The Sourcebook Bundle should have you covered if you need everything, but the Player’s Handbook and Xanathar’s Guide to Everything have most of it between them.
Also always remember that you can just buy the subclasses/spells/etc individually without actually buying any book.
Be aware that there are things in the sourcebooks that aren't included with only the individual components if you're into reading storytelling. They're usually flavor stuff and recommendations, though. EDIT: Be aware, again, that purchasing individual components counts as a certain amount of credit toward purchasing the whole sourcebook later.
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider. My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong. I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲 “It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
For essentials. I mean you can simply google any race with adding 5th edition dnd to a search. But physical wise it is really spread out. So if you need the book to play the race.
Players handbook is a solid start and will be needed regardless. (9 races)
Volos guide to monsters has a bunch if you like lizardfolk, kenku, kobolds, firbolds, and such. (12 races)
Elemental evil players companion. Think in the book itself. This would be a third which would fill up most of what you need. (3 races but one has 4 subraces. But has your aarakocra, goliath and genasi)
Those would be my three of choice. Pretty much buy the book for the races you want to play. But seem like the most bang for the buck. Volos for certain as you get lots of lore and 12 races.
Archetypes you pretty much are looking at Xanathars Guide to everything, players handbook, and sword coast adventures guide. These seem to have a fair bit in them. Xanathars also comes with a ton of extra spells and items. So looking at 5 books to get most of the stuff from the entire game.
If you want every option, you will need every source book.
Most of the volo's races were reprinted in EGtW (including tortle), but not all (including lizardfolk, triton, kobold, yuan-ti, and OG Orc). It does completely reprint all EEPC races, but those were free anyway.
ERftLW reprints every option in WGtE except the aereni and valenar elves.
And besides those you will still need PHB (for most base options not in BR), DMG (2 races and 2 subclasses, plus items), XGtE (most spells and subclasses), MToF (for more races), SCAG (races and a few spells), GGtR (lot of things), AI (more things). At least 11 books (1 of which is not physical).
If you're OK with digital books, the critter bundle is a great deal. You get the PHB, XGtE, and EGtW, which all in all include a lot of, if not most of the playable races and almost all of the subclasses in just 3 books (EGtW has tons of races and subrace reprints, and a few new ones as well and XGtE having most of the subclasses released outside of the PHB), not to mention the numerous spells in XGtE and the vast amounts of lore in EGtW for just $81.
I only see the official books in the market... Is there some other place to get stuff and some how import in? I really dont have the budget to buy $100+ worth of digital books, to just make a couple characters to play online with.
I only see the official books in the market... Is there some other place to get stuff and some how import in? I really don't have the budget to buy $100+ worth of digital books, to just make a couple characters to play online with.
The only way to "import" anything is to make it as private homebrew.
I use DDB when playing in person, it isn't only for online play.
I only see the official books in the market... Is there some other place to get stuff and some how import in? I really dont have the budget to buy $100+ worth of digital books, to just make a couple characters to play online with.
If you are after third party content (i.e. something published by Kobold Press), you will have to homebrew it. You can visit the Homebrew forum for more information on how to use the homebrew tools.
Also always remember that you can just buy the subclasses/spells/etc individually without actually buying any book.
I want to be able to create a Rogue Scout, so at this time all I want to purchase is the Scout subclass. How is this done? I can't seem to figure it out. I should also mention that I already own hardcopy versions of the Player's Handbook and Xanathar's Guide to Everything.
Also always remember that you can just buy the subclasses/spells/etc individually without actually buying any book.
I want to be able to create a Rogue Scout, so at this time all I want to purchase is the Scout subclass. How is this done? I can't seem to figure it out. I should also mention that I already own hardcopy versions of the Player's Handbook and Xanathar's Guide to Everything.
Make a homebrew subclass of a rogue and just copy things from Xanathar's.
And I see the other posts... drill into the source book and scroll down, and I see that you can just buy single options... Now I am getting it..
On my phone actually, but tablet works better if you have one (I don't). There is an app (WIP), but I prefer just using my browser. I use physical dice at the table, though there is a dice roller on here.
If you are in a campaign where the DM has a master subscription, then they can share all their source books for your characters in that campaign, so that you don't need to purchase any books at all!
If you are in a campaign where the DM has a master subscription, then they can share all their source books for your characters in that campaign, so that you don't need to purchase any books at all!
Actually, if anyone in the campaign has a master subscription and sharing is turned on, anyone in the campaign who owns a sourcebook on DDB can share it with everyone. It doesn't have to be the DM.
And I see the other posts... drill into the source book and scroll down, and I see that you can just buy single options... Now I am getting it..
On my phone actually, but tablet works better if you have one (I don't). There is an app (WIP), but I prefer just using my browser. I use physical dice at the table, though there is a dice roller on here.
Due to DDB having the rules app and the players app, I have my android phone, android tablet and my Chromebook which all goes with me when I game giving me basically 3 copies of everything I own on DDB which is everything. It makes it awesome as I had a stroke in 2017 and cannot carry the book like I used to.
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So I was wondering what books do you need to buy, to have all the official classes, races, feats, backgrounds and archetypes available in 5e?
The Sourcebook Bundle should have you covered if you need everything, but the Player’s Handbook and Xanathar’s Guide to Everything have most of it between them.
Also always remember that you can just buy the subclasses/spells/etc individually without actually buying any book.
Be aware that there are things in the sourcebooks that aren't included with only the individual components if you're into reading storytelling. They're usually flavor stuff and recommendations, though. EDIT: Be aware, again, that purchasing individual components counts as a certain amount of credit toward purchasing the whole sourcebook later.
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider.
My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong.
I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲
“It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
I meant hard copies.
Then buy them physically from a bookstore. They’re the same books.
For essentials. I mean you can simply google any race with adding 5th edition dnd to a search. But physical wise it is really spread out. So if you need the book to play the race.
Players handbook is a solid start and will be needed regardless. (9 races)
Volos guide to monsters has a bunch if you like lizardfolk, kenku, kobolds, firbolds, and such. (12 races)
Elemental evil players companion. Think in the book itself. This would be a third which would fill up most of what you need. (3 races but one has 4 subraces. But has your aarakocra, goliath and genasi)
Those would be my three of choice. Pretty much buy the book for the races you want to play. But seem like the most bang for the buck. Volos for certain as you get lots of lore and 12 races.
Archetypes you pretty much are looking at Xanathars Guide to everything, players handbook, and sword coast adventures guide. These seem to have a fair bit in them. Xanathars also comes with a ton of extra spells and items. So looking at 5 books to get most of the stuff from the entire game.
If you want every option, you will need every source book.
Most of the volo's races were reprinted in EGtW (including tortle), but not all (including lizardfolk, triton, kobold, yuan-ti, and OG Orc). It does completely reprint all EEPC races, but those were free anyway.
ERftLW reprints every option in WGtE except the aereni and valenar elves.
And besides those you will still need PHB (for most base options not in BR), DMG (2 races and 2 subclasses, plus items), XGtE (most spells and subclasses), MToF (for more races), SCAG (races and a few spells), GGtR (lot of things), AI (more things). At least 11 books (1 of which is not physical).
If you're OK with digital books, the critter bundle is a great deal. You get the PHB, XGtE, and EGtW, which all in all include a lot of, if not most of the playable races and almost all of the subclasses in just 3 books (EGtW has tons of races and subrace reprints, and a few new ones as well and XGtE having most of the subclasses released outside of the PHB), not to mention the numerous spells in XGtE and the vast amounts of lore in EGtW for just $81.
Just remember:
Baby Groot > Baby Yoda
I only see the official books in the market... Is there some other place to get stuff and some how import in? I really dont have the budget to buy $100+ worth of digital books, to just make a couple characters to play online with.
The only way to "import" anything is to make it as private homebrew.
I use DDB when playing in person, it isn't only for online play.
Hello there Nitehood57,
If you are after official (e.g. published by Wizards of the Coast) options, I suggest you look at the pretty much definitive guide on how the different purchase options work on D&D Beyond that was created by ArwensDaughter. You can find it pinned towards the top of this forum, and here is the direct link: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/general-discussion/13989-a-buyers-guide-for-d-d-beyond
If you are after third party content (i.e. something published by Kobold Press), you will have to homebrew it. You can visit the Homebrew forum for more information on how to use the homebrew tools.
-- Arms are for hugging The Dandy Warhols --
I want to be able to create a Rogue Scout, so at this time all I want to purchase is the Scout subclass. How is this done? I can't seem to figure it out. I should also mention that I already own hardcopy versions of the Player's Handbook and Xanathar's Guide to Everything.
Make a homebrew subclass of a rogue and just copy things from Xanathar's.
Edit:
You want to purchase the scout subclass so go to https://www.dndbeyond.com/marketplace/sourcebooks/xanathars-guide-to-everything and just put that one subclass into your cart.
Got it, thank you! I just needed to scroll down further to find the a-la-carte subclasses/archetypes.
Do you take it with you on a tablet or something?
And I see the other posts... drill into the source book and scroll down, and I see that you can just buy single options... Now I am getting it..
On my phone actually, but tablet works better if you have one (I don't). There is an app (WIP), but I prefer just using my browser. I use physical dice at the table, though there is a dice roller on here.
If you are in a campaign where the DM has a master subscription, then they can share all their source books for your characters in that campaign, so that you don't need to purchase any books at all!
Actually, if anyone in the campaign has a master subscription and sharing is turned on, anyone in the campaign who owns a sourcebook on DDB can share it with everyone. It doesn't have to be the DM.
Due to DDB having the rules app and the players app, I have my android phone, android tablet and my Chromebook which all goes with me when I game giving me basically 3 copies of everything I own on DDB which is everything. It makes it awesome as I had a stroke in 2017 and cannot carry the book like I used to.