My argument for the Elder brain being that low is that it's just a brain. Sure it's a powerful thing, but a brain in a pool is still a brain in a pool.
Yeah, I feel an encounter with an Elder Brain SHOULD NEVER BE JUST THE PARTY VS THE ELDER BRAIN, the Elder Brain should have a ton of Minions to support it, a couple of Mind Flayers to provide psychic support, maybe some enslaved high power NPCs from the appendix of the books.
yeah it's main thing is it controls very member of the colony, 1 mind with many bodies, some of them with special powers of their own, the elder brain on it's own is just a giant brain that is no more dangerous than a single ullitharid, far from being anywhere near demigod status, given they have their own god and the elder brain is never implied being even remotely close
BUT DID YOU KNOW? In the Lord of the Rings books, Treebeard speculates that Saruman had crossbred Orcs and Men to create the Uruk Hai (high orcs) - one of which managed to kill Boromir. So, half orcs being the best is canon.
Not really, there were half-orcs, Uruks and Half-Goblins, the Half-Orcs were strong and yellowish skinned, Uruks strongest and black, and half-goblins were weakest, Treebeard thought Uruks were either a new half-breed or corrupted men, essentially all were different mixes of orcs and men. Snaketongue took them with him to conquer the Shire after they conquered Orthanc
The only strange thing is that if one assumes mixing races makes a stronger breed, why is that not the case with Half Elves? With half elves, we see a clear melding of elements of the two races. If mixing races made superior Half Orcs, why wouldn't Half Elves also be superior? I think the main issue here is that there seems to be a clash in the meta logic of the fantasy universe.
That's only true if you ignore they WHY they were mixed. Someone selectively breeding 2 races to make a superior warrior is gonna be vastly different then, for example, an offspring of a marriage. In my opinion, if mixing always produced someone +x better, that would be super gamey.
"Ceramic jars of rot grubs...such a dick move...DO IT, DO IT....I dare you to do it." - Challenge Accepted Back in the day when Green Slime was a monster and not a "Trick", my players would seek it out and do just that: gather it in ceramic jars and use it as a grenade. The Rot Grub Grenade is but an extension of a long held tradition. - one that my Goblin Arcane Trickster will GLADLY perpetuate.
JPruInc Thanks! Although with the death of the Light Cleric in the last game, I decided to roll Blunderpuck as a Bard. He'll still be tinkering, making traps, and all that jazz, but will also be providing danger music with his banjo, as well as the occasional Healing Word.
Just to let you guys know, WoTC put Goliaths in the book because they're the most popular Non-PHB race and they wanted them in a main book as a way to make them more accessible and obvious.
"By the time you're 5th level you should be mopping the floor with some kobolds" If that's the case, the DM isn't playing them right. Kobolds are diabolical with their traps and ingenuity. I love the new kobold stat blocks. Take a look at the kobold lair in VGtM. There are tons of tiny tunnels that they can use to move around quickly, hit and run. I look forward to running my players through a kobold lair post level 10. Probably will be in a dragon lair, but the kobolds are going to be the real stars.
I like the kobolds as a player race, just so many ways to generate advantage when you attack, if you it's a kobold rouge you basically always get backstab damage.
JPruInc I feel the same way, however I kept buying the things (I have not bought Storm King's thunder) just out of brand loyalty and to support my local game store.
My 8 year old daughter is beginning to play 5.0 with my friends and I (she is playing a child Drow Rogue with a fun backstory) and we love watching your videos! Thanks for taking the time and making such amazing content! It is amazing how much she has learned just watching these videos!
You guys rock! I haven't been able to play D&D for a long time, and I really miss it. Listening to you guys chat about the game lets me fantasize about playing and brings me back to hours of awesome game play with some really great friends. Thanks guys, and keep up the good work!
Volo's is one of my favorite RPG reference books. It's pretty darn condensed with something for everyone. The section on giants makes me want to do a giant-themed campaign very much, and the giant alternates are pretty awesome.
I could imagine the half orc situation being similar to that of the real world Liger (Mix of Lion and Tiger), in which the Liger gains the size of both the Lion and the Tiger and is therefore much larger than either of the parents.
I've heard the same complaints about the high tier monsters. My friends who started the Adventurer's League at our store have been wishing the same as you two for a lvl 10-20 adventure book. I was a bit dissapointed as well that there are so many low CRs in the book, but I think wizards did this with people who can build more stats on the fly in mind. Again, awesome episode as always! Can't wait for the multi-class episode!
They should come out with a book called, "Legends of the Forgotten Realms". So long as they're keeping the books based on the Realms. The books hold creatures that have no less than CR 14 creatures, explicitly detailing high level play.
I'm surprised you guys didn't talk about how over powered a Tabaxi rogue could be. Haste + racial power to double their movement + any magical items that would effect it. AND they get a climbing speed. Best. Rogue. Ever.
Want high level content? Get yourself a Tome of Beasts. I haven't even used any of the monsters from it yet, I just have it and have been reading it. I only have one thing to say, "Void Dragon."
I hear you on the desire to play some goblins. There's something particularly fun about mixing them into the player archetypes. I personally wanna make a goblin paladin.
My first character I had played (only picked up D&D a year ago) was a goblin paladin named Sir Sticky Pants. He was such a fun/influential character that my DM has a portrait of him commissioned from his artist friend
Man, Volo. That name has been synonymous with Faerun for as long as Faerun has been around. If I recall correctly the original guide to the forgotten realms mentioned him. I was running a campaign set along the sword coast and one of my players wanted to be an illegitimate child that Volo sired over his travels. I said I would allow it under the condition that the character would have no idea who his father was. The groups adventures took them to the Undermountain and after a successful raid they were hanging out in the Yawning portal and Volo was there visiting Durnan so he took it upon himself to go introduce himself and mention how they bore a striking resemblance to one another. Durnan looked at Volo and gave a partial shrug and turned back to his duties behind the bar, Volo looked him straight I the eye and said "I don't see it" and turned around and walked off. My friend was speechless as everyone around the table howled with laughter because all through the campaign he bragged that his character was the son of Volo and how he was going to get him to be an ally of the group.
I'm a fan of the Kobold player race, for comedic value alone. After reading the section I immediately designed a dex and con based Kobold barbarian who uses a whip. The concept of a character who's two speeds were cower, grovel, and beg and RAGE AND ATTACK! was amazing. :D
I met Mike Mearls, Chris Perkins, and Jeremy Crawford at Gamehole Con a few weeks ago. From what I can tell, yes they do plan on incorporating Volo's into future modules. I mentioned to Chris about the Vegepygmies and the Froghemoth being in Volos, and how they were also in an old DnD module. The impression of the reaction I got from him is that 2017 will be very cool in terms of what Wizards will be releasing. I was surprised to see Tabaxi in the book, because they originate from Mazteca and Chult. They are the first reference to somewhere other than the Sword Coast out side the small amount of info in the Sword Coast Adventure Guide (which also mentions Kara-Tur, but references to Kara-Tur can be found in the DMG and PHB). All I can say is: I'm Hype for whats next, and what adventure , code named 'Labyrinth', is going to be about.
YES!. I've spent the last week trying to make a paladin to kord but then realised its better to go Fighter/Cleric because you can be a better paladin with it. Edit: I no longer believe a fighter/cleric is a better paladin. Forgive me.
+Web DM what Butts said, you're killing it guys, I've never been a huge fan of multi-classing, but then I only just had to move onto my other hand to count my PCs, and the majority of them have been rangers, along with a sorcerer and a paladin.... the latter was born to a clan of dwarven rangers. Looking forward to that though.
One of my most favorite characters I've ever made was a 4e Hobgoblin Dragon Sorcerer, simply named Darak. He was basically like a Klingon obsessed with honor via battle and feats of power, but tempered by a loose code of conduct and a great reverence for dragons. Especially the old ones for their first-hand accounts of great wars and the rise and fall of empires. He's thrown men off cliffs, been deprived of his rightful kill of a Medusa (she commited seppuku), and earned the ire of a sky pirate lich. Even with 5e Hobgoblins not being optimal for Dragon Sorcerers, I'd still play him again in 5e.
Just found this channel! good stuff! could you guys possibly start linking to where you got some of your shirts? "Carpe DM" and "RUN D&D" absolutely killed me.
Yay for some Half-Orc spellcaster love! My Half-Orc necromancer was hands down one of the most interesting and compelling characters I have ever had the pleasure of playing. (Granted, one of my favorite things to do in D&D is pair up the last race/class combos one would expect. Sure they're not mechanically optimal, but the challenge of fleshing them out to be something that makes sense in context is always a super fun challenge.)
TasteThese Rolls I apologize. We didn't have the book long before we were scheduled to shoot. We covered what we could. I do love the firlbog. They have a great range of magical abilities. That hidden step should not be overlooked.
I think one of my favorite creature lore was for the gnolls, found it really awesome and put them into a different light than I had known them as before
Using the book while not excluding those who don't have it is pretty easy. Just write the new monsters in and provide alternative encounter set ups that are a possibility for each of the new monsters being included. I want to say that's actually been done in the past.
Wanna say guys, great videos as usual. Jim I agree with your monstrous PC bit, with my Kobolds and Orcs losing their stat penalty. I did not think of the Slight build, that's interesting but what I did was take away Sunlight Sensitivity because that's lame for Drow and Kobold players. For Orcs I let them choose one Half-Orc Racial, and my player that did is a beast of a barbarian. I will say I was hoping for an Illithid race, in the Mind Flayer part it talks about Mind Flayers going into cities to try to learn things.
With Volo's Guide and the new Unearthed Arcana, I'm personally excited to play a scourge aasimar grave cleric. Btw very good episode, and I love the behind the scenes stuff at the end.
Tabaxi ranger all the way! Climb up to a vantage point and use cats agility to double climb speed to get totally put of the way if something gets close.
Late to this party, but I hope to see Volo 2 in the future. Enjoyed most monsters in there, spare for the multiple sea-race monsters... Quicklings should be above CR 10, they should be very, VERY difficult to slay. In next Volo Guide I would like to see things like the Boneyard, Astral Stalker, Swordwing, Deadly Dancer, Destrachan, Sunwyrm, Steel Predator, Darktentacles and Hullathoin. Those make for interesting and cool high CR encounters.
I used the goblin to make a con man-type rogue with a guild artisan background for my friend's campaign he's running, and an aasimar ranger for my own campaign. This is a good resource to have for character building!
I like variety. We don't always have to get into combat with the creatures we encounter. There are combat encounters, negotiations, sneaking by, distracting...lot of different ways to deal with encounters.
Re information on Hags, there was Van Richten's Guide to Witches in the 3rd Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium for 2nd edition. Granted that it's an outsider looking in, but it really covers most of the psychology, tactics, weaknesses and strengths as well as local allies.
I would like to see Volo's monsters listed as an option or substitute in future books. Listing Monster Manual creature and then list potential substitutes if you have Volo's, either in the individual description of the encounter or a table in the back of the book.
I spent such a long time squinting at the Miniatures on the table before I realized what you were referring to...which was doubly ironic considering it always bothers me too!
Bheur Pronounced like: Vor or Vur... I've heard it only a few times ever, and I'm leaning toward Vur or a kind of Bvur sounding pronunciation being the right one. From: Cailleach Bheur (Creator/Divine Hag) Gaelic mythology origin There are sources for pronunciation of these online, but they vary somewhat, although that may be merely difference of dialect.
I'm pretty happy with the book so far, and I really enjoyed the Beholder text. You're right about the CR ratings though. I'm thankful I have the Tome of Beasts because that definitely fills out quite a bit of high CR monsters.
Found you guys when the look at wizards video came out, have thus spent the last week retroactively going back and watching everything, love it all. Great job! Side note: Would we be able to get behind the scenes videos? Was real fun watching the end of this one and you guys just chatting.
Awesome episode as always, guys. I just put this book (along with a few other D&D campaign books) on my Christmas wishlist. I'd get it myself, but I have bills to pay and a few more gifts to get. Keep up the great work!
I know this comment is coming in real late, but the best way to implement monsters from these supplement materials in new official adventures would be to just have a small area dedicated to monsters used in that adventure that are new or from a supplement. For new monsters give the whole shpeel with lore and ability's, but for monsters released in an other book just give ability's and any relevant information for that adventure. This still incentivizes buying the new books, but means that if you don't have it you can still play an adventure with new creatures.
Me, personally, I added the brutal attack feature to the Orc, ranging from a d4 to a d12. One of my players played an orc barbarian, and he managed to get 5d12 on a crit. It was glorious.
New to the channel, love the stuff! As someone who didn't get the elemental evil or the sword coast guide, I think the addition of the Goliath was a pretty good choice. I use them as whole desert society in my own world (a la the fremen of dune), and wouldn't have discovered them otherwise.
The goliath actually _haven't_ been in a book before. They were in the electronic supplement to Elemental Evil, but not in any fifth edition published physical form.
Just a thought but considering the lack of number bloat in 5th edition, it makes sense for the designers to create a significantly larger representation of lower CR creatures as they are considered to have an effect in combat through an adventurers entire career albeit with diminishing returns at higher levels.
I love the book! Got it for my birthday this week, it surely is interesting and refreshing. I really liked the yuan-ti section and as a pc, the kenku seem like a challenge, but probably a great experience. And as always, great video you guys.
For the heck of it I have restated orcs. Its the same as Volo's guide with the ability scores, dark vision and powerful build switched out. Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, your Constitution score increases by 2 Superior darkvison instead of darkvison. Blessing of the orc gods; Each orc is blessed by one of the five gods with a power to aid them in the eternal war. This power can only be used once every long rest. The Leg Breakers Blessing; +1d8 damage on a single attack The War Makers Blessing; Gain Pack tactics for one round of combat as a bonus action The Cave Mothers Blessing; Advanage on a single wisdom saving throw The White Hands Blessing; Advantage on one constitution saving throw The Night Lords Blessing; Advantage on a single stealth check
Looking back on this thing I think the saddest thing I found about this combo is that 5e's best version of an orc as I would want to see them is the Mountain Dwarf. This thing I wrote is too damn complicated.
I would like to point out that the Goliath is not in fact a reprint; it has never been included in a physical book before. It was only previously released as the part of the digital Elemental Evil companion PDF. Otherwise though, great video! I really loved Volo's Guide myself. I don't personally mind the relatively low CR of the Elder Brain; I always kind of thought of them as these psychically capable, but physically weak beings that require the colony to not only to serve, but also to protect them.
The EE Companion was an official WoTC release and was legal for League play, despite being just a PDF. That's likely what they intended. The Goliath was already officially released, just like the Deep Gnome, making each officially released in PDF, and then released again in print.
I know that, I just said that the likely goal of WOTC was to release the Goliath race in print, similarly to what they have done to the Svirfneblin. Even if both of them were officially released, they had not been literally printed before, hence the 're'print.
I love playing the Triton Race. Because nobody seems to really play them. The most played race out of that book is Kenku, Tabaxi and Aasamir etc. And my GM is cool enough to allow me to make some Triton Culture and history up. Thanks Jane your Awesome :D
Maybe they included the Goliath since it was in an adventure book and not everyone buys those, especially those DMs that like to use their own setting. They still would buy a new "monster manual".
The most interesting thing to me was gnolls. I'd never thought much about them, but holy crap did they end up a horrific and interesting enemy by the time I was done with it.
It'd be interesting to see wizards reference volos guide in the new campaigns, but have a side panel optional base monster manual replacement for the groups that don't have volos
The beg and cower idea I can see work even for brave Kobolds. They just see it as a tactic. They put themselves on the line, make a false plea for mercy and let their allies move in.
One monster I was really disappointed that didn't show up was the destran or what ever its name was. That aberration thing that screams at you to kill you
great vid for Volo's guide guys. Opinions on Firbolg or the Yuan Ti as a playable race? Also opinions given on the lore for the gnolls? The additions to the gnolls look as if they could make for a great t1-t2 campaign.
Donald Flowers Gnolls are great through T2. Firlbogs have a lot of magic diversity to add to any class. Never been down with the Yuan Ti, but not a fan of snakes.
The early big bad in my campaign is a hag. She's actually a prominent figure in the kingdom who has used her power to rise to an immediate advisor of the king. Her coven/cult isn't composed of children she's stolen but rather the disparaged/homeless children/young adults that she has lovingly taken in as her family. She offers them a home, family, and of course unlocking their potentials with power that they can only imagine. She has manipulated the kingdom into several wars (which is hypocritical in and of itself but it's seen as a war to end all wars) as a mask for her plans to bring forth extraplanar entities. It's not because she wants to rule (but that's one driver), but because of all the societal and racial issues that leave the planet in constant state of war, famine, the disparity between the wealthy and poor, and suffering. She sees these entities that she brings in as the great equalizer because they see all mortals as sacs of flesh, for they do not care for material wealth or the opinions of mortal.
We can say both. trying to pull these monsters and mechanics into pathfinder as well, love what you guys are teaching about 5E and dnd in general. Keep it up!
Dauphins are scary, they dont just attack in groups they also always specifically target your internal organs. You should look up the "porpoise killing incident", it is a example dauphin brutality.
If you dont like the beg ability of the kobold, just rename it for your character while leaving the mechanics untouched. Mechanic is, you use your action to give nearby allys an advantage. For example, a monk would instead for begging for his life to distract the enemie just throw out some yoda level whisdom
@@FedEx867 Kinda, but as far as I remeber the help action only gives one helped creature a bonus (if Im wrong, we dont really use it in our games). The kobold ability helps everyone against the enemie its used against.
Bugbear Monk with 3 level Rogue dip...we're remembering that Sneak Attack doesn't work with Unarmed Strike right? The vast majority of multiclassing I see TOTALLY botches the rules, as a lot of ability combinations will not work RAW. When a multiclass combo seems like the "go-to kick-ass", it's usually because you're doing it wrong. Bummer Kenku wasn't discussed more. Now that's a Monk race if ever there was one! Super interesting if you use the Dragon Magazine version(March 2005 Issue #329). Volo version is a bit lame..."I like shiny stuff, kaw! kaw!". Maybe this is why it went unmentioned? Also...digging the Goblin Druid idea. Love the Monk videos btw!
You guys, amazing content as always. I'm picking up my copy of Volo's Guide today and looking forward to jumping right in after this episode. That said, I must know: where did you find that wonderful DM Screen? I must have it.
Bheur is pronounced "Burr". It's not a cheesy reference to the cold though (I am uncertain why they are associated with the cold, in fact), it's from a Celtic goddess who in Scottish lore was depicted as a weather controlling hag, Cailleach Bheur.
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Political wire
Are you guys going to do a video on Mordenkein's tome of foes?
My argument for the Elder brain being that low is that it's just a brain. Sure it's a powerful thing, but a brain in a pool is still a brain in a pool.
Yeah, I feel an encounter with an Elder Brain SHOULD NEVER BE JUST THE PARTY VS THE ELDER BRAIN, the Elder Brain should have a ton of Minions to support it, a couple of Mind Flayers to provide psychic support, maybe some enslaved high power NPCs from the appendix of the books.
yeah it's main thing is it controls very member of the colony, 1 mind with many bodies, some of them with special powers of their own, the elder brain on it's own is just a giant brain that is no more dangerous than a single ullitharid, far from being anywhere near demigod status, given they have their own god and the elder brain is never implied being even remotely close
"Be careful what you don't wish for. You might not get it." Holy Shit, that's good. Hope you don't mind me stealing that!
Ben Wright
Just be sure to cite your sources.
Of course!
BUT DID YOU KNOW? In the Lord of the Rings books, Treebeard speculates that Saruman had crossbred Orcs and Men to create the Uruk Hai (high orcs) - one of which managed to kill Boromir. So, half orcs being the best is canon.
I was going to say this as well.
Me too. First thing I thought of when I heard him say that.
Not really, there were half-orcs, Uruks and Half-Goblins, the Half-Orcs were strong and yellowish skinned, Uruks strongest and black, and half-goblins were weakest, Treebeard thought Uruks were either a new half-breed or corrupted men, essentially all were different mixes of orcs and men. Snaketongue took them with him to conquer the Shire after they conquered Orthanc
The only strange thing is that if one assumes mixing races makes a stronger breed, why is that not the case with Half Elves?
With half elves, we see a clear melding of elements of the two races.
If mixing races made superior Half Orcs, why wouldn't Half Elves also be superior?
I think the main issue here is that there seems to be a clash in the meta logic of the fantasy universe.
That's only true if you ignore they WHY they were mixed. Someone selectively breeding 2 races to make a superior warrior is gonna be vastly different then, for example, an offspring of a marriage. In my opinion, if mixing always produced someone +x better, that would be super gamey.
"Ceramic jars of rot grubs...such a dick move...DO IT, DO IT....I dare you to do it."
- Challenge Accepted
Back in the day when Green Slime was a monster and not a "Trick", my players would seek it out and do just that: gather it in ceramic jars and use it as a grenade. The Rot Grub Grenade is but an extension of a long held tradition. - one that my Goblin Arcane Trickster will GLADLY perpetuate.
Mike Gould
Please give updates!!!!
The second Blunderpuck throws a slime/rot grub/yellow mold grenade, you'll know about it
Mike Gould
Blunderpuck. Such a great name.
JPruInc Thanks! Although with the death of the Light Cleric in the last game, I decided to roll Blunderpuck as a Bard. He'll still be tinkering, making traps, and all that jazz, but will also be providing danger music with his banjo, as well as the occasional Healing Word.
Mike Gould dude I see u everywhere haha, the weekly pull, comics explain ECT. ur into all the things I am lol
Just to let you guys know, WoTC put Goliaths in the book because they're the most popular Non-PHB race and they wanted them in a main book as a way to make them more accessible and obvious.
SuperDJBling wonder if thats thanks to critical role lol.
fieldy409 probably
Yeah, I didn't even realize the Elemental Evil supplement even existed when I started playing D&D, much less where to get the PDF.
I like how prewitt literally described Sauroman and the uruk high when he was talking about this half orc breeding program
And once again, the folks at Web DM blow me away. A half hour of sheer D&D bliss.
Until next week!
I'm sure at some point they're going to release a 5e Dragonomicon and that'll have all the jazz like gem dragons and astral dragons.
And hopefully some Dragonborn Variants to beef up the baseline Race.
Matt Colville released a 5e supplement called 'Strongholds and Followers', and gem dragons feature prominently, along with a dragonborn variant.
Hopefully soon..
@@aendrinastor3251 seems to be a possibility that they are gearing up for that with the release of the UA dragon ranger and dragon Monk.
@@jessecannon8196 yeah I've been excited since I saw those
"By the time you're 5th level you should be mopping the floor with some kobolds"
If that's the case, the DM isn't playing them right. Kobolds are diabolical with their traps and ingenuity. I love the new kobold stat blocks. Take a look at the kobold lair in VGtM. There are tons of tiny tunnels that they can use to move around quickly, hit and run. I look forward to running my players through a kobold lair post level 10. Probably will be in a dragon lair, but the kobolds are going to be the real stars.
I like the kobolds as a player race, just so many ways to generate advantage when you attack, if you it's a kobold rouge you basically always get backstab damage.
Nyghtking I played a Kobold Monk, that nice 20 AC at first level, and advantage on most attacks
Rogue*
Thats why they are one of the two races that have a minus stat. Cause pck tactics is so good.
they have 8 INT and 7 WIS, fuck that "diabolic with their traps and ingenuity". Bah
Best review of the book I have thus far seen. Just got my copy today and am very impressed with it.
AJ Pickett
WoTC continues to impress me with their Rules content. I'm iffy on the adventures released.
JPruInc I feel the same way, however I kept buying the things (I have not bought Storm King's thunder) just out of brand loyalty and to support my local game store.
Lol Half-Orcs are like the Gohans of fantasy.
Chad-Solomon Dixon all they do is study all day under their tyrannical mothers...!
They ride turtles in their youth?
My 8 year old daughter is beginning to play 5.0 with my friends and I (she is playing a child Drow Rogue with a fun backstory) and we love watching your videos! Thanks for taking the time and making such amazing content! It is amazing how much she has learned just watching these videos!
You guys rock! I haven't been able to play D&D for a long time, and I really miss it. Listening to you guys chat about the game lets me fantasize about playing and brings me back to hours of awesome game play with some really great friends. Thanks guys, and keep up the good work!
Volo's is one of my favorite RPG reference books. It's pretty darn condensed with something for everyone. The section on giants makes me want to do a giant-themed campaign very much, and the giant alternates are pretty awesome.
Also, FLAIL SNAIL is my absolute favorite monster ever. It's a snail, and a flail, because it rhymes! Loved it since I was a kid!
scabbynacker
Flail Snail FTW!!!
I could imagine the half orc situation being similar to that of the real world Liger (Mix of Lion and Tiger), in which the Liger gains the size of both the Lion and the Tiger and is therefore much larger than either of the parents.
I've heard the same complaints about the high tier monsters. My friends who started the Adventurer's League at our store have been wishing the same as you two for a lvl 10-20 adventure book. I was a bit dissapointed as well that there are so many low CRs in the book, but I think wizards did this with people who can build more stats on the fly in mind.
Again, awesome episode as always! Can't wait for the multi-class episode!
blahlbinoa no
They should come out with a book called, "Legends of the Forgotten Realms". So long as they're keeping the books based on the Realms. The books hold creatures that have no less than CR 14 creatures, explicitly detailing high level play.
I'm surprised you guys didn't talk about how over powered a Tabaxi rogue could be. Haste + racial power to double their movement + any magical items that would effect it. AND they get a climbing speed. Best. Rogue. Ever.
Josiah Bausano
Throw in some monk while you're at it and you have the Flash.
I feel Tabaxi fighter. You get acrobatics and stealth just for being Tabaxi. Imagine that the fighter class.
Want high level content? Get yourself a Tome of Beasts. I haven't even used any of the monsters from it yet, I just have it and have been reading it. I only have one thing to say, "Void Dragon."
Congratulations on being sponsored! Your content quality is amazing and you deserve it!
You guys know you have the best D&D channel out? There are a number of really good ones, but yours is head and shoulders above the rest.
I hear you on the desire to play some goblins. There's something particularly fun about mixing them into the player archetypes. I personally wanna make a goblin paladin.
EmperorZ19
Yes! I'm jealous of Jim's goblin Druid idea.
My first character I had played (only picked up D&D a year ago) was a goblin paladin named Sir Sticky Pants. He was such a fun/influential character that my DM has a portrait of him commissioned from his artist friend
Man, Volo. That name has been synonymous with Faerun for as long as Faerun has been around. If I recall correctly the original guide to the forgotten realms mentioned him. I was running a campaign set along the sword coast and one of my players wanted to be an illegitimate child that Volo sired over his travels. I said I would allow it under the condition that the character would have no idea who his father was. The groups adventures took them to the Undermountain and after a successful raid they were hanging out in the Yawning portal and Volo was there visiting Durnan so he took it upon himself to go introduce himself and mention how they bore a striking resemblance to one another. Durnan looked at Volo and gave a partial shrug and turned back to his duties behind the bar, Volo looked him straight I the eye and said "I don't see it" and turned around and walked off. My friend was speechless as everyone around the table howled with laughter because all through the campaign he bragged that his character was the son of Volo and how he was going to get him to be an ally of the group.
I'm a fan of the Kobold player race, for comedic value alone. After reading the section I immediately designed a dex and con based Kobold barbarian who uses a whip. The concept of a character who's two speeds were cower, grovel, and beg and RAGE AND ATTACK! was amazing. :D
I've home brewed my own orc class.
I have subraces which reflect half orc abilities and then the Halforc abilities are based off their orc heritage.
I met Mike Mearls, Chris Perkins, and Jeremy Crawford at Gamehole Con a few weeks ago. From what I can tell, yes they do plan on incorporating Volo's into future modules. I mentioned to Chris about the Vegepygmies and the Froghemoth being in Volos, and how they were also in an old DnD module. The impression of the reaction I got from him is that 2017 will be very cool in terms of what Wizards will be releasing. I was surprised to see Tabaxi in the book, because they originate from Mazteca and Chult. They are the first reference to somewhere other than the Sword Coast out side the small amount of info in the Sword Coast Adventure Guide (which also mentions Kara-Tur, but references to Kara-Tur can be found in the DMG and PHB). All I can say is: I'm Hype for whats next, and what adventure , code named 'Labyrinth', is going to be about.
"What ever we do, I think our Multi Classing video needs to come out before anything we've done today"
Is that video out yet? hahaha
+ProfessorButts it's next up...
+Web DM can't wait! keep up the good work boys. you're killing it!
YES!. I've spent the last week trying to make a paladin to kord but then realised its better to go Fighter/Cleric because you can be a better paladin with it.
Edit: I no longer believe a fighter/cleric is a better paladin. Forgive me.
.
+Web DM what Butts said, you're killing it guys, I've never been a huge fan of multi-classing, but then I only just had to move onto my other hand to count my PCs, and the majority of them have been rangers, along with a sorcerer and a paladin.... the latter was born to a clan of dwarven rangers. Looking forward to that though.
I had to explain my character in 5e basically is
Half-orc
Wizard
With a heavy cross bow and a club
Didn't even mention Kenku :(
Or Firbolgs...
Rip bird friends
Or lizard folk :/ they haven't even made a video on them yet...
One of my most favorite characters I've ever made was a 4e Hobgoblin Dragon Sorcerer, simply named Darak. He was basically like a Klingon obsessed with honor via battle and feats of power, but tempered by a loose code of conduct and a great reverence for dragons. Especially the old ones for their first-hand accounts of great wars and the rise and fall of empires. He's thrown men off cliffs, been deprived of his rightful kill of a Medusa (she commited seppuku), and earned the ire of a sky pirate lich. Even with 5e Hobgoblins not being optimal for Dragon Sorcerers, I'd still play him again in 5e.
Just found this channel! good stuff! could you guys possibly start linking to where you got some of your shirts? "Carpe DM" and "RUN D&D" absolutely killed me.
In Irish Bhuar means cold and is pronounced as "Fu-ar". The "Bh" becomes an "F"
Yay for some Half-Orc spellcaster love!
My Half-Orc necromancer was hands down one of the most interesting and compelling characters I have ever had the pleasure of playing.
(Granted, one of my favorite things to do in D&D is pair up the last race/class combos one would expect. Sure they're not mechanically optimal, but the challenge of fleshing them out to be something that makes sense in context is always a super fun challenge.)
I'm sad that you guys didn't talk about firbolgs.
TasteThese Rolls I know like what the hell? They're easily my favorite new player race
AoWgoldsteel Mine too!
TasteThese Rolls
I apologize. We didn't have the book long before we were scheduled to shoot. We covered what we could. I do love the firlbog. They have a great range of magical abilities. That hidden step should not be overlooked.
AoWgoldsteel
I know, Right!
not sure how I feel about the changes they made. least of all giant to fay.
I think one of my favorite creature lore was for the gnolls, found it really awesome and put them into a different light than I had known them as before
I really like the after credits bits, it shows so much character of the channel
Using the book while not excluding those who don't have it is pretty easy. Just write the new monsters in and provide alternative encounter set ups that are a possibility for each of the new monsters being included. I want to say that's actually been done in the past.
Wanna say guys, great videos as usual. Jim I agree with your monstrous PC bit, with my Kobolds and Orcs losing their stat penalty. I did not think of the Slight build, that's interesting but what I did was take away Sunlight Sensitivity because that's lame for Drow and Kobold players. For Orcs I let them choose one Half-Orc Racial, and my player that did is a beast of a barbarian.
I will say I was hoping for an Illithid race, in the Mind Flayer part it talks about Mind Flayers going into cities to try to learn things.
Alexander Challman
Yeah, that would be cool.
With Volo's Guide and the new Unearthed Arcana, I'm personally excited to play a scourge aasimar grave cleric. Btw very good episode, and I love the behind the scenes stuff at the end.
Cthulhus Dream
That's a good character combo. We're loving sharing our behind the scenes shenanigans with everyone.
Tabaxi ranger all the way!
Climb up to a vantage point and use cats agility to double climb speed to get totally put of the way if something gets close.
Late to this party, but I hope to see Volo 2 in the future. Enjoyed most monsters in there, spare for the multiple sea-race monsters... Quicklings should be above CR 10, they should be very, VERY difficult to slay. In next Volo Guide I would like to see things like the Boneyard, Astral Stalker, Swordwing, Deadly Dancer, Destrachan, Sunwyrm, Steel Predator, Darktentacles and Hullathoin. Those make for interesting and cool high CR encounters.
I used the goblin to make a con man-type rogue with a guild artisan background for my friend's campaign he's running, and an aasimar ranger for my own campaign. This is a good resource to have for character building!
I like variety. We don't always have to get into combat with the creatures we encounter. There are combat encounters, negotiations, sneaking by, distracting...lot of different ways to deal with encounters.
27:34 ... WHAT is Jim doing??
MCKerrnel Hahaha!
MCKerrnel
"Rolling his dice."
Oh my!
bahaha
....Well can't unsee that.....
Re information on Hags, there was Van Richten's Guide to Witches in the 3rd Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium for 2nd edition. Granted that it's an outsider looking in, but it really covers most of the psychology, tactics, weaknesses and strengths as well as local allies.
I look forward to every Wed. Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Your hard work is appreciated.
Anna Fleissner
Glad to help out!
I would like to see Volo's monsters listed as an option or substitute in future books. Listing Monster Manual creature and then list potential substitutes if you have Volo's, either in the individual description of the encounter or a table in the back of the book.
If/when they make 6th edition, I hope they make it a more complicated version and keep 5th edition around as sort of a new D&D basic.
Something that always catches my eye...
Your deathclaw-looking thing's back spikes aren't shaded
Lol, you mean the Tarrasque?
WarMachineBrony
Yeah, that's a Tarrasque. It is what the Deathclaw is inspired by, though.
JPruInc the death law is a tiny terrasque? fitting
I spent such a long time squinting at the Miniatures on the table before I realized what you were referring to...which was doubly ironic considering it always bothers me too!
2nd ed AD&D Tarrasque!!
Bheur Pronounced like: Vor or Vur... I've heard it only a few times ever, and I'm leaning toward Vur or a kind of Bvur sounding pronunciation being the right one.
From: Cailleach Bheur (Creator/Divine Hag) Gaelic mythology origin
There are sources for pronunciation of these online, but they vary somewhat, although that may be merely difference of dialect.
And here I thought it was some play on Brrrrr for being cold. Thanks for the update!
more between an F and a V than just a V, but yeah. Irish is a strange language
One awesome thing was the (admittedly very oblique) reference to Spelljammer in the Mind Flayer section.
I love the variant cover, which is what I have, but I agree that I hate my books not matching on the shelves.
Love your content, guys! And I love that beholder in the backround. Oldschool ftw
Jesper The Friendly Toast
Thanks!
I'm pretty happy with the book so far, and I really enjoyed the Beholder text. You're right about the CR ratings though. I'm thankful I have the Tome of Beasts because that definitely fills out quite a bit of high CR monsters.
Found you guys when the look at wizards video came out, have thus spent the last week retroactively going back and watching everything, love it all. Great job!
Side note: Would we be able to get behind the scenes videos? Was real fun watching the end of this one and you guys just chatting.
"I'm divine, I guess"
Insta-sub!
Awesome episode as always, guys. I just put this book (along with a few other D&D campaign books) on my Christmas wishlist. I'd get it myself, but I have bills to pay and a few more gifts to get. Keep up the great work!
"I'm divine I guess..." *sniff hair flip* XD
I know this comment is coming in real late, but the best way to implement monsters from these supplement materials in new official adventures would be to just have a small area dedicated to monsters used in that adventure that are new or from a supplement. For new monsters give the whole shpeel with lore and ability's, but for monsters released in an other book just give ability's and any relevant information for that adventure. This still incentivizes buying the new books, but means that if you don't have it you can still play an adventure with new creatures.
Me, personally, I added the brutal attack feature to the Orc, ranging from a d4 to a d12. One of my players played an orc barbarian, and he managed to get 5d12 on a crit. It was glorious.
New to the channel, love the stuff! As someone who didn't get the elemental evil or the sword coast guide, I think the addition of the Goliath was a pretty good choice. I use them as whole desert society in my own world (a la the fremen of dune), and wouldn't have discovered them otherwise.
The goliath actually _haven't_ been in a book before. They were in the electronic supplement to Elemental Evil, but not in any fifth edition published physical form.
Just a thought but considering the lack of number bloat in 5th edition, it makes sense for the designers to create a significantly larger representation of lower CR creatures as they are considered to have an effect in combat through an adventurers entire career albeit with diminishing returns at higher levels.
I love the book! Got it for my birthday this week, it surely is interesting and refreshing. I really liked the yuan-ti section and as a pc, the kenku seem like a challenge, but probably a great experience. And as always, great video you guys.
For the heck of it I have restated orcs.
Its the same as Volo's guide with the ability scores, dark vision and powerful build switched out.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, your Constitution score increases by 2
Superior darkvison instead of darkvison.
Blessing of the orc gods; Each orc is blessed by one of the five gods with a power to aid them in the eternal war. This power can only be used once every long rest.
The Leg Breakers Blessing; +1d8 damage on a single attack
The War Makers Blessing; Gain Pack tactics for one round of combat as a bonus action
The Cave Mothers Blessing; Advanage on a single wisdom saving throw
The White Hands Blessing; Advantage on one constitution saving throw
The Night Lords Blessing; Advantage on a single stealth check
Looking back on this thing I think the saddest thing I found about this combo is that 5e's best version of an orc as I would want to see them is the Mountain Dwarf. This thing I wrote is too damn complicated.
Another amazing episode, guys! I'm really looking forward to getting the book
I would like to point out that the Goliath is not in fact a reprint; it has never been included in a physical book before. It was only previously released as the part of the digital Elemental Evil companion PDF.
Otherwise though, great video! I really loved Volo's Guide myself. I don't personally mind the relatively low CR of the Elder Brain; I always kind of thought of them as these psychically capable, but physically weak beings that require the colony to not only to serve, but also to protect them.
The EE Companion was an official WoTC release and was legal for League play, despite being just a PDF. That's likely what they intended. The Goliath was already officially released, just like the Deep Gnome, making each officially released in PDF, and then released again in print.
I know that, I just said that the likely goal of WOTC was to release the Goliath race in print, similarly to what they have done to the Svirfneblin. Even if both of them were officially released, they had not been literally printed before, hence the 're'print.
I hope they give monster manual monsters in future campaigns, but they also mention Volo's guide monsters as alternative options.
I love playing the Triton Race. Because nobody seems to really play them. The most played race out of that book is Kenku, Tabaxi and Aasamir etc. And my GM is cool enough to allow me to make some Triton Culture and history up. Thanks Jane your Awesome :D
You guys are awesome! every video is interesting and always helps with writers block
Maybe they included the Goliath since it was in an adventure book and not everyone buys those, especially those DMs that like to use their own setting. They still would buy a new "monster manual".
David Farcus it's in a free PDF though so no money spent to get the race in the first place
It's nice to have a book though.
The most interesting thing to me was gnolls. I'd never thought much about them, but holy crap did they end up a horrific and interesting enemy by the time I was done with it.
i like the chit chat at the end of your episodes...
jelio123456
It's a lot of fun. Glad y'all are liking the peek behind the scenes.
HA! Hang in there, Pruitt. I'm enjoying the show. :)
I'm hoping that they will come out with a book based around campaigns at level 10+. Maybe add some prestige classes?
It'd be interesting to see wizards reference volos guide in the new campaigns, but have a side panel optional base monster manual replacement for the groups that don't have volos
The beg and cower idea I can see work even for brave Kobolds. They just see it as a tactic. They put themselves on the line, make a false plea for mercy and let their allies move in.
One monster I was really disappointed that didn't show up was the destran or what ever its name was. That aberration thing that screams at you to kill you
Destrachan?
Indeed, that awesome monster should have been in the vanilla monster manual as a casual! (Instead of the boring Hippogriff for example)
great vid for Volo's guide guys. Opinions on Firbolg or the Yuan Ti as a playable race? Also opinions given on the lore for the gnolls? The additions to the gnolls look as if they could make for a great t1-t2 campaign.
Donald Flowers
Gnolls are great through T2. Firlbogs have a lot of magic diversity to add to any class. Never been down with the Yuan Ti, but not a fan of snakes.
I'd love to see you guys grow into something more. Love your insight and ideas, I look forward to your videos weekly. Keep it up!
Sam West
Growing stronger every week.
The early big bad in my campaign is a hag. She's actually a prominent figure in the kingdom who has used her power to rise to an immediate advisor of the king. Her coven/cult isn't composed of children she's stolen but rather the disparaged/homeless children/young adults that she has lovingly taken in as her family. She offers them a home, family, and of course unlocking their potentials with power that they can only imagine. She has manipulated the kingdom into several wars (which is hypocritical in and of itself but it's seen as a war to end all wars) as a mask for her plans to bring forth extraplanar entities. It's not because she wants to rule (but that's one driver), but because of all the societal and racial issues that leave the planet in constant state of war, famine, the disparity between the wealthy and poor, and suffering. She sees these entities that she brings in as the great equalizer because they see all mortals as sacs of flesh, for they do not care for material wealth or the opinions of mortal.
Ir is a truly awesome book!
Lol that Bait and Switch.
Officially on my Christmas list!
Logan Bethke
Us or the book?
We can say both. trying to pull these monsters and mechanics into pathfinder as well, love what you guys are teaching about 5E and dnd in general. Keep it up!
Nice video guys!!!
For next release, I really hope for a 5e Manual of planes...that would be fabulous.
filcat
I love traveling by planes.
the best pick me up before work...thnx guys! :)
Glad to help out.
Dauphins are scary, they dont just attack in groups they also always specifically target your internal organs.
You should look up the "porpoise killing incident", it is a example dauphin brutality.
I think you would have to add a high crit chance for you dauphins.
You've inspired me to buy this book... mostly because I love me some Illithids :).
@14:17 That is how most half orcs come about in my setting. The orcs breed them on purpose because they are generally smarter.
If you dont like the beg ability of the kobold, just rename it for your character while leaving the mechanics untouched.
Mechanic is, you use your action to give nearby allys an advantage.
For example, a monk would instead for begging for his life to distract the enemie just throw out some yoda level whisdom
So... the Help action¿
@@FedEx867 Kinda, but as far as I remeber the help action only gives one helped creature a bonus (if Im wrong, we dont really use it in our games). The kobold ability helps everyone against the enemie its used against.
Bugbear Monk with 3 level Rogue dip...we're remembering that Sneak Attack doesn't work with Unarmed Strike right? The vast majority of multiclassing I see TOTALLY botches the rules, as a lot of ability combinations will not work RAW. When a multiclass combo seems like the "go-to kick-ass", it's usually because you're doing it wrong. Bummer Kenku wasn't discussed more. Now that's a Monk race if ever there was one! Super interesting if you use the Dragon Magazine version(March 2005 Issue #329). Volo version is a bit lame..."I like shiny stuff, kaw! kaw!". Maybe this is why it went unmentioned? Also...digging the Goblin Druid idea. Love the Monk videos btw!
Holy crap, I want that Yin-Yang Crit shirt!
You guys, amazing content as always. I'm picking up my copy of Volo's Guide today and looking forward to jumping right in after this episode. That said, I must know: where did you find that wonderful DM Screen? I must have it.
Lets go stench cow tipping! :-)
Bheur is pronounced "Burr". It's not a cheesy reference to the cold though (I am uncertain why they are associated with the cold, in fact), it's from a Celtic goddess who in Scottish lore was depicted as a weather controlling hag, Cailleach Bheur.
Sounds like a good book.. I'm getting it, good rating dudes!
The recess from class line was great! Should have used it
GrimBrotherIV
Yeah, it still got in there, though.
Of course this comes out right as I come home from buying Volo's Guide.
Yes, Volo's Guide will be used in future published adventure(s) from WotC.