Critical Role Tal'Dorei Reborn from Critical Role Is Out!

Darrington Press' reboot of Critical Role's Tal-Dorei D&D setting has been spotted in the wild, and on social media folks who worked on it are showing off pictures of their books.

The book is available from Critical Role's various online stores. The print version comes with a free PDF; however you cannot buy the PDF alone.

(Forgive the huge mess that this post is! That's what Twitter does to articles!)

 

[BRayne]

Would anyone mind sharing the table of contents?

 

[Shardstone]

There are no mechanics for the races in this book, which I find odd, specifically in regards to the new Mixed ancestries, which get vague rules about just combining features.

Other then that, an alright setting PDF. Tal'Dorei doesn't do much for my tastes, but this is well written, has decent art, and for those of you who are pro Critical Role or want content for your Forgotten Realms (or other traditional D&D settings), its a great source, since it plugs into the same multiverse. Lots of NPCs with planar or planar-potential ties and so on.

7.5/10 subjectively, but I think objectively its solidly between an 7-8.

 

[Hexmage-EN]

Who's on the Tal'Dorei Council?

Council Members
Guardian Tofor Brotoras - Dragonborn Master of Defense
Seeker Odessa Tal'Dorei - Human Master of Information
Arcanist Allura Vysoren - Human Master of Arcana
Arbiter Brom Goldhand - Human Master of Law
Hearthmaker Edelbern Cleareyes - Goliath Master of Development
Coinmistress Vex'ahlia de Rolo - Half-Elf Master of Commerce

Ambassadors
Syldor Vessar - Elf Ambassador from Sygorn
Deirdrik Greyspine - Dwarf Ambassador from Kraghammer
Keyleth of the Ashari - Half-Elf Ambassador from Zephrah

Delegates
Kel'jaia Uloeh - Gnome Delegate from Syngorn

 

[Hexmage-EN]

There are no mechanics for the races in this book, which I find odd, specifically in regards to the new Mixed ancestries, which get vague rules about just combining features.

I'm a bit curious about the Mixed Ancestries section myself, especially since Half-Elves and Half-Orcs don't get their own sections in the book like they did in the original Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting book. There's also a number of named NPCs in the book who are of mixed ancestries never seen before.

I know at least Jester of the Mighty Nein was considered a tiefling but had a tiefling mother and water genasi father, and she's in a relationship with a half-orc, so perhaps the Mixed Ancestries section was inspired partially by her?

From a world building standpoint, though, it seems a bit weird to introduce something like this and not give at least a few examples.

 

[overgeeked]

I'm a bit curious about the Mixed Ancestries section myself… There's also a number of named NPCs in the book who are of mixed ancestries never seen before.

It’s good they give examples of never before seen mixed races.

From a world building standpoint, though, it seems a bit weird to introduce something like this and not give at least a few examples.

So the ones you mentioned somehow don’t count? Along with the picture of two more posted up thread.

 

[Ixal]

Everything being able to breed with everything else is just silly. D&D was already too full with half-creatures.

 

[Hexmage-EN]

So the ones you mentioned somehow don’t count? Along with the picture of two more posted up thread.

I meant in terms of game mechanics. For example, under this view Jester might have been statted-up as a homebrew tiefling-water genasi instead of a tiefling.

Everything being able to breed with everything else is just silly. D&D was already too full with half-creatures.

I'm not totally against it, but it is an odd choice given that D&D (as of now, at least) doesn't really have much support for mechanically representing characters of mixed ancestry. IIRC I think this has always been a part of the setting, but any kids were usually mechanically considered one specific race with some superficial traits from the race of the other parent.

 

[Reynard]

7.5/10 subjectively, but I think objectively its solidly between an 7-8.

Wait, what?

 

[Weiley31]

Okay for starters: Sweet another Supernatural Blessing!

And I find it interesting, going by this, that Hemocraft gets its own thing, whether a sidebar or tab or whatever, in this book. I wonder if this is somehow, if it's not just a small segment, of Mercer somehow allowing a rules lite thing in giving other classes the possibility of using Hemocraft. Although probably not since that would be technically covered by the Blood Domain and Blood Magic. But it would be hella neat to somehow get a Blood Hunter Lite from something like that if it was possible

Elemental Ancestry and Half-Giant is probably discount/refluffed Genasi/Goliath since they are WoTC trademarked probably. I'm actually wondering if the Mixed Ancestry has legit rules since there is a pic in the book that shows a Elf Dragonblood

Also: Reformed Cultist? I low-key dig the background/rping aspects of something like that.

 

[Shardstone]

Wait, what?

Yep.