I keep seeing a lot of hate towards M3 mostly from established players/DMs, but no input on how it effects newer players. I am going to be DMing my very first game, and in general, have very little experience with DnD (outside of a Pathfinder campaign I was a player in). So I want to ask, is M3 worth buying for someone like me, seeing as I own no books besides the players handbook?
Very much so. It will give you, the DM, over 200 new monsters you can utilise in the encounter builder. It also consolidates 30 races from other sources into a single book, giving your players a whole host of race options to choose from. Almost certainly the best value but you can purchase if you are just starting out your collection.
Yes, it's good value because it replaces two other books and so would save you money. You also get in the region of 30 playable races, which are always good.
No, I'd focus in other books first. The Monster Manual is pretty important - published adventures assume that you have it. MotM is only really for homebrew adventures in terms providing monster. As such, you'll probably get more mileage out of the MM than MotM. If you're going to do homebrew adventures, then MotM might be worth it after you get the MM.
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I have the two starter campaigns Phandalin and Dragon of Icespire. I'll be running Icespire to get some experience in and hopefully move onto a homebrew campaign later this year. Thanks for the input.
I keep seeing a lot of hate towards M3 mostly from established players/DMs, but no input on how it effects newer players. I am going to be DMing my very first game, and in general, have very little experience with DnD (outside of a Pathfinder campaign I was a player in). So I want to ask, is M3 worth buying for someone like me, seeing as I own no books besides the players handbook?
Most of the hate is about how the old content is being phased out, not about the quality of the new content.
MotM/M3 is a fine product and very much worth the purchase for a new player/DM. But shouldn't necessarily be a first purchase.
If you haven't bought anything on DDB yet, I recommend getting the essentials kit physically. That comes with an adventure, some slightly expanded basic rules, and stuff needed to play. But it also comes with 2 codes: 1 for 4 adventures (icespire and its 3 sequels) and 1 for 50% off the PHB.
After the PHB, XGtE is my first recommendation. It has player options and a few expanded rules for DMs. The DMG and MM are worth picking up early, but not until you are sure you want to get into the game. Then get TCoE and MotM. And lastly any additional settings or adventure books you are interested in.
I have the two starter campaigns Phandalin and Dragon of Icespire. I'll be running Icespire to get some experience in and hopefully move onto a homebrew campaign later this year. Thanks for the input.
Those come with everything needed to run the game. I wouldn't bother with anything else until you know that you'll enjoy the game and want to expand.
If you're going with published adventures, then you WILL need the Monster Manual. They assume you have it and only provide statblocks for monsters not in the MM. If you don't have it, it will.be awkward. However, my recommendation is to get monster cards (either instead of or as well as). They're much easier to work with while in a game.
After that, I'd just add books in as you feel the need. PHB and MM are plenty to do the basics, the rest just add to your experience.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
If you're going with published adventures, then you WILL need the Monster Manual. They assume you have it and only provide statblocks for monsters not in the MM. If you don't have it, it will.be awkward.
You're partly right. A lot of monsters are in the basic rules, so there is a decent chance (~70% chance) of not needing the MM for most of the adventure.
I'm a pretty new gm myself and while there are some things I don't like about it I would say it's a decent buy if your players want some more options for races. I liked having a bunch of races that were scattered about several books. Other than that I'd save it for a later buy and would probably go Tasha's or Fizbans beforehand since they have more gm tools.
Very much so. It will give you, the DM, over 200 new monsters you can utilise in the encounter builder. It also consolidates 30 races from other sources into a single book, giving your players a whole host of race options to choose from. Almost certainly the best value but you can purchase if you are just starting out your collection.
It's worth mentioning that your players won't get that host of race options in the character builder unless one of you has the Master Tier subscription and enables content sharing for your campaign.
As others have said, the book is exactly geared towards someone like you coming to the game at this point. However, Monster Manual is probably the best choice for purchase #2. DMG for #3.
After that, it would depend on what the interest is. If you and the players are interested in more races and monsters, then M3 is an ideal choice. If the players are more interested in subclass options instead, go for Tasha's or Xanathar's (and there's useful DM info as well in those).
Also, if you are going to use it with a consistent group here on D&D Beyond, the Master Tier sharing option is hands down extremely useful for sharing, especially if you can get everyone to each buy a book or something to spread the costs around.
I keep seeing a lot of hate towards M3 mostly from established players/DMs, but no input on how it effects newer players. I am going to be DMing my very first game, and in general, have very little experience with DnD (outside of a Pathfinder campaign I was a player in). So I want to ask, is M3 worth buying for someone like me, seeing as I own no books besides the players handbook?
Very much so. It will give you, the DM, over 200 new monsters you can utilise in the encounter builder. It also consolidates 30 races from other sources into a single book, giving your players a whole host of race options to choose from. Almost certainly the best value but you can purchase if you are just starting out your collection.
Yes and no.
Yes, it's good value because it replaces two other books and so would save you money. You also get in the region of 30 playable races, which are always good.
No, I'd focus in other books first. The Monster Manual is pretty important - published adventures assume that you have it. MotM is only really for homebrew adventures in terms providing monster. As such, you'll probably get more mileage out of the MM than MotM. If you're going to do homebrew adventures, then MotM might be worth it after you get the MM.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I have the two starter campaigns Phandalin and Dragon of Icespire. I'll be running Icespire to get some experience in and hopefully move onto a homebrew campaign later this year. Thanks for the input.
Most of the hate is about how the old content is being phased out, not about the quality of the new content.
MotM/M3 is a fine product and very much worth the purchase for a new player/DM. But shouldn't necessarily be a first purchase.
If you haven't bought anything on DDB yet, I recommend getting the essentials kit physically. That comes with an adventure, some slightly expanded basic rules, and stuff needed to play. But it also comes with 2 codes: 1 for 4 adventures (icespire and its 3 sequels) and 1 for 50% off the PHB.
After the PHB, XGtE is my first recommendation. It has player options and a few expanded rules for DMs. The DMG and MM are worth picking up early, but not until you are sure you want to get into the game. Then get TCoE and MotM. And lastly any additional settings or adventure books you are interested in.
Those come with everything needed to run the game. I wouldn't bother with anything else until you know that you'll enjoy the game and want to expand.
If you're going with published adventures, then you WILL need the Monster Manual. They assume you have it and only provide statblocks for monsters not in the MM. If you don't have it, it will.be awkward. However, my recommendation is to get monster cards (either instead of or as well as). They're much easier to work with while in a game.
After that, I'd just add books in as you feel the need. PHB and MM are plenty to do the basics, the rest just add to your experience.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
You're partly right. A lot of monsters are in the basic rules, so there is a decent chance (~70% chance) of not needing the MM for most of the adventure.
I'm a pretty new gm myself and while there are some things I don't like about it I would say it's a decent buy if your players want some more options for races. I liked having a bunch of races that were scattered about several books. Other than that I'd save it for a later buy and would probably go Tasha's or Fizbans beforehand since they have more gm tools.
It's worth mentioning that your players won't get that host of race options in the character builder unless one of you has the Master Tier subscription and enables content sharing for your campaign.
As others have said, the book is exactly geared towards someone like you coming to the game at this point. However, Monster Manual is probably the best choice for purchase #2. DMG for #3.
After that, it would depend on what the interest is. If you and the players are interested in more races and monsters, then M3 is an ideal choice. If the players are more interested in subclass options instead, go for Tasha's or Xanathar's (and there's useful DM info as well in those).
Also, if you are going to use it with a consistent group here on D&D Beyond, the Master Tier sharing option is hands down extremely useful for sharing, especially if you can get everyone to each buy a book or something to spread the costs around.