VST Synths & Samplers: Any Suggestions?

I've been using Reason for a long time. I'm new to Reaper and I dig the whole running Reason through Reaper with rewire but I'm interested in going another direction and using VST drums, synths, and samplers in it's place. I've already decided to get Addictive Drums after doing some research on that but I'm having a harder time figuring out which synths and samplers really stand out from the crowd. As far as the samplers go, in particular I'm interested in really realistic sounding pianos & organs. But it would be nice to get something that has a wide variety of different instrument sounds to select from. As far as the synth goes, something like Reason's Subtractor would be really cool.

Drums - I like RMV Powerful Synths Rob Papen make some nice synths, Albino/Preditor Zebra II NI have some interesting Synths too but sometimes it's hard to get your head around them. Sampling, horses for courses. NI Kontakt is a workhorse but personally I like Cakewalks Dimension Pro. Bit more to my liking with a very nice sound palate. If you just want good sample libraries ready off the bat then there are the East West Sample collections which are very well done. Only grab a couple instruments and learn them inside out. I started with looking at all options out there and got bogged down not able to make up my mind. Now I prefer to have a handful of VST's and just stick with them and work them hard. Less confusing. Way too much choice out there in VI land. LOL

Thanks for the tips. And I agree with you as far as too many choices. I've been using Reason for samplers, drums, and synths for a long time so I haven't learned much about the whole VST instrument deal but now I'm trying to learn about it and it's a bit overwhelming at first. I'd like to just go with a couple of things and learn them well rather than try a million different things and have it just become a hassle.

+ 1 for zebra 2. the possibilities with this synth are almost endless and the sound quality is excellent. if you want something with a more simple interface like subtractor i would recommend the freeware synth1 by ichiro toda. it too has a great sound (although more digital - its definitely not an analogue emulation) and its amazingly light on the cpu. if you do download it make sure you download the banks by damien chamizo and teksonic as they really show off its capabilities NI do make some great synths - absynth has a sound like nothing else

Admiral Quality Poly-Ana: loads of analogue type character and much more. Layer it under the weaker Papen synths or Zebra for example to give the latter synths some character. Sonicprojects OPX Pro: Oberheim OBX emulatuion; sem filter emulation very nice. G Media impOSCar and ODDity synths; been around a long time but they got it right and set the bar high from the beginning. Native Instruments FM7; FM8 is great too, but I like the authenticity of FM7 (minus the hiss!!) Arturia synths; particularly the Roland Jupiter 8 emulation. Most of the above are very fairly priced and have their own characterful sound; I'd only swap them for the real hardware.

for the synths I would recommend z3ta+ and/or rapture, you can grab the demos at the Cakewalk site, they are both quite nice (I own z3ta+, which is plenty for me, but I guess some people prefer rapture, it being newer etc.)