(OPINION) I like KP books. The monster books and the magic item books, mostly. But the spells... so many of them are problematic. Balance issues mostly, but also weird or unclear descriptions. I bought both the Deep Magic 1 and 2 books, and from the hundreds of spells, as DM, I have only added about 2 dozens of them to our game, and still, often revised and rebalanced!
I was going through all the Book of Ebon Tides spells this evening... Most of them are a mess -- utility or balance wise. That Kobold Press toggle is not getting turned on anytime soon.
Of course, it's one guy's opinion, but I've been playing this game and DMing for 35 years, since 1st edition. And although WotC can also get it wrong (Silvery Barbs, Conjure Minor Elementals 5.24...), the balance issues are rarely that egregious.
I pay for these products, and somehow I always keep expecting balance for game options coming from KP, and I always end up disappointed, especially regarding their spells.
I'm guessing it's because "Moah Powahr!" sells? They don't have the same momentum as WotC so don't have as much to lose, so they feel it's a better tradeoff?
I've noticed it's a common thing among TTRPGs that they kind of assume that you know what they mean when providing instructions and rules, so they tend to be ambiguous and unclear.
Personally, is a content creator is providing content that is both unclear and unbalanced, then I wouldn't buy that content. 95% of the point of buying someone else's content for a TTRPG is that you can have clear, unambiguous and universally agreed understanding of how it works and that you can be confident that it will be reasonably balanced without having to rigourously test it (ie save your time and games).
If a product isn't doing either of those things, then what you have is an idea, and ideas come ten-a-penny.
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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.
(OPINION) I like KP books. The monster books and the magic item books, mostly. But the spells... so many of them are problematic. Balance issues mostly, but also weird or unclear descriptions. I bought both the Deep Magic 1 and 2 books, and from the hundreds of spells, as DM, I have only added about 2 dozens of them to our game, and still, often revised and rebalanced!
I was going through all the Book of Ebon Tides spells this evening... Most of them are a mess -- utility or balance wise. That Kobold Press toggle is not getting turned on anytime soon.
Of course, it's one guy's opinion, but I've been playing this game and DMing for 35 years, since 1st edition. And although WotC can also get it wrong (Silvery Barbs, Conjure Minor Elementals 5.24...), the balance issues are rarely that egregious.
I pay for these products, and somehow I always keep expecting balance for game options coming from KP, and I always end up disappointed, especially regarding their spells.
Come on, KP, you can do better.
[/old man yelling at clouds]
$$$ Most players buy third party content to get game breaking over powered sub classes and spells. Most DMs buy third party content to surprise the players with monsters and magic items they haven't seen before. I enjoy homebrewing, but only allow my players to reflavor existing game mechanics. Its so incredibly rare to see balanced home bew or third party player options that most DMs just auto ban them without even taking the time to find the broken mechanic that the player is trying to use.
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(OPINION) I like KP books. The monster books and the magic item books, mostly. But the spells... so many of them are problematic. Balance issues mostly, but also weird or unclear descriptions. I bought both the Deep Magic 1 and 2 books, and from the hundreds of spells, as DM, I have only added about 2 dozens of them to our game, and still, often revised and rebalanced!
I was going through all the Book of Ebon Tides spells this evening... Most of them are a mess -- utility or balance wise. That Kobold Press toggle is not getting turned on anytime soon.
Of course, it's one guy's opinion, but I've been playing this game and DMing for 35 years, since 1st edition. And although WotC can also get it wrong (Silvery Barbs, Conjure Minor Elementals 5.24...), the balance issues are rarely that egregious.
I pay for these products, and somehow I always keep expecting balance for game options coming from KP, and I always end up disappointed, especially regarding their spells.
Come on, KP, you can do better.
[/old man yelling at clouds]
My Homebrew: Magic Items | Monsters | Spells | Subclasses | My house rules
Currently playing: Fai'zal - CN Githyanki Rogue (Candlekeep Mysteries, Forgotten Realms) ; Zeena - LN Elf Sorcerer (Dragonlance)
Playing D&D since 1st edition. DMs Guild Author: B.A. Morrier (4-5⭐products! Please check them out.) Twitter: @benmorrier he/him
Perhaps they are designed for use only in the campaign area similar to Ravnika or Taldorei.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
I'm guessing it's because "Moah Powahr!" sells? They don't have the same momentum as WotC so don't have as much to lose, so they feel it's a better tradeoff?
I've noticed it's a common thing among TTRPGs that they kind of assume that you know what they mean when providing instructions and rules, so they tend to be ambiguous and unclear.
Personally, is a content creator is providing content that is both unclear and unbalanced, then I wouldn't buy that content. 95% of the point of buying someone else's content for a TTRPG is that you can have clear, unambiguous and universally agreed understanding of how it works and that you can be confident that it will be reasonably balanced without having to rigourously test it (ie save your time and games).
If a product isn't doing either of those things, then what you have is an idea, and ideas come ten-a-penny.
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.
$$$ Most players buy third party content to get game breaking over powered sub classes and spells. Most DMs buy third party content to surprise the players with monsters and magic items they haven't seen before. I enjoy homebrewing, but only allow my players to reflavor existing game mechanics. Its so incredibly rare to see balanced home bew or third party player options that most DMs just auto ban them without even taking the time to find the broken mechanic that the player is trying to use.