I'm in the middle of DMing two campaigns, and trying to figure out if I need or want to drop a sizable amount of money for the new books for subclasses and Circle magic and the like. I'm more tempted to wait and see how they are received post publishing - though tbh, not really feeling the need right now.
But I was wondering if this caution and malaise is my own, are others super-excited for the new books and get me to take another look at them and the pre-order bonus Vampire and Netheril etc.
As someone who has always been interested in Realms lore I am definitely excited for both, especially the DM facing Adventures book. I think the locations that are being covered in some depth give a lot of nice variety and the format for both sounds like an interesting new take. I hope both products and the add-ons do really well!
I like lore as well. Regularly dive into 2e/3e/4e to build out my Tomb of Annihilation game.
Looking at the product page for the DM product. It is silent about which settings are being covered in depth?
From the Product page:
This 288-page guide includes: ​5 settings, each with a Gazetteer​ , 50+ pick up and play adventures, 37 new monsters and villains, The Setting-Neutrral Lost Library of Lethchauntos, 12 new magic items, ​Bastions unique to each setting​.
Of those New monsters, magic items, interest me the most. The 50 adventure ideas, maybe. The Lost Library is a wait and see for me. Similarly Bastions not implemented any since DMG 2024 edition came out so mildly interested to see the idea in practice but not really a draw Maps integration is a non-starter since I largely DM via Roll 20. A good gazetter though can get my DM wheels turning so agree that sounds good but I'm no clearer on what is actually in the book location-wise.
On the locations a splash image specified Icewind Dale (seems odd since Rime of The Frostmaiden exists) and Baldur's Gate (probably because Larian's BG3 was such a massive hit!) are covered. I kinda wish we got away from The Sword Coast for a bit. If it covered recent goings on in Thay, for instance I'd perk up a bit.
I like lore as well. Regularly dive into 2e/3e/4e to build out my Tomb of Annihilation game.
Looking at the product page for the DM product. It is silent about which settings are being covered in depth?
From the Product page:
This 288-page guide includes: ​5 settings, each with a Gazetteer​ , 50+ pick up and play adventures, 37 new monsters and villains, The Setting-Neutrral Lost Library of Lethchauntos, 12 new magic items, ​Bastions unique to each setting​.
Of those New monsters, magic items, interest me the most. The 50 adventure ideas, maybe. The Lost Library is a wait and see for me. Similarly Bastions not implemented any since DMG 2024 edition came out so mildly interested to see the idea in practice but not really a draw Maps integration is a non-starter since I largely DM via Roll 20. A good gazetter though can get my DM wheels turning so agree that sounds good but I'm no clearer on what is actually in the book location-wise.
On the locations a splash image specified Icewind Dale (seems odd since Rime of The Frostmaiden exists) and Baldur's Gate (probably because Larian's BG3 was such a massive hit!) are covered. I kinda wish we got away from The Sword Coast for a bit. If it covered recent goings on in Thay, for instance I'd perk up a bit.
They have announced the five locations on here (sorry: doesn’t let me copy and paste the link on my ‘phone).
Icewind Dale
Baldur’s Gate
Calimport
Moonshae Isles
The Dalelands.
(Five of the subclasses seem to be themed to those locations: Winter Walker ranger, Scion of the Three rogue, Noble Genie paladin, College of the Moon bard and possibly the Bladesinger, respectively.)
Very interested. I have a new character waiting on the Winter Walker Ranger. I want to see how they design things as well. More backgrounds/feats/options/etc. More toys meant to play with the 2024 rules.
I’m looking forward to the realms lore. New subclasses, magic, monsters etc are great, but it’s the DM book next month m really looking forward to. I run an alternate FR world where many of my old (1-4e) PCs have altered the world significantly. However I try to follow the overall world lore except where my NPCs have altered it ( mostly Dalelands and Anauroch) so I’m waiting with baited breath for updates.
I always like to be able to offer my players options so more backgrounds and subclasses are very welcome but I’m also running a Forgotten Realms campaign in the new year so I’m quite looking forward to getting some lore and adventures for that
I always like to be able to offer my players options so more backgrounds and subclasses are very welcome but I’m also running a Forgotten Realms campaign in the new year so I’m quite looking forward to getting some lore and adventures for that
As long as they specify that the lore is only binding to a RAW Forgotten Realms game, & took aches & pains not to repeat previous repeated fumbling of metaphors regarding real peoples & things, the lore should be interesting in a good way.
Crawford & Perkins(This was their last contribution) do not have a good track record of not repeating what they shouldn't from Gygax/Armeson, Greenwood, Salvatore, Hickman, Weiss & Mearls.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM, player & homebrewer(Current homebrew project is an unofficial conversion of SBURB/SGRUB from Homestuck into DND 5e)
Once made Maxwell's Silver Hammer come down upon Strahd's head to make sure he was dead.
Always study & sharpen philosophical razors. They save a lot of trouble.
I have been a big realms fan from thoese first dragon articles onward, so yeah I am excited. Going back to the dalelands again will feel like coming home. And my next campaign will visit Baldurs Gate so that will see some use. Also the take on Calimshan sounds really interesting.
I like lore as well. Regularly dive into 2e/3e/4e to build out my Tomb of Annihilation game.
Looking at the product page for the DM product. It is silent about which settings are being covered in depth?
From the Product page:
This 288-page guide includes: ​5 settings, each with a Gazetteer​ , 50+ pick up and play adventures, 37 new monsters and villains, The Setting-Neutrral Lost Library of Lethchauntos, 12 new magic items, ​Bastions unique to each setting​.
Of those New monsters, magic items, interest me the most. The 50 adventure ideas, maybe. The Lost Library is a wait and see for me. Similarly Bastions not implemented any since DMG 2024 edition came out so mildly interested to see the idea in practice but not really a draw Maps integration is a non-starter since I largely DM via Roll 20. A good gazetter though can get my DM wheels turning so agree that sounds good but I'm no clearer on what is actually in the book location-wise.
On the locations a splash image specified Icewind Dale (seems odd since Rime of The Frostmaiden exists) and Baldur's Gate (probably because Larian's BG3 was such a massive hit!) are covered. I kinda wish we got away from The Sword Coast for a bit. If it covered recent goings on in Thay, for instance I'd perk up a bit.
They have announced the five locations on here (sorry: doesn’t let me copy and paste the link on my ‘phone).
Icewind Dale
Baldur’s Gate
Calimport
Moonshae Isles
The Dalelands.
(Five of the subclasses seem to be themed to those locations: Winter Walker ranger, Scion of the Three rogue, Noble Genie paladin, College of the Moon bard and possibly the Bladesinger, respectively.)
Thank you for that.
Strange that that info appears nowhere on the product page.
Winter Walker Ranger is EXACTLY my style. My favorite elemental damage is Cold, & I'm also a ranger fan.
It's getting a character immediately, along with Scion of the Three Rogue.
(Here's hoping that the new backgrounds fix a frickton of the 2014 backgrounds not having feats attached to them by default)
I hope they fix background stat bumps being limited to a particular set of stats. Tasha's had it perfect. Put your pluses anywhere. I routinely ignore this rule on d&d beyond and just manually add my bonuses in where I want them.
Winter Walker Ranger is EXACTLY my style. My favorite elemental damage is Cold, & I'm also a ranger fan.
It's getting a character immediately, along with Scion of the Three Rogue.
(Here's hoping that the new backgrounds fix a frickton of the 2014 backgrounds not having feats attached to them by default)
I hope they fix background stat bumps being limited to a particular set of stats. Tasha's had it perfect. Put your pluses anywhere. I routinely ignore this rule on d&d beyond and just manually add my bonuses in where I want them.
More varied backgrounds would be nice.
The new backgrounds still have fixed ASIs. But both the legacy background rule and the custom background rule are there if your DM is on board, with the former being AL-legal.
i have high hopes, but my current campaign is consuming most of my attention so it will be a while before i get to try anything in it. Still, i love the realms, and i am hoping they did some fleshing out of things I have always wondered about. Like stuff beyond the sword coast, chult and Icewind dale.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
He/Him. Loooooooooong time Player. The Dark days of the THAC0 system are behind us.
"Hope is a fire that burns in us all If only an ember, awaiting your call To rise up in triumph should we all unite The spark for change is yours to ignite." Kalandra - The State of the World
not really. Im sick of the realms. we have tons of lore encompassing many eras. give us greyhawk stuff.
I just harvest the realms for other settings. stat block for say khelben blackstaff if they throw him in can fit for a circle of eight member. story hooks, backgrounds, sub classes can mostly work anywhere with a bit of flavor alteration. still i wanted a warlock sub class as i think they need some love.
Winter Walker Ranger is EXACTLY my style. My favorite elemental damage is Cold, & I'm also a ranger fan.
It's getting a character immediately, along with Scion of the Three Rogue.
(Here's hoping that the new backgrounds fix a frickton of the 2014 backgrounds not having feats attached to them by default)
I hope they fix background stat bumps being limited to a particular set of stats. Tasha's had it perfect. Put your pluses anywhere. I routinely ignore this rule on d&d beyond and just manually add my bonuses in where I want them.
More varied backgrounds would be nice.
The new backgrounds still have fixed ASIs. But both the legacy background rule and the custom background rule are there if your DM is on board, with the former being AL-legal.
//The new backgrounds still have fixed ASI.//
Booo! Well, we'll still be ignoring that rule then.
//if your DM is on board//
I usually am the DM.
//AL legal//
I'm in the UK, Organised play seems like a more American/convention thing. We play round each others houses or through Roll 20. Never encountered anything adventures guild except published modules for TOMB which I might farm for encounter ideas or to flesh out a faction.
i have high hopes, but my current campaign is consuming most of my attention so it will be a while before i get to try anything in it. Still, i love the realms, and i am hoping they did some fleshing out of things I have always wondered about. Like stuff beyond the sword coast, chult and Icewind dale.
Pretty much the same. My Chult campaign is currently running around an entirely homebrewed version of Mezro because WOTC left it as a literal hole in the ground in the book.
Just started a Sands of Doom Campaign from the Kickstarter. My players are all in so far. Just got their first major quest and are about to start investigating the Cult of the Coiled Whisper! This is going to take some time to go through before I start worrying about the moonshae Isles or whatever.
I'm seeing threads appear on Reddit that Circle Casting is broken AF. (Early drops I guess) - so if its out now, my OP is moot. We're going to start to see the reactions coming out now. And FOMO will kick in, or not.
I'm in the middle of DMing two campaigns, and trying to figure out if I need or want to drop a sizable amount of money for the new books for subclasses and Circle magic and the like. I'm more tempted to wait and see how they are received post publishing - though tbh, not really feeling the need right now.
But I was wondering if this caution and malaise is my own, are others super-excited for the new books and get me to take another look at them and the pre-order bonus Vampire and Netheril etc.
Will it be worth it?
As someone who has always been interested in Realms lore I am definitely excited for both, especially the DM facing Adventures book. I think the locations that are being covered in some depth give a lot of nice variety and the format for both sounds like an interesting new take. I hope both products and the add-ons do really well!
I like lore as well. Regularly dive into 2e/3e/4e to build out my Tomb of Annihilation game.
Looking at the product page for the DM product. It is silent about which settings are being covered in depth?
From the Product page:
This 288-page guide includes: ​5 settings, each with a Gazetteer​ , 50+ pick up and play adventures, 37 new monsters and villains, The Setting-Neutrral Lost Library of Lethchauntos, 12 new magic items, ​Bastions unique to each setting​.
Of those New monsters, magic items, interest me the most. The 50 adventure ideas, maybe. The Lost Library is a wait and see for me. Similarly Bastions not implemented any since DMG 2024 edition came out so mildly interested to see the idea in practice but not really a draw Maps integration is a non-starter since I largely DM via Roll 20. A good gazetter though can get my DM wheels turning so agree that sounds good but I'm no clearer on what is actually in the book location-wise.
On the locations a splash image specified Icewind Dale (seems odd since Rime of The Frostmaiden exists) and Baldur's Gate (probably because Larian's BG3 was such a massive hit!) are covered. I kinda wish we got away from The Sword Coast for a bit. If it covered recent goings on in Thay, for instance I'd perk up a bit.
I am excited. My copies arrived at the local shop today and I will be there to pick them up when the doors open tomorrow.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
They have announced the five locations on here (sorry: doesn’t let me copy and paste the link on my ‘phone).
Icewind Dale
Baldur’s Gate
Calimport
Moonshae Isles
The Dalelands.
(Five of the subclasses seem to be themed to those locations: Winter Walker ranger, Scion of the Three rogue, Noble Genie paladin, College of the Moon bard and possibly the Bladesinger, respectively.)
Very interested. I have a new character waiting on the Winter Walker Ranger. I want to see how they design things as well. More backgrounds/feats/options/etc. More toys meant to play with the 2024 rules.
As for the Realms lore. It should be a good read.
I’m looking forward to the realms lore. New subclasses, magic, monsters etc are great, but it’s the DM book next month m really looking forward to. I run an alternate FR world where many of my old (1-4e) PCs have altered the world significantly. However I try to follow the overall world lore except where my NPCs have altered it ( mostly Dalelands and Anauroch) so I’m waiting with baited breath for updates.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Winter Walker Ranger is EXACTLY my style. My favorite elemental damage is Cold, & I'm also a ranger fan.
It's getting a character immediately, along with Scion of the Three Rogue.
(Here's hoping that the new backgrounds fix a frickton of the 2014 backgrounds not having feats attached to them by default)
DM, player & homebrewer(Current homebrew project is an unofficial conversion of SBURB/SGRUB from Homestuck into DND 5e)
Once made Maxwell's Silver Hammer come down upon Strahd's head to make sure he was dead.
Always study & sharpen philosophical razors. They save a lot of trouble.
I always like to be able to offer my players options so more backgrounds and subclasses are very welcome but I’m also running a Forgotten Realms campaign in the new year so I’m quite looking forward to getting some lore and adventures for that
As long as they specify that the lore is only binding to a RAW Forgotten Realms game, & took aches & pains not to repeat previous repeated fumbling of metaphors regarding real peoples & things, the lore should be interesting in a good way.
Crawford & Perkins(This was their last contribution) do not have a good track record of not repeating what they shouldn't from Gygax/Armeson, Greenwood, Salvatore, Hickman, Weiss & Mearls.
DM, player & homebrewer(Current homebrew project is an unofficial conversion of SBURB/SGRUB from Homestuck into DND 5e)
Once made Maxwell's Silver Hammer come down upon Strahd's head to make sure he was dead.
Always study & sharpen philosophical razors. They save a lot of trouble.
I have been a big realms fan from thoese first dragon articles onward, so yeah I am excited. Going back to the dalelands again will feel like coming home. And my next campaign will visit Baldurs Gate so that will see some use. Also the take on Calimshan sounds really interesting.
Thank you for that.
Strange that that info appears nowhere on the product page.
I hope they fix background stat bumps being limited to a particular set of stats. Tasha's had it perfect. Put your pluses anywhere. I routinely ignore this rule on d&d beyond and just manually add my bonuses in where I want them.
More varied backgrounds would be nice.
The new backgrounds still have fixed ASIs. But both the legacy background rule and the custom background rule are there if your DM is on board, with the former being AL-legal.
i have high hopes, but my current campaign is consuming most of my attention so it will be a while before i get to try anything in it.
Still, i love the realms, and i am hoping they did some fleshing out of things I have always wondered about. Like stuff beyond the sword coast, chult and Icewind dale.
He/Him. Loooooooooong time Player.
The Dark days of the THAC0 system are behind us.
"Hope is a fire that burns in us all If only an ember, awaiting your call
To rise up in triumph should we all unite
The spark for change is yours to ignite."
Kalandra - The State of the World
no warlock subclasses no hype for me.
not really. Im sick of the realms. we have tons of lore encompassing many eras. give us greyhawk stuff.
I just harvest the realms for other settings. stat block for say khelben blackstaff if they throw him in can fit for a circle of eight member. story hooks, backgrounds, sub classes can mostly work anywhere with a bit of flavor alteration. still i wanted a warlock sub class as i think they need some love.
//The new backgrounds still have fixed ASI.//
Booo! Well, we'll still be ignoring that rule then.
//if your DM is on board//
I usually am the DM.
//AL legal//
I'm in the UK, Organised play seems like a more American/convention thing. We play round each others houses or through Roll 20. Never encountered anything adventures guild except published modules for TOMB which I might farm for encounter ideas or to flesh out a faction.
Pretty much the same. My Chult campaign is currently running around an entirely homebrewed version of Mezro because WOTC left it as a literal hole in the ground in the book.
Just started a Sands of Doom Campaign from the Kickstarter. My players are all in so far. Just got their first major quest and are about to start investigating the Cult of the Coiled Whisper! This is going to take some time to go through before I start worrying about the moonshae Isles or whatever.
I'm seeing threads appear on Reddit that Circle Casting is broken AF. (Early drops I guess) - so if its out now, my OP is moot. We're going to start to see the reactions coming out now. And FOMO will kick in, or not.