Dungeons & Dragons is experiencing a remarkable resurgence in popularity, fueled by factors such as the success of Stranger Things, the Honor Among Thieves movie, and the immense popularity of Baldur's Gate 3. This makes it an ideal time to delve into the world of tabletop role-playing.
However, navigating the wealth of 5th Edition (5e) D&D content, especially the extensive offerings from third-party creators, can be daunting for newcomers. This guide focuses primarily on official Wizards of the Coast publications, excluding the essential Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual (updated in 2024), assuming you've already acquired these core rulebooks. If not, acquire them first!
AnswerSee ResultsRecommended First-Party Sourcebooks and Adventures:
- Xanathar's Guide to Everything: A crucial sourcebook (2017) brimming with player options, including subclasses, feats, spells, and helpful DM tools. Essential for expanding character choices.
- Tasha's Cauldron of Everything: Similar to Xanathar's, this sourcebook offers additional player options, class features, spells, and DM tools for sidekicks, hazards, and more. Great for class diversity.
- Waterdeep: Dragon Heist: A captivating adventure emphasizing intrigue, social encounters, and political conflict, offering multiple antagonists for replayability.
- Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse: A three-book bundle exploring the Planescape setting, including a setting guide, monster manual, and adventure. A high-quality expansion of a beloved setting.
- Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk: A massive expansion to The Lost Mine of Phandelver, introducing a cosmic horror element and revisiting a familiar location.
- Eberron: Rising from the Last War: A sourcebook set in a unique war-torn world with airships and floating castles, offering new playable races (Dragonmarks) and a campaign set in the Mournland.
- Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen: Introduces the Dragonlance setting, featuring large-scale combat encounters and dragons.
- Curse of Strahd: A gothic horror adventure, a remake of a classic, filled with vampires and creepy elements.
- The Wild Beyond the Witchlight: A Feywild adventure with strong roleplaying elements, multiple solutions, and new playable races and backgrounds.
Notable Third-Party Content (brief mentions):
While this guide primarily covers first-party content, some noteworthy third-party options include Strongholds and Followers, Flee, Mortals!, Tome of Beasts/Creature Codex, and Grim Hollow.
This selection provides a strong foundation for expanding your D&D experience beyond the core rulebooks. Let us know your thoughts and favorite additions in the comments!
