D&D 5E Tome of Beasts or Volo's Guide

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

You should buy both, and perhaps a 20 pack of instant noodles if that's what it takes to re-balance your budget for the month.

 

[Reynard]

About 50 Fey in Tome of Beasts (a lot):

::snip list::

Not many in Volo's Guide, by comparison. Maybe 9 total? Darkling, Quickling, Boggle, Korred, Redcap, a couple hags, and a few others, I think.

We'll that settles it then! Thanks!

 

[TerraDave]

We'll that settles it then! Thanks!

I particularly like the unique feylords, like the Lord of the Hunt and the Queen of Night and Magic.

 

[Jester David]

ToB will get you a lot more monsters for your bucks. Volo is more flavour and lore than monsters.

 

[Ath'kethin]

Yeah, I bought both and have serious buyer's remorse for Tome of Beasts. It just doesn't have anything inspiring in it in my opinion.

But my game is not your game, and obviously others feel differently. It's true that I'd your main goal is more monsters of the Fey type, ToB will get you farther than Volo.

But be aware that ToB very much reads like a 3e/Pathfinder supplement converted to 5e. Again, if that's your thing great, but I fled the rules-heavy systems for a reason.

 

[Queer Venger]

The two books are the same MSRP, and I want to expand my monster selection. So, ENWorld, which one should I buy?

A couple notes:

I will be buying it on Fantasy grounds since that is where I run D&D these days. If I like whichever one I go with, I will probably pick up a hard copy for running at con games.

I am not especially interested in additional PC races.

I primarily use homebrew settings.

I like being able to rely on CRs as at least a general guide to what to toss at PCs. CR/Encounter level is never perfect but I need a starting point.

Thanks!

I'll make this easy for you: both. Though to be honest, I've yet to use anything from ToB

 

[ArchfiendBobbie]

I think Tome of Beasts has a lot of things that 5E is currently missing, including a few creatures I plan to plague my players with.

But Volo's Guide is also one that has a lot of worthy creatures and lore in it.

All in all? Both.