Recommend me RPG source books.

[sHayden]

I've never been a pen and paper RPG'er, but I've always been obsessed with reading the manuals.
I'm looking for some to grab, can anyone who is into these games recommend me some?

[Jmacq1]

Well, what is it that draws you to these books? Knowing that would make it easier to give recommendations. Do you like the books with high production values and lots of setting information or are you into rules-heavy stuff?

If it's the former, I'd recommend the Shadowrun 4th Edition line by Catalyst Game Labs, and the Legend of the Five Rings 3rd Edition line by Alderac Entertainment Group (including the Legend of the Burning Sands side-game).

If it's the latter, go with GURPS or Hero System stuff.

There's a lot of older stuff that also has fun "story info" but a lot of it is probably harder to track down.

[Shellhead]

If you're more interested in setting, I agree that Legend of the Five Rings is a great setting. (So is Legend of the Burning Sands, but I'm not sure that the LBS rpg book really captured the feel of that part of the world.) Another great one is the World of Darkness, especially the old World of Darkness ('91-'03). There are quite a few rpgs based directly on fictional works, but the Stormbringer/Elric game has taken that setting and developed well beyond the writings of Michael Moorcock, so that's another one with interesting source books.

[Jmacq1]

Yeah, the older World of Darkness is good, but as noted, might be difficult/pricey to track down. Additionally I enjoyed the 7th Sea series, also by Alderac Entertainment Group...just avoid the "Swashbuckling Adventures" stuff that comes later.

[Doug Side]

Mutants and Masterminds has a lot of great sourcebooks, covering different ages in comics.. They have the golden age, silver, iron, the freedom city sourcebook is like a modern age super hero city kind of thing.. Hero High is a fun read.

The v3 of M&M is going to drop a lot of that setting and is going to be in the DCU instead, but they are still fun to read.