We thank Marco Bertini and Sign of the Dragon for providing us with a digital copy of Mordenkainen’s Guide to Peaceful Spells and thus making this review possible. In this short 24-page manual we find 44 new spells for D&D5e, all of which have in common that they cannot be used for the purpose of doing damage. It will be up to the master and the players to find possibilities for their uses.
You can find it in English only and digitally on the Dungeon Masters Guild website for $3.95.
Who is Mordenkainen?
Mordenkhainen is a powerful archmage well known in the Dungeons and Dragons universe and the manual we are about to review is his work. In the preface, in fact, we find an introduction by him extolling the rediscovery of seemingly innocuous but very useful spells.
Intent is indeed to lead our players to rediscover new ways of facing adversity, keeping combat as a last resort. Not always, in fact, our protagonists will be brave warriors. Or they may be looking for alternatives against an enemy that is too powerful. And here comes this manual to our rescue, with a wide range of enchantments ready to distract, mislead or support. These are all valid possibilities to avoid a confrontation or to rescue allies.
Review of the Magic of Mordenkainen’s Guide to Peaceful Spells
At the back of the manual we will find the spells divided by level and by school of magic, so as to make their research easier when preparing sessions.
From cantrips up to ninth-level spells, we will thus have at our disposal new possibilities of Invocation, Enchantment, Illusion, Necromancy, Transmutation, Abjuration and Evocation. Among the simpler spells, for example, we find Sacred Flower, which creates a shimmering flower above our enemy’s head. It will be necessary for them to pass a saving throw on constitution or they will be blinded by our creation. The most powerful enchantment we will find among these pages is Petal of Salvation. This floral creation will allow the group of our heroes to regain life each turn, have a temporary hit point bonus that exceeds our limit and enjoy advantages on saving throws.
Simply put, we find spells that can actually make a difference to our party.
How to Insert New Spells?
The guide provides us with valuable support in incorporating these spells into our campaigns, also in the various specific settings. It is explained to us which civilisations or cities will hold the secrets of the new spells in Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Eberron, Theros and Ravnica.
If you are still undecided as to which method is best to introduce these new spells to your group, a table will come to your aid. With a d6 we can find out whether it was our mentor, a divine intervention, a scroll or something else that told us about them. A good master will also be able to seize the opportunity and create an ad hoc side quest for their adventurers.
Conclusions of the Review of Mordenkainen’s Guide to Peaceful Spells
Mordenkainen’s Guide to Peaceful Spells is a manual for those who are looking for alternatives to just combat sessions. Players who rely heavily on the interpretation and motivations of their characters (such as a more pacifist spirit following a major trauma) will find this manual a great help.
Graphics are in every way similar to those of the official manuals. The use of AI to create the images and the cover (polished by Marco Fossati) is noticeable compared to the images in many other D&D5e manuals.
The low price makes it an excellent complement to increase one’s possibilities during sessions.
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