Hi!
I have the PH, DMG, MM, Volo's Guide, and Kobold Press's Tome of Beasts.
What is the next crunchiest 5e supplement?
Thanks!
:-Dan
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Can't warrant it is the next crunchiest 5e supplement...
But Kemonomimi contains seven new related, slightly animalistic races... Just saying...
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SCAG has some archetypes.
For 3rd party (since you mention Kobold Press), there's a bunch of crunch out there.
Example of some crunch I found on reddit: Dark Arts Companion. I like some of the ideas and some of the execution, but there are some issues.
In terms of wizards stuff, Sword Coast Guide has some nifty archetypes and spells: princes of the apocalypse has a fair few elemental related monstwrs, spells,
Race and items.
Thanks. I looked at Dark Arts Companion. I'll probably pick up Sword Coast Guide.
Don't get me wrong 70% of the book is fluff but there are some worthwhile bits in there.
For me favourites are the Magic domain, the bladesinger and some of the cantrips.
Any other recommendations for 3rd party crunch?
Kobold Press's Tome of Beasts is a great deal. Over 400 monsters. Or 12 cents per monster.
Any other recommendations for 3rd party crunch?
I found these ten cleric domains to be well balanced wrt the PH options. They're a little same, but that doesn't really show up in play unless you have multiple clerics.
I also found this interesting. though it's a little too high fantasy for me. It basically gives rules for using some tool proficiencies to manufacture consumables with some neat effects. Some are a bit good (though the ability to make the better ones is tied to the PC's proficiency bonus, so it's kept in check that way. Because they are consumables (and there's a built in cap on how many you can have with you at any one time) it's hard to imagine them breaking anything - and they provide something to spend gold on which is tied to the PC background.
If you want to wait, I hear tell rumor that a very crunchy book might be coming out soon...
You'd suspect there'd be a crunch-heavy book soon, given how long it's been and the wealth of playtest reports they've been getting via Unearthed Arcana.
DOH! I already ordered SCAG.
DOH! I already ordered SCAG.
SCAG is a good one if you're looking for more backgrounds and class archetypes. VGtM is a good one if you're looking for more playable races and more monsters.
DM Jeff, how many monsters? I'll probably wait a little while since I just ordered SCAG and 3 MMs already.
But you can never have too many monsters....
Thanks! :-D
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Keep an eye out for the Critter Compendium soon to come to the DM's Guild. Over 250 pages packed with monsters both from previous editions and entirely new. It will be both available in pdf and hardcover print format.
If you are looking for NPCs that make decent foes, may I suggest 5e NPCs: Bullies & Brutes?
We're a bit biased, but Endzeitgeist gave it 5 stars saying: "in case you are not familiar with Dire Rugrat's 5e-character design philosophy: Instead of making just numbers and replicating pre-existing abilities, one of the charming peculiarities in their books would be that characters do actually receive special, unique abilities. Beyond these, the characters each come not only with a statblock, but also with their own artwork - these either are hand-drawn or stock. Most, but not all characters herein also feature a word of advice in a small box on how to best use them."
I just got SCAG today. Some nice crunch, but it seems to be mostly fluff for the Realms. No druid or ranger love, though.
Check out Ex Cyclopedia, 100+ conversions of Classic D&D monsters to 5e.
While not exclusively for 5E I find Dungeon Grappling by Gaming Ballistic interesting if you like that kind of tactic (or if you're a GM looking to make common and fantasy animals worthy threats rather than cannon fodder, and monsters flat out terrifying). It's more limited in scope than something like the Tome of Beasts as it's strictly focused on grappling and how to make it as engaging as swinging a sword or casting a spell.
It's a little on the pricey side if you just use the 5E section but it also supports other game systems including OSR stuff, and Pathfinder, as well as brief suggestions on how to adapt the methodology to systems that aren't covered.
Mists of Akuma ought to be up on the Paizo store today or tomorrow.
276 pages of eastern fantasy noir steampunk covering the continent of Soburin with focuses on three major cities, two dozen clans, and then just a ridiculous amount of content. I think all told there's 100+ NPCs and oni, over 20 class archetypes, a whole slew of feats, 16ish new races (I say "ish" because one is super rare and just gets quick stats and a mention, and then there's the Hengeyokai with like 11 different subraces), equipment, and to top it all off a f~~#ing dope adventure written by the GM that got me into gaming (and I got 3 more already proofed and ready for the marketplace).
Will link it when it is on the Paizo store although unfortunately, logistics prevent the print version from being available here :/ (should be available again elsewhere imminently).
While not exclusively for 5E I find Dungeon Grappling by Gaming Ballistic interesting if you like that kind of tactic (or if you're a GM looking to make common and fantasy animals worthy threats rather than cannon fodder, and monsters flat out terrifying). It's more limited in scope than something like the Tome of Beasts as it's strictly focused on grappling and how to make it as engaging as swinging a sword or casting a spell.
It's a little on the pricey side if you just use the 5E section but it also supports other game systems including OSR stuff, and Pathfinder, as well as brief suggestions on how to adapt the methodology to systems that aren't covered.
I had my PCs fight "guardian" girralons (4 armed giant white apes). If they hit with 2 or more arms, the target had to make a Strength save or be grappled (with higher DCs for 3 or 4 arms hitting), then the girralon could use a bonus action to throw a grappled opponent 1d4 x 5 feet per grappling arm.
Good times.
Here we are ^_^ (and if you dig the PDF from Paizo's store, poke me and I'll point you to where you can order the hardcover)
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Here we are ^_^ (and if you dig the PDF from Paizo's store, poke me and I'll point you to where you can order the hardcover)
Cool. I'd like to know where to order a hardcopy version, please. :)
Just remembered this:
Adventures in Middle Earth for 5e has a bunch of new classes, all of them no or low magic. And more crunch stuff beyond that.
Good to see some crunchy-styled 5e stuff out there, free or paid. :)
SCAG was kind of disappointing. I knew it was 90% fluff, but about 90% of that fluff was surprisingly boring. WAY too many indistinguishable dwarven kingdoms. I think it literally listed Clans Battlehammer, Blackhammer, and Blackbattle at one point.
Also, some of the archetypes were kind of disappointing, the Purple Dragon Knight in particular. I like the rogue, monk, sorcerer, and wizard ones.
A lot of the backgrounds were just super-specialized versions of the PH ones. At least some of them had some flexibility, allowing a choice of Skills or Tools, for example.
I had almost the exact opposite opinion on SCAG as you SmiloDan. Almost, because I agree with the fluff being meh. However, the new subraces Duergar, Svirfneblin (even if it's just a reprint of EEPC), and Ghostwise Halflings are fairly well balanced. I actually like the Banneret/PDK more than the Battlemaster out of the PHB, and unless a character concept specifically requires a Champion or Eldritch Knight my go to will be the Banneret. The Backgrounds, while nothing you couldn't make yourself, are at least interesting and provide more specific flavour than some of the PHB ones.
The sub-races are pretty good. I like the options for half-elves, too.
The Purple Dragon Knight just seems really weak to me. It's 3rd level ability might be a lifesaver in rare circumstances, but your level's worth of hit points is rarely going to matter; at least it's a bonus action. It's 7th level ability is just Expertise in Persuasion, which you can get from a dip in Rogue, plus +1d6 sneak attack, thieves tools proficiency, and Expertise in a 2nd skill of your choice. Inspiring Surge and Bulwark are pretty cool, I guess. It seems like a "Captain America"-type leader, so I wish it had something like the Mastermind rogue's Master of Tactics ability.