D&D General Help Me with My Pathological Aversion to Third Party D&D Products

[Corinnguard]

If you are looking for good 3pp homebrewers for 5e, try looking up Laser Llama's work on GM Binder. My favorite homebrewed class from Laser Llama is their Magus class.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I have a pathological aversion to third party products designed to be compatible with D&D.

So, here's my pitch!

We get you in a shock collar. Every time you read WoTC product, I hit you with a shock. Every time you read 3PP, I give you some cake. Or maybe booze.

Also? Sometimes I will shock you, just because I'm bored.

Also also? I expect my hourly rate.

Anyway, this should work. For me? Definitely. For you? Eh.....


Anyway, on to the topic. I mostly don't buy 5e 3PP, because when I buy things other than 5e (which is fairly often), it is usually different games (to either play or to get my creative juices going). I could recommend a ton of those, but that's not the question.

Obviously, the Goodman Games reprints/additions to the classic modules were awesome, but they are no more. Get them if you can find them at a reasonable price.

I also enjoyed the Zakhara supplement on DM's Guild. It's an updated Al-Qadim setting for 5e. But most of the "3PP" I use is older stuff I convert.

 

[MGibster]

Also? Sometimes I will shock you, just because I'm bored.

Whoa, whoa. There’s no need to keep drilling when you’ve already struck oil.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Whoa, whoa. There’s no need to keep drilling when you’ve already struck oil.

There's a fine line between ennui and sadism.
-Your dentist, just before the drill starts.

 

[Stormonu]

Another vote for Kobold Press - it was founded by an ex-TSR staffer, Wolfgang Baur (They also behind Tyranny of Dragons, the official adventure).

Also Steamforged games, especially their "Epic Encounters" and "Local Legend" series.

Goodman Games put out great adventures with their 3E series of modules, though I haven't tried any of their 5E adventures. Though if you can get a hold of their "Original Adventures Reincarnated" series (Into the Borderlands, The Isle of Dread, Expedition to the Barrier Peaks, The Lost City, Castle Amber, Temple of Elemental Evil) they are retrospectives, reprints and 5E remakes of old classic adventures.

Frog God Games has a handleful of adventures, some previously by Necromancer Games that are good.

 

[Meech17]

One of the easiest ways I'd think would be a monster book. I've got the monster books from both Kobold Press, and Level Up 5e, and rather like both of them. It's a fun way to spice up my 5e games. On average the monsters tend to feel a little stronger than regular 5e monsters, so you'll have to keep that in mind, but besides that they're plug-and-play.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

I have much the same sentiments. Also burned during the D20 glut, but also I’ve been burned by quality of some kickstarted products in the last 5 or so years.

I’ve had my most success avoiding products for spells and classes because nearly every one in the 5e era I’ve regretted.

The most success has been buying products for small sites and items. Larger campaign adventures have all been regrets (except Goodman Games’ The Lost City). But small single site adventures have been nearly all positives from 3rd parties.

 

[Thomas Shey]

The Kobold Press monster books are so good I sometimes buy them in PDF even though I neither like nor use 5e.

 

[jayoungr]

I have found Kobold Press's monster manuals to be indispensible: the three volumes of Tome of Beasts plus the Creature Codex.

Also the two volumes of The Griffon's Saddlebag from Hit Point Press. Each has 100 or so 300-500 magic items that are flavorful and balanced, with full color illustrations.

And I've been experimenting recently with the classes and subclasses in Valda's Spire of Secrets. It's a good all-round expansion book with a little of everything. From Mage Hand Press.

 

[Quickleaf]

I recommend getting familiar with some individual creators – instead of, or in addition to, company names. In my experience that's going to be the ultimate metric to evaluate future quality at a glance.

Kelsey Dionne is one such writer I can recommend. Before Shadowdark, she was a prolific adventure writer – much terser than the walls of text you get from WotC or Paizo. The one I know and like is The Secrets of Skyhorn Lighthouse.