If you’ve ever wondered what happens when three grown adults argue passionately about grammar, moonbeams, seagulls, and the metaphysics of Strahd’s horse, all before actually starting the podcast, this episode is for you. Join us as we journey into Heroes of Faerûn, where the subclasses are shiny, the Rangers are frosty, and the Fighters are apparently running a full unionized workplace. Grab your bag of rats (don’t ask), center your Moonbeam, and enjoy the chaos.
Show Notes
In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the crew continues their deep-dive review of Dungeons & Dragons Heroes of Faerûn, the first major D&D 2024 splatbook offering new character options, subclasses, spells, epic boons, and setting lore. Building off Part 1’s work, the hosts, Randall James, Tyler Kamstra, and Ash Ely, dig into the subclass content of the book with their usual combination of mechanical rigor, Shakespearean comedy, and at least one argument about whether it’s a hero or an hero.
The team analyzes each of the eight new Heroes of Faerûn subclasses, comparing their final published versions to the Unearthed Arcana playtests and to classic 2014 analogues:
- College of the Moon Bard blends druidic flavor with support-focused magic, teleportation, and weirdly effective Moonbeam healing loops involving birds and french fries.
- Knowledge Domain Cleric, updated from 2014, remains a powerhouse of divination, foresight, and skill mastery—Tyler’s official religion.
- Banneret Fighter, once the Purple Dragon Knight, is reborn as a charismatic battlefield commander who turns every Second Wind and Action Surge into a team-wide buff. “This is our subclass, comrade.”
- Oath of Noble Genies Paladin channels elemental smites, shifting resistances, and the magic of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water into a versatile new oath.
- Winterwalker Ranger arrives as a chilly striker specializing in cold damage, Hunter’s Mark synergies, and making Frostraven Conservationists everywhere cry.
- Additional discussion previews the Sign of the Three Rogue, Spellfire Sorcery Sorcerer, and Bladesinger Wizard, with the team offering insights into where each subclass sits within the new 2024 design philosophy.
Along the way, the hosts recount a dramatic Curse of Strahd in-game betrayal, debate 1990s kids’ TV fever dreams, and reveal how a basket of fries can become an infinite healing engine. It’s a glorious mess. It’s D&D. It’s RPGBOT.
Materials References in This Episode
- Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerun (affiliate link)
- Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerun (affiliate link)
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How to Find Us:
In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net
Tyler Kamstra
Ash Ely
- Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
- Join Ash’s West Marches-style PF2 Game
- Bluesky: GravenAshes
- YouTube: @ashravenmedia
Randall James
- AmateurJack.com
- Bluesky: @JackAmateur
- Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale
