While waiting for Questing Beast’s sales guide to drop, I realized that I have a pretty extensive collection myself and could flag some things I recommend that are on sale. I have used all my recommendations at the table, except for Crypts & Things, which I read closely.
DTRPG
Beyond the Wall — A version of B/X tailored to a low fantasy setting where the land of fairy is the otherworld. Magic is a mix of roll-to-cast and Vancian. Notable for extremely good character generation system and randomized goblins and demons. Many of the demons are incorporeal. Generally a good game if you want D&D as genre emulation rather than snake eating its own tail D&D. I don’t have enough improv confidence to use the “scenario packs” but it works just fine with modules. (I used it to run Winter’s Daughter).
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/113405/beyond-the-wall-and-other-adventures
Crypts & Things — A version of Swords & Wizardry adjusted to emulate Robert E. Howard. Interesting magic system that combines divine and arcane magic but makes both dangerous.
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/190299/crypts-and-things-remastered
Rats in the Walls — A set of Hyperborea (AD&D but more sword and sorcery) modules. Two of them are meh but “The Brazen Bull” is superb. https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/265542/rats-in-the-walls-and-other-perils
Secret of Black Crag — An archipelago hexcrawl with several mini-dungeons and one main dungeon. I made it the framework for my campaign, but also dropped another half dozen dungeons into it.
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/425300/secret-of-the-black-crag
Monstrous Manual (AD&D 2e) — Best value of any TSR bestiary. Equivalent to volumes #1 and #2 of the 3-ring binder version.
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/16865/monstrous-manual-2e
Lairs and Encounters — 165 lairs, typically a page or two, covering basically all of the standard monsters.
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/197368/lairs-encounters
Night’s Black Agents — A Gumshoe system (point spend and d6) game that is like the Frankenheimer/Mamet film Ronin if the Mr Johnson was vampires instead of the IRA. Far and away my favorite non-OSR game. I would use this for any modern setting that involves action, investigation, and horror. For instance, I’d rather use NBA to run Delta Green than DG’s native d100 system.
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/106783/night-s-black-agents
Exalted Funeral
The knock on Old School Essentials is the print versions are too expensive but they’re currently on sale really cheap. And the puzzle about OSE is always the “which version do I get” mini-game. Simple answer: get the Advanced Fantasy Player + Referee bound volumes.
I personally don’t care for AD&D-inspired player options (eg, illusionists), but you really want the Advanced Fantasy referee book as otherwise you’re going to be missing a lot of monsters and magic items you take for granted (and need for compatibility). The reason to get the bound volumes rather than the box sets is to avoid flipping through two bestiaries every time you want to find a monster. Likewise for magic items.
You could do just fine though with the OSE Classic Fantasy single volume if you don’t mind using OSRIC for the magic items and monsters.
While you’re at it, get all three issues of Carcass Crawler. They’re $5 each!
https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/ose-advanced-fantasy-referees-tome
https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/ose-advanced-fantasy-players-tome
https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/carcass-crawler-exclusive-inaugural-issue
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