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Essential / reccomended reading

Started by Ferran, January 18, 2010, 08:50:01 PM

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Ferran

Not sure whether to put this in Rules or here, but anyway, reviving this thread from the old spec games forums. Add your suggestions and links for reccomended reading, whether for flavour, rules, or just cool stuff, and links if possible, and I'll edit OP. I could perhaps replace retail links with ISBNs, possibly more appropriate.


- =][= Rulebook (also =][= annuals and sourcebooks)
- =][= PDFs hosted by Markoscoll http://www.mediafire.com/MarcoSkoll
- Dark Heresy rules / expansions (includes Inquisitor's handbook, Radicals, Creatures Anathema, Disciples etc)
- 40k rulebook (any/all)
- Codices (any/all)
- Eisenhorn Trilogy / Sequels
- Warhammer Armies, WFRP (generally Chaos)
- Specialist games rulebooks, ie Titanicus, Necromunda, BFG etc http://www.games-workshop.com
- Rogue Trader / Realms of Chaos books (Slaves to Darkness / The Lost and The Damned)
- BL Background / fluff books http://www.amazon.co.uk/Liber-Chaotica-Warhammer-R-Williams/dp/184416800X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263847369&sr=1-1 <<< Get this now, acceptable value at twice this price
As far as BL goes I also like Gothic Eldritch, Horus Heresy artbooks and the ever popular Xenology but there are quite a few that could be useful / inspirational


Military literature, examples -
- Soldiery http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soldier-Visual-History-Fighting-Man/dp/1405344202/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I36013A1BRMH95&colid=M1QZ4WUF6E7P
- Weapons http://www.amazon.co.uk/Illustrated-Encyclopedia-Swords-Sabres-Authoritative/dp/0754818519/ref=wl_itt_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1XVMPVRFXIBF7&colid=M1QZ4WUF6E7P
-Janes guides, many topics (guns, vehicles, & much more) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Guns-Recognition-Guide-Janes/dp/0007183283
- Gun database http://world.guns.ru/main-e.htm
- WW2, Stalingrad http://www.amazon.co.uk/Voices-Stalingrad-First-Hand-Accounts-Cruellest/dp/0715327259/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264011978&sr=1-5

General History & philosophy -
Spanish Inquisition http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spanish-Inquisition-Historical-Association-Studies/dp/0631206000/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263847225&sr=1-3
Art of War, Machiavelli's The Prince, etc http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prince-Dover-Thrift-Niccolo-Machiavelli/dp/0486272745/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263847266&sr=1-1
Cities http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cities-John-Reader/dp/009928426X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263996684&sr=1-4


Anatomy http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anatomy-Fantasy-Artists-Illustrators-Fantastical/dp/0715320289

Sci-fi
- Starship Troopers WW2, Stalingrad http://www.amazon.co.uk/Voices-Stalingrad-First-Hand-Accounts-Cruellest/dp/0715327259/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264011978&sr=1-5
- Dune http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dune-Frank-Herbert/dp/0450011844/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264012191&sr=1-1

MarcoSkoll

I'm going to stick my oar in here.

I've got enough firearms guides around, and about the only time I've ever needed to use them in relation to Inquisitor is when writing the "Revised Armoury" - the fact is, there's no particular need in Inquisitor for specific knowledge of modern firearms. As long as you have at least a "movie" knowledge of guns, that's enough to start.

If you do want to know more, or need to find ideas for firearms, you can pick more than enough info up on a site like "Modern Firearms and Ammunition" (sometimes better known as "World Guns").

In the end, people don't need to spend cash on detailed knowledge when passing knowledge is enough. I'd seriously push internet links on these subjects over printed text, even if those aren't quite as in-depth.

Other than the actual rules and 40k background, the only real area where I would suggest investing in books is if you're planning on taking up scratch sculpting. Actually having books on anatomy handy while you work is pretty invaluable.

The two I personally use are "Anatomy for Artists" by Barrington Barber, and "Anatomy for Fantasy Artists" by Glenn Fabry, bought as part of my drawing.
The former is oriented towards life drawing, but it has as many pictures as you'll ever need of muscle structure. The latter is is based around drawing from the twisted recesses of your mind, and choosing poses and modifying the basic human structure for fantastical creatures, but the downside is that only has limited muscle references.
Having not yet found one book that covers it all, I'd say the two are worth more together than apart.

Again, not essential (although getting a human figure right is more important than a detailed knowledge of guns, and I say that from experience), and you could get by on just internet resources, but I bought them for more than Amazon is asking, and I still think they're worth the cash.
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles

Ferran

Quote from: MarcoSkoll on January 19, 2010, 01:17:01 AM
I'm going to stick my oar in here.

I've got enough firearms guides around, and about the only time I've ever needed to use them in relation to Inquisitor is when writing the "Revised Armoury" - the fact is, there's no particular need in Inquisitor for specific knowledge of modern firearms. As long as you have at least a "movie" knowledge of guns, that's enough to start.

Thanks for your contribution, however I'm not really looking for opinions on what people shouldn't want to read, despite what your experience has proven to be fact.

Anatomy books added.

TheNephew

I'm pretty sure that wasn't supposed to be a confrontational post.

I agree with the importance of the historical and philosophical books - I have a (translated and abridged) copy of The Prince, and it serves as good inspiration for various personalities that could easily pop up in Inquisitor. Unsurprisingly noble families are at the top of this character candidate list.

Ancient history is also a nice source of ready-made fall of an empire legend frameworks, which is handy for knocking together a bit of background for systems, artifacts and daemons.

MarcoSkoll

Quote from: Ferran on January 19, 2010, 03:51:36 PMThanks for your contribution, however I'm not really looking for opinions on what people shouldn't want to read, despite what your experience has proven to be fact.
I'm not saying that people shouldn't read books on guns if they want to, but I do think people would be better off at least starting by reading internet sites on the manner, then deciding after that if they really need to spend the money on more information that will only be indirectly useful.

For almost all purposes, it doesn't matter if you have the direct stats and information on the workings of an SA80, M60 or whatever, because those precise weapons don't exist in 40k (although, no doubt, there are equivalents), and the game's statlines are an abstraction anyway.
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles

Ferran

Quote from: MarcoSkoll on January 19, 2010, 09:45:15 PM
Quote from: Ferran on January 19, 2010, 03:51:36 PMThanks for your contribution, however I'm not really looking for opinions on what people shouldn't want to read, despite what your experience has proven to be fact.
I'm not saying that people shouldn't read books on guns if they want to, but I do think people would be better off at least starting by reading internet sites on the manner, then deciding after that if they really need to spend the money on more information that will only be indirectly useful.

For almost all purposes, it doesn't matter if you have the direct stats and information on the workings of an SA80, M60 or whatever, because those precise weapons don't exist in 40k (although, no doubt, there are equivalents), and the game's statlines are an abstraction anyway.

ok that's true and you are entitled to an opinion of course, but the point of this reccomended reading list (I stress reccomended, in this case by myself) is to provide inspiration, information, even just entertainment. My interest in Inquisitor is the reason I bought these books http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Encyclopedia-Rifles-Carbines/dp/9036615127/ref=cm_pdp_srp_title_2  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Encyclopedia-European-Historical-Weapons-Durdik/dp/0600575381/ref=cm_pdp_srp_title_4 , I hoped that they might help me with my modelling, mainly to enhance the aesthetics of my characters, and also to provide ideas. Of course it helps that I have a mild interest in this area, but I don't think I would have bought any of these publications off the back of my interest in 40k (except a couple of military vehicle books that I bought), and probably not for general interest either (exception here being a book on armour and the book in the second link).

So not in any way essential, but possibly helpful. Yes I do prefer hardcopy, I am not alone in this preference, but I don't have any objections to digital, far from it.

Tullio

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cities-John-Reader/dp/009928426X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263996684&sr=1-4

This is an excellent book for getting an idea of why settlements form, and what happens when they do. Same principles apply to 40K settlements, for that little bit of extra believability.

Tullio

Shard

Let's not forget two of the key literary works that have inspired the 40Kverse -

* Dune by Frank Herbert
* Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein

Both are fun to read works of sci-fi that have been pillaged inspirational to the background and game developers, and I'd strongly reccommend both of them.  ;D

Ferran


DapperAnarchist

For those interested in the "lesser races", in xenology of the real world type, in SF in general, and in biology, Evolving the Alien by Stewart & Cohen (them of the Science of Discworld books) is very good - they've been helping SF writers with their bioscaping for about 30 years, having even helped out a bit on Dune and its sequels, I believe. Niven looks to them a lot as well. For 40K it provides ideas for aliens that avoid the Star Trek Fallacy (aliens will look like us, but with half a pound of makeup on their nose).
Questions are a burden to others, answers a burden to oneself.

The Keltani Subsector  My P&M Thread - Most recent, INQ28!

MarcoSkoll

Quote from: Ferran on January 18, 2010, 08:50:01 PM- =][= PDFs hosted by Markoscoll
I've just noticed that you've managed to swap the positions of the K and C.

I seem to have a horrible habit for picking names that people get wrong in so many different ways. I've seen "Macro Skull" more than once.
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles

DapperAnarchist

Trump card - once, I think on the previous incarnation of this forum, I was called "Dapper Antichrist"
Questions are a burden to others, answers a burden to oneself.

The Keltani Subsector  My P&M Thread - Most recent, INQ28!

MarcoSkoll

Quote from: DapperAnarchist on February 13, 2010, 10:23:26 PMDapper Antichrist

Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm a man of wealth and taste.
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles