Explorer's Guide to Wildemount REVIEW - Critical Role Meets D&D 5E 

At 52 years of age, I can honestly say that I've been playing Dungeons and Dragons, along with most of the popular tabletop games from Warhammer (Fantasy And 40K), to Necromunda and Mordheim, all of my adult Life. This came out on the 17th and my copy came in the mail the day after. After spending all week reading through everything, I can only say that I'm absolutely mindblowing by how much Matt Mercer has put into this little world of his! People might think that you have to have a huge continent o complete world in order to have fun playing. Matt proves that a huge world can fit into quite a small (comparatively) space after all. Thanks for all of your great videos and, everyone, remember that having fun is the ultimate goal of every game!

The index at the back of the book suggests Matt is aware how important it is, even if the other D&D 5e books don't seem to always have them.

2:22 - Intro to the book 3:49 - Chapter 1 - The Story of Wildemount 6:15 - Chapter 2 - Factions & Societies 7:30 - Chapter 3 - Wildemount Gazetteer 10:24 - Chapter 4 - Character Options 15:45 - Chapter 5 - Adventures in Wildemount 17:28 - Chapter 6 - Treasure 18:35 - Chapter 7 - Bestiary 19:26 - Comments on the art & maps 21:30 - Closing thoughts

You are correct, the Tal'dorei setting book is another continent within Exandria which is Matthew Mercer's world. The Tal'dorei setting book also comes with a map, but not quite as big as the Wildemount map.

Don't think I would ever actually run a game in this setting. Not because I don't like it. But because I like World building too much. What I can see myself doing is stealing everything I like from this book and dropping it into my own setting.

Thanks so much I’ve been looking to see what’s in this book without having to buy it first. I really needed a buyers guide

One of the best parts of this book is the Heroic Chronicle, imo. I always had trouble with backstory, and while Xanathar's Guide has something similar that I've been using, the Heroic Chronicle is very thorough and gives me so much inspiration for writing.

Quite simply, one of the best, most packed setting books for 5E. Tal'dorei was also a great manual, so I my expectations were pretty high, but this delivers even more than the first one.

I reviewed this for my channel as well Nate, and my conclusions echo your own. This is a solid setting book whether you are a critical role fan or not. I actually have been running two Tal 'Dorei campaigns for about a year now, using the Green Ronin setting guide and this follows the format from that book, but seriously ups the game. I was able to use several really cool things from the Wildemount guide almost right away. So if someone is running Tal 'Dorei, they will probably want to pick this up. Great review!

Yes, Tal'dorei is another continent in Exandria, Wildemount is season 2's main continent. The correct way to pronounce Hopperdook is "Hopper-duke"

I just finished reading it last night, and I am pretty satisfied with it as a setting book, and particularly pleased with the Heroic Chronicle, the regional hooks, and the starting adventures. I don't know if I will run it any time soon, as I have been working on my own setting of late, but I could see running most of the starting adventures, and I appreciate the stakes - all but one of the adventures risks a lasting disruption to the respective region.

I really enjoy and appreciate what's been accomplished here. I love what Matt Mercer, Critical Role and Wizards of the Coast have contributed here and I can't wait to start a campaign within this strange new world. Cool review, thanks for taking the time.

I listen to CR while I clean,it works pretty well. Good coverage, thanks

Slight lore correction, Forgotten Realms does indeed have black powder

Even if I bought this book for nothing else I would have to buy it for the additional subclasses. Gravity magic is my favorite underutilized trope, and I'm so happy it was put into this book/setting.

Excellent review. Balanced and fair. I was concerned the Matt Mercer rock star would skew reviews to the positive but after reading this book thoroughly it stands on it's own as a great work. A panoply of new races, subclasses, etc. The Guide is well written and organized. Fantastic artwork...Some artwork not up to par but I get the critical role community thing. Overall this book is a must have for an enthusiastic DND player. Packed edition worth the money. Excited to add it to our campaigns!

awesome video! this book is on sale for like $22 bucks rn on amazon so im thinking im going to pull the trigger! thank you for the video and helping with the decision making process :) edit: thought it was cool you mentioned (and did the research) to find out the simpler/cartoony art was potential fan art

The worldbuilding and adventures sound really good for inspiration. Might have to pick this up.

Another great review Nate. Thanks!

I just picked it up. I'm very new to dm'ing but have watched all of Critical Role. This setting book seems to be...easier...for me to get into than other books. This has shown me me more about creating a world than I think other books have.

The adventures were really fun (I ran 2 of them and part of another), though the Xhorhas one was a bit unbalanced for 1st level IMO. Tides of Retribution was my fave, so many great encounters and NPCs

Great review, really highlighting the strengths of this setting book! :) I found it to be really beginner friendly, especially because of the given starting adventures. Felt like training wheels for DMing to me, which was very very welcome :D One note though: I would not necessarily recommend it as a companion to watching CR, because spoilers! Unless you're someone who doesn't mind knowing a little bit more than the players of course :)

I love that Matt Mercer acknowledge in a live stream that the city maps scales are off....they are in miles instead of feet (which he said was an error that managed to pass the editors), so they are 5000+ miles across

Great video! You're awesome.

Great review!

Great review, Nate!

You are Extremely Awesome @ Plying your Craft Sir. I absolutely love watching all your amazing videos on all things D&D.....👽😝👻

I went to hero forge I loved it

Can you go into more detail about what you didn't like about the encounter maps from chapter 5? I found the ones I've read so far kind of simplistic and not too exciting, but I wanted to hear your thoughts on them.

Not sure if this was brought up. Sea Elves are a reprint from Mordenkeinen's Tome of Foes. The Hollow One is the other new "race" in the book.

Just bought it as my other DM's are running games in the Forgotten Realms and whilst I love that setting, I wanted something different from mine. I can still run Curse of Strahd off of it, dump in Ghosts of Saltmash, and locations from Yarning portal so not lost out on those books I bought. I think the book at first glance Explorer's Guide to Wildemount is fantastic and cannot wait to plan and run games in it. I have hardly listened to Critical roll, but know of it and that didn't deter me from picking it up

you didn't see that Dragonborn has 2 new subraces. ... happens else a goo0d video

I think the sea elves are from mordenkainen not new.

I didn't like the maps in this book, which surprised me. I normally like Devan Rue maps but the mountains on the continent go from a nice size to minuscule up at Eiselcross. Really like the book as a whole though

I just ordered mine from Amazon

This is the standard I compart all other setting books to from now on.

thanks I'm a big fan why not do a review on the stranger things d&d starter set

This is a goofy question but how do you get the Wildemount map out of the book? I tried and accidentally teared it a little.

Just wondering and hoping someone could tell me if the changelinge also exists in this book.

Seems cool

I just ordered this book as new today, Nov 3 2021, for only $12.50 plus shipping and tax on eBay. The total was $17.63. I think that I got a great deal considering the book is new.

Thanks Nate - I don't watch Critical Role but this looks excellent. I shall get it!

Thanks you’re awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Matt included all the races, that I would have to buy with Volo's Guide to Monsters, but now, I won't have to

5e needs more actual official full campaign settings and less official adventures. But that's just me. This book, like the Tal'Dorei book, seems solid and worth my time. Thanks for the review.

I love this book and the effort put into it. The only problem I have is trying to incorporate anything into actual practice. It feels more to me like a big-budget DM Guild homebrew than an official D&D liscenced book. Idk it just seems difficult to incorporate unless you're straight running a wildmount campaign. But I do love it, and it is a fantastic read.

I know nothing of CritRole. I hear this book is one of the standout releases. let's see

dont know if it is just me but the sound had really crazy static

All your early nitpicks is what I would consider as cool stuff.

2 episodes a year?!?! I don't consider myself a critter, and I watch at least 4 a month. I highly recommend watching them whenever you have time.

Anyone else hear that high pitch noise when he switches cameras?

Never watched Critical Role but these crossover books look nice regardless. Just bought Netherdeep for $25.

I have the book a bit neutral about it, but i am confused there is no gunslingerclass within it

BTW I believe all the art is made by critical role fans

Does a digital version of this book exist?

This isn’t a review. This is you just reading what pages come next.

Graviturgy OP

The d&d books after Avernus are taking a dip in quality... I can't get excited by Rime, strixhaven or the Fey book. I might pick this oldy up unstead.

Who is on the Tal'dorei Council? That's not in the book =(

I had no idea that Critical Role was in DragonLance.

My only real complaint about this book (and it's a minor one) is that Wildmount felt much smaller than I was expecting. I was under the impression Wildmount was a large continent on the scale of Russia, but it just doesn't have that expansive feel. This isn't helped by the map, which according to the scale provided shows Wildmount to be even smaller than the continental United States. I feel the accuracy of the map is sound so the fact Wildmount extends from the sub-arctic to the sub-tropical in less than 1800 miles implies Exandria is only half the size of Earth (assuming Exandria is a roughly spherical planet). I also find it dubious that a criminal group the size of the Myriad exists, even if it is technically a collective of much smaller, local cartels, there can't be any real coordination between groups.

I mean hey, star war sthe clone wars came back, why couldn't gravity falls? (eventhough the clone wars didn't have an actiuall ending to it)

personally, I LOVE the more cartony art style.

Explores guide to wildemount or Eberron rising from the last war

Sahuagin = Sah-Who-Wah-Gin (i.e. not Jin).

I love the book my favorite parts though are the gazetteer, backstory, maps and god sections. Which was surprising cause I am not a fan of the show.

The immovable object spell is probably the most powerful spell in the game, I tried to use it in a game once and the table laughed at how overpowered it is. It doesn't say you can't use it on objects that are worn or carried. And upcasting it can instantly defeat any creature that wears anything and you don't even have to concentrate

More lore books

don't do it, don't give me hope

I’m surprised you were not critical of the map and all the river bifurcation going on. It annoys me and from comments you have made on other maps I thought it was a bugbear of yours too..

Sound is too low.

Wil-de-mount

I hate the videos where the people don't show nothing and just talk into the camera

Argh. My man, it's "BEST-ee-ary", not "beast-ee-ary". 😖 A very common mispronunciation. A (thankfully) less common but closely related mispronounciation is bestiality. Yuck. 😄 I've newly discovered the channel and I've enjoyed the first few videos I've watched. I'm subscribing to enjoy future content. Great work!

Maybe I'm weird but I never understand why this book and the Eberron book art seems to bother him. To me it is more about the mechanics, monsters and fluff. Art is the last thing i ever think if or judge and his bringing it up as a nitpick always confuses me.

$50 lol

Theres an extremely high pitched noise in your video that makes it hard to watch dude!

Here is my review of a book Did you read it? No, but I like the pictures.

My brother got it and he loves it, however, he is extremely new to D&D. Me on the other hand i’m disappointed in it. I got the book because mom got him the book and so she didn’t want us to argue over it so she bought me my own. I skimmed through the book and the only interesting thing is the bestiary section. I’m also the kind of guy that doesn’t like any subclass of ranger, sorry. If any of you like it and bought it or want to start your own D&D collection stash, then by all means go for it. Do what makes you happy. I’m just a little bit crest fallen of what the book holds.

A 25 minute video of your left hand.

Do you teach kids how to play dnd

2nd

I have not seen Critical Role, though I'm looking forward to eventually. Having gone through this book, I personally am not a fan. If you're enjoying it then that's great, I certainly don't mean to imply anyone should not! These are my thoughts on it. The good: I enjoy some of the additional races, classes, and backgrounds. I am playing a Chronury wizard and I like it. The bad: -Fanart clashes with the professional art and just looks like the kind of art you see in a Dollar Store. I can look at fanart online anytime. I would rather have professional artwork when purchasing a book from Wizards of the Coast. This art has a cheap and tacky appearance in my opinion. -Too many made-up words. Fantasy is fun, but there is a point when there are too many high fantasy names for EVERYTHING with every vowel thrown in for good measure and repeated, requiring you to be a professional linguist to pronounce it. -If you're into lore then you'll probably enjoy this, but to be honest, it all put me to sleep. Admittedly, I'm probably not the target audience. Someone who wants intimate knowledge of the setting to create an original campaign there might find this useful, but for me, it was a lot of words, generic fantasy theme XYZ, and little substance. -I have only looked at the Frozen Sick module, but I was not impressed. Compared with other modules, it looks very thrown together. It's incredibly generic with very little to go on as a DM in my opinion. It feels like a fan-made module more than a professionally published D&D module. -Just looking at the strange, cartoony-anime style cover art makes you feel like it's not a D&D book. Overall, 80% of the book feels more like fanart and fanfiction of Dungeons and Dragons - a watered-down version of the real thing. I don't understand why so many people give it glowing reviews, to me, it seems subpar next to other books.

First

I Love Critical Role but the only parts I used were the two dragonborn races. Everything is else is kinda meh.

Matt is amazing but watching the actors trying to be players is what killed it for me. I hope to be able to get some ideas from this book. Best of luck to his sales!

This is a goofy question but how do you get the Wildemount map out of the book? I tried and accidentally teared it a little.