Volo's Guide to All Things Magical

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Volo's Guide to All Things Magical is a 128-page sourcebook for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition released in October 1996.

Official synopsis[]

For aeons, folk have struggled to master the world of Toril through the use of magic. The human race has stolen what magical knowledge it can from the elves and other races, gained more through worship, and created the rest by building on the work of those who have gone before. For centuries, human wizards have experimented with new spells and variations on existing magic, striving to grow ever more powerful. They have succeeded to an astonishing degree, but through the death of secretive mages and the hidden, or distorted.
To pierce this heavy cloak of missing knowledge, cryptic sorcerous codes, and misinformation requires a writer of rare daring, peristence, and magical skill. Such a man is Volothamp Geddarm, famous traveler of the Realms - and this is his most important, long-suppressed work, the book that archwizards could not keep from your hands!
Read this 128-page tome, and learn:

how do mages gain special powers for themselves, including the awesome ability known as Spellfire?

how may items be enchanted to fire forth magic once, twice, or whenever called upon?

what are the best materials from which to construct magical items?

what powerful spells have hitherto been the secrets of the most puissant archmages?

what are many of the fell, awesome artifacts of the Realms known to exist?

what lore exists about teleportation, magical wards, guardian spells, and sites of power?

and much, much more that most wizards would have liked to remain hidden forever from the eyes of their rivals - and from common folk not skilled in magic!

Suitable for all levels of play.

Special Note: This edition of Volo's Guide, intended for travelers from beyond the borders of Faer?n, has been heavily rewritten and contains game notes and commentary by the famous sage and archmage Elminster of Shadowdale.

Content[]

Development and release[]

Development[]

The book was written by Ed Greenwood and Eric L. Boyd. Art was provided by Ciruelo Cabral, Tony Crnkovich, Ned Dameron and Valerie Valusek.

Release[]

Volo's Guide to All Things Magical was released by TSR in October 1996 for $^{[missing data]} US or $^{[missing data]} Canadian.

On October 01, 2013, it was re-released in digital format. It is currently available on DriveThruRPG and Dungeon Masters Guild for $9.99.

Reception and influence[]

Critical reception[]

As of 2023, Volo's Guide to All Things Magical reached the rank of Electrum seller on DriveThruRPG.

Influence on other works[]

External links[]

References[]

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition
Core rules
Player's Handbook • Dungeon Master Guide Monstrous Compendium Volume One • Monstrous Compendium Volume Two • Monstrous Manual First Quest • Introduction to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Game • The Complete Starter Set • Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game
Optional core rules
Player's Option: Combat & Tactics • Player's Option: Skills & Powers • Player's Option: Spells & Magic Dungeon Master Option: High-Level Campaigns • Campaign Option: Council of Wyrms
Supplement lines
Player's Handbook Rules Supplement • Dungeon Master's Guide Rules Supplement Monstrous Compendium Appendix • Monstrous Compendium Annual Encyclopedia Magica • Historical Reference • The Magic Encyclopedia • Monstrous Arcana • Priest's Spell Compendium • Wizard's Spell Compendium
Other supplements
Bastion of Faith • Book of Artifacts • Castle Sites • Chronomancer • City Sites • College of Wizardry • Country Sites • Den of Thieves • Dungeon Builder's Guidebook • Guide to Hell • Legends & Lore • Rogues' Gallery • Shaman • Tome of Magic • The Vortex of Madness and Other Planar Perils • Warriors of Heaven • World Builder's Guidebook
Adventures
The Apocalypse Stone • Axe of the Dwarvish Lords • Cleric's Challenge (II) • The Dancing Hut of Baba Yaga • Destiny of Kings • Die Vecna Die! • Dragon Mountain • Dungeons of Despair • Fighter's Challenge (II) • The Gates of Firestorm Peak • A Hero's Tale • Labyrinth of Madness • The Lost Shrine of Bundushatur • Moonlight Madness • The Murky Deep • Night Below: An Underdark Campaign • A Paladin in Hell • Return to the Tomb of Horrors • Reverse Dungeon • Road to Danger • The Rod of Seven Parts • The Shattered Circle • The Silver Key • Swamplight • Tale of the Comet • Tales of Enchantment • Temple, Tower, & Tomb • Thief's Challenge (II) • TSR Jam 1999 • Wizard's Challenge (II)