I'm a Taoist. I'm a veteran D&D DM and player (since 1989). I'm very familiar with Taoism and The Art of War. I wanted this to be something special. It's not. It doesn't provide a meaningful entry to Taoism, nor provocative insights from The Art of War, nor useful advice for players. I recommend you just read The Art of War itself, and any of the better texts with advice for players.

Should you buy a copy of The Art of War for D&D Players? Probably. It’s taken the crucial elements of 5E’s combat mechanics and distilled them down into an easy-to-read pamphlet. It doesn’t introduce new mechanics or tweak existing ones. It just shows you how to better employ the rules that are already there.

Read more: https://www.nonzerosumgames.com/the-art-of-war-for-dd-players-dms-guild-review/

The Art of War for D&D Players by M.T. Black Acquired 29 September 2019 ; paid full price (then $9.95) Product released/last updated 21 May 2019 Read 29 September 2019 ; re-read 06-07 June 2020

This is an excellent resource which covers a lot of ground. It is based on and structured much like Sun Tzu's The Art of War, which is perhaps the oldest and certainly one of the most famous books on military stratgey and tactics.

The layout is well done. The art is generally lovely and not overdone, but the best part is the wealth of knowledge and the broad coverage contained within.

There isn't much else to say. Well-written, lovely formatting, intelligent content, and a must-have for player (or DMs) wanting to step up their combat game.

What a fantastic options for players and DMs. The breakdown of tactics by MT is well thought out and researched. He goes into great detail on the different tactics characters can implement to gain the "high ground". The perfect tie into Sun Tzu's words are spot on. We had the pleasure of interviewing MT on our show Crit Academy. Give a listen here. http://critacademy.libsyn.com/the-art-of-war-for-dd-players

Pros:

• Highlights tactical aspects of combat that are often overlooked.
• Solid Beginner Class Guides with recommended feats and multi-classes.
• Fun use of Sun Tzu quotes in every chapter.
• Casual, easy-to-read style.

Cons:

• No new rules or player options.
• The spell chapter lists recommended spells without any explanations.

THE VERDICT: THE ART OF WAR FOR D&D PLAYERS PROVIDES DEEPER, BUT EASY-TO-READ EXPLANATIONS OF THE ADVANCED RULES, CONCEPTS, AND NUANCES FROM THE PLAYER’S HANDBOOK.

Full review: https://roguewatson.com/2019/09/04/dms-guild-review-the-art-of-war-for-dd-players/

Video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hqfmdJgL2E

Truly a masterpiece! It's always a pleasure to read your work!!!

This is a beautifully designed and illustrated addition to the DMs Guild. The stunning layout is visually appealing and immediately strikes the reader with its thematic approach. The PDF quotes from the legendary strategist of ancient China, Sun Tzu. Players reading this might later recall these words of wisdom as they enter another round of TTRGP combat.

The tactical roles for each PC in your party are outlined in a very practical Chapter 4. An assessment of the effectiveness of damage types is detailed in Chapter 6. In Chapter 7 some specific spells and abilities are highlighted for their tactical roles. In Chapter 8 you'll find a handy list of buffs that answers questions like ... what options do I have for increasing my armor class? Chapter 11 has advice about character class options. Chapter 12 provides guides to spell choices. Chillingly, the last words of this text are: TPK. Abbreviation for “total party kill.”

This is not a cheat sheet that give you an edge over other players, but more of a guide that you can help your party to work together more effectively. This will help you to better understand your PC and how to better prepare for your games ahead.

Solid product worth sharing with your group. There has clearly been a lot of effort put into this work which I appreciate.

Really enjoy how this was written, some really fun and thought provoking ideas for how to take on new challenges and be a better player. It's interesting how old strategy from Sun Tzu is just as relevant in modern day warfare as it is in fantasy roleplay, but keeping the quotations in there leaves some food for thought when diving into each section. A great read as always from the master MT Black.

Incredibly well-researched with excellent Sun Tzu flavor. Players are sure to be reminded of some key (often overlooked) tactics with this supplement.

Props on the unique layout as well!