D&D 5E Xanathar’s Guide to Everything is the fastest-selling Dungeons & Dragons book of all time

[Parmandur]

That's what I'm afraid of ...

Well, fair enough.

 

[Rhenny]

It does have a lot of playable content to be sure. Interestingly, I like it, bought a physical copy and bought it for Fantasy Grounds, but I don't have a burning desire to play any of the options in it...(well, maybe some of the rogue archetypes, but that's mostly because I love rogues). It does stimulate my imagination though.

I'm glad it is doing well.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I don't see any major balance problems, particularly given the non-finetuned nature of 5E: none of the archetypes will outshine or be outshone in any practical way.

Oh, I agree. All the options are well within the PHB power band, even discounting PHB outliers like BM ranger and Elementary Monk.

And even those two aren’t as bad as forums discussions make them out to be.

4e was a very well balanced system, and 5e isn’t quite there, but it’s close enough that I enjoy playing it, even as a very balance focused person who preceded 4e to any previous edition.

Xanathar’s is a great edition that shows how to expand a game without screwing up balance, and truly adding to the game.

Just the tool chapter and downtime expansion alone make it worth it, but on top of those, the subclasses and feats are just good work, IMO.

Some extra time editing would have been good, but nothing is perfect.

 

[ad_hoc]

I don't see any major balance problems, particularly given the non-finetuned nature of 5E: none of the archetypes will outshine or be outshone in any practical way.

Hexblade completely overshadows every other patron for every type of Warlock.

 

[Parmandur]

Hexblade completely overshadows every other patron for every type of Warlock.

So some have theorised. Doubt it in realistic terms.

 

[Ancalagon]

I too am a bit surprised. Wasn't it like book #7 for non-fiction (erm.... wut?) on Amazon.com a week or two ago?

I mean I think it's a good book. But is it good enough to be the fastest selling D&D book of all time?!?

Maybe it's how awesome the cover is? Maybe it's Tiny Servant?!?!?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

So some have theorised. Doubt it in realistic terms.

Yeah I think that idea is flat out wrong.

 

[Dausuul]

So some have theorised. Doubt it in realistic terms.

Even if it does, that's not necessarily a bad thing. What I have seen of the warlock in play has been... underwhelming. The question is how the hexblade lines up with other classes.

 

[Parmandur]

I too am a bit surprised. Wasn't it like book #7 for non-fiction (erm.... wut?) on Amazon.com a week or two ago?

I mean I think it's a good book. But is it good enough to be the fastest selling D&D book of all time?!?

Maybe it's how awesome the cover is? Maybe it's Tiny Servant?!?!?

Pretty simply, I reckon it's the slow output of material, and putting in material for everyone in one place.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

And even though I don't consider green flame blade or booming blade particularly powerful spells except on paper, people online don't seem to shut up about them so I've grown rather irritated with both spells.

They are no big deal for most users, but they are a perfect fit for an eldritch knight’s War Magic (and the Valor bard equivalent). I consider them basically essential for both subclasses. Not overpowered, but needed.