A review copy of “Archetypes of Eberron: 31 Subclasses” 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: Will Brolley, Imogen Gingell, Laura Hirsbrunner
Eberron has its own rich history filled with political intrigue, magical technology, and fantastical creatures and settings. Eberron: Rising from the Last War added a new class, the Artificer, along with three archetypes.
But the Artificer isn’t the only class in Eberron. Archetypes of Eberron adds 31 new archetypes for all 13 character classes, all inspired by, or directly drawn from the high-magic world.
Archetypes of Eberron features the high-quality, professional layout that I’ve come to expect from Eberron supplements on the DMs Guild, including beautiful artwork on every single page. And kudos for the detailed, informative table of contents!
Every single class, including the Artificer, are given two to three new archetypes thematically tied to Eberron’s history, culture, and locations. Some, like the Oath of Kell Knight Paladin, Cataclysm Mage, and Way of the Tashalatora Monk are literally drawn from specific areas or aspects of Eberron, such as the powerful night hags known as the Daughters of Sora Kell, while the Barbarian Path of the Feral Heart is designed with Eberron-native shifters in mind.
Other archetypes are far more malleable, and could easily work in any D&D setting, such as the Combat Medic Fighter, Extreme Explorer Ranger, and Elemental Warlock. Regardless, each class is given a flavorful introduction, along with lore-centric details on how and where they fit into the world.
Despite the large number of archetypes, I didn’t find a single one that I thought was badly designed or thematically uninteresting, though I certainly had my favorites.
The Artificer Disruptor is basically a grenadier, capable of crafting “blast disks” that can be thrown or placed as proximity mines. The Oath of the Bone Knight Paladin can raise and control undead armies – including a skeletal undead steed. The Divine Sniper rogue does fun things with an empowered Light spell and a longbow.
Both Wizard archetypes are absolutely amazing. The Cult of the Alienist grows alien symbiotes on their body, such as eye stalks and limbs with lots of interesting flavors and powers, while the School of Living Spells can create familiars out of cantrips that increases in power as they level up.
Even the ones that I didn’t find personally rewarding were still creative and often introduced neat ideas or concepts. The Circle of Civilization makes the druid right at home in a big city, including being able teleport around and animate large statues or buildings. The Hearth Domain Cleric adds a lot of extra support when resting, while the Bard College of Spies excels at disguises and manipulation.
Usually the quantity takes a noticeable dip when producing a large number of subclasses, but that isn’t the case here. Archetypes of Eberron is one of the best collections of subclasses on the DMs Guild, whether you’re playing in Eberron or not.
Pros:
- 31 new archetypes for all 13 classes.
- Many archetypes are heavily infused with Eberron lore (Kell Knight, Cataclysm Mage, etc).
- Professional presentation, layout, editing, and artwork.
- Details on how each archetype fits into Eberron.
Cons:
- None!
The Verdict: Even if you’re not adventuring in Eberron, Archetypes of Eberron is an impressive collection of over 30 thematically interesting and mechanically rewarding subclasses.
A review copy of “Archetypes of Eberron: 31 Subclasses” 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 