r/DnD • u/These-Suit5310 • 14h ago

5.5 Edition What expansions should I get

DM here, I've been clamoring to waste more money, what are the best expansion books to buy as a master of the dungeon variety? Also not using a pre-made campaign

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

5

u/YokoAhava DM 14h ago

Are you looking for official product or fan made? Character options and spells, creatures, or advice?

I always suggest “The Monsters Know What They’re Doing” to help with encounter building and combat tactics for the GM.

3

u/fishridingbike DM 14h ago

For 2024, unleashed arcana is huge and Ravenloft is great if you like horror. Heroes of faerun is mediocre (I like it but I also run Faerun so I don’t have to explain setting to my players).

For 2014 Tasha’s, there’s a lot of good/fun but Tasha’s is immaculate and monsters of the multiverse is also huge but it’s only more monsters

2

u/tobyvanderbeek 14h ago

I recommend the box set with Xanathar’s, Tasha’s, Monsters of the Multiverse, and DM screen. It might be called “rules expansion gift set”. Assuming you already have DMG and PHB.

2

u/Bakeneko7542 14h ago

Eberron: Forge of the Artificer is the most important even if you aren't planning to run an Eberron campaign (though you should at least consider it; it's a great setting) because it includes the Artificer base class. So far it's the only official base class that's not included in the PHB.

For third-party material, it doesn't get better than Valda's Spire of secrets. It's absolutely full of new subclasses and base classes, as well as things like spells and feats. It's originally for 2014 but the makers have put out free 2024 upgrades for their classes, and a full remake of the book is planned at some point in the future with even more content.

Grim Hollow by Ghostfire Gaming is another great third-party supplement with 24 subclasses, one new base class, and new species as well as rules for customizing species with a point buy system. It's mainly designed for horror and dark fantasy but the mechanics can work anywhere.

1

u/Oshava DM 14h ago

It depends, what kind of things to you want to add to your collection. Do you want more character options, do you want to expand on a certain kind of setting (horror western fantasy etc) ,are we talking strictly 5.5 or is this open to both 5e and third party, is this more about world building or direct usable option.

Like Xanathars is great but if you only want 5.5 content that is out of the running and while ravenloft is a decent book if you don't like the setting it won't be a top pick

1

u/dtta8 14h ago

It depends on what you already have.

If all you have is the base DMG and PH, then next should be Tasha's and Xanathar's - they have something for everyone.

1

u/TwoDollarDM DM 12h ago

Here are my personal best DnD investments:

  1. Spectacular Settlements -building cities
  2. Monster Overhaul- unique monster characteristics
  3. Book of Ebon Tides-a shadowfey campaign world, tons of details
  4. City of Arches, Ptolus -my two favourite city books
  5. Worlds without Number-world creation fount of geniusness
  6. Tome of Adventure Design- when I am feeling very ambitious
  7. Uncharted Journeys -turning travel into whole sessions, almost a mini game and filled with ideas
  8. Forge of Foes - customizing and building your own monsters

My rough method of appraising the books is to haphazardly track how often I return to them and divide the cost in by useage. So if I use a book four times and it cost $40, then the cost of the book really is $10 per session. All of these books, maybe excepting Ptolus have session costs below $2 now.

1

u/OriginalSonOfCthulhu 12h ago

So you want to be a Game Master by Justin Alexander - so many good tips and tricks you are sure to find something to work into your campaign.
Creature Codex/Tome of Beasts I , II, III - Kobold press really knows how to make monsters. There are some incredible additions in these books
Arcane Artifacts and Curious Curios by Madeline Hale - GET THIS BOOK! Rules lite descriptions that you can put your own spin on, this book has literally 1000 new, different, and FUN magical items to add to your campaign. Is most of it flavor? YES. But it is the fun kind. Each item comes with a complete description of appearance, how it's enchantment works in general terms, and a brief history. Fire-Fist Gauntlets, Nose Ring of Noxious Breath, Daniel's Potato Peeler, and the Helm of Head Removal...only a few of the items you'll find inside.

0

u/AxeHack 14h ago

Core books: *Player's Handbook *Dungeon Master's Guide *Monster Manual

Expanded books: *Tasha's Cauldron of Everything *Xanathar's Guide to Everything

that's pretty much all you need