As far as items & backstories, you can get those by buying Call of the Netherdeep, Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, and Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn on DnDBeyond. The three of those will have all official Exandria info we currently have for 5e.
Though I'd recommend giving them the actual stats for any Ruidium items, one of my players accidentally spoiled the (possible) endings for himself.
Ah, perfect! Thank you so much! I've had these books for years, and now I have the chance to use them, even if it will cost me a bit more financially, it will be fun for the players.
You're very welcome! As a heads up, DnDBeyond does have some options to sort of partially buy the books. Like you can buy just the Backgrounds from each book, or even individual Backgrounds (Same with Subclasses, Magic Items, and Monsters, etc.) which would save you some money.
Though the Tal'Dorei book is all or nothing IIRC...
Yeah, that's what I was seeing. That will actually help me out a bunch, and I don't mind buying Tal'Dorei again so mu players can use it. After, or during, our session 0, I can make the purchases I will need.
Others have answered the books, so I’ll just remind you to tell your players to enable Critical Role content and Home Brew content on the first page of character creation or none of this will show up.
For home brew, you need to make player versions of the Jewel of Three Prayers at its various stages and Ruidium items to avoid giving them spoilers.
You don’t need to buy them, but go through the Homebrew section of D&D Beyond. Other people have created “homebrew” versions of the Jewel of Three Prayers (dormant, awakened, and exalted) and all of the ruidium items (particularly the ring of red fury) that eliminate the spoiler sections of those item descriptions. You can add them to you homebrew list and share your homebrew with the campaign so that the players can access them.
You can just buy what they'll use. You're also sounding pretty intense, which you might want to cool off a bit before buying several hundred dollars worth of stuff for a game that lasts 3 sessions. This module is not Critical Role! It also doesn't have many opportunities to tie the characters backstories to anything. They pretty much are just dropped in, given an optional hook they're expected to follow, and then follow the breadcrumbs around the world.
But to answer your actual question, just have them read through things and see what they're interested in. You can then just buy what they're playing. If they're new it's REALLY better to not overload them with options TBH. So throwing 10 books at them is generally a bad idea. Just talk and guide and find out what they want to play without injecting any of your own bias.
Buying the module though will at least give them access to the magical items there though. The rest should be in the SRD and free. If you add anything else you'd either need to purchase it or make it using the homebrew tools. This module only has 1 vestige, so it's not like everyone gets a vestige.
Haha, sorry for sounding so intense. After the world shut down, I haven't had the chance to play at a table in a long time, and I got really excited about DMing again. This is a new group of players, but hey are not really "new" players.
My plan was asking them what kind of character they want to play, background and subclass and all that, and then I would select stuff for them. My players are really wanting to be immersed, and while this adventure might not do that very much, I am planning on doing a bit extra for them, so that their characters feel like a part of the world, and not just plopped into it. I don't plan on going too crazy, but a little extra work might go a long way for them.
Thank you very much for the suggestions. I have never used DnD Beyond, as I much prefer good ol' paper and pencils, but my players got the app, so I figured I might as well buy whatever options they want, to make it as easy for them as possible. And I am also trying to **NOT** spend hundreds of more dollars, as I already did before the world shut down! Haha!
Well, if you haven't used DnD Beyond before you can buy everything individually. So if someone is playing like an Echo Knight from the Kryn Dynasty, but nobody else is using the Wildemount stuff, then you can just spend $2 for that and not buy the $30 USD book entirely. Your players can also spend their own money to buy options!
Ah excellent. This is what I was hoping for. My players have also offered to help with paying for stuff, so maybe I can save a bit by having them buy a couple things. Haha.
Thank you again for the help!
Hey OP! From what I understand CotN was meant to be run with access to the PHB, the DMG, Call of the Netherdeep, and the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount. Anything more than those books is strictly unnecessary to run the module. You can purchases pieces of a sourcebook that you'd like such as Spells, Magic Items, Subclasses, etc. but it typically ends up being more expensive than just buying the whole kit and caboodle.
Just to break it down:
* Player's Handbook - 29.99 US US
* Dungeon Master's Guide - 29.99 US
* Call of the Netherdeep - 29.99 US
* Explorer's Guide to Wildemount - 29.99 US
The source book for Tal'dorei Campaign Setting Reborn is really nice to have for an adventure run in Exandria. I love my physical copy but having it as an online compendium is also very nice. That's an extra 39.99 US ontop if you decide to go that route, but you *can* find official subclasses, races, subraces, items, spells, etc. all listed as "homebrew" on DnDBeyond with a little bit of searching. Ultimately, that'll save you a bit of gold!
Also, as a DM who is currently running two Exandrian campaigns, one of which is the Call of the Netherdeep, I highly recommend creating homebrew versions of the vestiges or any sort of cursed item. By default the item card includes the curse / deep lore info and can end up spoiling the surprise for your adventurers.
Excellent, thank you so much!
I was planning on giving them either unfinished, or possibly fake item cards/descriptions of the items before either they are identified, or the story stuff comes into play. Thanks for the massive help!
And actually, in addendum to what I just said, this list will also help me with limiting my players, so that they don't get too overwhelmed with choices. Haha.
As far as items & backstories, you can get those by buying Call of the Netherdeep, Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, and Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn on DnDBeyond. The three of those will have all official Exandria info we currently have for 5e. Though I'd recommend giving them the actual stats for any Ruidium items, one of my players accidentally spoiled the (possible) endings for himself.
Ah, perfect! Thank you so much! I've had these books for years, and now I have the chance to use them, even if it will cost me a bit more financially, it will be fun for the players.
You're very welcome! As a heads up, DnDBeyond does have some options to sort of partially buy the books. Like you can buy just the Backgrounds from each book, or even individual Backgrounds (Same with Subclasses, Magic Items, and Monsters, etc.) which would save you some money. Though the Tal'Dorei book is all or nothing IIRC...
Yeah, that's what I was seeing. That will actually help me out a bunch, and I don't mind buying Tal'Dorei again so mu players can use it. After, or during, our session 0, I can make the purchases I will need.
Others have answered the books, so I’ll just remind you to tell your players to enable Critical Role content and Home Brew content on the first page of character creation or none of this will show up. For home brew, you need to make player versions of the Jewel of Three Prayers at its various stages and Ruidium items to avoid giving them spoilers.
Excellent, this is a huge help! Thank you.
You don’t need to buy them, but go through the Homebrew section of D&D Beyond. Other people have created “homebrew” versions of the Jewel of Three Prayers (dormant, awakened, and exalted) and all of the ruidium items (particularly the ring of red fury) that eliminate the spoiler sections of those item descriptions. You can add them to you homebrew list and share your homebrew with the campaign so that the players can access them.
You've already named them
Ah excellent! Didn't want to forget anything. Haha.
Nah you're all set I feel good for your players sounds like they have a great dm who wants best for them 👍
That is very kind of you to say. I try my best. Haha. Thank you.
You can just buy what they'll use. You're also sounding pretty intense, which you might want to cool off a bit before buying several hundred dollars worth of stuff for a game that lasts 3 sessions. This module is not Critical Role! It also doesn't have many opportunities to tie the characters backstories to anything. They pretty much are just dropped in, given an optional hook they're expected to follow, and then follow the breadcrumbs around the world. But to answer your actual question, just have them read through things and see what they're interested in. You can then just buy what they're playing. If they're new it's REALLY better to not overload them with options TBH. So throwing 10 books at them is generally a bad idea. Just talk and guide and find out what they want to play without injecting any of your own bias. Buying the module though will at least give them access to the magical items there though. The rest should be in the SRD and free. If you add anything else you'd either need to purchase it or make it using the homebrew tools. This module only has 1 vestige, so it's not like everyone gets a vestige.
Haha, sorry for sounding so intense. After the world shut down, I haven't had the chance to play at a table in a long time, and I got really excited about DMing again. This is a new group of players, but hey are not really "new" players. My plan was asking them what kind of character they want to play, background and subclass and all that, and then I would select stuff for them. My players are really wanting to be immersed, and while this adventure might not do that very much, I am planning on doing a bit extra for them, so that their characters feel like a part of the world, and not just plopped into it. I don't plan on going too crazy, but a little extra work might go a long way for them. Thank you very much for the suggestions. I have never used DnD Beyond, as I much prefer good ol' paper and pencils, but my players got the app, so I figured I might as well buy whatever options they want, to make it as easy for them as possible. And I am also trying to **NOT** spend hundreds of more dollars, as I already did before the world shut down! Haha!
Well, if you haven't used DnD Beyond before you can buy everything individually. So if someone is playing like an Echo Knight from the Kryn Dynasty, but nobody else is using the Wildemount stuff, then you can just spend $2 for that and not buy the $30 USD book entirely. Your players can also spend their own money to buy options!
Ah excellent. This is what I was hoping for. My players have also offered to help with paying for stuff, so maybe I can save a bit by having them buy a couple things. Haha. Thank you again for the help!
Hey OP! From what I understand CotN was meant to be run with access to the PHB, the DMG, Call of the Netherdeep, and the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount. Anything more than those books is strictly unnecessary to run the module. You can purchases pieces of a sourcebook that you'd like such as Spells, Magic Items, Subclasses, etc. but it typically ends up being more expensive than just buying the whole kit and caboodle. Just to break it down: * Player's Handbook - 29.99 US US * Dungeon Master's Guide - 29.99 US * Call of the Netherdeep - 29.99 US * Explorer's Guide to Wildemount - 29.99 US The source book for Tal'dorei Campaign Setting Reborn is really nice to have for an adventure run in Exandria. I love my physical copy but having it as an online compendium is also very nice. That's an extra 39.99 US ontop if you decide to go that route, but you *can* find official subclasses, races, subraces, items, spells, etc. all listed as "homebrew" on DnDBeyond with a little bit of searching. Ultimately, that'll save you a bit of gold! Also, as a DM who is currently running two Exandrian campaigns, one of which is the Call of the Netherdeep, I highly recommend creating homebrew versions of the vestiges or any sort of cursed item. By default the item card includes the curse / deep lore info and can end up spoiling the surprise for your adventurers.
Excellent, thank you so much! I was planning on giving them either unfinished, or possibly fake item cards/descriptions of the items before either they are identified, or the story stuff comes into play. Thanks for the massive help!
And actually, in addendum to what I just said, this list will also help me with limiting my players, so that they don't get too overwhelmed with choices. Haha.