Some other titles are mixed in, but some of these are classics. Interesting that it's mostly from the 90s
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54436334397_bd40ccef4a_c.jpg)
Looks like a donation from some gamer.
Ars Magica, no contest. GURPS Basic the second.
Warhammer Fantasy RPG?
Looking at what you have on the shelf there, Cyberpunk 2020, Ars Magica, Warhammer Fantasy RPG, and The Complete Dreamlands are all worth your time. Shadowrun 2e is a broken system but it's probably the best presentation of setting.
The Complete Dreamlands and Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.
Huh, I hadn't even noticed the Dreamlands. :D
Is this the setting of the story "The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath"? I read it decades ago.
Quote from: Trond on April 07, 2025, 04:03:00 PMSome other titles are mixed in, but some of these are classics. Interesting that it's mostly from the 90s
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54436334397_bd40ccef4a_c.jpg)
Just to list out what's there - including only actual tabletop RPG books:
Vampire: The Masquerade
The Complete Dreamlands (Call of Cthulhu)
Changeling: The Dreaming
Oriental Adventures (AD&D 1ed)
GURPS Basic Set (3rd ed)
Ars Magica (3rd ed)
GURPS Religion
GURPS Compendium I
GURPS Compendium II
Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0
AD&D Player's Handbook (2nd ed)
Shadowrun 2nd ed
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
It really depends on one's taste. These are all well-known games with significant followings. My favorites would be GURPS, Ars Magica, and Dreamlands.
And yes, Dreamlands is a setting supplement for Call of Cthulhu that details the settings of "The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath".
Ars Magica and Shadowrun are both fun reads even if you never intend to play them
Quote from: jhkim on April 07, 2025, 07:16:36 PMQuote from: Trond on April 07, 2025, 04:03:00 PMSome other titles are mixed in, but some of these are classics. Interesting that it's mostly from the 90s
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54436334397_bd40ccef4a_c.jpg)
Just to list out what's there - including only actual tabletop RPG books:
Vampire: The Masquerade
The Complete Dreamlands (Call of Cthulhu)
Changeling: The Dreaming
Oriental Adventures (AD&D 1ed)
GURPS Basic Set (3rd ed)
Ars Magica (3rd ed)
GURPS Religion
GURPS Compendium I
GURPS Compendium II
Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0
AD&D Player's Handbook (2nd ed)
Shadowrun 2nd ed
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
It really depends on one's taste. These are all well-known games with significant followings. My favorites would be GURPS, Ars Magica, and Dreamlands.
And yes, Dreamlands is a setting supplement for Call of Cthulhu that details the settings of "The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath".
Thanks! I should have mentioned that I already know this edition of GURPS fairly well. The longest D&D campaign I was ever in also used AD&D 2nd edition, so I have some nostalgia for that cover, but I won't even pretend to remember the rules (the DM was pretty much on top of that).
I'll definitely check out Ars Magica and Dreamlands.
Quote from: Mishihari on April 07, 2025, 07:40:09 PMArs Magica and Shadowrun are both fun reads even if you never intend to play them
I was often curious about Shadowrun. I guess I can check it out now 😄
I find it interesting they're all labelled "cinema".
Quote from: Kyle Aaron on April 07, 2025, 08:36:33 PMI find it interesting they're all labelled "cinema".
I believe this section is "Cinema, Media & Arts" or some such.
I'm impressed the Shadowrun 2e book is still in one piece. I used to play it back in the day and the binding was terrible
But the trouble with that is that it was very splatobook heavy. You really needed the magic book and the street samurai book.
I would suggest the Dreamlands one.
Quote from: Trond on April 07, 2025, 08:25:58 PMI was often curious about Shadowrun. I guess I can check it out now 😄
See if the Shadowrun 2e book still includes the "optional" color pages for character archetypes.
I've heard good things about shadowrun, looks like its on the shelf, so yeah go for it.
Nice selection! Any of them would be a hoot to play. To run... I'm biased toward personal darlings of AD&D 2e, Changeling the Dreaming, and Cyberpunk, though the rest ARE very fun. :)
Quote from: Banjo Destructo on April 08, 2025, 05:24:19 PMI've heard good things about shadowrun, looks like its on the shelf, so yeah go for it.
Shadowrun is a great setting in desperate need of a decent system. I have played 2e-5e (or tried) and all of them are just broken. It's sad because the system has some really cool ideas like how to handle armor and glitches. Everyone I know that plays it has house ruled it to the point of being almost an entirely different game.
Btw, this is the same system that people joke about throwing a brick of d6s on the table and taking an hour to calculate the final result.
I say this as someone who generally loves FASA. I was a big time Battletech guy in the 90s and got in some Renegade Legion and FASA Star Trek. I'm unhappy with how Catalyst Labs has treated the IPs.
Gurps Religion is probably a freaking fascinating read. There's a reason they're allowing it in an academic setting-- ha! Cyberpunk 2020 is a great read and predicted a Chinese flu that would cause worldwide havoc among other interesting ideas.