Photo by Bonus Action
Picking the right snacks for game night is critical for Dungeons & Dragons players. Do you make a full meal to share before playing? Put together snacks for during-session munching? Hope everyone can hold out through the session to eat afterward? Well, D&D Heroes’ Feast: The Deck of Many Morsels is here to help with this culinary puzzle.
This quirky, little cookbook isn’t bound like Heroes Feast: Flavors of the Multiverse. Instead, it is done up to mimic the Deck of Many Things, a deck of chaos-causing cards used in many sessions of D&D.
I love the concept of this snack-focused recipe collection. It’s a fantastic way to shake up a game night that is both on theme and not too complicated to put together. However, there are a few snags we ran into while testing this deck of cards out.
Key Details
- Publisher: Penguin Radom House/Wizards of the Coast
- Authors: Kyle Newman, Jon Peterson, Michael Witwer, and Sam Witwer
- Where to Buy: Amazon / Penguin Random House Website
- Price: $25.99
- Release Date: 10/01/2024
- Review Sample Provided: Yes
Quick, Easy, and Cute
When first cracking open Heroes’ Feast: The Deck of Many Morsels, I was very excited at the quality of the cards. Recipe cards can be flimsy or made of material that can’t be wiped if something gets knocked on the surface. These are heavy, well-coated cards that I’m not afraid to get out in the kitchen.
Additionally, the 50 cards that make up the deck offer a spread of snack and drink options ranging from complex cooking masterpieces to simple, 15-minute projects.
Options like the Wood Elf Salad require things that can easily be found in a fridge or supermarket, like Brussels sprouts and fresh herbs. The Trail Mash’ums are basically smores cookies that can be made right in your oven.
While the majority of recipes are something Dungeons & Dragons fans can throw together without much worry, there are a few that call for premium ingredients like smoked oysters. For those who don’t have access to a good fishmonger, this might be a tricker option to throw together.
A Little Too Boozy
Unfortunately, unlike the Puncheons & Flagons drink collection, the options in The Deck of Many Morsels are overwhelmingly alcoholic. As someone with numerous sober friends, this made the deck feel a bit less friendly.
As much as I love a pretty cocktail, and am happy to try my hand at subbing alcoholic ingredients for a juice or sparkling water option, many of these drinks are just complex mixes of bourbon, rum, vodka, and schnapps.
Because of this, I actually ended up becoming very partial to the Cocoa Broth. Despite the slightly upsetting name, this hot chocolate coffee beverage is excellent for a D&D session. Caffeinated, hot, and good for everyone at the table.
However, it would have been nice if the drink cards had included more sober/kid-friendly options, or if the recipe writers had included some non-alcoholic alternatives, as rewriting the recipe for inclusion leaves me more inclined to break out a case of Coke.
World Lore Strikes Again!
One of the best parts of the Heroes’ Feast cookbook collections, is the world lore and culture tidbits fans get when reading the recipes. At the top of every card, a paragraph or two describes the recipe’s place in the expansive Dungeons & Dragons lore.
Like with Flavors of the Multiverse, I found myself reading the cards like I would a book. I spent time reading each little description or story and often picked recipe cards to try simply because they were from a place I recognized, or thought was interesting.
Nothing says “good snack” like a Neverwinter Cheese Board that gives you a history lesson perfect for session prep.
Final Score – 7/10
D&D Heroes’ Feast: The Deck of Many Morsels is another excellent expansion of the Heroes’ Feast collection. Fans who pick this deck of recipe cards up won’t be disappointed with the variety of snack ideas.
However, it is nearly half drink cards, with most of them being alcoholic. For those who enjoy mixing and making interesting alcoholic treats, it might be a good find. However, as someone who doesn’t drink much, and usually opts for sober options during game nights, I just felt the number outweighed other recipes, and also limited options for those wanting to partake without the buzz.
Despite this, It is a very clever idea, and the snacks are just as good for a cozy Friday with the family as they are for a busy Saturday adventure with your party.
**A sample copy of D&D Heroes’ Feast: The Deck of Many Morsels was provided to Bonus Action for the purpose of this review**
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