Guildmaster's Guide = Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes 2.0?!

[dave2008]

I was finally able to look at a hard copy of the Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica and it strikes me that it is very similar to Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. Specifically I am talking about the monster stat blocks provided. I don't know the exact count but the GMGtR has a similar number of new monsters as MToF and they are similarly high level. I was debating between getting this or the Mad Mage, but after looking through the GMGtR I will definitely be picking that one up - there is a lot more there that I can use in my own adventures when compared to DotMM.

Just thought I would share my thoughts and wondered if anyone else had the same impression.

 

[pukunui]

It’s more of a glorified Plane Shift article than anything else.

 

[dave2008]

It’s more of a glorified Plane Shift article than anything else.

Possibly, I'm not real familiar with the planeshift articles (I don't play MtG so they are not really my thing). However, if that is your viewpoint, I would argue so is MToF. The GGtR has approx. 78 new monsters which, though less than MToF, is a substantial amount and heck of a lot more than a planeshift article.

 

[NaturalZero]

I'm excited for new settings but I'm sort of lost trying to look at GGtR and getting into the world. Most of it is about the guilds themselves, with minimal info about the actual world itself. The monsters are cool but it feels like they're telling me a little bit about a planet that is cool and evocative instead of showing me what I want to know about it.

 

[Parmandur]

It’s more of a glorified Plane Shift article than anything else.

By that token, Volo's Guide is a glorified "Monster Ecology" article. The Planeshifts are more mini-supplements than "articles" at any rate.

Ravnica definitely points the way for how future setting books will be made, whatever one might think of it.

 

[pukunui]

Possibly, I'm not real familiar with the planeshift articles (I don't play MtG so they are not really my thing). However, if that is your viewpoint, I would argue so is MToF. The GGtR has approx. 78 new monsters which, though less than MToF, is a substantial amount and heck of a lot more than a planeshift article.

By that token, Volo's Guide is a glorified "Monster Ecology" article. The Planeshifts are more mini-supplements than "articles" at any rate.

Ravnica definitely points the way for how future setting books will be made, whatever one might think of it.

Meh.

[video=youtube;V54CEElTF_U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V54CEElTF_U[/video]

 

[André Soares]

My takeaway from this discussion until now:

Man, this planeshift articles must be great!

 

[Mr. Wilson]

I'm excited for new settings but I'm sort of lost trying to look at GGtR and getting into the world. Most of it is about the guilds themselves, with minimal info about the actual world itself. The monsters are cool but it feels like they're telling me a little bit about a planet that is cool and evocative instead of showing me what I want to know about it.

The problem with making a Magic plane into a DnD setting is that they are hyperfoced usually. Specifically in Ravnica, the entire premise of the plane is that it's a giant city teeming with guild politics. The Guilds are what makes Ravnica unique. It's why I'm not opposed to M:TG settings into world books per se, but wish they would have started with Dominaria or Innistrad, which has a more fleshed out world that doesn't revolve around one city.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

I have only just started it, but the races seem...innovative, kind of like Volo's (first official nonhumanoid PC race in 5e if I am not mistaken is in the GRR). I do like the NPC classes that I have read so far (I am going to use the Firefist for the Firre celestial eladrin).

I should get into the meat of the fluff shortly.

 

[jayoungr]

My takeaway from this discussion until now:

Man, this planeshift articles must be great!

They're well worth checking out. I recommend them.