Searching for the Best Handbooks

[Olo Demonsbane]

What are some of the best handbooks out there? The ones that you read and get five different character build ideas when you are only halfway through.

Examples (though this kind of thing is all a bit YMMV):

danzibr's Totemist handbook (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?287304-danzibr-s-Totemist-Handbook)
Caedrus's Art of War - Fear Factor (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?389244-Caedrus-Art-of-War-vol-1-Fear-Handbook)
JanusJones's New Dragonfire Adept Handbook (https://coboard.fandom.com/wiki/The_New_Dragonfire_Adept_Handbook!)

[bean illus]

I'll just leave this here, in case it might be of use.
Library of handbooks (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?619649-Is-there-a-library-of-handbooks&highlight=Library+of+handbook)

[Kalkra]

Can't beat the classics, I like Treantmonk's guide to being god (not linked b/c there are a bunch of different versions all over the place and it's a pain).

I also like Eggynack's druid handbook and Troacctid's handbooks, not just for the quality but also for the sheer volume, which I can really immerse myself in.

[sleepyphoenixx]

Some handbooks i've found very useful are Save Items: Items That Boost Saves (http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=188), The Summoner's Desk Reference (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?255219-The-Summoner-s-Desk-Reference-D-amp-D-3-5) and Chronos's Unalliterative Skillmonkey Guide (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?88715-Chronos-s-Unalliterative-Skillmonkey-Guide-3-x).

And of course no list of non class-specific handbooks would be complete without the Lists of Necessary Magic Items (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?187851-3-5-Lists-of-Necessary-Magic-Items) and Shax's Indispensible Haversack (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?148101-3-x-Shax-s-Indispensible-Haversack-(Equipment-Handbook)).

[Troacctid]

Well obviously the best ones are the ones I wrote, because I'm amazing like that. My Warlockopedia (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xLnDuzhHsPCEz_eX0yTYIf7M5w6QnipN3lFSYmoPhbg/edit?usp=drivesdk) is the stuff of legends, and I have a similar warmage handbook (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lGRS0TJaI2Y9NZtsPRfgnVvvZAGwhJRaTb_FgXLPPDk/edit?usp=drivesdk) that's almost done (I just need to finish the section on races). I also have a beautiful list of spellcasting prestige classes (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1geywITbI4M-Up08SGD-rUHlnobR66aIgKqu7mILkmhU/edit?usp=drivesdk) and a massive list of useful items (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sJRCphWkrtLm8Q6iD6_YPp00MggiAT556j9231uu5Lg/edit?usp=drivesdk).

You may take a moment to bask.

[daremetoidareyo]

The list of spellcasting prestige classes is mad useful

[ExLibrisMortis]

It's not a guide, but Team Solars (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?188138-Team-Solars-(Archiving)) is a great reference for Persist buffing.

Forrestfire has an artificer guide (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?427628-Disregard-Money-Acquire-Buff-Spells-Artificers-without-the-Artifice) that offers a way out of spreadsheet mania. A real eye-opener.

Person_Man has a guide to melee combat (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?127026-3-X-Person-Man-s-Guide-to-Melee-Combos) that links to a lot of other great stuff.

Of course, I could mention the casting PrC list, but I don't think I can improve on Troacctid's presentation :smalltongue:.

[Bullet06320]

https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?444041-Threads-from-the-Wizards-forums

alot can be found here

[Nihilarian]

I'm partial to SPEW! (http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=11091.0)

[Kaleph]

I'm partial to SPEW! (http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=11091.0)

Guybrush Threepwood likes this element.

[Olo Demonsbane]

Thanks for all of the links so far! Person_Man's guide to melee combos is a personal favorite as well that I forgot to mention, and I'm working my way through Troacctid's Warmage handbook now.

Another one that fits the criteria for me is WhamBamSam's Dragon Handbook (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?303204-The-Truest-of-the-True-A-Handbook-to-non-Kobold-Dragons-(WIP)), given that I ended up building three different dragons after the last time I read it. :smalltongue:

[Thurbane]

From my extended sig:




My lists/indexes:

List of Online Prestige Classes (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?598494)


List of PrCs with "nonstandard" levels (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?226460)


Full BAB, 6+ Skill Points (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?594232)


List of Additional Epic PrCs (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?600152)


Epic Feats Outside the ELH/SRD (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?599538)


Weapon Finesse + (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?599432)


"Replacement" Feats (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?593785)


Those Pesky Req feats, and (Somewhat) Painless Ways to Get Them (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?540296)


Skills skills skills (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?579721)


Guilds/Organizations list: part one (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=17026269&postcount=3) | part two (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=17055237&postcount=4)


List of "Other" Summoning Spells (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=23345947&postcount=4)


List of Optional Material Components (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?602481-Optional-Material-Components&p=24257303#post24257303)


List of Ioun Stones, Figurines, Feather Tokens (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?615427)


Magic Item Slots For Various Creatures (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?585673)


Items for Nonhumanoid Creatures (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?607945)


LA +1 & LA +2 Player Race List (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?189980)


Monster Manual VI - Online Monsters (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?567712)


List of Goblinoids (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?588636)


List of Half-Dragons (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?598094)


Templates That Don't Increase CR (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?489470)


Type Change by Class, Spell & Feat (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?620526)


Fiend Touched Compendium (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?517307)


Undead Adjacent Monsters (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?584451)


Lizardfolk Names (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?562943)


Other very useful lists, indexes, handbooks and links:

Alternative Class Features (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?444354)

Alternative Ways to Get New Class skills (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?491181)

Appraise This! A Reference for the Appraise skill
(https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?561288)
Arsenic & Old Lace: The Poison Handbook (http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=2714.0) | Poison (the end-all information list with Poison lists) (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?63130)

Best Feats of 3.5 (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?400603)

Celestial Compendium (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?590917)

Cleric Domain List (https://filedn.com/ldAtUJQ23TYBfGMpJ7RMQoV/List%20-%20Cleric%20Domains.html) | Cleric Planar Domain List (https://filedn.com/ldAtUJQ23TYBfGMpJ7RMQoV/List%20-%20Cleric%20Planar%20Domains.html)

Complete list of Innate Spellcasting (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?136021)

Complete List of Languages (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?208167)

Complete List of Possible Familiars (updated version) (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?553103)

Comprehensive Deity Database (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?571607)

Comprehensive List of Ways to Augment Attack Roll (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?144321)

Consolidated Lycanthropy Guide (http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=607.0)

D&D Adventures: A List of Obscure 1st Party Sources (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?509781)

Enworld Creature Catalog Index (https://web.archive.org/web/20110223010635/http://creaturecatalog.enworld.org/cc/converted/index.php)

Evasion Index (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?528237)

Fey Compendium (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?226612)

Fleshwarping: A List of Grafts, Symbionts, and Related Goodies (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?190350)

Gotta Catch em All: Optimizing Wild Empathy (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?302815)

Handbook of Feat-granting Items and Effects (http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=4099.0)

Hear Ye, Hear Ye: A Listen Skill Reference (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?522931)

List of All Prestige Classes That Progress Spellcasting (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?493135)

List of Artifacts (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?500598)

List of Feat Granting Items/Locations/Grafts (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?400840)

Liste of Metamagic Feats [Metamagic and You: A Thesis] (http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=972.0)

Lists of Every Playable Monster by ECL (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?401132)

Lists of Necessary Magic Items (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?187851)

Lists of Stuff (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?454553)

Master +0 LA Race List III (http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=1281.0) | Every playable race in 3.5 D&D without a level adjustment (https://ihititwithmyaxe.tumblr.com/post/9678117696/every-playable-race-in-35-dd-without-a-level)

Mind Flayers, Beholders, and Aboleths Oh My (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?616594)

Saboteur's Cookbook: Masterwork Disable Device tools (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?520223)

Shax's Indispensable Haversack (Equipment Handbook) (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?148101)

Special Materials Index (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?442820)

Summoner's Desk Reference (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?255219) | d20 Stat Blocks for Summon Spells (http://www.greyhawkonline.com/smetzger/summon/) | Legal 3.5 Summonable Monster List (https://web.archive.org/web/20151031083740/http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/1134896)

The Library of Knowledge: Getting the Most out of Your Studies (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?514547)

Uncle Kitty's Guide to Template Based Shenanigans (http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=12219.0)

Vermin Handbook - A list of all vermin in 3.5 (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?478813)

Visual Lies: A Reference for the Disguise Skills (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?561021)

Ways to get Pounce or Free Movement (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?103358)

X Stat to Y Bonus (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?125732)

[Falontani]

I am somewhat partial to Practical Demonkeeping (http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=6320.0). When using certain alternate summoning rules this is absolutely crucial to a would be demonologist.

[Tvtyrant]

My giant list of links is long dead, but the Mechronomicon, Complete Cost Reduction Bible, Incomplete Polymorph Bible, and Persistificer handbooks are all stellar.

[Bullet06320]

My giant list of links is long dead, but the Mechronomicon, Complete Cost Reduction Bible, Incomplete Polymorph Bible, and Persistificer handbooks are all stellar.

https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?446192-Mechonomicon
thats the Mechronomicon for you


I am somewhat partial to Practical Demonkeeping (http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=6320.0). When using certain alternate summoning rules this is absolutely crucial to a would be demonologist.

Rising Above
(A Summoner’s Guide to the Upper Planes) (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?527527-Rising-Above-(A-Summoner-s-Guide-to-the-Upper-Planes)) is the sister thread, and it looks like i never got around to fixing the links in that one


another good thread
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?527170-Index-of-Minmax-Brilliant-Gameologist-Threads

https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?498825-the-Conjurer-s-Handbook
5th post down has more links and i think those are all good

https://forums.giantitp.com/search.php?searchid=281628&pp=
most of the posts in this search are reposts that i started, alot of good saved material there

[PoeticallyPsyco]

The TWF OffHandbook (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?279079-3-5-The-TWF-OffHandbook) is a, well, handy resource for all things TWF and to a lesser extent natural weapon-spamming.

I also love The Shifter Handbook (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?225294-3-5-The-Shifter-Handbook-(WIP)); the fact that one race is flavorful enough to have an entire handbook dedicated to it is pretty dang cool.

[Saintheart]

My sig has a few handbooks I've done over time, but probably the biggest and most thorough of them is the Critical Hit Handbook (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ex0HMTfZFb8Ra8-Js-sTioUACEx1rGr3HvUXJI_MYpM/edit) which covers close to 200 weapons, 350 character options, and includes builds.

[Falontani]

I also love The Shifter Handbook (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?225294-3-5-The-Shifter-Handbook-(WIP)); the fact that one race is flavorful enough to have an entire handbook dedicated to it is pretty dang cool.

Honestly I'd love to see a good Changeling handbook, but it would be obscenely large if done correctly simply due to the Racial Emulation feat.