What I want are books that make preparing & running my games easier.
"You there, walking in the background.. who are you?" - various statted NPCs on a template basis.
The idea being that your NPC is calculated like this:
Attribute package (strong NPC, smart NPC, average NPC, etc.)
+ Species modifiers (various species, incl. generic unnamed species)
+ Profession package (Merchant, Gov't Official, Soldier, Spaceship Captain, etc.)
+ Experience Package (Freshman, Veteran, Methusalem, etc.)
You just pick the templates, add the numbers and your "smart Andorian Helmsman with much experience" on the players ship is ready to go.
A book like this (or even a fairly long chapter) would be very helpful, at least to me, in quickly statting out my NPCs.
"Let's see what's out there!" - various planets, systems and space anomalies to be easily and quickly thrown into my game.
While I appreciate the write-ups for planets, systems and anomalies that have appeared in the various series, I'd also welcome some generic or original write-ups. If I quickly need a planetary system with a high crime rate and low technology, I'd like to be able to pick one from a book, slap a name on it and fine-tune it to fit into my game.
I've found that I'm willing to run through a normal creation process for important locations in my game, but not for a planet that'll only show up for one episode and never be heard from again.
I've also always been fascinated by campaign/setting books. Maybe a book that details a sector, its planets and people as well as some fleshed out plot hooks. Not yet adventures, but some vaguely inter-related plot ideas which a GM can use as a campaign or as a rough guide-line for his campaign. The idea being that a campaign run from this book would be fundamentally different with each GM.
Hmm... I'd write something like this myself if I had just a little more time on my hands.
No power in the 'verse can stop me.
"You know this roleplaying thing is awfully silly, let's just roll the dice." - overheard during a D&D 3E game.