Tanares 5e – Review

Tanares 5E is a new setting for the 5E ruleset. The game was published following a massively successful Kickstarter. 

I have followed Tanares 5e from its early Kickstarter days, and I still remember the wave of enthusiasm that accompanied its promises. A revitalized world for 5e. A new mechanical identity. A setting that would carve out its own space rather than standing in the shadow of established fantasy worlds. After reading through the three books of Tanares 5E, I am left with a blend of appreciation and quiet disappointment. Ambition is certainly present on every page, but the final work does not entirely match the expectations created at the project’s birth.

A World Rich in Detail Yet Familiar at Its Core

Tanares 5e presents itself as a realm shaped by cosmic corruption, ancient wars, and political tension. The remnants of a magical invasion, a cold war between rival factions, a plane filled with eldritch monstrosities, and kingdoms scarred by ruin all form the backbone of its lore. The writing is competent, and the authors clearly worked to create depth, yet the world seldom feels new. Readers familiar with 5e settings will recognize many of the recurring beats. Fallen empires. Mystical artifacts. Corrupted elves. Dragon councils. Celestial and shadowy forces vying for control.

There are moments where the setting finds its own voice. The arenas that exist to prevent full-scale war and the concept of Dragonborn clones stand out as strong ideas. Still, these highlights are scattered across a landscape that remains largely in conversation with existing 5e worlds rather than forging a bold path of its own.

Mechanical Content Overflowing with Crunch

One of the major expectations from the Kickstarter was that Tanares 5e would offer a refined take on the rules. In its final form, the book does deliver an impressive amount of mechanical material. New classes. New species. Numerous subclasses. Expansive spell lists. Optional systems for mounts, teams, structures, and legendary rewards. There is no shortage of ideas or effort here.

However, the mechanics tend to lean heavily into complexity. The classes often introduce layers of features that feel more dense than exciting. The optional systems add weight rather than flow. Players who enjoy deep optimization will appreciate the abundance of material, but those hoping for streamlined design may find themselves wishing for a lighter touch. The mechanics work, but they rarely feel innovative.

Artwork and Layout That Struggle to Find Identity

Expectations for the art were high, given the production values shown during the campaign. The finished book contains a large collection of illustrations, yet many of them seem to rely on computer-assisted techniques. While a few pieces are impressive, the shared digital polish creates a sameness that undermines the book’s visual personality.

The layout follows the familiar structure of 5E design, from typography to page framing and the overall visual rhythm. This makes the book approachable, but it also keeps Tanares 5e closely tied to its parent system, preventing it from developing an aesthetic identity strong enough to stand apart.

A Respectable Adventure Foundation

Alongside the core guide, the adventure material associated with Tanares 5e is solid. It offers a straightforward structure for groups who want to engage with the world and its threats without needing to build everything from scratch. It is not especially innovative, but it functions well and provides a reliable introduction to the setting.

A Final Reflection of Tanares 5e

My feelings toward Tanares 5e sit somewhere between respect for the work accomplished and regret for what might have been. The book is generous in scope, rich in content, and clearly written with genuine passion. Yet it does not fully achieve the originality promised in the early days of its development. The world feels familiar. The mechanics lean toward excess rather than refinement. The art does not carry the distinctiveness one might hope for.

Still, Tanares 5e succeeds as a comprehensive expansion for players who want more options within the fifth edition framework. It is a good game, and at times even a very good one, but it stops short of becoming the transformative experience many backers hoped for.

3/5 stars

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