Opinions on Penumbra Fantasy Bestiary?

CSB046 · Aug 20, 2003

Anyone have this book? I'm considering picking it up, but I would probably have to do it "sight unseen" from Amazon, and $44.95 is a hefty bit of change for a book you haven't seen!

I've looked at the preview creatures on the Atlas Games site and generally liked what I saw, but I haven't had much luck finding online reviews of the overall product.

So, if anyone has any particular likes or dislikes, I'd love to hear them. My personal biases tend toward low CRs, humanoid types, and creatures than can be dropped into a pretty "natural" setting. Some aberrations and undead are okay too, but extraplanar beings need not apply.

Thanks!

Kid Charlemagne · Aug 20, 2003

CSB046 said:
So, if anyone has any particular likes or dislikes, I'd love to hear them. My personal biases tend toward low CRs, humanoid types, and creatures than can be dropped into a pretty "natural" setting. Some aberrations and undead are okay too, but extraplanar beings need not apply.

I have it and like it a lot. I think it fits your preferences - there are a lot of low CR creatures, many fey creatures and humanoids. There are some clunker monsters, as in any monster book, but there's just so much in the PFB that you're bound to find a lot to like.

I don't have the book handy to give examples, but I'll try to do so later...

BTW, most of the art is fantastic, but there is some that is just bad. I mean, like I could have done it better, bad. But only a small fraction are like that.

DaveMage · Aug 20, 2003

I have it, and I also give it a thumbs up.

The price is hefty, but the format is generally well done, and there are plenty of well-designed creatures.

Dr. Harry · Aug 22, 2003

I have it, and I also like it a lot.

Plot hooks (and clever plot hooks) come with each creature.

In my opinion, the artwork is exceptional.

The biggest problem I have with most monster books is "what's left"? After the MM and the Tome of Horrors, new books must find something besides:
"47 new golems!"
"82 new types of undead!" (ghostly skeletons, blazing skeletons, putrid skeletons, etc.)
"732 new fiends!"
"like a goblin -- but slightly different!"

and so on.

In my opinion, the PFB does this very well. I'll try and go into more detail if I can get back online tonight.

Harry

BigFreekinGoblinoid · Aug 22, 2003

If you truly need more monsters ( as opposed to me, owning over a dozen monster books ), I can see you getting a lot of use from The Atlas Bestiary.

Outsiders ARE the number one largest single type/subtype of beasties in the book, second being constructs, but many magical beasts, undead, and abberrations. Lots of Dragons too. Not many humanoids.

The book also has many templates and a great appendix which gives the book's listings by terrain and CR. Also tables for using the Bestiaries baddies for Summoning spells ( which you probably don't care about too much though )

All in all a very well produced book. Also has a few more familiar/mount options and a couple handfulls of new magic items and spells.

Kichwas · Aug 22, 2003

Dr. Harry said:
"like a goblin

Touch-spelled for the very first time?

This book was just too expensive for me.

I looked at it, looked at the number of critters, and looked at some of the competition and went for them instead.

I've no idea how good the book is, because at that price it simply wasn't worth it to find out.

Desdichado · Aug 22, 2003

My opinion of the book?

ing hard to find, that's what.

Voadam · Aug 22, 2003

Joshua Dyal said:
My opinion of the book? ing hard to find, that's what.

Warehouse 23 handles all mail orders for Atlas now I'm not sure of the website but you can get there from www.sjgames.com

Voadam · Aug 22, 2003

I have an author's copy of the bestiary (you can see my ghoul template and ghast prestige class on the preview).

I like the developed descriptions, adventure seeds, and the coding by encounter type (trickster, combat, magical, epic, etc.)

I belive there is a Jeff Ibach review of the book on gaming report.

spacecrime.com · Aug 22, 2003

We also have the Bestiary, and I hear one of the authors might sign it for you.

(But don't let that stop you from buying the book. Nice unsullied unsigned copies ARE available!

)