Character Creation: Allowed Materials

This page covers all of the materials relevant to character creation that are allowed for use in the West Marches setting. For a list of what magic items are allowed from published materials or information regarding how magic items function in WM, see the page on Magic Items. For miscellaneous rules specific to WM, see the page on House Rules. For an introduction and step-by-step guide to creating a West Marches character, see the page on Creating New Characters. For writing backstories, see the page on Creating New Lore.

Note: Common Abbreviations

 * EE: Elemental Evil
 * EGW: Explorer's Guide to Wildemount
 * ERLW: Eberron: Rising from the Last War
 * FTD: Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
 * GGR: Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica
 * MOT: Mythic Odysseys of Theros
 * MTF: Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
 * PHB: Player's Handbook
 * SCAG: Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
 * TCE: Tasha's Cauldron of Everything
 * UA: Unearthed Arcana
 * VGM: Volo's Guide to Monsters
 * VRGR: Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft
 * WGE: Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
 * XGE: Xanathar's Guide to Everything

Classes
All classes and subclasses in the Player's Handbook and Xanathar's Guide to Everything are allowed. The following classes and subclasses are also allowed:
 * Artificer (ERLW)
 * Armorer (TCE)
 * Barbarian
 * Path of the Beast (TCE)
 * Path of the Totem Warrior (extended options) (SCAG)
 * Path of Wild Magic (TCE)
 * Bard
 * College of Spirits (VRGR)
 * Cleric
 * Arcana Domain (SCAG)
 * Order Domain (GGR)
 * Druid
 * Circle of Spores (GGR)
 * Circle of Stars (TCE)
 * Circle of Wildfire (TCE)
 * Fighter
 * Psi Warrior (TCE)
 * Purple Dragon Knight/Banneret (no knight restriction) (SCAG)
 * Monk
 * Way of the Ascendant Dragon (FTD)
 * Way of the Astral Self (TCE)
 * Way of the Long Death (SCAG)
 * Way of Mercy (TCE)
 * Paladin
 * Oath of Glory (MOT)
 * Oath of the Watchers (TCE)
 * Note: Oath of the Watchers is on probation and may be removed later
 * Ranger
 * Drakewarden (FTD)
 * Fey Wanderer (TCE)
 * Revised Ranger (UA)
 * Swarmkeeper (TCE)
 * Sorcerer
 * Abberrant Mind (TCE)
 * Clockwork Soul (TCE)
 * Warlock
 * Fathomless (TCE)
 * Genie (TCE)
 * Undead (VRGR)
 * Undying (SCAG)


 * Wizard
 * Bladesinger (TCE)
 * Order of Scribes (TCE)
 * Note: all additional spells from TCE have been approved
 * School of Chronurgy (EGW)
 * School of Graviturgy (EGW)
 * Note: no additional spells from EGW have been approved

Optional Class Features (TCE)
Tasha's Cauldron of Everything added a number of new, optional class features. The following have been approved for use in West Marches:


 * All expanded spell lists
 * All additional fighting styles
 * All additional maneuver options
 * All additional artificer infusions
 * All additional sorcerer metamagic options
 * All additional warlock eldritch invocation options
 * Ranger spellcasting foci
 * Warlock Pact of the Talisman

Changing Features (TCE)
Changing a skill, as per the text in TCE, is allowed at ASI.

Spells
All spells from the Player's Handbook, Xanathar's Guide to Everything, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, and Fizban's Treasury of Dragons are allowed.

Races
''Note: Tasha's Cauldron of Everything has introduced new mechanics for customizing races. See below for more information on how this functions in West Marches.''

All races and subraces in the Player's Handbook and Xanathar's Guide to Everything are allowed. The following races and subraces are also allowed:


 * Aasimar (VGM)
 * Changeling (ERLW or WGE)
 * Dwarf
 * Duergar (MTF)
 * Dragonborn
 * Chromatic (FTD)
 * Draconblood (EGW)
 * Metallic (FTD)
 * Ravenite (EGW)
 * Elf
 * Eladrin (MTF)
 * Sea Elf (MTF)
 * Shadar-Kai (MTF)
 * Firbolg (VGM)
 * Genasi (EE)
 * Gnome
 * Deep Gnome (MTF)
 * Goliath (VGM)
 * Halfling
 * Ghostwise Halfling (SCAG)
 * Kalashtar (ERLW)
 * Kenku (VGM)
 * Leonin (MOT)
 * Lizardfolk (VGM)
 * Minotaur (GGR)
 * Shifter (ERLW or WGE)
 * Tabaxi (VGM)
 * Tiefling
 * All subraces from MTF
 * Devil's Tongue Tiefling (SCAG)
 * Hellfire Tiefling (SCAG)
 * Feral Tiefling (SCAG) (note: players of feral tieflings should speak with a DM)
 * Triton (MOT or VGM)
 * Warforged (ERLW) (note: all warforged in the WM setting are from the continent and most are from the Frontier Forge. Please read the page on warforged and ask a DM if you have any further questions!)

Customizing Races (TCE)
The following rules from TCE regarding customizing races have been approved for use in West Marches:


 * ASIs
 * Languages
 * Proficiencies
 * Trading armor/weapon proficiencies for tool proficiencies is not allowed. All other swaps listed are allowed.
 * Custom Lineage

Feats
Feats are allowed as described on page 165 of the PHB, and any feats listed in the PHB or Xanathar's are allowed. The Svirfneblin Magic feat from MTF and all additional feats from FTD and TCE except Gunner are also allowed.

Backgrounds
All backgrounds in the Player's Handbook and Xanathar's Guide to Everything are allowed. The following backgrounds are also allowed: Custom backgrounds are allowed as described on page 125 of the PHB but must be passed by a DM for approval.
 * Athlete (MOT)
 * City Watch (SCAG)
 * Courtier (SCAG)
 * Inheritor (SCAG)
 * Mercenary Veteran (SCAG)
 * Urban Bounty Hunter (SCAG)

Background Features
Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft introduced a few alternative background features that can be used in place of the feature in another background. The following background features have been approved for WM:


 * Spirit Medium (VRGR)
 * Traveler (VRGR)