A review copy of “Nameia’s Crimson Tome” was provided by the publisher. Find more DMs Guild Reviews on my website and YouTube channel.

Support my work by using affiliate links for shopping and pledging via Patreon.

Designed by: Stratos Fotakis

Last year I reviewed Nameia’s Laboratory, a mini-adventure that was little more than a dungeon crawl.

Nameia’s Crimson Tome isn’t an adventure, but a massive supplement with 12 new blood-themed subclasses, 25 spells, 22 collective ritual spells, 15 magic items, 27 monster statblocks (from previous editions to 5e), and 24 new NPC statblocks, as well as details on Nameia’s blood cult, the Crimson Order.

Unlike most supplements that begin with someone’s name, the clone-happy Nameia didn’t write this tome (though she does write the preface). Nameia’s Crimson Tome explores the theme of blood magic via subclasses, magic items, and monster statblocks.

Chapter one covers 12 new subclasses, one for each class. It’s a stark reminder that not every class fits every theme. The Pact of the Blood Mark turns the Warlock into a pseudo-vampire, along with some unique invocations, while the Monk’s Way of the Crimson Blade allows them to conjure blood blades with lots of nifty features. My favorite is the inventive College of Blood Painting, turning a bard into something out of Castlevania or Final Fantasy.

But most of the subclasses aren’t very impressive, adding some necrotic damage, or minor buffs and debuffs. The Blood Sorcerer should have been a home run, as what better class is more suited to blood magic? Yet it’s mostly manifested as taking damage to regain spell slots, and copying the Draconic HP and AC increases.

Thankfully all the subsequent chapters include good content, especially the bloody spells. I’m a sucker for creating interesting visuals, and the spells include conjuring blood hounds, coating weapons in necrotizing energy, transforming your own blood into black liquid armor, and conjuring a piercing blood spear that deals more damage with each successive hit.

The new magic items build upon the same blood-theme, including the awesome blood symbiote that can replace a missing limb, and transform into any weapon. We are Venom!

The supplement also features lots of older D&D monsters converted to 5e, most of which are either directly or indirectly related to blood. You got your blood demons, blood elementals, blood oozes, blood hulks, blood golems, and a few disgusting organ-related undead monstrosities.

The tome also includes 24 new NPC statblocks based on all the subclasses introduced in the first chapter, a CR 5 and CR 10 per subclass. Creating NPCs alongside new player subclasses is a great concept that a number of supplements utilize. It’s especially welcome here as blood magic tends to be wielded by villains rather than the heroes.

Finally there’s a section devoted to the Crimson Order, an evil cult dedicated to the blood lord Haemnathuun. Nameia is a high-ranking member, along with four others who are each given statblocks, page-long backstories, and original artwork. The artwork throughout the supplement is amazing, especially for NPCs and magic items, and helps make up for the many grammatical issues in the writing.

There’s enough material within the Crimson Order to rival any one of the Elemental Cults from Princes of the Apocalypse. The only thing missing is an actual adventure.

Nameia’s Crimson Tome holds a staggering amount of content for both players and dungeon masters, tied together with a bloody fun theme.

Pros:

  • Highly thematic and interesting blood-themed spells and magic items.
  • Lovely original artwork for NPCs and magic items.
  • 24 NPC statblocks that use the new player subclasses.
  • Detailed lore about the Crimson Order focuses on its nasty leaders.

Cons:

  • Numerous grammatical errors.
  • Most of the new subclasses don’t fit the blood theme as elegantly as others.

The Verdict: With 12 new blood-themed subclasses, over a dozen bloody magic items and NPCs, and an evil cult dedicated to the Blood Lord, Nameia’s Crimson Tome should easily handle all your sanguine needs.

A review copy of “Nameia’s Crimson Tome” was provided by the publisher. Find more DMs Guild Reviews on my website and YouTube channel.

Support my work by using affiliate links for shopping and pledging via Patreon.