As a nearly middle aged man who is just getting into dungeons and dragons, this channel is by far the best for information. Its easy to understand because on how they layout and present their information. Especially on their class guide
as a very middle aged man who was given the red box at the age of 11 I say well done! The hobby will wax and wane but always increase, it's healthy! Look at Seth Skorkowsky and Runehammer content too, great game philosophy there .
I have to agree. I am in my 30s anf just got into DnD last year. Your videos are very helpful because they expand on whats strictly written in the books. These books and rules are daunting at first but the videos make them make sense. Thanks a lot dungeon dudes.
As a .....whatever age 40 is, and new to 5e, and who just got this book, I'm glad to know there's a list of other books I don't need to buy now. These things ain't cheap, I can see why an avid collector would feel a bit ripped off.
It makes perfect sense though. The player handbook and dm guide should have generic character sheets for each class, something as a guideline for new players.
@@Kill2Hard101 new players who have never played an RPG before do need this information. us old hats will likely not find anything useful, but the need is out there if we want our hobby to grow. and it absolutely should be at the very front of the DMG
@@marcbennett9232 What they need is an imagination, something these zoomers don't have. Its part of the problem. See we grew up playing with action figures and using our imaginations to create a story in our minds...this video game culture needs someone to spell it out for them ( the quest marker to show them where to go next). The truth that nobody will tell them is that not everyone is built for d&d.
That's most official content for 5e, for me. Great for tweaking and homebrewing into something that works really well, absurd and broken as it written.
I'd say to take your inspiration from the Legend of Zelda. A series of puzzles that doesn't require major critical thinking and could easily implement skill checks into the puzzle so that player characters get a chance to shine with their toolkit. Heavy Block Pushing? Athletics. Hit Detecting Switch? Weapon Attack Rolls. Maybe create a simple homebrew item that is used to solve many of the dungeon's puzzles. Like the Hookshot for example.
@@Briar_Belle I'm actually a co-designer on that book. I know I've got a stake in it, but if you want new content, it's got a lot more than TCoE. I personally developed an Inquisition Cleric and a Temple Raider Rogue (third caster cleric). There's also a Bough Druid that adds a tree wildshape and a Pantomime Bard, along with tons of other content. If you have any questions about it, hit me up.
@@djtigon IMO Explorer's Guide to Wildmount is better, it doesn't add as many monsters, so maybe not for DMs, but lot of cool races and 3 new subclasses too alongside a bunch of items, few backgrounds and all. Maybe I haven't read enough of VGM, but EGW is great for sure.
Whole-heartedly agree with the assessment on how the puzzles are presented. Cracked this open with the hopes of finding inspiration to drop into my game as a fledging DM with novice players and nothing seemed all that easy to implement. You guys should do a video on puzzles! Ideas, how to present them, etc. I would personally find that very beneficial coming from you guys.
That is not even speaking about their ''origin '' crap which absolute horseshit which kills roleplay. Now the only difference between kobold , loxodon, goliath or elf barbarian is JUST how they look. What they did does NOT enrich the roleplay. it makes everyone the same. Previously when you were choosing suboptimal race/class combination like orc wizard or gnome barbarian the difficulties that came with it were THE POINT. You had to overcame limitations of your race and explain WHY your character have chosen such unorthodox path while now. Why should you if Kobolds have same Strength maximum as Goliaths, Loxodon.I understand why that bullshit sjw notion came to life, but imho it has NO place in dnd
Agreed! That's also the point of UA. To test to see if it's balanced, and adjust it accordingly before getting published in a book. So I personally don't see how that's a criticism. Since that's how it's always been. That being said, reprinting stuff in other books, yeah I get how that's a bummer for book collectors.
@@michaelfisk6374 Well reprinting makes sense for features that were published in setting-specific books like the Artificer for Eberron, or the subclasses of Ravnica. Classes and subclasses are features that everybody wants, but it doesn't justify to buy a whole setting book if that's all you're gonna use it for, so it was essentially gatekeeping the Artificer and so. But this book is a catalogue of features that, if you're interested by one, you're probably interested by many from the book.
@@narcozero8410 oh don't get me wrong. I completely get why the reprinting of classes and subclasses. I've actually been for making certain things setting agnostic if you will. I was more commenting on how I can see if someone was collecting all the books for content, or what have you, may feel like it was a waste.
The UA for the Storm sorcerer in particular was damn near perfect. There are some great weather themed spells that they just will never have access too, outside homebrew. I mean, not giving a storm sorcerer control weather is just, wtf?
@@Venslor WotC really aim to be assholes when it comes to Sorcerers. A lack of unique spells that don’t blatantly focus on dealing damage, and many spells that sorcerers had in past editions have been completely removed, making them unique to only freaking Wizards (really pisses me off). I’ve seen characters in official campaigns get called sorcerers, but completely lack any Metamagic and have spells that absolutely no sorcerer gets. I’ve also seen many of these so-called sorcerers portrayed as nothing but evil, evil, and uh… oh yeah, EVIL! WotC are extremely horrible with this, and I honestly have no expectations for them anymore.
In particular I'd say this book is very useful if you don't have SCAG, MOT, GGR, or Eberron. Those books are setting specific so I've seen some DMs hesitant to use them in their own games, plus I think generic setting books tend to be a bit more useful anyway. The reprints wind up being pretty useful then. Kinda wish Arcana Domain made it in though. So far that's still a SCAG exclusive.
I think they deliberately included the word 'everything' to denote that, like Xanathar's, it's a sourcebook that includes new options for players and dms.
I’m going to be playing a path of the beast barbarian soon. “I needed money, so I volunteered for magical experimentation with a wizard because I couldn’t get work. Now I still can’t get work because of the weird membranes attached to my arms and side. I also have new temper issues.” Simic hybrid path of the beast barbarian
@@arend681 our group has a tendency towards silliness. This was the best way I could think of to have a class like this lend itself to that dynamic. It also means that when he rages, and his body contorts and sprouts weapons, it’s magical residue left over from experimentation. Same with when the hybrid race gets its additional extensions of abilities.
Just got my copy, very excited to go through it tonight and check out the Dungeon Dude opinions tomorrow. You guys are hands down the best D&D content out there!
Don't feel too bad, Amazon has already sent me 2 and they were falling apart. With binding barely glued to the hard back. I think there is something goin wrong with this round of manufacturing.
Agree on the puzzles. To me, the biggest issue with puzzles is two fold. 1 - There is one and only one solution. 2 - It challenges the player, not the character. Compare that with a get past the guard without killing them type of challenge. You can bribe, scare, deceive, magic, climb, sneak, or anything else you can think of to get past the guard. All while using your characters abilities. Puzzles, on the other hand, only have one solution, and at best, you use your characters ability check to get hints... That you as the player have to figure out...
As much as I love this book, I totally agree with a lot of things you guys didn’t like I mainly play as a player and I wasted $80USD on getting Theros, Ravnica, and Eberron for the subclasses to only waste that money when WotC reprints them on a new sourcebook I’m in university and if I saved that money I could have used that for a cheap, used textbook for one of my already expensive classes Also... my brother is a DM and struggled with how to run a session 0, obviously like any sane person, I sent him your video and it helped a lot! He too got annoyed that they finally added it in a book. Like Monty said, that info should’ve been in the DMG a long time ago
I mean, unless you bought them just few weeks before release of this one, it wasn't all loss. Also, reprints are good for new players and those who doesn't allow certain setting books at their table.
I think the keyword here is "official." There is a lot of unearthed arcana stuff that was fun, but not being able to officially use it was disappointing.
what matters is that it's official now, and it's some of the changes that we WANTED to see. plus, it's useful for the DM's who only go by the books and nothing else. or Adventure's Leauge
as a art book goblin i want to buy the book just because of the illustrations. Other Dnd players: "yeah i dont know about this book" me: "cover... pretty"
The art in this book is stunning. Several friends and I were up late when it released and we kept sending screenshots of the art because it was so good. I want the mimic colony framed on my wall.
I haven't picked up this book, yet, but I love the emphasis on proficiency bonus in a lot of the options, favoring experience over raw, inherent ability. I also love the way they cleaned up and clarified certain aspects of character options, like the artificer homunculus servant and steel defender pets. The homunculus servant, in particular, raised a lot of questions regarding scaling based upon when your artificer acquired the infusion. That's all cleared up here with the vernacular of adding the character's proficiency bonus to various aspects of the pets. And making the homunculus servant's attack key off of the character's spell attack bonus is a straight upgrade, making it far more usable. Obviously, I'm playing an artificer in my current game, specifically a battle master with the homunculus servant infusion, so this was really useful info for me.
I did. All of their gripes about the book wouldn't apply to the mass audience of potential buyers. People who watch youtube videos, scour the internet for errata, check unearthed arcana everyday to see if there is a new update, and buy every book that comes out on release represents a tiny percentage of the player base at large. The nit picking was given to much air time, and it should have been framed better from the start of the critique rather than at the very end.
@@enso8379 The people following and critiquing the books online supposedly being a very tiny minority doesn’t excuse the obvious changes (and decline) in WotC’s handling of the system. Pokémon Sword & Shield sold extremely well, but a “small” portion of the fanbase found plenty of major and minor flaws in the game and Gamefreak’s methods of game design and development.
Hey guys! I‘m slowly watching all your videos and it‘s so refreshing to see content creators on RUclips being excited about what they‘re covering instead of complaining for 30 minutes. Your criticism of the stuff presented is of course completely fine, it‘s just that I appreciate how you present it. Constructive instead of moaning and shouting about it for half an hour. And even then your enthusiasm shines through.
I'll be getting this book for the subclasses, feats, and items. However, I'm not enthusiastic about the character origin customization options. I do appreciate the effort to provide guidance for DMs for something many of us were homebrewing already, yet it sounds like this could have been done with a paragraph of errata, not sugarcoated and slapped into a book as a selling point. Here's what I really want to know: with so many reprints, why not reprint all of the races from setting-specific books? Why not reprint ALL races not included in the PHB? We've yet to get a book that really does that, plus it would make the origin customization rules feel like a worthwhile inclusion.
It would be great to instead of going through a dozen books for an answer because you arent quite sure which book has it to just open up the "Book of Items" and look it up. I think to make DND more accessible just putting all the things out right now in a few books. Maybe go the Basic Book of Items then the Expanded version for the rest. Sure it would be a little thick but damn would it be awesome to not take 30 mins to look something up because you arent quite sure what this specific item your player wants to find does.
@@colebuckon3856 Right? Hell only one is needed per group even. Also there are so many items that just dont see the light of day that after a short read would be known!
Honestly, the lack of reprinting races is a major failure for this book. I love the Eberron races but I don't have the Eberron book. Having them here would have been great
I have literally just stolen most of my puzzles from Legend of Zelda dungeons. Riddles are usually either solved right away or take a painstaking amount of time to get through. Spatial awareness puzzles fit that sweet spot.
The best puzzles are when you have a complicated idea of how it’s supposed to be done, then the players come in and instant solve it in a way that wasn’t expected
Tasha's Cauldron of Curiosities is my pick for alt title! What are you guys' favourite additions? If I were to narrow down my top 3 it would be the origin customisation, the optional class features, and the Twilight Cleric/Genie Warlock subclasses.
oh, will miss your live stream due to time zone difference - - hope to see online later! so far, Tasha's Cauldron has been a joy to read and start testing -- i expect to use about 80%, modify 10%, and probably opt against using 10% -- will be eager to learn your insights and opinions
One of the best things about this book, Is its ability to help DM's transfer to DND Beyond / Online (any platyform). Allowing one player to Jump in and buy Players handbook, Tasha's and Xanathar's. Then share their content to the campaign and Boom you're group can go fully online / mobile.
The reprints are for the purpose of Adventures League rules of character creation being the PHB and one other book, annoying as it is. Also they reprinted several subclasses in Xanthar's too and the way its going they're slowing phaseing out the Sword Coast Adventuer's Guide, nothing mahor lost there honestly.
Tasha's Cauldron of Entropy is what I would have called it. Tasha herself leans toward chaos; the adjustments to the rules allow for more chaos (not a criticism - it's taking hard-line rules and allowing more free flow); and a lot of the subclasses either embody chaos or stand vigilant against it's impact. Also from their description, the puzzles are absolutely chaotic.
Love your initial impressions. So, reading through this does anyone think Tortle's are the best race for spellcasters now? Sit in the back with 17 AC and cast spells. When you have to concentrate tuck into your shell and have AC 21.
I'm probably considered a powergamer. I revel in the thrill of synergies and perfect builds... but I can't sacrifice theme and concept for a spell casting ninja turtle.
I've long argued that the Sorcerer should have expanded spell lists. Both in the form of always known spells and in having more options. I mean, if we look at the Sorcerer and compare it to, say the Wizard, their class features are fairly on par, but the Wizard's ritual casting along with their ability to prepare more spells than a Sorcerer has known just makes them outshine the Sorcerer far too much. Also, something else to think about, a Paladin will, in most situations, have more spells than a Sorcerer of an equal level. I think the idea I've liked the most regarding Sorcerer is giving them one always known spell of each level 1-6, having one more spell known at first level, and continuing to gain spells every level as they level up (so, still getting a new spell at level 12, 14, 16, 18, 19 and 20). In addition to that, having expanded spell lists to pick from for many Sorcerer subclasses (much like a Warlock) for spells that makes sense for a Sorcerer to be able to cast. There's also the idea of giving the Sorcerer half of their Sorcery Points back on a short rest once per long rest (much like the Wizard Arcane Recovery), allowing them to do the thing that makes them unique more. Finally, I like the idea of using Spell Points as a Sorcerer and merging their Spell Points with their Sorcery Points, again to allow them to do what makes them unique more. Some features will obviously (well, there's only really one that definitely needs to be changed and that's the Shadow Sorcerer's ability to cast Darkness using two Sorcery points) need to be changed to accomodate for this. Edit: Also, I've been playing a Twilight Domain Cleric for a while (obviously the earlier UA version) and it's been really nice. Looks like the finished version is more polished though. Only thing I'm sad to see gone is Invisibility on the Domain Spell list, since it's such an amazing utility spell.
I think your criticisms are very fair and thought out here and I agree completely agree that this is right next to Xanathar’s as far as what books to get outside of the core 3. I avoided the puzzles section for spoiler reasons. I was hoping for direction and help in creating puzzles but it seems like they just gave puzzles to run. Great video as always!!
Playing one right now. That Channel Divinity is stupid good. A whole combat of constantly refreshing temp HP while the party pushes through the opponent. We took down 19 bandits at level 2 because of that CD.
I can understand why everyone loves it… But personally, I don't like this and the "Metamagick Adept" feats. Kinda ruins the whole point of picking these classes, multiclassing into no them etc. Sorcerer gets 2 metamagick options for most of the time, and it is very big portion of what defines this class. Those were unique features to their classes, now everyone can easily get it.
@@t111ran3 I can kinda see that, more with the Sorcerer than the Warlock. On the one hand, feats like that do save you a couple levels if you were only multiclassing for some low-level invocations or Metamagic. On the other hand, unlike Warlocks and their Eldritch Invocations, Metamagic is the one big thing all Sorcerers get; without it, they're pretty much just a poor man's Wizard. Granted, Sorcerers can still do it more than any other class, but now you're comparing a better version of Metamagic on one end, and a weaker version of Metamagic + all the other cool stuff other classes get on the other. It's gonna be a foregone conclusion more often than not.
@@grahamready1065 I'd include those feats in my game, only if it's justifyable. Like, you made a deal with the devil, but a little one, without your soul involved.
This was really informative. I watched other videos on Tasha's and have to say that your review is the most comprehensive yet. And it so happens I only have the PHB and Xanathars (and DMG). So Tasha's is definitely for me :)
Just had an email that this has been delayed until 17th December in the UK. It had already been delayed to 1st December. I guess it is stuck in the queue at Felixstowe (the port is at gridlock apparently due to covid, pre-brexit stockpiling and christmas). They have started sending container ships to Rotterdam to unload instead.
DnD tweeted about 16hrs ago that Europe may get it earlier than that around the 24th November. It didn't say if that included the UK however we are still just about a part of Europe still so fingers crossed.
I know I'm late to this, but I would like to mention that spore druid and ebberon things being reprinted here means that they're now used outside of ebberon and ravnica, which expands the use of the spore druid and ebberon things.
I love the updated Feats list. I took the UA "Shadowtouched" feat, since we had just spent about a week in the Shadowfell and I wanted my choice of 1st level necromancy or illusion spells (I picked Disguise Self). The UA version also gave me Darkness - meh. But Tasha's version gives me invisibility!! So much more useful!
I feel the same. Bcthe first character that i played was a wildfire druid the what they did to the spells and the damage of the wildfire spirit it just dissapointed me. I was hoping that instead of an action they would make it so you use your bonus action to summon your wildfire spirit and no action required to command it, but it is what it is
Are you playing for the fun and flavor of the class or trying to win the game? Only one answer is the correct one and if the other is the answer you need to rethink why you play D&D.
"Just as often as protagonists . . . are defined by fantasy archetypes, just as often they buck those trends . . . and are the exception to the rule". Except now, it's in the rules. That both reduces the strength of the archetypes and the sense of “bucking”. When everyone is special, no one is. Basically, choice inflation reduces the value of choice.
As a relatively new DM who was looking forward to incorporating the puzzles presented in Tasha's, it would be awesome if yall could make a video about how to run puzzles well and include some examples of good puzzles since that section of the book was pretty lackluster.
For games (DMs) that use the Standard Array for Abilities, Tasha's Cauldron' makes it more official that you could have Drow Wizard with possibly 16 Intelligence or a Dwarf Paladin with possibly 16 Charisma at level 1 (which is not too much when it is the main attribute for your class). For those who roll Abilities and set them after, it does not matter much or at all.
God, the puzzles are so bad. There's one that is literally just "make a magic square." The same magic square that is the first result if you google "magic square." A LOT of the puzzles are variations on "here are some words, find the nth letter in the word, then rearrange those letters to make a different word" which is just. Boring. Also, that's not a puzzle, that's a code, and the two things serve different functions. What makes sense in an intercepted letter is just bizarre and stupid when it's paintings on a wall.
@@hbleblanc205 My point was less that someone would Google for the answer, and more that they didn't even bother to come up with a particularly interesting magic square.
@@stirlinggerbic-forsyth3345 This is a topic that gets into the preferences of players and DMs, and while I don't share your same viewpoint on how puzzles should be handled, I think the most important factor is for everyone at the table to be on the same page about how puzzles are treated in regards to character vs player interaction. I've been at table where some players found the puzzle fascinating and wanted to work out the solution, but the person with the high Int character wanted to just have their character solve it. The players who wanted to work out the solution were frustrated because they felt "why am I being presented with a puzzle if I don't then get to attempt to solve it, and my attempts don't matter?" The player with high Int character was frustrated because they felt "why am I playing a high Int character if I don't get to use that skill to handle a problem?" Both of those frustrations were very valid, and it was the mismatch of expectations that caused those frustrations. My personal philosophy on puzzles is that puzzles exist in this liminal space within the game that are about engaging the players abilities and interests, not necessarily the characters. After all, if it's about what the characters' skills are, then why am I presenting the players with every single detail and piece of information necessary to solve the puzzle? That's not how any other interaction in the game works - I don't describe every detail of a trap mechanism and then make the player describe how the character disarms it, and too bad if they can't figure it out from my description. I have them roll a check, and then describe how the character accomplishes the task. The fact that puzzles are presented to the players differently than any other task in the game suggests that they are supposed to be handled differently, as well. It becomes a philosophical question of "why am I bothering to give all the details of the puzzle and ask my players to show their characters solving this puzzle, when there is a member of the party who would figure it out in an instant." But that's my reasoning. I'm not saying that it's the only correct way to view puzzles, but it's what has worked in my games.
Thanks for the video! A note on presentation distraction, common recommendation that beards usually best to start about 2 finger width above the adam's apple. Totally changed the way I trimmed by beard
I personally agree with Monty that Xanathar’s is the must-have over Tasha’s, if you have to choose. Xanathar’s has a bunch of necessary mechanical sections - such as buying magic items and other downtime activities - that make the game better. Plus, as a player I’m always looking to the class background tables for a little extra role playing boost. Tasha’s unfortunately lacks this. Beyond the subclasses - and the many but small class improvements - there’s not as much “there” there in Tasha’s compared to Xanathar’s. She’s hilariously sassy in the flavor text, though!
I don't, yet, own either but have flicked through Xanathar's. Struck me as a LOT of tables for names, random encounters and character quirks that should just be an online database rather than printed in paper. It did seem useful, but not really worth the full price in my opinion. Just my feeling.
I hated the "change everything in your race to optimize your character" section And the best part of the book is that I can now play Jotaro with Astral Self Monk
As with anything D&D it's about how you apply it and support it during character creation or as a DM. There's a bit of a faulty rhetoric going around that if it's in an official print that you should allow it or use it, which I don't think was necessarily the intention when WotC printed alternative race options.
Around 18:33 was when I stopped typing and realized that you guys included that incursion into Adventurers league regarding that one rule of PHB +1. I have alllot of Forgotten Realms players who wish they could do what Artificer do best without having it be an NPC or a class limited to Eberron. Now we have a Dwarf Artificer Mercenary War Veteran with amputated legs fighting alongside the characters son teaching him the ropes. Without the armor, that almost wouldn't happen.
"A lot of it is reprinted material or things we have already seen before." *does not follow UA and knows nothing of errata* Speak for yourself. Hell, I didn't learn what unearthed arcana even was until a few months ago.
In response to the suggestion at 25:45 to say a few about how and why we bought TCoE, I just a few days ago received the book in a boxed package including Xanathar's and Monsters o/t Universe and a DM's screen. They arrived about a week after my boxed set of the Core Rules arrived. I have been running a First Edition module, but just recently learned of this (to me), "new" edition of D&D.
Artificer armorer: Master chief, Power Rangers, Super Sentai, Iron Man, Saints (Saint Seiya), anyone who ever used power armor, anyone who ever transforms into a suit and gains a power up. Absolutely love it lol. I just bought the book last week and I always enjoy catching up on all the videos! Very well put together thank you guys.
I like the Sidekicks section. Reason is, you can make Animal Companions for your characters that are clearly superior to that of the PHB Beastmaster Ranger, and you don't even need to have that subclass, although the Tasha's revisions make Beastmaster more viable. Then there's the fact that you can improve a lot of the lower-level monsters, NPCs, and such - useful if in a low-magic setting.
Tasha's Cauldron of Refried Beans. This would require the introduction of a hand full of beans as a magical item to facilitate teleported changes in elevation. [ Useful when climbing castle walls and mountains. ]
12:00 Yeah, I would love to be able to absorb armor as a human like a warforged and the class would be armorer artificer. It would help me be a prostheticist in dnd
I'm mixed on the character customization. I understand the idea of creating RAW for those who are more reluctant to homebrew a change, but the methodology feels a little too open. Particularly when it comes to the stat bonuses. Some can be argued as reflecting cultural influences ("nurture"), but others are clearly meant to reflect the normal biological realities ("nature") of the races - like the Dwarf's CON bonus (and poison resistance). I'm not saying that someone who wants to play a physically weaker Dwarf who turned to the study of magic instead of fighting shouldn't be able to. But the player should be able to make a solid presentation of the character concept that justifies the changes and demonstrating that they understand why the changes better reflect their concept, not just set out to min/max a random idea just because it sounds cool.
One of the huge undersung benefits of all the reprinted material is being able to buy just one book on D&D Beyond for $30 that covers many of the best parts of 3 or 4 other books. With Player's Handbook, Xanathar, and Tasha, you cover probably more than 90% of the player options in the game, which is very useful on that platform. Compare that to the $700+ needed to buy 17 sourcebooks to get 100% of the options, it's just way more efficient.
So my hot take: excited for playing a rune knight, a tool monkey fighter that can do the enlarge grappler build I have always wanted is spot on. I love the ranger update, toss out the old one completely. Finally a prediction and a criticism ow Wotc: if ever we do get a sixth edition classes and race will be done away with completely, seems like they are really trying to decouple 5e from strict choices. Finally the wizardly boyfriends illustration on page 84 is a great illustration but the way the caption is phrased by a company in the business of story telling is a bit on the nose. Proving you are woke is less useful then actually doing something Wizards.
Thank you for telling about the puzzles. That was one reason I got it. I will definitely imploy what I've learned in the puzzle games I've played, aswell as your advice. I also love the expanded side kicks! I am also happy that I got it for like $15 new, because of birthday money and that my copy has a small defect on the cover! Now to get the core books and Xanthar's Guide! (I have the essential kit already!😁)
The worst part of the book as it is now is the name. One of the best suggestions for what the name of the book should've been that I've heard is Tasha's Hideous Handbook.
You guys make a good point about the 2 book maximum for Adventurers League and how restrictive that is but I think there’s a broader point to make here. A lot of the reason the community isn’t in love with this book is because of how it changes the balance of subclasses (RE: power creep) and the sheer volume of reprints. Combined with how game changing the new character creations section Tasha’s would have been much better received if they simply held back for a while and released it combined with all of the Errata and sage advice as DnD 5.5e. Even still like you guys I'm excited about this book and I'm excited to see my players use some of these new subclasses.
Before watching this video, I was talking to my D&D group about how it was released on DND Beyond and my suggestion was the same as yours. That this book is pretty much essential if you don't have many books. I had suggested the three core books, Xanathar's, and Tasha's. The other book are more for modules and very niche sections of D&D while these five books help all players get going into any world, be it official or custom.
LOL Monty: Session zero instructions should have been AT THE FRONT OF THE DM'S GUIDE!
I felt like apologizing after watching that
i'm sorry mr. monty
OMG he made it look like we were in big trouble XD
He's not wrong
With the expression on his face I swear I thought he was going to say "At the front of the damn book!"
As a nearly middle aged man who is just getting into dungeons and dragons, this channel is by far the best for information. Its easy to understand because on how they layout and present their information. Especially on their class guide
Much appreciated!
as a very middle aged man who was given the red box at the age of 11 I say well done! The hobby will wax and wane but always increase, it's healthy! Look at Seth Skorkowsky and Runehammer content too, great game philosophy there .
@@samuelbroad11 thank you, will definitely look them up. I appreciate anything that would help me play and understand the greatest game in the world 👍
I have to agree. I am in my 30s anf just got into DnD last year. Your videos are very helpful because they expand on whats strictly written in the books. These books and rules are daunting at first but the videos make them make sense. Thanks a lot dungeon dudes.
As a .....whatever age 40 is, and new to 5e, and who just got this book, I'm glad to know there's a list of other books I don't need to buy now. These things ain't cheap, I can see why an avid collector would feel a bit ripped off.
Monty : "At the front of the Dungeon Masters guide."
Me : "I may have shit my pants. Good lord Monty that was so intense. We are not your enemy."
Dude same lol
It makes perfect sense though. The player handbook and dm guide should have generic character sheets for each class, something as a guideline for new players.
@@BuckFu you get those in the starter box pack that has bare basic instructions and even dice to share around the table.
He scared the shit outta me. I felt like he was gonna come through my screen
Wizards of the Coast: Finally address how to run a session zero.
Kelly and Monty: We know more than you.
Not everyone watches this channel and would know what a session zero is.
@@BlindDevilNeko Sure, but as they said, that's why that information should be at the front of the DMG, not in the middle of a supplement
Lol the fact that you need a book to tell you how to do a game zero is exactly what's wrong with modern players.
@@Kill2Hard101 new players who have never played an RPG before do need this information. us old hats will likely not find anything useful, but the need is out there if we want our hobby to grow. and it absolutely should be at the very front of the DMG
@@marcbennett9232 What they need is an imagination, something these zoomers don't have. Its part of the problem. See we grew up playing with action figures and using our imaginations to create a story in our minds...this video game culture needs someone to spell it out for them ( the quest marker to show them where to go next). The truth that nobody will tell them is that not everyone is built for d&d.
My favorite name I've heard was "Tasha's Cauldron of Possibilities".
That's most official content for 5e, for me. Great for tweaking and homebrewing into something that works really well, absurd and broken as it written.
I love this one
I would have preferred Tasha's "Codex" or "Notebook", to keep with the naming theme of the other books; handbook, guide, manual, tome.
@@burlyd310 yeah "Tasha's Codex of Possablities" is the best in my head now
"Tasha's Cauldron of Flavor" ain't bad earther.
Since the puzzle section is lackluster, could you guys maybe make a video about puzzles in games? What you might suggest and such.
I'd say to take your inspiration from the Legend of Zelda. A series of puzzles that doesn't require major critical thinking and could easily implement skill checks into the puzzle so that player characters get a chance to shine with their toolkit.
Heavy Block Pushing?
Athletics.
Hit Detecting Switch?
Weapon Attack Rolls.
Maybe create a simple homebrew item that is used to solve many of the dungeon's puzzles.
Like the Hookshot for example.
Monty: "If you have Xanathar's...why don't you have this book?"
Me: Ah, you see, that's because I don't have the money.
Or local store is delayed getting the book
Tasha's Cauldron Of Everything Else ,is a way better title .
They have one of those available on DM's Guild now which has a lot of cool homebrew content. I'm considering picking that up lol
haha
Tasha's Cauldron of Quite a Few Things.
@@Briar_Belle I'm actually a co-designer on that book. I know I've got a stake in it, but if you want new content, it's got a lot more than TCoE. I personally developed an Inquisition Cleric and a Temple Raider Rogue (third caster cleric). There's also a Bough Druid that adds a tree wildshape and a Pantomime Bard, along with tons of other content.
If you have any questions about it, hit me up.
@@joegaylord87 Pantomime Bard? Like, in white makeup and wearing a beret?!? 😳
This is my first book along with the PHB, so I personally don’t mind the reprints. I like the book a lot.
Don't miss Volos Guide. What they forgot to mention it's that Volos Guide has additional RACE options
@@djtigon IMO Explorer's Guide to Wildmount is better, it doesn't add as many monsters, so maybe not for DMs, but lot of cool races and 3 new subclasses too alongside a bunch of items, few backgrounds and all. Maybe I haven't read enough of VGM, but EGW is great for sure.
"The puzzle section in this book is an abject failure..." don't hold back Monty, tell us what you really think. 😂 👍🏻
Whole-heartedly agree with the assessment on how the puzzles are presented. Cracked this open with the hopes of finding inspiration to drop into my game as a fledging DM with novice players and nothing seemed all that easy to implement. You guys should do a video on puzzles! Ideas, how to present them, etc. I would personally find that very beneficial coming from you guys.
Well they also thought the summoning spells was a highlight which makes me question their judgement.
Abject Failure is still a Subjective Opinion.
That is not even speaking about their ''origin '' crap which absolute horseshit which kills roleplay. Now the only difference between kobold , loxodon, goliath or elf barbarian is JUST how they look. What they did does NOT enrich the roleplay. it makes everyone the same. Previously when you were choosing suboptimal race/class combination like orc wizard or gnome barbarian the difficulties that came with it were THE POINT. You had to overcame limitations of your race and explain WHY your character have chosen such unorthodox path while now. Why should you if Kobolds have same Strength maximum as Goliaths, Loxodon.I understand why that bullshit sjw notion came to life, but imho it has NO place in dnd
@@MsKeylas You had a point until you started ranting about SJWs then you lost all credibility.
I think it's actually good that there's no "surprise" in this book for someone who followed unearthed arcana. Playtested content is better content.
Agreed! That's also the point of UA. To test to see if it's balanced, and adjust it accordingly before getting published in a book. So I personally don't see how that's a criticism. Since that's how it's always been.
That being said, reprinting stuff in other books, yeah I get how that's a bummer for book collectors.
It gives us more incentive to playtest them
Agree to disagree, it’s always noise to have one or two minor little surprises, especially spells and feats
@@michaelfisk6374 Well reprinting makes sense for features that were published in setting-specific books like the Artificer for Eberron, or the subclasses of Ravnica.
Classes and subclasses are features that everybody wants, but it doesn't justify to buy a whole setting book if that's all you're gonna use it for, so it was essentially gatekeeping the Artificer and so. But this book is a catalogue of features that, if you're interested by one, you're probably interested by many from the book.
@@narcozero8410 oh don't get me wrong. I completely get why the reprinting of classes and subclasses. I've actually been for making certain things setting agnostic if you will.
I was more commenting on how I can see if someone was collecting all the books for content, or what have you, may feel like it was a waste.
12:10 hell yes, every sorcerer subclass deserves free spells like the ones in Tasha's AND every subclass needs a custom metamagic.
The UA for the Storm sorcerer in particular was damn near perfect. There are some great weather themed spells that they just will never have access too, outside homebrew. I mean, not giving a storm sorcerer control weather is just, wtf?
@@Venslor
WotC really aim to be assholes when it comes to Sorcerers. A lack of unique spells that don’t blatantly focus on dealing damage, and many spells that sorcerers had in past editions have been completely removed, making them unique to only freaking Wizards (really pisses me off).
I’ve seen characters in official campaigns get called sorcerers, but completely lack any Metamagic and have spells that absolutely no sorcerer gets. I’ve also seen many of these so-called sorcerers portrayed as nothing but evil, evil, and uh… oh yeah, EVIL! WotC are extremely horrible with this, and I honestly have no expectations for them anymore.
@@couragew6260 Duh, they're called wizards of the coast not sorcerers of the coast lol
@@couragew6260 They'll favor wizards over sorcerers (This is a joke I love sorcerers over wizards)
@@bigloser5104
Did you know Sorcerers used to have True Polymorph?
In particular I'd say this book is very useful if you don't have SCAG, MOT, GGR, or Eberron. Those books are setting specific so I've seen some DMs hesitant to use them in their own games, plus I think generic setting books tend to be a bit more useful anyway. The reprints wind up being pretty useful then.
Kinda wish Arcana Domain made it in though. So far that's still a SCAG exclusive.
Alternate title: Witch Queen's Cauldron
@@isaacgraff8288 Isn't Tasha the same that's given name to Tasha's Hideous Laughter, the daughter of Baba Yaga?
@@Reddotzebra To my knowledge, yeah
@@Reddotzebra the very same
@Teun vanderLugt mythic odyssey’s of theros
I think they deliberately included the word 'everything' to denote that, like Xanathar's, it's a sourcebook that includes new options for players and dms.
I imagine main reason for all the reprints is adventurer's league and their phb +1 rule.
I wouldn't be surprised if Adventurer's League goes to PHB+2, now.
@@AnthonyBowman I would hope so, or at least consider XGtE and TCoE as equivalent to 1.
I would have called it Tasha's Cauldron of Secrets. Great video guys, would love for you all to do a video on how to run puzzles.
Ok, that title is much better. I like it.
The end part of alternative names got me 😂😂
The fact I can make a Warforged Clockwork Soul without it being UA makes my day.
Yeah, Warforged Clockwork Soul is one of the multiple new character ideas I got from Tasha's that has gone onto the "if I'm ever not the DM" list
I’m going to be playing a path of the beast barbarian soon.
“I needed money, so I volunteered for magical experimentation with a wizard because I couldn’t get work. Now I still can’t get work because of the weird membranes attached to my arms and side. I also have new temper issues.”
Simic hybrid path of the beast barbarian
Nice origin story. Much more creative then my previous characters.
@@arend681 our group has a tendency towards silliness. This was the best way I could think of to have a class like this lend itself to that dynamic. It also means that when he rages, and his body contorts and sprouts weapons, it’s magical residue left over from experimentation. Same with when the hybrid race gets its additional extensions of abilities.
It just works.
Just got my copy, very excited to go through it tonight and check out the Dungeon Dude opinions tomorrow. You guys are hands down the best D&D content out there!
Probably won't get mine until Christmas but I'm super stoked to hear your guys initial take on it.
Look like a great book for sure.
Same for me too. Its on Xmas Amazon list.
Same, everyone’s asking me what I want for Christmas but I don’t know of anything else I want but this
Don't feel too bad, Amazon has already sent me 2 and they were falling apart. With binding barely glued to the hard back. I think there is something goin wrong with this round of manufacturing.
Hope you enjoy the book as much as I am
Agree on the puzzles. To me, the biggest issue with puzzles is two fold.
1 - There is one and only one solution.
2 - It challenges the player, not the character.
Compare that with a get past the guard without killing them type of challenge. You can bribe, scare, deceive, magic, climb, sneak, or anything else you can think of to get past the guard. All while using your characters abilities.
Puzzles, on the other hand, only have one solution, and at best, you use your characters ability check to get hints... That you as the player have to figure out...
Or the best way to distract gaurds, giant chunky rat break dancing to electric violin
"Why everyone is using Intelligence as a dump stat"
As much as I love this book, I totally agree with a lot of things you guys didn’t like
I mainly play as a player and I wasted $80USD on getting Theros, Ravnica, and Eberron for the subclasses to only waste that money when WotC reprints them on a new sourcebook
I’m in university and if I saved that money I could have used that for a cheap, used textbook for one of my already expensive classes
Also... my brother is a DM and struggled with how to run a session 0, obviously like any sane person, I sent him your video and it helped a lot! He too got annoyed that they finally added it in a book. Like Monty said, that info should’ve been in the DMG a long time ago
I mean, unless you bought them just few weeks before release of this one, it wasn't all loss. Also, reprints are good for new players and those who doesn't allow certain setting books at their table.
I think the keyword here is "official." There is a lot of unearthed arcana stuff that was fun, but not being able to officially use it was disappointing.
Summary: the book is nice, but we already used everything as house rules
I played with a DM that used no house rules. If it wasn't in the main source book then its not allowed.
what matters is that it's official now, and it's some of the changes that we WANTED to see. plus, it's useful for the DM's who only go by the books and nothing else. or Adventure's Leauge
Some folks play Adventurer's League; so TGtE makes UA stuff "official".
@Tommaso Grillo Optional, yes, it’s also "official," or "sanctioned." More rigid and/or less confident DMs will be much more likely to allow it.
@Tommaso Grillo And those are Dm's are only right if people play with them *temple tap*
as a art book goblin i want to buy the book just because of the illustrations.
Other Dnd players: "yeah i dont know about this book"
me: "cover... pretty"
The art in this book is stunning. Several friends and I were up late when it released and we kept sending screenshots of the art because it was so good. I want the mimic colony framed on my wall.
I haven't picked up this book, yet, but I love the emphasis on proficiency bonus in a lot of the options, favoring experience over raw, inherent ability. I also love the way they cleaned up and clarified certain aspects of character options, like the artificer homunculus servant and steel defender pets. The homunculus servant, in particular, raised a lot of questions regarding scaling based upon when your artificer acquired the infusion. That's all cleared up here with the vernacular of adding the character's proficiency bonus to various aspects of the pets. And making the homunculus servant's attack key off of the character's spell attack bonus is a straight upgrade, making it far more usable.
Obviously, I'm playing an artificer in my current game, specifically a battle master with the homunculus servant infusion, so this was really useful info for me.
One thing I just thought... There should have been a Tasha Statblock in the book
Love the little section of name alternatives. Tasha's Cauldron of Curious Contraptions was the best one in my opinion, it just flows so nicely.
I've been listening to your guys on my rides home from work and just now sat down to actually watch a new video...My God. What a magnificent mustache
Who dared to give this a dislike? I'm looking at you, Mordenkainen!
What a crime...
@@Keovar Yeah, when i see them on my video, it bums me out for like 1 second, but hey it is what it is.
@@FacilityD20 I just learned you have videos from it, so some good came of it.
I did. All of their gripes about the book wouldn't apply to the mass audience of potential buyers. People who watch youtube videos, scour the internet for errata, check unearthed arcana everyday to see if there is a new update, and buy every book that comes out on release represents a tiny percentage of the player base at large. The nit picking was given to much air time, and it should have been framed better from the start of the critique rather than at the very end.
@@enso8379 The people following and critiquing the books online supposedly being a very tiny minority doesn’t excuse the obvious changes (and decline) in WotC’s handling of the system.
Pokémon Sword & Shield sold extremely well, but a “small” portion of the fanbase found plenty of major and minor flaws in the game and Gamefreak’s methods of game design and development.
Hey guys! I‘m slowly watching all your videos and it‘s so refreshing to see content creators on RUclips being excited about what they‘re covering instead of complaining for 30 minutes. Your criticism of the stuff presented is of course completely fine, it‘s just that I appreciate how you present it. Constructive instead of moaning and shouting about it for half an hour. And even then your enthusiasm shines through.
I'll be getting this book for the subclasses, feats, and items. However, I'm not enthusiastic about the character origin customization options. I do appreciate the effort to provide guidance for DMs for something many of us were homebrewing already, yet it sounds like this could have been done with a paragraph of errata, not sugarcoated and slapped into a book as a selling point.
Here's what I really want to know: with so many reprints, why not reprint all of the races from setting-specific books? Why not reprint ALL races not included in the PHB? We've yet to get a book that really does that, plus it would make the origin customization rules feel like a worthwhile inclusion.
It would be great to instead of going through a dozen books for an answer because you arent quite sure which book has it to just open up the "Book of Items" and look it up. I think to make DND more accessible just putting all the things out right now in a few books. Maybe go the Basic Book of Items then the Expanded version for the rest. Sure it would be a little thick but damn would it be awesome to not take 30 mins to look something up because you arent quite sure what this specific item your player wants to find does.
@@ronaldmahan8417 That sounds absolutely fantastic. I'm sure a lot of players would buy it just make wish lists to pass on to their DMs.
@@colebuckon3856 Right? Hell only one is needed per group even. Also there are so many items that just dont see the light of day that after a short read would be known!
Honestly, the lack of reprinting races is a major failure for this book. I love the Eberron races but I don't have the Eberron book. Having them here would have been great
I have literally just stolen most of my puzzles from Legend of Zelda dungeons. Riddles are usually either solved right away or take a painstaking amount of time to get through. Spatial awareness puzzles fit that sweet spot.
The best puzzles are when you have a complicated idea of how it’s supposed to be done, then the players come in and instant solve it in a way that wasn’t expected
Half expected Monty to curse when he was talking about session zero.
I was all excited to watch the video. Then I saw it wasn't available until tomorrow. Now I'm sad.
I feel your pain...
Same
It's a buzzkill
See the notification announcing it, then find it's not even available
Same x.x
Tasha's Cauldron of Curiosities is my pick for alt title!
What are you guys' favourite additions? If I were to narrow down my top 3 it would be the origin customisation, the optional class features, and the Twilight Cleric/Genie Warlock subclasses.
The feats though! And the spells! I hope there’s something in there that my bard can use to spice up her performances
"Curiosities" is a good one... Heck, just "Curios" would of worked, as they tend to be seen as mysterious/magical things, more often than not~
oh, will miss your live stream due to time zone difference - - hope to see online later!
so far, Tasha's Cauldron has been a joy to read and start testing -- i expect to use about 80%, modify 10%, and probably opt against using 10% -- will be eager to learn your insights and opinions
Already got a copy of the book on Tuesday. I just like hearing what others have to say about it.
One of the best things about this book, Is its ability to help DM's transfer to DND Beyond / Online (any platyform). Allowing one player to Jump in and buy Players handbook, Tasha's and Xanathar's. Then share their content to the campaign and Boom you're group can go fully online / mobile.
The reprints are for the purpose of Adventures League rules of character creation being the PHB and one other book, annoying as it is.
Also they reprinted several subclasses in Xanthar's too and the way its going they're slowing phaseing out the Sword Coast Adventuer's Guide, nothing mahor lost there honestly.
7:19 Welcome to finally being able to play a Divination Wizard with the Divination spell.
Tasha's Cauldron of Entropy is what I would have called it. Tasha herself leans toward chaos; the adjustments to the rules allow for more chaos (not a criticism - it's taking hard-line rules and allowing more free flow); and a lot of the subclasses either embody chaos or stand vigilant against it's impact.
Also from their description, the puzzles are absolutely chaotic.
Love your initial impressions. So, reading through this does anyone think Tortle's are the best race for spellcasters now? Sit in the back with 17 AC and cast spells. When you have to concentrate tuck into your shell and have AC 21.
Mechanically... sure😑
Bladesinger?
I'm probably considered a powergamer. I revel in the thrill of synergies and perfect builds... but I can't sacrifice theme and concept for a spell casting ninja turtle.
Ever watch a content creator's content enough they feel like part of your everyday life and you know them? Thanks for the great content guys.
Thank you 😊
That's called a parasotial relationship and is exactly what youtubers are about
@@The_Yukki Well is Ozzy Ozborne and the rest of Black Sabbath about that too becuase they can have seats at my thanksgiving table too?
I've long argued that the Sorcerer should have expanded spell lists. Both in the form of always known spells and in having more options. I mean, if we look at the Sorcerer and compare it to, say the Wizard, their class features are fairly on par, but the Wizard's ritual casting along with their ability to prepare more spells than a Sorcerer has known just makes them outshine the Sorcerer far too much. Also, something else to think about, a Paladin will, in most situations, have more spells than a Sorcerer of an equal level. I think the idea I've liked the most regarding Sorcerer is giving them one always known spell of each level 1-6, having one more spell known at first level, and continuing to gain spells every level as they level up (so, still getting a new spell at level 12, 14, 16, 18, 19 and 20). In addition to that, having expanded spell lists to pick from for many Sorcerer subclasses (much like a Warlock) for spells that makes sense for a Sorcerer to be able to cast.
There's also the idea of giving the Sorcerer half of their Sorcery Points back on a short rest once per long rest (much like the Wizard Arcane Recovery), allowing them to do the thing that makes them unique more. Finally, I like the idea of using Spell Points as a Sorcerer and merging their Spell Points with their Sorcery Points, again to allow them to do what makes them unique more. Some features will obviously (well, there's only really one that definitely needs to be changed and that's the Shadow Sorcerer's ability to cast Darkness using two Sorcery points) need to be changed to accomodate for this.
Edit: Also, I've been playing a Twilight Domain Cleric for a while (obviously the earlier UA version) and it's been really nice. Looks like the finished version is more polished though. Only thing I'm sad to see gone is Invisibility on the Domain Spell list, since it's such an amazing utility spell.
I wish they added the races as well. Having lizardfolk, satyr, changling, warforge, etc. In one place would have been so nice.
I think your criticisms are very fair and thought out here and I agree completely agree that this is right next to Xanathar’s as far as what books to get outside of the core 3. I avoided the puzzles section for spoiler reasons. I was hoping for direction and help in creating puzzles but it seems like they just gave puzzles to run. Great video as always!!
I can't wait to hear what y'all think of Twilight Domain cleric!! Seriously my favorite cleric subclass, it's definitely S tier in my opinion
Yeah it is. At Level 1 you get 300 feet of Darkvision and you can share it with other party members.
@@Dezbood I think the reduced range was 300ft.
Playing one right now. That Channel Divinity is stupid good. A whole combat of constantly refreshing temp HP while the party pushes through the opponent. We took down 19 bandits at level 2 because of that CD.
Finally - a really nice beef up to the Ranger class
Love the Ranger Class
Tasha's Cauldron of Many Things. That way it has the reference to the Deck of Many Things (good and bad) and doesn't over-sell itself.
my gm dont allow UA at the table "because it is not play tested" I loved the genie lock when it arrived as UA.. so im happy it got into the book :)
I love the new eldritch invocations feat cause it now means EVERYONE CAN GET MAGICAL DARKVISION
My favorite part about that feat is that wizards and sorcerers could cast mage armor at will
@@cpg2198 Eldritch Invocations are gonna be so good with anyone now. No longer eill the rogue have only a 16 AC. They shall have an 18!
I can understand why everyone loves it…
But personally, I don't like this and the "Metamagick Adept" feats. Kinda ruins the whole point of picking these classes, multiclassing into no them etc.
Sorcerer gets 2 metamagick options for most of the time, and it is very big portion of what defines this class.
Those were unique features to their classes, now everyone can easily get it.
@@t111ran3 I can kinda see that, more with the Sorcerer than the Warlock. On the one hand, feats like that do save you a couple levels if you were only multiclassing for some low-level invocations or Metamagic. On the other hand, unlike Warlocks and their Eldritch Invocations, Metamagic is the one big thing all Sorcerers get; without it, they're pretty much just a poor man's Wizard. Granted, Sorcerers can still do it more than any other class, but now you're comparing a better version of Metamagic on one end, and a weaker version of Metamagic + all the other cool stuff other classes get on the other. It's gonna be a foregone conclusion more often than not.
@@grahamready1065 I'd include those feats in my game, only if it's justifyable.
Like, you made a deal with the devil, but a little one, without your soul involved.
Is it bad that I was just hoping to finally have an Official Stat block for a Cart?
Did we get it in tashas? 😁 My character is always dragging a cart with him and we have only homebrew stats 😁 would be nice to use official ones
@@petrgraf5923 nope, still no official stat block unfortunately. Back to dragging the cart and just making sure the fight is away from it.
Love the Psionic subclass additions to most classes. Even small little additions add so much flavor and ideas.
This was really informative. I watched other videos on Tasha's and have to say that your review is the most comprehensive yet. And it so happens I only have the PHB and Xanathars (and DMG). So Tasha's is definitely for me :)
Just had an email that this has been delayed until 17th December in the UK. It had already been delayed to 1st December. I guess it is stuck in the queue at Felixstowe (the port is at gridlock apparently due to covid, pre-brexit stockpiling and christmas). They have started sending container ships to Rotterdam to unload instead.
😱 damn
DnD tweeted about 16hrs ago that Europe may get it earlier than that around the 24th November. It didn't say if that included the UK however we are still just about a part of Europe still so fingers crossed.
Tasha's Cauldron of Calamity... only because Tasha's Cauldron of Covfefe would not have made everyone giggle.
Maybe not everyone, but it sure made me giggle
I know I'm late to this, but I would like to mention that spore druid and ebberon things being reprinted here means that they're now used outside of ebberon and ravnica, which expands the use of the spore druid and ebberon things.
Thanks for the review! I'm in the have few books for 5E, so I just ordered it through your link. I will have to check out Xandathar's Guide.
Why is Tasha's better than Xanathars? This adds a whole class. Artificer's not being al legal was annoying. That's fixed.
The alternate title was Tasha's Grimoire of Everything, according to JCraw. I think they picked the wrong one.
Someone suggested Tasha's Cauldron of Secrets. I really liked the "of secrets" in the title.
Maybe combine the two into Tasha's Grimoire of Secrets?
@@kathrynck That's the winner
I love the updated Feats list. I took the UA "Shadowtouched" feat, since we had just spent about a week in the Shadowfell and I wanted my choice of 1st level necromancy or illusion spells (I picked Disguise Self). The UA version also gave me Darkness - meh. But Tasha's version gives me invisibility!! So much more useful!
I can’t wait to see the update for the subclass tier lists!! It’s how I found this channel and got me super into character creation
I am so mad about what they did to the wildfire druid. They destroyed what made it such a unique subclass in favor of making it a mediocre summoner.
then don't use it and keep the old one.
I feel the same. Bcthe first character that i played was a wildfire druid the what they did to the spells and the damage of the wildfire spirit it just dissapointed me. I was hoping that instead of an action they would make it so you use your bonus action to summon your wildfire spirit and no action required to command it, but it is what it is
I'm not mad about it, just sad.
So, into a Mediocre Circle of Shepards~?
Are you playing for the fun and flavor of the class or trying to win the game? Only one answer is the correct one and if the other is the answer you need to rethink why you play D&D.
"Just as often as protagonists . . . are defined by fantasy archetypes, just as often they buck those trends . . . and are the exception to the rule".
Except now, it's in the rules. That both reduces the strength of the archetypes and the sense of “bucking”. When everyone is special, no one is. Basically, choice inflation reduces the value of choice.
As a relatively new DM who was looking forward to incorporating the puzzles presented in Tasha's, it would be awesome if yall could make a video about how to run puzzles well and include some examples of good puzzles since that section of the book was pretty lackluster.
For games (DMs) that use the Standard Array for Abilities, Tasha's Cauldron' makes it more official that you could have Drow Wizard with possibly 16 Intelligence or a Dwarf Paladin with possibly 16 Charisma at level 1 (which is not too much when it is the main attribute for your class). For those who roll Abilities and set them after, it does not matter much or at all.
God, the puzzles are so bad. There's one that is literally just "make a magic square." The same magic square that is the first result if you google "magic square."
A LOT of the puzzles are variations on "here are some words, find the nth letter in the word, then rearrange those letters to make a different word" which is just. Boring. Also, that's not a puzzle, that's a code, and the two things serve different functions. What makes sense in an intercepted letter is just bizarre and stupid when it's paintings on a wall.
That may be true, however if someone at one of my tables Googles anyting realting to the story, their character instantly dies.
@@hbleblanc205 My point was less that someone would Google for the answer, and more that they didn't even bother to come up with a particularly interesting magic square.
@@artzfreak fair. Of course, you can always just make your own. That's the beauty of D&D.
The puzzle system put forward is also the horrible notion that *player* skill and aptitude matter more than *character* skill and aptitude.
@@stirlinggerbic-forsyth3345 This is a topic that gets into the preferences of players and DMs, and while I don't share your same viewpoint on how puzzles should be handled, I think the most important factor is for everyone at the table to be on the same page about how puzzles are treated in regards to character vs player interaction.
I've been at table where some players found the puzzle fascinating and wanted to work out the solution, but the person with the high Int character wanted to just have their character solve it. The players who wanted to work out the solution were frustrated because they felt "why am I being presented with a puzzle if I don't then get to attempt to solve it, and my attempts don't matter?" The player with high Int character was frustrated because they felt "why am I playing a high Int character if I don't get to use that skill to handle a problem?" Both of those frustrations were very valid, and it was the mismatch of expectations that caused those frustrations.
My personal philosophy on puzzles is that puzzles exist in this liminal space within the game that are about engaging the players abilities and interests, not necessarily the characters. After all, if it's about what the characters' skills are, then why am I presenting the players with every single detail and piece of information necessary to solve the puzzle? That's not how any other interaction in the game works - I don't describe every detail of a trap mechanism and then make the player describe how the character disarms it, and too bad if they can't figure it out from my description. I have them roll a check, and then describe how the character accomplishes the task. The fact that puzzles are presented to the players differently than any other task in the game suggests that they are supposed to be handled differently, as well. It becomes a philosophical question of "why am I bothering to give all the details of the puzzle and ask my players to show their characters solving this puzzle, when there is a member of the party who would figure it out in an instant." But that's my reasoning. I'm not saying that it's the only correct way to view puzzles, but it's what has worked in my games.
Tasha’s Hideous Cauldron would have been the perfect name in my opinion
Your balance between 'here is my affiliate link' and 'go support your LGS' is my something I wrestle with everyday, very well put... like always.
Thanks for the video! A note on presentation distraction, common recommendation that beards usually best to start about 2 finger width above the adam's apple. Totally changed the way I trimmed by beard
I personally agree with Monty that Xanathar’s is the must-have over Tasha’s, if you have to choose. Xanathar’s has a bunch of necessary mechanical sections - such as buying magic items and other downtime activities - that make the game better. Plus, as a player I’m always looking to the class background tables for a little extra role playing boost. Tasha’s unfortunately lacks this. Beyond the subclasses - and the many but small class improvements - there’s not as much “there” there in Tasha’s compared to Xanathar’s. She’s hilariously sassy in the flavor text, though!
I don't, yet, own either but have flicked through Xanathar's. Struck me as a LOT of tables for names, random encounters and character quirks that should just be an online database rather than printed in paper. It did seem useful, but not really worth the full price in my opinion. Just my feeling.
I hated the "change everything in your race to optimize your character" section And the best part of the book is that I can now play Jotaro with Astral Self Monk
It seems a little powerful for certain builds.
As with anything D&D it's about how you apply it and support it during character creation or as a DM. There's a bit of a faulty rhetoric going around that if it's in an official print that you should allow it or use it, which I don't think was necessarily the intention when WotC printed alternative race options.
I’ve recently come back into D&D after a 30+ year break, and you guys by far, are the most complete and professional presenters. Thanks!
Thank you!
Around 18:33 was when I stopped typing and realized that you guys included that incursion into Adventurers league regarding that one rule of PHB +1. I have alllot of Forgotten Realms players who wish they could do what Artificer do best without having it be an NPC or a class limited to Eberron.
Now we have a Dwarf Artificer Mercenary War Veteran with amputated legs fighting alongside the characters son teaching him the ropes. Without the armor, that almost wouldn't happen.
"A lot of it is reprinted material or things we have already seen before."
*does not follow UA and knows nothing of errata* Speak for yourself.
Hell, I didn't learn what unearthed arcana even was until a few months ago.
And appears these guys don't know about Adventure League.
Kelly is like. 2 degrees off of looking like a full blown Leather Daddy with that sweet sweet 'stache.
(Those not “in the know”: “What’s a Leather Daddy...?” *Googles it* 😳😯)
@@johnhall8046 oh my sweet child of summer.
Now we know what he does in his off-time lol 🙃
MM’s brilliant observation about changes to a game: “These are GAME CHANGING.”
In response to the suggestion at 25:45 to say a few about how and why we bought TCoE, I just a few days ago received the book in a boxed package including Xanathar's and Monsters o/t Universe and a DM's screen. They arrived about a week after my boxed set of the Core Rules arrived.
I have been running a First Edition module, but just recently learned of this (to me), "new" edition of D&D.
Tasha's Cauldron of Plenty
Will you rank the new sublasses?
I'm waiting to hear their rank for Eloquent Bard. It has some ** potential especially around level 3 or 4 onwards.
Artificer armorer: Master chief, Power Rangers, Super Sentai, Iron Man, Saints (Saint Seiya), anyone who ever used power armor, anyone who ever transforms into a suit and gains a power up. Absolutely love it lol. I just bought the book last week and I always enjoy catching up on all the videos! Very well put together thank you guys.
I like the Sidekicks section. Reason is, you can make Animal Companions for your characters that are clearly superior to that of the PHB Beastmaster Ranger, and you don't even need to have that subclass, although the Tasha's revisions make Beastmaster more viable. Then there's the fact that you can improve a lot of the lower-level monsters, NPCs, and such - useful if in a low-magic setting.
Forget the book. I want Kelly’s shirt 😂
I'm excited for this. Psi warrior and soulknife... man i missed psionics.
Tasha's Cauldron of Refried Beans.
This would require the introduction of a hand full of beans as a magical item to facilitate teleported changes in elevation. [ Useful when climbing castle walls and mountains. ]
12:00 Yeah, I would love to be able to absorb armor as a human like a warforged and the class would be armorer artificer. It would help me be a prostheticist in dnd
I'm mixed on the character customization. I understand the idea of creating RAW for those who are more reluctant to homebrew a change, but the methodology feels a little too open. Particularly when it comes to the stat bonuses. Some can be argued as reflecting cultural influences ("nurture"), but others are clearly meant to reflect the normal biological realities ("nature") of the races - like the Dwarf's CON bonus (and poison resistance).
I'm not saying that someone who wants to play a physically weaker Dwarf who turned to the study of magic instead of fighting shouldn't be able to. But the player should be able to make a solid presentation of the character concept that justifies the changes and demonstrating that they understand why the changes better reflect their concept, not just set out to min/max a random idea just because it sounds cool.
Tasha's Cauldron of Secrets
They need to give Celestial-Patron warlocks (from XGE) access to the Summon: Celestial spell. Currently it is restricted to clerics and paladins.
One of the huge undersung benefits of all the reprinted material is being able to buy just one book on D&D Beyond for $30 that covers many of the best parts of 3 or 4 other books. With Player's Handbook, Xanathar, and Tasha, you cover probably more than 90% of the player options in the game, which is very useful on that platform. Compare that to the $700+ needed to buy 17 sourcebooks to get 100% of the options, it's just way more efficient.
So my hot take: excited for playing a rune knight, a tool monkey fighter that can do the enlarge grappler build I have always wanted is spot on. I love the ranger update, toss out the old one completely. Finally a prediction and a criticism ow Wotc: if ever we do get a sixth edition classes and race will be done away with completely, seems like they are really trying to decouple 5e from strict choices. Finally the wizardly boyfriends illustration on page 84 is a great illustration but the way the caption is phrased by a company in the business of story telling is a bit on the nose. Proving you are woke is less useful then actually doing something Wizards.
"..my Shiny new book" Someone gets it 😂
Is it just me or does Kelly just keep getting more and more handsome? Is a RUclips celebrity crush a thing? 😂😂
It sure is! 😁
It definitely is... xD
That last section of the video where they rename the book was GOLD. Soooooo good XD
Thank you for telling about the puzzles. That was one reason I got it. I will definitely imploy what I've learned in the puzzle games I've played, aswell as your advice. I also love the expanded side kicks! I am also happy that I got it for like $15 new, because of birthday money and that my copy has a small defect on the cover!
Now to get the core books and Xanthar's Guide!
(I have the essential kit already!😁)
The worst part of the book as it is now is the name. One of the best suggestions for what the name of the book should've been that I've heard is Tasha's Hideous Handbook.
Ironically, that's what I'd use, if more of the whole thing, was like the Puzzles section~ ;p
the book was made for normies who dont keep up with everything like unearthed arcana. like me.
You guys make a good point about the 2 book maximum for Adventurers League and how restrictive that is but I think there’s a broader point to make here. A lot of the reason the community isn’t in love with this book is because of how it changes the balance of subclasses (RE: power creep) and the sheer volume of reprints. Combined with how game changing the new character creations section Tasha’s would have been much better received if they simply held back for a while and released it combined with all of the Errata and sage advice as DnD 5.5e.
Even still like you guys I'm excited about this book and I'm excited to see my players use some of these new subclasses.
Before watching this video, I was talking to my D&D group about how it was released on DND Beyond and my suggestion was the same as yours. That this book is pretty much essential if you don't have many books. I had suggested the three core books, Xanathar's, and Tasha's. The other book are more for modules and very niche sections of D&D while these five books help all players get going into any world, be it official or custom.