What’s the Crock Pot? Just a simmering bowl of lentils and herbs, with a dash of DMing observations. Don’t be afraid to dip in your ladle and stir, or throw in something from your own spice rack.
Gnomes shouldn’t drink and drive
The D&D Third Edition Arms and Equipment Guide is chock full of DMing goodies. My favorite is the list of ales and wines. From Dragonbite bitter to dwarven Garnet wine to even the gnomish golden light pilsner, there’s a better selection than the local convenience store’s cooler. Of course, in-game, do you really need such a choice? The average tavern will have two taps if you’re lucky: cheap and cheaper. So what? It’s fantasy. Even the lowliest tavern should have at least one bottle of the 100 gold piece Aleeian wine on hand for celebrations. Just be sure to bring along a designated adventurer.
I got your poison right here
For would-be assasins everywhere, the guide’s also got a full page of poisons, listing their injury types, initial and secondary damage, crafting DCs, and, of course, price. Some, like Carrion Crawler brain juice, are out of the DMG. Some are unique. Thever fumes cause blindness – so take care not to inhale.
Improbable, but true
You think a rhinocerous or a dire badger makes for an exotic mount?: How about this one? The guide has rules for making a gelatinous cube a mount, albeit a slow-moving one. The description says it’s not for the faint of heart. How true. But man, what a sight.
I have an equipment book fetish. (And a monster book fetish, but that’s a different crock pot…) 😉
While I liked the 3.x A&EG, my favorite equipment book remains the 2e Aurora’s Whole Realms Catalog, which while technically an FR supplement remains one of the best products out there for fantasy RPGs in general. It’s got tons of stuff like your favorite elements from the A&EG, and it feels right for the game. Definitely one to check out if you haven’t already.
All of this talk about equipment books makes me nostalgic for my old Q Manual.
Oooh, or the Shadowrun 1e Street Samurai Catalog, with its little chatlogs from notable runners!
And while we’re at it….Uncle Albert’s Catalogues…responsible for tricking out my luxury car with three linked gauss guns (my gas-guzzling car, mind you…electric cars were for autodueling wussies) 🙂
I still fondly remember the Unearthed Arcana book and it’s lengthy discussion on new weapons, like all the different polearms. Most of those got dragged into the 2nd Edition because of the loving detail that went into that section.
Ooh, Aurora’s was one of the best equipment books – heck, one of the best books period. And I love Uncle Albert’s too. I never did buy the Q Manual, tho I always wished I had…