A review copy of “The Enchanted” 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: R.G. Wood
At only six pages, The Enchanted may be the shortest product I’ve ever reviewed on the DMs Guild. It includes two new Fey-themed backgrounds, specifically for use in low-magic campaigns, the Fey-touched and the Fey Exile.
The product is described as a monograph, a small piece of writing on a very specific subject. The niche in this case is wanting to use magical characters in a low-magic campaign.
I wish the designer had detailed low-magic campaigns beyond a short blurb in the beginning. What are the pros and cons to running a low-magic or low-fantasy campaign? Why give your players such restrictions on race and class? How does D&D, a game so tightly woven with magic, balance without it?
In order to play anything beyond a human and a non-magic Barbarian, Fighter, or Rogue, you need to have a specific background that unlocks races, classes, and magical feats, at least according to this supplement.
The Enchanted includes an example background taken from the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, the Far Traveller, which unlocks the elf race and Cleric, Monk, and Wizard classes.
I have no idea why that background unlocks those specific combinations, or what we’re supposed to learn from this example. Is it up to the DM? The players? I need more information! At the very least, adapting each of the basic backgrounds from the Player’s Handbook would have been a helpful guideline.
The two new backgrounds are better additions, as they have specific lore details and explanations. Fey-touched are humans who have been affected by the Feywild in some way, unlocking arcane classes like Bard and Sorcerer. The Fey Exiles are traditional faerie (or fey-like) races like dwarves, elves, and gnomes, and can be fey-themed classes like Archfey Patron Warlocks and Oath of the Ancients Paladins.
Both of the new backgrounds feature d4 or d6 tables for origins and flaws, though strangely only the Fey Exile was given the full breadth of traits, ideals, and bonds, based on classic faerie tale characters and stories.
The Enchanted also includes some lovely black and white artwork of example characters, among an otherwise plain white background.
I’m all for shorter, cheaper, specific products that allow consumers to pick and choose what they need, but The Enchanted lacks some key information, though the new backgrounds are solid additions.
Pros:
- Two fey-themed backgrounds for low magic campaigns.
- Lovely black and white character art.
Cons:
- Very little content.
The Verdict: If you’re looking for fey-themed backgrounds in a low-magic campaign, The Enchanted is a short but helpful monograph.
A review copy of “The Enchanted” 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.
RogueWatson 