Looking over my collection of art I have created myself, purchased or can easily purchase, I'm noticing alot of monster pictures. This works fine since I enjoy creating monsters, and the Pathfinder Bestiary has some quality rules for creating and balancing monsters. So it looks like there will be some type of monster book in the future.

First I have to go through the collection and figure out if I can create a monster from the picture. Can I make some kind of unique attack or ability from the picture that will make it something other than a simple hit point bot.

Take this image for example. A rather pretty picture, but its ... a lizard. Maybe it should spit lightning? But that's a thunder lizard, been done. Its obviously not celestial, demonic, undead or an aberration. Lets pull out the Bestiary. Of all the types of monsters, the ones that best fit are animal, dragon, magical beast and possibly vermin, but that is a stretch (so that is eliminated). Animals tend to be hit point bots so that's eliminated. Looking at the picture, I see a wingless dragon that is pissed off because he has no wings or hind legs. Hmmm could work. But no spitting elements. So what can it do? Well, dragons are suppose to be amazing sorcerers, but they really are not. Their HD do not stack up with sorcerer classes and it takes a very very long time for them to be able to cast any decent spells. Therein is a possibility. I could see some balance issues there, but the the basic idea has merit.

Counting them all up, I currently have 21 pieces of artwork that are ready to go right now and probably others that can be ready with a little work. Good start. Lets see if I can compose my own book of monsters.

Dale McCoy is President of Jon Brazer Enterprises. Visit our website to find out about our upcoming Pathfinder Compatable product: Book of the Faithful: The Power of Prayer.

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