Tome of Heroes - Review
Tome of Heroes, by Kobold Press, is a supplement for D&D 5e that offers new player options, including a wide range of races, subraces, and new subclasses. It also includes rules for new magic items and way to change spells, using draconic runes and magic plants. Chapters one and two cover races and class options for players, including subrace options for dwarves, elves, gnomes and halflings. Additional subclasses are provided for each of the twelve classes presented in the Player’s Handbook. Chapter three provides new backgrounds and feats, including a few specially for Monks and Sorcerers. Chapters four and five have new rules for adventuring and gear, including new weapons and extra rules for using existing weapons. In chapter six, we are introduced to draconic rune casting and hedge magic; draconic runes let you change or amplify spells, whilst hedge magic gives you rules for using the magical properties of various plants. Chapter six also has a host of new spells, whilst the final chapter, chapter seven, provides new magic items.
Tome of Heroes contains a whole host of new player options!
Three Things I Love
Variety
There’s so much variety in this book; loads of different options to choose from, whether you want to try a new race, such as the hedgehog-like Erina, or a different subclass, like the Cat Burglar Rogue. Each class has around eight new subclasses to choose from, and there are fifteen different races to choose from, including the subrace options for the standard races. This is perfect for experienced players who want to do something different.
Metamagic options
There are 17 new metamagic options for sorcerers! You can change a spell’s saving from Wisdom to Intelligence or Charisma, or expend Hit Dice to deal extra damage with a spell. These different options allow you to really build up the versatility of any sorcerer you play.
New feats
Fifteen new feats are included within Tome of Heroes. My favourites are those for the monk and sorcerer, allowing to expend a Hit Die to recover Ki points and Sorcery Points, respectively. There’s also a feat that provides extra Ki points, which can be taken by anyone with a Wisdom of 13 or higher. Whilst the other feats won’t necessarily be for everyone, you’ll probably find something that benefits your character.
The Way of the Dragon Monk is one of the new subclasses for monks.
Three Things I Hate
I really love this book, picking out three things I didn’t like was incredibly challenging. These are mostly just me trying to nit-pick, and more things that could perhaps be improved upon, as it’s really difficult to find a problem with the book.
Draconic Runes and Hedge Magic
This is less a hate, and more of a missed opportunity for me. The only way to access these normally is by way of a feat, and I feel most players would rather choose other feats. This makes this section of the book feel a little redundant, although I like the options it provides, especially the feel of hedge magic. I think a class or few subclasses that used these abilities would have been a good way of making more use of these features; a subclass for wizards, rangers, and druids that specialises in hedge magic would have made sense, and a draconic rune caster for warlocks, wizards, and sorcerers would also have fit thematically with those casters. Alternatively, a background for each could have been provided, adding some access to these abilities.
Too much choice
So earlier I was talking about how good it was that there’s so much choice in the book, and it is; as a player, I want to have lots of options. There are loads of different subclasses within this book that I want to try out. However, so many options could be overwhelming to new players, and put them off playing the game.
Downtime activities
Once again, I don’t hate this section of the book, but some of the choices are a bit strange for traditional campaigns, where adventurers will travel the world. One of these activities involve establishing a trading company, and its headquarters, whilst another includes running a manor. Whilst I think these have their place in some campaigns – such as a campaign based within a city – I can see a lot of players avoiding these options, as adventurers won’t often have time to run their own manor. Some of these options are perhaps something for a more long-term campaign, which takes place over several years or decades within the world.
The Dawn Blade subclass provides a new take on Rogues.
Three Favourite Subclasses
Whilst these may not be the powerful subclasses in the game, they’re three that standout to me in terms of flavour. As I spend more time with the book, my favourites will probably change, but currently it’s these three. You can expend reviews on these subclasses in the future!
Barbarian: Path of the Dragon
Barbarian’s that follow this path not only seek to emulate dragon, but become one. Dragons have mixed opinions about this, some see it as flattery, others see it as insulting. I really love the dragon theme, and it adds to the roleplay element of D&D as well, if you come across a dragon or dragonborn.
Rogue: Dawn Blade
Dawn blades are rogues granted divine power from light deities; they are members of churches or temples willing to get their hands dirty to do what needs to be done. Overall, I love the flavour of the Dawn Blade; I think it would be a great character to play in terms of roleplay and combat.
Cleric: Mercy
Mercy clerics generally fall on two paths, those that wish to heal those in need, and others who seek to destroy those who cause evil. In terms of playstyle, it feels like a cleric that wants to stand in the front-line. It can damage one creature a lot whilst focusing its healing power on one other creature. Its spells and features lean towards a big focus on duelling monsters one on one and healing one creature.
With other 70 subclasses to choose from, what will you play as?
Three favourite magic items
Now it’s time for three of my favourite magic items! Whilst there aren’t many magic items in this book, there’s enough to add interest to any campaign.
Cestus
Magic Items for monks! A simple magic item for monks (although anyone can use them), that functions like a magic weapon, providing unarmed strikes with a bonus to attack and damage rolls. These aren’t the only magic items for monks, as there’s also a Giantstrike Cestus, Deepstone Cestus, and Beads of Contemplation.
Potion belt
Potion belts, especially the greater potion belt, are a hands-free way of using potions, character’s simply pour their potion onto the belt and later benefit from it by speaking the belt’s command word! The potion belt requires you to do this as an action, the greater potion belt allows you to do so as a bonus action.
Bloodspeed Elixir
Tying in with my previous favourite, the potion belt, we have the Bloodspeed Elixir. This potion triples your movement speed, but causes you to take poison damage if you take the Dash action. It’s a trade-off, but incredibly beneficial if you need to move quickly, especially if you’re resistant to poison damage.
Tome of Heroes is filled with beautiful artwork alongside the new rules.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I love this book. I think it provides a lot of choice for players, new and existing, to give them a lot of versatility in how they wish to build their characters. No matter the race or class you wish to play, there’s something for everyone, and I especially love the boost to monks and sorcerers provided. With magic items and feats, monks get a lot of love in this book, and hopefully will mean more get seen in play.
On the other hand, there are a lot of options in the book, and I wouldn’t recommend it for players just getting into the game, as they may find the book overwhelming. Some of the downtime activities detract from a life of adventuring, such as maintaining a manor, so may not be used in many campaigns, making that part of the book redundant. However, as the majority of the book is still going to be used regularly, I would still recommend picking up Tome of Heroes; if you’ve played D&D for a long time, you’ll find the options provided refreshing and inspiring.
I hope you enjoyed this review, and find it helpful if you’re thinking about buying your own copy of the book!
If you want to support me, become a member now! You gain access to extra content, or you can also support me by becoming a Patron!
Gain access to additional content, behind the scenes, and sneak previews!
Want to support me but can’t afford to do a monthly subscription? Click here to make a one-off donation now!
See you next time!
Chris