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Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, the first major expansion to Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition, releases in game stores next Friday, November 10th, and to general retail November 21st. The book contains a variety of resources for both players and Dungeon Masters—among them new character class options, spells, and racial feats for players; magic items, encounter guidelines, and downtime activities for the DM.
Though I haven’t had an opportunity to study it in detail yet, Wizards of the Coast was kind enough to send me an advance copy. In fact, they sent me two! One is the standard edition, the other a beautiful alternative art cover (the one on the right) that will only be available through local game stores. But what do I need with two?
So while I’m reading through the book this weekend, leave a comment below with the name, race, and class of your favorite D&D character for a chance to win my extra book.
Leave your comment by Monday (November 6th) at noon Eastern Time. Sometime that afternoon, I’ll choose someone at random and contact them by email for a shipping address (U.S. only). Keep a watch out for the email. You’ll have 24 hours to respond before I choose someone else.
Good luck! You could have a copy of Xanathar’s Guide to Everything before it’s available in stores.
Update: The deadline has passed. Comments are closed. No more entries. I will select on contact the winner shortly.
Update: The winner was Grant and I’ve shipped out his book already. Thank you everyone for participating. I loved reading those character stories!
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
My favorite character is Bog the Lost, a goliath barbarian (I made mine before I knew about Grog, I swear!) :)
Hildregar “Sprink” Tinglenog
Halfling Bard
My favorite D&D character was a half-orc fighter named Kral, (pronounced crawl) who was of almost-average intelligence and so desperately wanted to be a mage that he never stopped pestering any magic users (or clerics, he couldn’t distinguish) to teach him. He met his end leaping through an illusory threat to the party’s mage and falling off the Great Silver Tower of the southern deserts.
Orion, Elf, MU.
When I first played D&D (1975) I knew I’d prefer magic-users. Much more elegant than hackers!
Jeanne, Human, Sorcerer
What started out as a Joan of Arc ripoff became a cool character in her own right.
My favorite D&D character is Thaddeus Sexton, a human bard blessed with a magical lute and twin daggers named Sick and Tired.
Remy Whispers, the Hogh Elf Rogue – Arcane Trickster…
High Elf that is.
My favorite D&D character for 5e is definitely my dwarf paladin, Banin. My favorite D&D character ever would have to be my human magic user from AD&D, named Random. (No, he was not CN. I’d just read The Chronicles of Amber)
I mostly GM, but my favorite PC I ran was a human cleric of Pelor named Alvatos “Wheat” Morrel. There was actually one fight where I got to use the infamous 3e divine favor/divine power/righteous might combo, and smash all the undead.
Bearthrower. Goliath Barbarian. He helped his village get through their bear infestation by inventing the sport of Bear Throwing. No bears are hurt due to the deep snow, in fact many came back to participate in the sport again
Lucia Popillius Atella aka “Dowsabel”
Human Sorcerer
4th Edition character I played the longest.
Blinded by a manticore around level 21, I kept playing her anyway. Shortly thereafter, she had the opportunity to draw from the Deck of Many Things. Drew Moon and wished for True Sight.
She was eventually killed by a very testy ancient black dragon.
Gnick Shirkenflick, Gnome, Illusionist/Rogue. A jester-turned-courtier and cross-stitch enthusiast.
Teodor Thorssen Darkhammer – Human Paladin.
Captain Giuliano Orsini
Human Fighter
In 2e AD&D, he was a cavalier.
In 5e, he was rebooted as a fighter (soldier).
Soon, he will reboot again as a cavalier!
Talonel Kadesh, Half-Elf, Warlock
A Pact if the Blade Warlock whose specialty is teleporting around the battlefield delivery quick strikes.
Riven Greycloak, Human Fighter/Ranger
Arvos, Dwarf Barbarian
died shortly after a helm of teleportation mishap
I always love the character I’m currently playing the best, but I’m most excited for the build I’m doing for my group’s next campaign, Tales of the Yawning Portal; may Tonk, the Tortle warlock, live forever!
Kendrin Runehammer, Dwarf fighter (Eldritch Knight) / Wizard (War mage)
Richorn Charvyre.
Race: Halfling
Class: Halfling
He was your classic “fool of a Took” halfling who got the party into more trouble than they ever asked for.
He’s been recycled as an NPC in other games that I’ve DMed — much to the chagrin of the players.
Vincent Solaris, a human fighter from 2e who masqueraded as a noble. He proved largely innefectual at most everything, which fit him so well that I’ll never forget.
Olric Brokenshield, Dwarf Wizard
He thought he was more fighter then wizard until he learned he could explode things from far away
Lorelai Tauren, Gnome Wizard, and book horder.
As a mostly forever-DM this is a bit hard to pin down. I’ve been fortunate, however, to have played a decent number of characters that really stuck with me, though. My favorite probably being…
Sir Frederick “the Blob” Dukes
A very charismatic and corpulent human sorcerer. My first real D&D character who somehow survived an expedition to Castle Ravenloft back in the days of 3e.
My favorite character:
Otus “Fireblood”(halfling), the snake-handling pentacostal paladin who waded into combat with a viper in one hand and a longsword in the other. He admittedly had some internal conflicts when he first encountered Yuan-ti and there are, in fact, some injuries you cannot cure with snake poison. Most of them, actually.
Always on the lookout for a more potent sacrament, Otus’ companions sometimes struggled to balance their irritation with genuine and sincere affection for him.
Eladrin Bladesinger named Thameral Galonodel. Once took down 2 Fire Giant Dreadnoughts with clever use of a Banishment spell and clutch intimidation checks.
My favorite character was Eljorn Heavenspear! He was a half-elf Cleric who communicated with his Goddess via a small pouch containing a hatchling serpent avatar of her.
Bogart Ramshackle, dwarf fighter
Fred Shimmersmith, Half-elf, sorcerer/warlock
Lived with the best of them, died like the rest of them
Marak was a dwarven fighter in Living Greyhawk. He wielded twin Dwarven War Axes, was active in the Dyvers Anti-Slavery League, but sadly died fighting wereleopards.
My favorite character? By far, my gnome rogue (an arcane trickster) named Elben—something of a bandits revolutionary!
Lucar
4e Elf Fighter.
Never did I have so much fun playing a fighter.
Mine is my 12th level human wizard, of noble background and Divination School. His name is Ibarin LeSay, and he set out as an adventurer to be prove himself to his paladin father, but now is so powerful he no longer cares.
Ahhh, I think I’m too late. 11:57 MDT over. I’ll post anyway.
Garuuk
Half-orc Druid
Didn’t take no sass from nobody.
Hmmm… I’ve always had a penchant for Genasi of all different classes. I think my current favorite is Breella Windshaper, Air Genasi Horizon Walker Ranger of the Air Ashari of Zephrah. She was created using both 5e rules and Green Ronin’s Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting.
My favourite character is my first! Ailill Sianodell, Half Elf Horizon Walker Ranger!
Air genasi Ranger named kanine he is my favorite so far he is an orphan who had his mentor killed at a young age(stereotypical I know) and had been traveling with his group for almost a year
Mine is probably Eathelyn, my half-elf water genasi storm sorcerer. She only uses weather based spells and has managed to convince a tiny faerie dragon to accompany her with her on her journey. My comrades nicknamed her Jelly Girl because they figure something with that much water in them should be gelatinous. 😁
My favorite D&D character will always be Kip Killblade, a surfer dude Human Paladin based on Malibu from American Gladiators.
My favorite d&d character is a Dragonborn eldritch Knight fighter named Bombador
Id like to run a dragon born in a game. id import him from another game i ran. His name would be Shaazzzzt.
Korth the pirate. Lizardfolk Bear Totem Barbarian/Swashbuckler rogue
Half elf drunken monk/fighter named Ying Ling. Plenty of fun and mischief had
My favorite character was a gnome thief named Grinkle that was based on Indiana Jones.
My favorite D&D character is Lalazar Cross, a 5th ed human warlock. He got his powers through a pact with Nyarlathotep.
My favorite character is probably my first one: Nostos Venduran, a Tiefling bard/warlock.
My favorite character I ever played was named korvonas, he was a half orc half vampire mix that my dm homebrewed for me and he was an evil sorcerer.
My favorite character has to be my Elf Cleric of Tyr named Veradath. He was a tough ol’ man of the cloth who had to keep his less lawful friends out of trouble. It was playing a paladin without quite so much condescension ;)
As a DM my favorite character may be a cheat but a lot of the time I put the PCs I wish I could play into my game as NPCs.
Quix (short for Quixote!) A Kobold Paladin who means will but has delusions of grandeur. He hasn’t jousted a windmill yet but I’d feel worse killing him off than some PCs I’ve played with :P
My favorite character is my current – I like her so well I’ve made her twice! Whether her has or AL legal variation, my half-elf lore bard RainbowQuest Serendipity “Pip” Flameflower is the best! 100% on brand, giving a premium bard experience.
Ezra Poundhammer, the Gnome Paladin.
Scourge of feet and toes everywhere.
My all time favorite character is a bard named Adagio I played in a Neverwinter Nights “Roleplay-Required” persistent world server over a decade ago. Must have spent 6 or 7 years playing that guy. He climbed to the top of the in-world bard guild and started tutoring young bards on the regular. I used to host regular online RP performance events that would turn into giant bard-only encounters. Good times. Miss those days.
My favorite character was a halfling barbarian named PorkChop the Sizeable. He had muttonchops and the manners of a feral boar with an infatuation for wildflowers.
My favorite D&D character is Kalavi Jas, a tiefling bard! I even commissioned artwork representing him.
Kendar the human ranger
Bintler the Halfling Thief was my favorite character…being my earliest, from back in 1979 or so!
Ailuen, druid, 6th level.
I can claim the killing stroke on a green dragon.
It was a hard fought battle, but we prevailed. Barely.
Also, as a player it broke the 15 year dry streak of not fighting a dragon!
Cant wait for this book!
My favorite character to play right now is Berador Stonehaven, 9th level hill dwarven war cleric.
My favorite all time D&D Character was a Palladian (That turned into a blackguard) Angelus.. this was back in the 3.5 days.. I had so much fun, playing a “Good” character that “went evil”
Grumbly Timbleshanks, gnome barbarian. They always underestimate the little ones.
Play? I almost always run. So I guess my favorite character is a very short balding man in a red robe. Oh wait a minute! That’s the Dungeon Master from the Cartoon.
So I can give you my PC’s:
–(AD&D 2nd, GW 4th) A Four-armed mutant tiger imported from Gamma World wielding four Vibroblades.
–(D&D 3rd) A gnome bard who pretend to be a cleric and had the party fooled for four sessions all the while wondering why he was never successful at turning undead.
–(D&D 3rd) A Psychic Warrior/Rogue/Pyrokineticist who managed to burn down three cities (including an Aboleth one and convinced me it could happen) who also spent an trip from Cormyr to Thay chained on the prow of a ship with Iron Bands of Bilarro.
–(AD&D 2nd) A 30th level Athasian Dragon (enough said)
–(D&D 3.5, VtM Revised) My (at the time) girlfriend’s Tremere that I converted into a 10th level Sorcerer/10th level (Generic-class) Expert using a template I had made for WoD vampires.
–(D&D 3.5/Stormbringer 2nd) A Paladin who still remained true to himself and didn’t touch any of the demon items in a transdimensional module I had converted from Stormbringer
–(Modern d20/GURPs 4th/Trinity) The party of free agents in my Modern d20 conversion of Transhuman space (with a bit of the White Wolf Trinity background), including one distributed intelligence SAI who had five independent body parts.
Oh, wait I did have one…
–(AD&D 1st/2nd/BECMI) A 20th level Paladin/19th level Ascetic (from Legends & Lore)/21st level Monk (from the Article “He’s Got a Lot to Kick About”) who was the weakest character in the party. Got cut in half and was walking around on his arms looking for his legs because he had the Ignore Death Power but was hit with a Sword of Slicing and the DM took it literally. It was mostly a roleplaying session so there was little combat. He later gave me a level of Immortal to keep me up with the other characters (including a full stat but human sized Frost Giant Cleric of Odin [he had all the hit dice of both added together), a 30/30 Thief/Illusionist, and the 30/30 Ranger/Thief from above). The player of the Athasian dragon did not play because we were questing for the source of Psionics so we could restore it to the world, and would have lost his psionic abilities and 10th level spells.
My favorite character is Xain Blackbanner, a mountain dwarf warlock.
I haven’t been able to play a ton recently, having just come off a long spate of DMing, but my favorite 5E character is Claude LeMont, intrepid turtleneck wearing Halfling Scout on the trail of the Poisonous Fish.
I used to DM a game with a gnome monk luchadore named The Flying Kobold. Grapple everything!
My favorite character that I’ve played is Kerri Windreaver, a human barbarian (with levels in rogue and fighter). She wrestled dragons!
Can’t wait for the book!
I haven’t played since 2nd Edition AD&D, I’ve been DMing for quite some time.
My last character was Karn, a human fighter/thief.
My favorite D&D character is the first I made for 5th edition – Lambert Craddock, a hill dwarf cleric with the tempest domain.
My favorite character? It’s hard to pinpoint just one.
I have had several throughout the year!
Nar’Dier, the Drow Ranger (villain)
Rhazet, the Human Wild Magic Sorcerer
Coanthak, the Goliath Monk
Those are just a few.
My favorite D&D character was a simian cleric in a Rokugan campaign! Sadly, his name has been lost to history.
Sierra Nezzin – kalashtar Psion – who has begun to ascend to godhood (as goddess of the mind/stealth/self confidence) collecting divine energy across the planes – has begun construction of her Lotus temple – she has begun seeking followers with the races who are the downtrodden (shifters, kobolds, etc) – her high priest is a kobold who she “rescued” by slaying his “God” the Fire Serpent
Vaius “Vex” Vadu – Tiefling Warlock
Mildly brain damaged due to serious torment and past trauma, but a strangely lovable character that was a ton of fun to play.
Garren Dyne – Human Ranger
Simple character, but have had many good times.
My favorite character is my Halfling Warlock, Fen Mistymarsh. I have played this character in both 4e (LFR) and 5e (AL).
My favorite character was my second one.
the Dark Elf, Fey bound Warlock Orion.
He has an archfey witch residing in his spirit (Circe) who’s objective is to steal his body and rule the feywild while Orion attempts to sap her power and keep her at bay while also atoning for her cowardly sins which cost his brother his life
Antonio, Human Bard!