We recently got a review copy of the Dungeonology book by Candlewick Press and Matt Forbeck. It’s a D&D companion book aimed at a setting specific overview of the Forgotten realms and general D&D concepts. Written by Matt Forbeck with an introduction by Ed Greenwood, the book is a pretty interesting and interactive look at the Forgotten Realms and D&D tropes in general.
There are many pop up and interactive elements, including a gigantic map of the sword coast.Some of the elements are just for extra tactile effect and to create interactivity for a younger audience, while some like A Novice’s Spellbook or Volo’s Guide to the Forgotten Realms tucked away in the back provide a level of immersion if you were using it as an in-world supplement.
Art and Design Quality
The art is pulled from current D&D books and will look very familiar to anyone who has pawed through the PHB. I couldn’t distinctly pick out any unique or new art aside from some design elements or some interactive things like the 3D lenticular stuff. That serves the book well if it is used as a stepping stone/introductory element for new players. When they get to the gaming books with rules, things will have a familiar feel. The quality of the book is great, and that isn’t surprising as Candlewick/Templar does this sort of thing regularly with their other “OLOGY” book series.
Utility
There are a few interesting ways I can see using this book. It is aimed at being kid friendly, so as a way to introduce a younger child (ages 10 and up suggested on the back) to D&D/fantasy games, it works very well as an enticing and fascinating introduction. For a new player, unfamiliar with D&D tropes or concepts, this is also an incredible overview of the adventuring lifestyle. Sections like The Adventuring Party, Equipment, Magic and Magic Items, and Monsters (just a few), work very well to outline some gaming tropes and concepts in a way that is uncluttered by a need to teach the rules alongside familiarizing with the concepts. I’d liken it to reading the companion guide to a video game and learning about the world without having to learn what buttons do what. It’s more immersive and can help teach some of the less concrete gaming concepts.
One other way I could see using this book is as an in-game prop – something the adventurers find or have access to. There is a plethora of information in the book that would eliminate the “have you ever encountered a mimic, how do you know to check to see if the chest is one?” issues that players who have been playing for a while have. Embracing the concept that the book is the knowledge the players have can provide a good basic grounding for a game that isn’t zero to hero in concept. There are a few things in the book that might spoil published adventures. I found a spoiler for Storm King’s Thunder, a campaign I’m currently a player in, but that is a possibility with any supplemental product like this.
Final Thoughts and Get Our Copy!
Overall, the book is a very interesting concept and a beautiful art piece. For anyone with kids wanting to share the hobby, or anyone wanting to use the book to introduce gaming concepts, it is an excellent purchase. At $25 (currently cheaper on Amazon) it is a decent buy that comes in at far less than other gaming books and has a ton of interesting interactive elements for the price.
The Dungeonlogy book comes out on November 8th, but we’ve got the review copy sent to us and we want to send it to you! Just leave a comment on this post before October 21st and we’ll randomly choose (by dice roll, of course) one of the commenters or one of our Patreon supporters and send them the review copy of Dungeonology.
Update: Congratulations Seannachie! You came up as the winner in the random draw. We took our patreon list and the comment list, assigned them a random order 3 or 4 times to “shuffle the deck” and then rolled the dice (random.org) to get the winner! I’ll be contacting you via email to get shipping details!
I’ll take it, thanks!
Very cool. I’ll be looking into this.
My son has the pirateology book, which is very cool. I suspect he’d love this, and it’d be a useful tool in his continued education in RPGs 🙂
I *hope* you corrected the beyond stupid note that came re: using the compass, in which the reader was instructed to “reverse the reading” when in the southern hemisphere.
How anyone capable of publishing a book could be so bloody ignorant as to not know how a compass works is beyond me.
One can only hope that the perpetrator is lost at sea with a compass one day and spends his/her last days oscillating back and forth across the equator.
I hadn’t noticed that, but I’ll be sure to make sure he knows better than that!
He’s getting a watch for his birthday in a few days, I intend to show him how to use it to find north 🙂
Hold horizontally, press “comp”.
PAG240 owner, me.
8o)
Cool. Never thought I would see a D&D pop up book.
Would go well with the pop up book I have about Dragons
That sounds like an excellent combination of books!
There needs to be more of this kind of stuff. Immersive props used to be a great part of old Tabletop and PC games back in the 80’s, I’ll never understand why it never continued.
This totally walks lockstep with my obsession with props and bonus interactive fiddly bits haha. Totally can’t wait for this to come out.
Seems like a cool little folio. Plus a return of Volo…I’m in!
Count me in.
Count me into the giveaway. The book looks quite neat, I love me some extras
I sure would love a copy of this book. An chance of it being autographed by Matt F.?
Not likely from our end. We got the review copy straight from Candlewick Press. I know Matt is often at Gencon as a convention, and you might be able to get a copy signed if you track him down there or at another convention.
Ooh! Pick me! Pick me!
I’ll probably buy a copy if I don’t win this one. I don’t have any experience with the Forgotten Realms setting, but the “scrapbook” build is too alluring to ignore.
A thing of visual beauty.
Looks like a nice book.
Okay dice gods…. now is the chance to redeem yourself for being such fickle $#@%!@#!
Very cool! Would love to see more things just like this 🙂
Well, Anything Realms related, especially if it has a map, is a plus!
If I do not win, I will have to take a peek at it in the store beforehand.
Curious, did the review copy come shrink-wrapped? Might give me a clue how difficult it may be to peruse it locally.
It did not come shrink wrapped. I’m guessing the store copies will be like the other ones in the ology series and made for perusal.
Sure, throw me into the pot for the freebie.
It seems a pretty nice book!
I love stuff like this, “fluff”, lore, extras.
That does look amazing and I had no idea it was even coming out. Thanks for the review (and giveaway).
TYMORA, BRING ME THAT BABY!
I love the OLOGY books! This one looks like a great addition.
These would make great Holiday gifts! 🙂
Very neat, it looks like a fun way to introduce new players of any age to the setting.
Looks wonderful! My kids would love it (as would I!).
Oh my goodness! I’d love to grab a copy, it would help immeasurably with teaching my younger siblings to play!
Would love a copy!
As a parent that runs a game for kids 10-13 I can see this being really well received. Come on dice gods!
Great review. Looking forward to this book.
I’m in love with this book!
This would be great for dming ideas
WOW… that’s some marvelous art!
As a newcomer to D&D I would love a chance to have this book. Such an exciting hobby.
Looks like a really interesting book I’ll happily take yours off your hands for you.
This looks awesome to add to the flair of explaining DnD to new people and to enhance e game for all might have to pick thi sup if i don’t win thanks
Oh, I really want to win this one! Very cool!
This would be a wonderful audition to my collection.
More books like this one, please!
I would like this!
Crossing fingers to win it…
This would be great to add to my ever expanding dnd book collection. If I don’t win (I really hope I do!) I’ll definitely buy it.
How much I want it…???!!!
Desperately!!!!
I’d love to get my hands on this! It seems like a very cool release that newer role players and lore geeks alike can enjoy! The price tag is very reasonable for a book like this, with all of its fold-outs and extras. For folks who are more inclined towards visual and tangible stimulation, the contents are sure to please. A low cost intro to Forgotten Realms and great collector’s piece!
This would be a great addition to my ever expanding library of rpg tomes!
Great review guys! Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the review! I’d love to win it and save $25!
I would love a chance to win this fine book. Thank you for the giveaway and the review.
Wow Looks very cool indeed. GL to everyone 😀
I’m in for the giveaway! If I get it I will add it to the door prizes for our Extra Life event!
Winning that book would make me so happy! Never won anything through one of those internet giveaway but while I’m losing hope, maybe this time is the right one.