D&D 5E Xanathar's Poll

[Azzy]

It's also the shear size of the space that it takes up, a much shorter list would have been fine. And human names we're a complete waste of space.

As long as some purchasers of XGtE find them useful, it's obviously not a waste of space. Would I have preferred something different in its place, sure. However, the list will prove useful to new and casual gamers that never thought to look at different cultural names, or are not inclined to go search online for names. Also, it serves as a one-stop shop when combined with the other player and DM resources in the book—no need to drop your books and go online when it's right in front of you.

 

[Zilong]

As long as some purchasers of XGtE find them useful, it's obviously not a waste of space. Would I have preferred something different in its place, sure. However, the list will prove useful to new and casual gamers that never thought to look at different cultural names, or are not inclined to go search online for names. Also, it serves as a one-stop shop when combined with the other player and DM resources in the book—no need to drop your books and go online when it's right in front of you.

That's pretty much why I like them. Sure I have my computer and other accessories on hand when I DM, but I probably already have a lot of pages for stat blacks and maps loaded up. For me it's much easier to flip a page or two than open yet another tab. Plus, there's a certain quality of hefting a book and thumbing through it that gives it a bit more storytelling gravitas I feel.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Much like the previous supplement (Sword Coast something-or-other), it just seems unnecessary. If I wanted additional class/race/spell/feat options, the guidelines for creating those are in the DMG.

 

[TerraDave]

I like the names.

I've used the names.

 

[WayOfTheFourElements]

So far, one player's used a sub-class from the book. I've used one traps. And eight players used the name list.

So far that name list has been the most useful part of the book. Who would have guessed?

 

[PoJo72]

Overall I really like the book

Pros
The monster selection tables showing how many monsters of different CRs a character of a certain CR could handle
The numerous random encounter tables by level and region are also awesome.
Love the chapter that let's you roll (or choose) a full character history. Really helps when brainstorming

Cons
More than 3 years into 5e, I think there could have been more content to include than 192 pages
I am not sure that the name generator tables are deserving of 18 pages
The lack of an index bothers me

 

[Henry]

I’m a fan of Open Source, so using UA as its play testing base doesn’t bother me. (Wouldn’t mind if it were eventually added to the OGL, though )

Overall, I like it, and think it’s a good addition.

 

[Henry]

Much like the previous supplement (Sword Coast something-or-other), it just seems unnecessary. If I wanted additional class/race/spell/feat options, the guidelines for creating those are in the DMG.

Finding inventive and balanced classes/races/spells/feats to be the hardest part to get right, that’s the very part I want from a new book!

 

[Parmandur]

So far, one player's used a sub-class from the book. I've used one traps. And eight players used the name list.

So far that name list has been the most useful part of the book. Who would have guessed?

Yeah, names are hard to do right, and online sources aren't helpful around the game table the way a book is.

Sent from my [device_name] using EN World mobile app

 

[WayOfTheFourElements]

Yeah, names are hard to do right, and online sources aren't helpful around the game table the way a book is.

Sent from my [device_name] using EN World mobile app

Exactly. But doe groups who create characters away from the game table or who use electronics during the game, I can see why it wouldn't be the most useful section of the book.