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Candlekeep’s Tome of Books [ D&D5e ] | Review
In this review we are pleased to introduce Candlekeep’s Tome of Books, expansion module for D&D5e.
To begin with, we thank the two authors Marco Fossati and Marco Bertini (aka Sign of the Dragon), whose Born to be Kobold, Quest Spell & Other Divine Magic and other manuals we have already reviewed with pleasure. Both are also known for their collaborations and accolades achieved. Marco Fossati is in fact the winner of an Ennies Awards as author of the statblocks of the Nightfell Bestiary; Marco Bertini has instead recently started collaborating with Acheron Games for the development of Brancalonia and Inferno leaving us very confident of the product we are about to review.
Candlekeep’s Tome of Books is available on DMs Guild for just $3.95. An excellent value for money for a supplement full of old and new dusty volumes but interesting and not trivial at all.
Well, grab your antihistamines and let’s start wading through these worn old books!
Content Review of Candlekeep’s Tome of Books
This 27-page manual introduces the reader to eighty new books, divided into Mundane Book and Magic Book and Scrolls; there is also a first part dedicated to their appearance, price and search methods, introducing rapid customization at the service of any master.
Candlekeep’s Tome of Books makes use of the very useful open source online tool Homebrewery; this tool, with a minimum of practicality and a few tricks, allows you to give a professional look to your material. And the authors, perhaps also due to the topic covered, have managed to obtain this result. The supplement is in fact structured like the most classic official D&D5e manuals in terms of layout and appearance, not disfiguring at all in your PDF collection.
The properly yellowed pages do not disturb reading; also the font and the tables are perfectly legible and aligned. The inserted images usually mark the end of a chapter, further helping the already flowing reading. These images are quite classic in style, also the result of collaboration with DMs Guild and access to their stock images. All this gives something familiar and allows for a remarkable artistic quality.
A Book is not Judged by its Cover… or is it?
The first chapter of the support gives the Master a series of ideas on how to customize the many books and tomes that the characters can find in their game world. It ranges from the size, materials and aspects of the covers to the languages with which our precious paper friends are written. There are also indications on the price of the books, their rarity and the advantages they can give once found.
Extremely interesting and amusing can be the “complications” that our heroes could run into in their search for the tomes. Who, after all, has never offended a sage while searching for the mysterious Book of the Damned? Or who hasn’t had to contend with a passing thief for a precious tome, worse than in brawls during sales?
Each step, however, is well described and simplified by the excellent tables that allow for rapid generation of the books. All at the service of any Masters put in difficulty by their players’ need for culture and education.
Candlekeep’s Tome of Books Mundane Books Review
This second chapter takes on the task of describing some of the tomes that the characters, by luck or careful research, could find. This regardless of whether they are in a pile of books saved from a fire or in a more practical library with busty dwarfs as shop assistants (don’t judge me!).
While their name, Mundane Books, doesn’t sound like something respectable or important, don’t be misled. Each book presented is interesting, often with a little story of its own that the narrator can easily insert into the plot. Each tome also has game mechanics that can facilitate trials, often providing an advantage on the subject they deal with.
After all, a group that is preparing to explore the Underdark could have the brilliant idea of researching a book that talks about the subject, and what could be better than the practical tome known as “A Guide to the Underdark” written by our favorite drow ? Sure, this might prompt the characters to do the dwarf librarian a favor, but who can resist? Or even simpler volumes with immediate usefulness, such as “Poison and Known Antidotes” which guarantees any healer to be able to recognize poisons and their antidotes more easily thanks to the Advantage granted after a week’s study. Tomes similar in utility and variability can be found as much for any class as for any objective or background.
Magic Scrolls and Spellbooks
Now let’s move on to the last chapter, the highlight of the supplement (at least for you greedy spellcasters). I see you rubbing your hands worse than a horny Fantozzi. Mystra sees you, shame on you!
The third chapter deals with presenting the various magic books and spells, each with the possibility of activating extraordinary magical effects or obtaining small but significant advantages in casting or obtaining new spells. All very useful things for any group of adventurers. Or not?
I particularly appreciated the “Libram of Destruction” which allows you to analyze various magical objects and then suddenly disappear with the last object analysed. Probably with cute appellations of the adventurers to the cruel fate. Even the “Tome of Insanity” promises a crazy day. However, there are numerous interesting and spectacular tomes such as “Sign of the Dragon” which allows you to obtain the breath weapon of a random dragon, the “Devil’s Pact” which allows you to play your soul in exchange for three favors with a devil, or even the more common “Book of Recording”, which transcribe speeches in the language of your choice (very useful for both researchers and diplomats).
Conclusions of the Review of Candlekeep’s Tome of Books
Like other similar products by the same authors, Candlekeep’s Tome of Book is a dense PDF. In fact, it provides numerous game ideas and can be read in just half an hour. The product has been well thought out and provides the Master with a more than valid tool for the random generation of tomes and books. Furthermore, each has its own mechanics and often a small set of useful information both for the storyteller and for the adventurers.
If you want to take your group to see libraries, old collections of tomes and fascinating librarians with a new and deeper eye, Candlekeep’s Tome of Book is more than recommended; also thanks to the negligible price, it is an excellent addition to the digital library of every enthusiast!