Exploring Eberron Sourcebook Relaunches on D&D Beyond
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The world of Eberron is expanding once more, with the setting sourcebook Exploring Eberron arriving on D&D Beyond. This supplement, however, isn’t an entirely new release, but is actually an unofficial, third-party supplement originally written by Eberron creator Keith Baker and first published back in 2020 on DMsGuild. It later become of the the platform’s best selling releases of all time, becoming an Adamantine best-seller.
Now, the book has come full circle having been officially brought onto D&D Beyond. This new digital-only version, however, is more the past part a direct page-for-page port of the original book, but also includes the ability to use content on the Maps VTT and the D&D Beyond character creator.
So is worth exploring Eberron in this new D&D format? Below, we fire up our Dragonmark of Seeking to try and find out.
What is the original “Exploring Eberron” sourcebook about?
The original 2020 DMsGuild version of Exploring Eberron is a 248-page supplementwritten by Keith Baker, with layout and design from Visionary Productions, a third-party company which has helped develop a number of other high-profile DMsGuild releases.
The book is largely a companion piece to the 2019 campaign sourcebook Eberron: Rising from the Last War (which was officially published by Wizards of the Coast and which Baker also co-wrote), yet with Exploring Eberron, Baker fleshes out more of the lore of the Khorvaire in addition to offering a selection of new player options.
Chapter 1: Discovering Eberron: This chapter introduces the core concept that define Eberron, from its unique approach to magic and technology to the philosophical role of the gods. It also presents an extensive amount of history, covering the Last War and looking at how innovation (especially Artificers) shapes everyday life across Khorvaire.
Chapter 2: Races of Eberron: The content here dives into the lore behind Eberron’s unique species, including Changelings, Kalashtar, Shifters, Warforged and the elves of Aerenal. Each section emphasizes culture, psychology and story hooks, rather than any mechanics or abilities.
Chapter 3: Faiths of Eberron: This chapter explores major belief systems within the setting, including deities and powers such as the Silver Flame and the Blood of Vol, along with cults, religious organizations and some of the unusual philosophies that shape the world.
Chapter 4: Uncharted Domains: This chapter expands beyond the Five Nations to explore regions often left at the edges of Eberron lore, including Droaam, the Mror Holds, goblinoid civilizations and the creatures and cities that lurk beneath the Thunder Sea.
Chapter 5: Planes of Existence: This look at Eberron’s cosmology, focusing on how it interacts with the Material Plane through manifest zones and planar cycles. Each plane is presented as a thematic force that influences stories, locations and supernatural events.
Chapter 6: Character Options: This chapter includes new Backgrounds, racial options, Feats and subclasses tied to Eberron’s lore. It also includes new options for Dragonmarks and Artificers. Notably, this does use the D&D 2014 rules (the newer D&D 2024 rules have significantly changed how both species and Dragonmarks function).
Chapter 7: Treasures: The content here list a variety of magic items and valuable look, including dragonmark items, Dhakaani artifacts and powerful Artificer devices.
Chapter 8: Friends and Foes: The final chapter presents stat blocks for a variety of new monsters. As with the character options, these are also built using the D&D 2014 rules, so do not take into consideration the design of the new D&D 2024 monster stat block.
What’s Included in the D&D Beyond Version?
The D&D Beyond version of the book (which Wizards of the Coast refers to as Exploring Eberron 2024) is essentially the same as the 2020 DMsGuild version, with the exception that all content has been updated and is fully compatible with the current D&D 2024 rules. They do, however, note The Artificer subclasses and some species-specific feats require the recently released Eberron: Forge of the Artificer in order to use D&D Beyond’s toolset.
In the D&D Beyond marketplace they also note Exploring Eberron (2024) includes:
- 6 subclasses: Including the Maverick Artificer, the Circle of the Forge Druid and the Living Weapon Monk
- 10 species and 2 backgrounds: All of which have been adapted to the new rules
- 12 Feats that can be used for the species in the book, as well as additional Eberron species
- 4 spells and over 40 magic items
- 8 monsters, including new Archfey and Daelkyr stat blocks
How much is Exploring Eberron on D&D Beyond?
The D&D Beyond version of Exploring Eberron is retailing for $29.99. Notably you can still get the original 2020 version on DMsGuild, with the PDF retailing for $29.95 USD, the hardcover going for $69.95 USD and a hardcover + PDF bundle retailing for $74.95 USD.
What you’re really paying for the D&D Beyond version, however, is that content has been updated to the 2024 rules and you get the ability to integrate materials into the D&D Beyond toolset (particularly the character generator).
Is Exploring Eberron worth picking up on D&D Beyond?
If you’re a fan of Keith Baker’s work, a heavy D&D Beyond user, own Forge of the Artificer and user and don’t already own the 2020 version of Exploring Eberron, then this book is definitely worth picking up.
If on the other hand, none of those criteria apply to you, you might just be better off skipping this one entirely or picking it up on on DMsGuild. The rules won’t be entirely updated for the 2024 system, but they’re still compatible. (It’s not clear if Visionary Productions has any plans to update the DMsGuild materials).
Final Thoughts
Despite Keith Baker actually creating Eberron, the world itself remains wholly owned by Wizards of the Coast, with the only place to publish new material being DMsGuild (for which WotC gets a significant cut). As such, Exploring Eberron was a key part of the development of the setting when it launched in 2020. It’s only fitting that it’s finally now made it to D&D Beyond.
You pick up a copy of the 2020 version on DMsGuild or snag the new 2024 rules version on D&D Beyond.
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Jason Volk is the Publisher of Dungeons & Dragons Fanatics and lives in the wilds of Western Canada. He has been playing D&D for over 25 years and is a huge fan of Dragonlance and the Forgotten Realms. His favorite character of all time was a Necromancer named Neek who spent most of his adventuring career resurrecting the corpses of slain monsters. When he’s not playing TTRPGs, Jason enjoys video games, Magic: The Gathering, Warhammer 40K, watching football and spending time with his wife and adorably nerdy children.
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