I need to decide between buying Tasha's Cauldron of Everything and Xanathar's Guide to Everything, and I couldn't decide, as they are the same things with different additional rules. Which would you guys recommend?
It sort of depends on what you want from the respective book. I also want to point out, that if you're talking about purchasing on D&D Beyond, you could for instance buy all the subclasses (which would include unlocking the artificer class in Tasha's) from both books for $20 all together, and and another $12 would get you all the spells from both. Just a consideration as I think piecemeal purchases especially by players are a neglected purchase option when discussed.
But as for book for book, Tasha's unlocks the Artificer and the rest of the players options therein are pretty popular. You also get the custom lineage, customized origin (which I think is locked on DDB unless you have this book, not sure though), plus all the optional class features for the base classes ... none of that is available piecemeal. I find the DMs tools in Xanthar's more useful (particularly the sections on tool proficiencies and downtime) while those in Tasha's are a bit less inspired and reiterate sort of well known best practices in gaming, but that's a personal taste thing and some folks really like guidelines for Session 0 being spelled out and lean on the environmental options. I guess Sidekicks in Tasha's aren't something to overlook either. Subclasses in Xanathar's I think are a more mixed bag than Tasha's, but Xanathar's has the Hexblade which is a very popular character option.
If I wasn't interested in making a piecemeal purchase and needed to buy one of the other, I'd honestly look at the table of contents of each, and then make a two column chart of what you find compelling in each and weigh your decision from there.
I'd say Xanathar's is "used" more than Tasha's but that's because it's been around a lot longer so the content is just more integrated into a lot of tables games. That might be a factor in your decision too.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Tashas by and large is a book that just has a bunch of stuff for players. It's all the optional rules for classes, new subclasses and then at the very end has some DM stuff.
Xanathar has subclasses too, but does go into more detail about some DM stuff like downtime activites, ways to use kits/tools.
They're both in my opinion "core" books once you get really invested into D&D, but if I had to choose one or the other? I'd choose tasha first if I were a player looking to expand what things I could build from a character sheet perspective, and I'd choose xanathar more for what it gives insight to for a DM perspective.
I don't think you could go wrong with either one. I'd probably go with Xanathar's because you will probably eventually want both so you might as well progress in chronological order as the design of 5e has been evolving a bit over time.
Both are great books. For a player, the optional stuff in Tasha's is just overall more appealing imo. Xanathar's is great, but, for players, is more about the subclasses.
For a DM, Xanathar's is a must. I use it waaaaay more than the DMG. Downtime, Tools usage, Random Encounters by environment, NPC names, Traps... this book has everything. There has not been a single campaign where I don't flip the pages of this book at least once a week. Just 👌 perfect
I need to decide between buying Tasha's Cauldron of Everything and Xanathar's Guide to Everything, and I couldn't decide, as they are the same things with different additional rules. Which would you guys recommend?
Orange Juice!
It sort of depends on what you want from the respective book. I also want to point out, that if you're talking about purchasing on D&D Beyond, you could for instance buy all the subclasses (which would include unlocking the artificer class in Tasha's) from both books for $20 all together, and and another $12 would get you all the spells from both. Just a consideration as I think piecemeal purchases especially by players are a neglected purchase option when discussed.
But as for book for book, Tasha's unlocks the Artificer and the rest of the players options therein are pretty popular. You also get the custom lineage, customized origin (which I think is locked on DDB unless you have this book, not sure though), plus all the optional class features for the base classes ... none of that is available piecemeal. I find the DMs tools in Xanthar's more useful (particularly the sections on tool proficiencies and downtime) while those in Tasha's are a bit less inspired and reiterate sort of well known best practices in gaming, but that's a personal taste thing and some folks really like guidelines for Session 0 being spelled out and lean on the environmental options. I guess Sidekicks in Tasha's aren't something to overlook either. Subclasses in Xanathar's I think are a more mixed bag than Tasha's, but Xanathar's has the Hexblade which is a very popular character option.
If I wasn't interested in making a piecemeal purchase and needed to buy one of the other, I'd honestly look at the table of contents of each, and then make a two column chart of what you find compelling in each and weigh your decision from there.
I'd say Xanathar's is "used" more than Tasha's but that's because it's been around a lot longer so the content is just more integrated into a lot of tables games. That might be a factor in your decision too.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Tashas by and large is a book that just has a bunch of stuff for players. It's all the optional rules for classes, new subclasses and then at the very end has some DM stuff.
Xanathar has subclasses too, but does go into more detail about some DM stuff like downtime activites, ways to use kits/tools.
They're both in my opinion "core" books once you get really invested into D&D, but if I had to choose one or the other? I'd choose tasha first if I were a player looking to expand what things I could build from a character sheet perspective, and I'd choose xanathar more for what it gives insight to for a DM perspective.
I’ve gotten WAY more use out of XGE-both as a player and DM.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
I don't think you could go wrong with either one. I'd probably go with Xanathar's because you will probably eventually want both so you might as well progress in chronological order as the design of 5e has been evolving a bit over time.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
Both are great books. For a player, the optional stuff in Tasha's is just overall more appealing imo. Xanathar's is great, but, for players, is more about the subclasses.
For a DM, Xanathar's is a must. I use it waaaaay more than the DMG. Downtime, Tools usage, Random Encounters by environment, NPC names, Traps... this book has everything. There has not been a single campaign where I don't flip the pages of this book at least once a week. Just 👌 perfect
Thanks!
Orange Juice!