The NEW November Drops Is a Mix of Insane and Awful

November D&D Beyond Drop

The release adds a new species, three feats, three weapons, and three monsters. The reviewer finds the Bariaur and Dreadful Linnorm the most interesting additions, while criticizing the feats as uneven.

New Species: Bariaur

Bariaur are celestial beings associated with Icewind Dale. They have a humanoid upper body and a sheep-like lower body, and are adventurous beings who often oppose evil and injustice.

• Creature type: Celestial
• Size: Medium
• Speed: 35 feet
• Darkvision: 60 feet
• Ram: After moving at least 10 feet straight toward a creature, the Bariaur can make an unarmed strike that deals damage and pushes the target, once per turn. The push can help move enemies into hazards or spell effects.
• Sure-Footed: Advantage on saves to avoid being knocked prone.
• Traveler’s Instincts: Proficiency in Animal Handling, Arcana, Nature, or Survival.

Being a celestial affects which spells can target the character. The reviewer specifically cautions that Banishment can be especially dangerous if its concentration is maintained for the spell’s duration.

Feats

Gift of the Higher Planes grants proficiency in Religion, resistance to radiant damage, and Detect Evil and Good. The spell is always prepared and can be cast once per short or long rest without using a spell slot. The reviewer considers the feat flavorful but not especially powerful.

Two feats require Gift of the Higher Planes and character level 4 or higher:

• Diplomat of Elysium: Raises Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma by 1; grants two additional languages; and lets the character ignore a creature’s attitude when making a Persuasion check to influence it. It also provides a reaction to move up to half the character’s speed without provoking opportunity attacks when an enemy ends its turn within 5 feet. The reviewer finds the reaction movement useful but considers the other benefits niche.
• Ice Guardian Warrior: Raises Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution by 1. When the character becomes bloodied, they gain advantage on their next attack roll until the end of their next turn. On a hit, they deal extra damage equal to their proficiency bonus. This benefit can be used once per short or long rest. The reviewer considers it too situational and weak to justify the feat.

Weapons

• Bola: Martial ranged weapon that deals 1 bludgeoning damage and has the thrown, finesse, and topple properties.
• Pitchfork: Simple melee weapon that deals 1d6 piercing damage and has the reach, two-handed, and push properties.
• Weighted Chain: Melee weapon that deals 1d8 bludgeoning damage and has the finesse, heavy, reach, two-handed, and graze properties. Its unusual combination of finesse with heavy and two-handed properties drew the reviewer’s attention. Finesse may also make it eligible for a rogue’s Sneak Attack.

Monsters

• Firre Fire (CR 4): A celestial that can switch between an eladrin form and a faster pillar-of-fire form. In fire form, it damages and ignites nearby creatures at the end of its turn. In eladrin form, it can make a flaming blade attack and use a fiery gaze that can blind a target. The reviewer describes it as a fairly standard monster.
• Valkyrie (CR 9): A durable celestial with an aura that grants selected nearby creatures immunity to charm and fear. It can make three longsword or shining-spear attacks, and its reaction can punish a creature that approaches with an additional radiant-damage hit. The reviewer calls it a solid, conventional monster, while noting that it lacks flight despite its wings.
• Dreadful Linnorm (CR 17): A powerful dragon with magic resistance, legendary resistance, and strong mobility. Its bite inflicts exhaustion; while a target has exhaustion, it automatically fails saving throws against the Linnorm’s breath. Legendary actions can let it bite more than once in a round, potentially setting up devastating breath attacks. The reviewer considers it a major threat even without supporting monsters.

Featured source: Insight Check. No individual gamers are named.