Dhampir and Other Species To Be Included in Astarion's Book of Hungers

The dhampir will be among several playable species included in the digital exclusive Astarion's Book of Hungers, which is currently only available as part of a $159.99 "Ultimate Bundle." Announced today during a panel on the upcoming Forgotten Realms content at Gen Con, the dhampir will make its return in the upcoming "digital DLC" for the Forgotten Realms books. An Ultimate Bundle was also put up for pre-order on D&D Beyond, which includes 8 species. Assumably, the dhampir and seven other species will appear in Astarion's Book of Hungers and perhaps split with one other unnamed DLC that's also included in the bundle. A third DLC, Netheril's Fall, is an adventure of unspecified length.

The fact that the dhampir and other species content will be included as "digital DLC" is interesting for several reasons. D&D previously made three species - the grung, locathah, and tortle - available exclusively as digital content. However, all three were released to benefit charity, with the tortle eventually making its way into Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse. So, while this wouldn't be the first time that D&D made player-facing content exclusive digitally, the intent (charity versus "Digital DLC") is certainly different. Additionally, it's unclear whether these digital DLCs will be available to purchase separately or if they'll only be available via the Ultimate Bundle, which includes physical and digital copies of the Forgotten Realms books, plus the three DLC packets.

 

[Remathilis]

But the whole point of dhampir is they aren't undead. If they have to chose, lore says humanoid.

The Reborn? They are undead.

I'd say I wouldn't hold my breath, but since Dhampir's don't need to breathe, that seems moot. We'll see on Tuesday

 

[Parmandur]

Lot of assumptions there. We don't know what what (is any) form the future Ravenloft product will take, but the few hints have been the horror UA and Ed Greenwood's slip of the tongue. I feel more confident about a sourcebook with player facing options than CoS 2: Electric Boogaloo, but we won't know until WotC announces something.

As to dhampir, the original UA experimented with them being both humanoid and undead. Dual types were dropped, but with warforged confirmed as constructs and most of the rules that punish undead gone in 2024 (like limits on healing) I wager they may try again. We'll know next week.

Likely something like Forge of the Artificer: player options, but Campaign frameworks and tools for a DM, Basitions, low prep Adventures, etc.

 

[Parmandur]

clarification?

Adobe is bad.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

If we speculate about a future Ravenloft-style sourcebook before the next Halloween we shouldn't be blamed.

I would bet for sourcebooks style Moderkainen's Monsters of the Multiverse with a chapter about PC species and the rest a classic monster compedium. If there are new PC species we should see a new UA article.

Innistrad and Duskmourn from Magic: the Gathering are too good ideas to be not added to the D&D multiverse. The infernal dragons should be updated for players who wanted harder challenges for their horror games or at least not always the same Lovecraftian style. Linnords could be perfect leaders or evil secret cults but that is a different business.

The shifters from Eberron could reappear in Ravenloft or a sourcebook like this.

The PC species for a gothic horror sourcebook can't be only a "shonen" version of Monster High. Let's remember they have to offer some interesting idea because some 3PPs have published their own gothic horror settings with new PC species. OK, maybe WotC creates some academy for freaks style Netflix's Wesdneys. The same world of Stryxhaven?

Ravenloft isn't a "Marvel: Midnight Suns" (videogame). They are different styles. And Ravenloft can't be a "Jurassic Park for monsters from Universal Studios". Ravenloft has to avoid a saturation of supernatural predators because then no population could survive for a long time. Have you played any survival colony managing videogame?

A undead-themed monster sourcbook like "Libris Mortis" is possible but this should arrive after our title with player's options.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I’m convinced we will see a Ravenloft book in the vein of Forge of the Artificer and a pair of Dark Sun books in the form of the Forgotten Realms books.

Then, you’ll have:

Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerun
Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerun

Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
Eberron: Rising from the Last War

Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Ravenloft: Heroes of Horror (working title)

Dark Sun: Heroes of Athas (working title)
Dark Sun: Adventures in Athas (working title)

I’m convinced WotC doesn’t base their releases on a desire for symmetry.

 

[Parmandur]

I’m convinced WotC doesn’t base their releases on a desire for symmetry.

Well, that's true: however, a Ravenloft booster to bring it up to 2024 standards is still plausible

 

[pukunui]

personally, I hate it.
It's a cool tool but too expensive for what it gives. Especially if I have the book already.

Since they are licenced by WoC(at least I think they are), there should be a "book key" inside every book for a massive discount for DDB.

IE:
Book is 60$
DDB digital book(assets) is 40$
both are 70$

WotC owns DDB outright. They bought it ages ago.

They tried your suggestion once with the Theros book. Don’t know why they didn’t keep doing it that way.

 

[Horwath]

Don’t know why they didn’t keep doing it that way.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Buying the physical and digital together on Beyond tends to be about 10 extra bucks over just physical already