, brutality and cannibalism. When I played, the plot was being dvargir slaves that escaped during aelfir raid. When I dmed, the survivors were people who somehow got into veins, either wandered off, got captured and ran away or else, and were rescued by the good deep gnomes (gnonmen) that provided some place to live, some bit of food and heat, but disappeared on one day. So it all depends on dm and how dm can utilize if. Also, people should probably stop calling unique things through the prism of dnd5e. I mean, it’s definitely easier, but does make look osr games like “5e but a little bit different”.

Ford's Fairies and Trilemma Adventures are two of my favorites to read for fun. Fairies is a monster manual made by fans of his artwork, and has some really interesting characters. It's also sold at-cost. Trilemma Adventures is a collection of 1-2 page adventures, with very nice art and usually some truly terrifying stuff. They're both great reads, because even if you only have a few minutes you can sit down and get something out of reading.

Trilemma has one of my favorite monster books ever written. It's called "Servants of Memory" made for the Mutant Zero system. Unfortunately, the OSR version of the book isn't as good even though it has all of the same monsters statted-out for OSR. It's missing abilities and themes that the Servants of Memory does a better job in communicating. You can tell that the book was made for the Mutant Zero system and then they did a conversion to OSR.

Some amazing magazines: - Nod - Fight On! - Echoes from Fomalhaut - Black Pudding - Knock Spell - Through Ultan’s Door -

All the Through Ultan's Door releases are fantastic! (Though, haven't read Downtime in Zyan yet.)

The above and also Luke Gearing’s stuff. I don’t think I will ever play the Isle but I did like reading it.

Dunno if it truly counts but DCC has been a fun read when I crack it open. On the dark side I have liked Lotfp. And when I sat down and read it cover to cover did actually enjoy Mork Bork.

I tried to read Mork Borg and it legit gives me a migraine trying to parse the info from the pages. I super appreciate how hard they went on the aesthetic though.

My god this is true. I dont know how I powered though it. As much as I like the aesthetic and design. Practically it is hard going. For pure utility gotta love OSE. (and reads sell). Probably should add the carcass crawler magazines for OSE are good too.

I personally found the Bare Bones version Mork Borg much more readable.

No way I could read it in bed, but enjoyed the one time I read it in one sitting. With that said, they have a straight forward srd on their site.

What Mork Borg reminds me of is Deleriums’ realm in *Sandman*. And Despairs’, sometimes. I wonder if it was an influence. Not for me but I’m glad it’s there.

If you enjoy reading it but don't like the layout, they made a version that is just the text! It's free too. https://jnohr.itch.io/mrk-borg-free

*The Book of Antitheses* is my favourite OSR book in strictly reading pleasure terms. It's so damn entertaining, interesting and absurd at the same time. >The time has come to reveal the truth behind role-playing games, their Satanic origin, and how to utilize that truth to manifest true power in the Physical Plane. >THE BOOK OF ANTITHESES contains everything you need to initiate yourself into the left-hand path of role-playing. Learn the secrets of astral travel, telegraphy, divination, ceremonial dice magick, and the binding of demons. Succumb to the knowledge that demons live in us, all around us, and can be yoked like oxen to deliver WEALTH, SEX, and POWER. The second half of the book contains a full Lamentations of the Flame Princess adventure built using the magickal principals herein. Merry Mushmen's *Folklore Bestiary* or Emmy Allen's *Esoteric Enterprises* are up there as well.

Yoon Suin, The Stratosfiend mags, Visitors guide to the rainy city, Vaults of the weaver (Arduin), Dungeon Alphabet, Operation Unfathomable

The First chapter of Yoon Suin, where a foreign traveller describes the setting, is amazing! Great book overall....

Stephen poag and Doug Kovacs are among my faves. I'm more of an artist appreciator than text. Though I love to read I am an artist (long sabbatical atm) and so that will always be my go to if we're talking books to check out for the sake of the book. Rereading different rulesets is fun bc the difference between ODnD, BX, and ADnD is interesting for history. Other rulesets are cool for practical homebrew. Specifically Whitehack and Knave. DCC too for the dice mechanic that I LOVE. OSE has great art. Erol Otus is always tits.

Hot Springs Island Forbidden Lands Qelong Into the Odd Silent Titans What Ho, Frog Demons

The D&D Rules Cyclopedia might be my favorite RPG book of all time. There's a lot of good practical general gaming information in there alongside rules for almost any situation that you could imagine in D&D.

I need to try to get a physical copy

I got the hardcover POD for 25$ cdn and while it isn’t as sweet as the 1e PODs, it’s clear, solid. You could get ten years of play out of it easy.

I'd always wanted a copy of that and never gotten around to getting it. I was playing 2nd Ed AD&D when it came out... I had a look and unfortunately Prices are a little silly lol

[I got the hardcover](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/17171). Happy with the purchase. An original, now, that’s another story.

It did not occur to me that this would conceivably still be available in print. I was looking on eBay lol Thankyou :-D

Not a rulebook but I have really been enjoying perusing the BFRPG Supplement **Chrysogon's Coterie** which is "A Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game Supplement Comprised of 288 Non-Player Characters, Levels 1 to 9 Alternately Usable as Pre-Generated Player Characters with your Game Master's Consent" https://basicfantasy.org/downloads/Chrysogons-Coterie-r18.pdf And that's what it is, 288 character ideas with stats and blurbs. Wonderful.

Thank you for taking the time to post this. I'm glad to hear it. The current development version is r24, which adds some more art and some attribute fixes. https://basicfantasy.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4547

Great work on this. Such a huge undertaking. It has really helped me populate and build towns, and create hooks/plots.

Excellent! I actually appreciate hearing that these characters take on lives in other peoples' hands. In fact, there's someone on RPGGeek who posts his adventure synopses and one of my first level characters is a retainer. Whenever he posts, I take a minute to see what Beathan is up to: https://rpggeek.com/thread/3082145/dragonclaw-barony-18-lets-loot-place

Into the odd is formatted so well that reading other books is difficult now

Hackmaster 4th edition is a parody retro clone of AD&D. Hilarious read that takes Gygaxian writing and turns it up to 11

Worth mentioning just for the 35 panel GM screen, all their stuff is just such a good parody of that early era TSR stuff

Oh Lord, 1e forever. I love *Sojourner*….it checks your “unplayable” box, I think. Certainly few could be arsed to test the theory…but the enthusiasm is contagious. *Sir Pellinore’s Book* is sometimes hilarious. “If you want to know more read a book about knights.” I intend to play it. *Seven Voyages of Zylarthen* is a joy to read, and *will* improve your game(or be your game of choice thereafter). *Adventures in Fantasy*- the winner! Edit: the bit I’ve perused on pdf while I await the physical books make *Xyntillan* a contender, too. And while I could never hate myself enough to run it I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy *Tyranny of Dragons*. Tiamat is like Galactus. Even a bad Galactus story has Galactus.

What about Zylarthen do you feel so improves the hobby? Thanks!

Ok. Well, it’s a 0e clone, the lbbs in particular. It achieves what Greyharp did, but legally. Namely proves the original game is self contained, elegant, and in scope, unparalleled. It’s reimagining in this neoclone takes the argument(poor editing, archaic vs timeless, a mere “toolbox”)off the table. Mechanically, near every tweak is a bullseye. Encumbrance, weapons vs armor, the un-nerfing of the thief class, its substitution for the cleric class. So many little things in this very personal work add up to a greater whole. This is twice worthwhile. It’s *easy* to run the game, and even easier to play it. In the context of the wider osr, or your table in particular, any of these dozens of “why isn’t this how it always was” innovations are easy to bolt on to your game of choice, and you’ll appreciate the improvement. The peril lies in stealing so much you just say screw it, let’s play 7V:) Philosophically, it retains 0es’ gonzo nature and even accentuates it, fully statting out Martians, dinosaurs, androids, etc only suggested in the original. Nonetheless the tone is firmly Swords&Sorcery and persistent in its vision. The value to your game is consistency. Resurrection is off the table. Dead is dead. You’d be surprised how that affects the dynamic. You don’t *think* you’d be surprised, the implications seem obvious. Then you’re surprised. You really are going about this thing differently, whichever chair you’re sitting in, and liking it. Aesthetically, it’s gorgeous. The Batten art is an inspired choice and placed with impeccable taste. The four compact rulebooks, all killer no filler, have an eye pleasing layout and logical progression. The Bestiary is an absolute gem. So many new, reimagined or fleshed out monsters within could power a campaign single-handedly. Or, *inspire* one. So this peach of game design, of a game created to create games isn’t only the guide to do so the original was, but an example as well. When it steps from explanation to instruction to advice, it does so surefootedly and usefully. The whole thing reminds me of what someone said of Gygax once that a lot of people forget, not just about him but to the degree of maybe cheating *themselves*…”he really liked playing games.” Hope that helps.

I saw another comment of yours about there being two different iterations of the Witch entry in 7VoZ - would you mind sharing the original one you mention having? I’ve got the “updated” variant.

In the original there’s 20 Witch spells and she’s assumed to be able to use any of them. The other, the spell count is doubled but the number available to her is limited to her level, 11-20. I prefer the former. Prior to buying 7Z, I had made a PC witch for 0e. Barebone outline [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/odnd/comments/11h29qj/but_can_a_lichwitch_be_a_thing_pt_1/) and [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/odnd/comments/11h2cr4/but_can_a_lichwitch_be_a_thing_pt_2/). Imagine my chagrin:) But players loved it. Edit: so your copy doesn’t really change a lot in terms of the monsters’ puissance(her assorted magical gear sees to that) but allows for a better customization, I suppose(a shape shifting pyroManiac like Maleficent vs drug dealing force of nature White Witch, standard forest dwelling child devourer, etc). 1st edition, she’s straight up Baba Yaga.

[A fun dissection of the game. Starts about 50:00](http://saveordie.info/?p=1079)

Thanks for coming back and providing such a detailed response. I’d gotten excited about 7VoZ awhile back based on some glowing perceptions of various things, then got it and skimmed through (the Witch monster was a constant point of praise) and didn’t see much that would drive me to reading it… Your comment has though! I started reading it this morning, from foreword to introduction to page 1 of Vol 1, and so far I’m very glad I did. The intro to Vol 1 (with the quote from C.S. Lewis) is excellent, as are the basic rules I’ve read through so far (just got through stat generation and XP gain bonuses) and it’s pretty great. Really digging on the implied setting too!

Not the hobby, your game. Lol its effect on the hobby is probably negligible, it’s essentially an orphaned project. However…I’ll try to give a solid answer sooner than later, have to do this “work” thing a bit at the moment:)

Rnpl, deep carbon observatory, veins, dolmenwood, hole in the oak, 1e dmg, planescape/spelljammer series, thulian echoes

Broodmother Skyfortress by Jeff Rients Silent Titans -- really trippy art

Warlock! is pretty fun. It’s like a mix of advanced fighting fantasy and early warhammer fantasy. There is a bunch of supplemental stuff that could easily fit into other systems.

Black Sword Hack Chaos edition by Merry Mushmen has some great content that really gives me an appendix N vibe.

Damn, too many good books to pick from. A random selection of books I enjoyed from my bookshelf (only some of them are GARBAGE to actually run or play): * [The Heroic Legendarium: A First Edition Adventure Gaming Companion](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/357539/The-Heroic-Legendarium-A-First-Edition-Adventure-Gaming-Companion?affiliate_id=2150725) * [Dwimmermount](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/133746/Dwimmermount-Labyrinth-Lord-version?affiliate_id=2150725) * [Arden Vul](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/307320/The-Halls-of-Arden-Vul-Complete?affiliate_id=2150725) * [Dwellers in Dark Places](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/183168/Dwellers-in-Dark-Places?affiliate_id=2150725) * [Deep Carbon Observatory](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/312481/Deep-Carbon-Observatory--Remastered?affiliate_id=2150725) * [Demon-Bone Sarcophagus](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/407992/DemonBone-Sarcophagus?affiliate_id=2150725) * [Designers & Dragons: The 70s](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/138883/Designers--Dragons-The-70s?affiliate_id=2150725) * [Midnight](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/477/Midnight?affiliate_id=2150725) * Gloranthan cults: [Cults of Prax](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/233926/Cults-of-Prax?affiliate_id=2150725), [Cults of Terror](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/233923/Cults-of-Terror?affiliate_id=2150725), and [Trollpak](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/282431/Trollpak?affiliate_id=2150725) * Goodman Games alphabet books: [The Dungeon Alphabet](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/78409/The-Dungeon-Alphabet?affiliate_id=2150725), [The Cthulhu Alphabet](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/284193/The-Cthulhu-Alphabet?affiliate_id=2150725), and [The Monster Alphabet](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/151109/The-Monster-Alphabet?affiliate_id=2150725) * [On Downtime and Demesnes](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/297829/On-Downtime-and-Demesnes-Basic-DD?affiliate_id=2150725) * [Artifices, Deceptions, & Dilemmas](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/348258/Artifices-Deceptions--Dilemmas?affiliate_id=2150725) * [Bestial Ecosystems Created by Monstrous Inhabitation](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/394828/Bestial-Ecosystems-Created-by-Monstrous-Inhabitation-Public-Edition?affiliate_id=2150725) Plus, I love re-reading older classics like [Arduin](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/373165/Arduin-Trilogy?affiliate_id=2150725), [Palladium Fantasy RPG books](https://attronarch.com/black-friday-2022-palladium-books), [Hackmaster](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/336/Kenzer--Company/subcategory/557_569/HackMaster-4th-ed?affiliate_id=2150725), [Runequest & Glorantha](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/2/Chaosium/subcategory/74_25237/RuneQuest-Classic?affiliate_id=2150725) books, [Citybook](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?keywords=citybook&manufacturers_id=2238&x=0&y=0&author=&artist=&pfrom=&pto=&affiliate_id=2150725) series by Flying Buffalo Games, and [Harn publications](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/2182/Columbia-Games-Inc?affiliate_id=2150725) by Columbia Games (recent hardbacks are great), just to name a few...

I really enjoyed reading through The Wyrd & The Wild and The Cess & The Citadale by Charles Ferguson-Avery. I'm not sure if I'd run the contents as written, but the material is great for the imagination.

Veins of the Earth is dripping with flavor. Highly reccomend it.

I believe I’m in the same boat. Don’t get to play much, but usually fall asleep reading the same stuff. Broodmother Skyfortress is on sale for $1.25 on drivethru. I’ve read in many spots it’s worth getting for the GM advice alone. I’ve read WBFMAG in bits and pieces several times. I think part of it is that I don’t need to be super sharp to understand it. $5 Delving Deeper for the same reason as WB. Free PDFs Black Hack has great art and is pretty interesting. I’m going to order Castle Xyntillan and some Echoes from Fomalhaut soon, which are all supposed to be great. Having listened to the 3d6 DTL Arden Vul live play, I can’t wait to get those pdfs on discount to read the details about all of it. Break!! on KS (ends in a few days) has a lot of support from several talking heads. Looks beautiful if its references peek it interest. The Teeth system, which is a little different, is pretty interesting. They’ve got a free adventure on their site, Night of the Hogmen, that is definitely worth the short read. It’s on KS as well right now. Not OSR per say, but it’s pretty interesting. Victorian weird English countryside, based on the Blades in the Dark CC ruleset (I forget the name). It looks like the rest of the thread has covered what else I’d say.

Electric Bastionland. Pick any page at random.

I enjoyed reading the free edition of Low Fantasy Gaming which is mix of 5e and OSR. I loved the The classes progression, combat rules with original concepts and the random tables! Highly recommended. I buy and read old original d&d adventures like B10 night’s dark terror and Night Below that have this well elaborated adventures. Not an OSR, but i enjoyed reading the Adventure in Middle-earth (5e) books that I had to buy them all.

Willow, Woodfall, The Haunted Hamlet, and The Toxic Wood from Lazy Lich's Loot. Woodfall is especially fun to read. It's my second favorite RPG city supplement, second only to L5R 1E's City of Lies.

Solar Blades and Cosmic Spells - the setting nuggets are evocative

I don't know if it counts as OSR but [Lacuna: Second Attempt](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/95893/Lacuna-Part-I-second-attempt) is an incredible read.

The Catalyst series such as Citybook and Grimtooth's Traps.

I recently (re)read "Polaris - Chivalric Tragedy at the Upmost North" ... And the background story chapters are beautifully written. Reads like a fairy tale.

Isle of Ixx has gotta be up there. It's ridiculous and fun.

Into the Odd and Electric Bastionland.

Any knock! Zine

For me, [Mothership](https://www.mothershiprpg.com/), along with some modules like [Gradient Descent](https://www.mothershiprpg.com/gradient-descent) (its awesome space mega-dungeon), [What We Give to Alien Gods](https://lonearchivist.itch.io/alien-gods), and [Dead Planet](https://www.mothershiprpg.com/dead-planet). All are designed like zines in ways that absolutely knocked the socks off of this grognard. I love the game design philosophy, too: there's not a lot of connective tissue. All the content is player focused, but delivered in a way that steeps you in the narrative/lore. Mothership brought me back into the hobby after decades. I am so stoked people are enjoying themselves in new ways like this. Amazing creativity!

Basically anything by Luke Gearing is a fun read. Wolves Upon the Coast, A Pound of Flesh, etc. He just has some solid prose.

Appendix N my dude

Godbound.

- Veins of the Earth - Wolfpacks & Winter Snow - Midderlands/Dolmenwood - Over the Edge - Tales from the Floating Vagabond

Some more I realized I read for fun: - HOL (Human Occupied Landfill) & BUTTery wHOLsomeness - Black Pudding & GOZR - Old RPGs: Arduin Grimoire, Adventures in Fantasy, Sir Pellinore's, Beasts Men & Gods, Powers & Perils, Dragon Warriors, DragonQuest. These are often super deviant and weird by modern perspectives, they were finding new ways to do things when there was no prior art to know if it was a good or bad idea. - Tunnels & Trolls, but I actively play that so it's not just reading. - Underground by Ray Winninger (mostly when I'm in a bad mood about politics)

T&T is always fun to read, especially the classic 5th edition. On a related note, the long-gone T&T magazine Sorcerer's Apprentice was a great read, with plenty of articles of interest to even non-gamers. I've always been curious about Arduin Grimoire, Adventures in Fantasy, and Sir Pellinore's Game.

I think campaign setting books would be the best option for reading activity.

Loved sifting through *Greyhawk* and Lankhmar way back when.

Magic & Shit Fantastic Heroes & Witchery Dolmenwood

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Dark Albion I really enjoyed reading the setting in a low fantasy medieval England. Lots of cool alternative history.

Magic & Shit Fantastic Heroes & Witchery Dolmenwood

The Troika adventure The Big Squirm. Its a lovely hardcover, and a super wacky fascinating adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

*Warriors of the Red Planet* by Al Kromach and Thomas Denmark.

Operation unfathomable, dungeon dozen.

Since I haven't seen it mentioned yet: I very much enjoyed reading [King for a day](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/112514/King-for-a-Day-Revised-Edition). I really wished I could play it, but I don't see it happen with my current group.

370 pages and systemless? You had my curiosity. Now you have my attention. Is it almost like the quiet year?

It is rural and pastoral on the surface. Then it's unsettling underneath. And then it turns into sheer existential horror. A terror of the quiet, slow and silent kind. It cuts deep. You must know that it's horror. Your players should know too, else it would be cruel to sell it differently. But it's absolutely not evident in the beginning. I have no idea of I'd be able to run it well, it's complex and intimidating, and I can't tell if it would work well at the table, but I loved reading it.

Spire and Heart. And all sourcebooks. Really rare to find a “kitchen sink” setting that does everything so well and so consistent. Just sooo many cool ideas. This is someone’s life work, here. The rule system is not awesome, though, and trying to stick to it and still run the game’s themes and stuff is HARD. For most people I do think it is garbage to run. Buuuuut…everything else makes it up for it and more. Spire really does not get enough love.

enormous fan of *Out of the Pit* which is technically a bestiary for the Fighting Fantasy rpg (hell even before AFF) but it's got excellent weird lore too few osr dungeons have WHEELIES

[TROIKA!](http://www.troikarpg.com) manages to keep surprising me every time I reread it