D&D 5E Monster Manual Expanded III HARDCOVER/PoD is FINALLY OUT! Get it now from the DM's Guild!

[Urriak Uruk]

I'll add, the most attractive thing to me about this book is that I have a couple of players who own and have read their 5E Monster Manuals... so it's sometimes hard to surprise them.

Having a source of monsters with stats/abilities they don't recognize, plus awesome art they also won't recognize, well that will reignite the "OH no what the heck is THIS THING?!?" in them.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'll add, the most attractive thing to me about this book is that I have a couple of players who own and have read their 5E Monster Manuals... so it's sometimes hard to surprise them.

Having a source of monsters with stats/abilities they don't recognize, plus awesome art they also won't recognize, well that will reignite the "OH no what the heck is THIS THING?!?" in them.

And, as pointed out up-thread, the earlier volumes are monsters they've mostly seen before, but just variants.

"The orc did what?"

So instead of the Monster Manual critters being limited to a few narrow (and sometimes underpowered) roles, DMs are free to surprise players with even familiar foes.

 

[thundershot]

I can’t wait for the new book! I know the hardcover won’t be available right away, but is there a way to buy the pdf and pay the difference and “upgrade” to the HC when it comes out?

Also, have you considered doing a book taking appropriate creatures from your monster books and do them up as PC races?

 

[Nixlord]

I can’t wait for the new book! I know the hardcover won’t be available right away, but is there a way to buy the pdf and pay the difference and “upgrade” to the HC when it comes out?

Also, have you considered doing a book taking appropriate creatures from your monster books and do them up as PC races?

Sorry Thundershot, DM's Guild doesn't have that system set up.

As for creating PC races, it's a good idea but I believe there are several DM's Guild products that have already done this and I prefer working on stuff that is maybe lacking in the DM's Guild.

 

[thundershot]

Sorry Thundershot, DM's Guild doesn't have that system set up.

As for creating PC races, it's a good idea but I believe there are several DM's Guild products that have already done this and I prefer working on stuff that is maybe lacking in the DM's Guild.

I actually meant PC races specific to your books. No one else is likely to do those. I may try my hand at them if I can get a little free time.

 

[Nixlord]

Monster Manual Expanded III Art Previews #45: We continue this week with two more aswangs: the ghoul-like Buso that prowls graveyards and cemeteries to dig up fresh corpses to devour and the werebat-like Tiktik that uses a prehensile proboscis-like tongue to puncture and suck unborn fetuses from sleeping, pregnant women!

 

[thundershot]

Ok that second one is just whacked out scary and horrifying. Would make a great villain…

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Ok that second one is just whacked out scary and horrifying. Would make a great villain…

Almost needs trigger warnings!

 

[Helldritch]

And, as pointed out up-thread, the earlier volumes are monsters they've mostly seen before, but just variants.

"The orc did what?"

So instead of the Monster Manual critters being limited to a few narrow (and sometimes underpowered) roles, DMs are free to surprise players with even familiar foes.

This is exactly what is going on in my games. The famous "That is not in the MM!" is a real thing. It was so with the Kobold Press books but with pre existing monsters, it is much more useful to have variations on monsters known. Don't get me wrong, new monsters are always great, but the variants are scarier because they do things that the normal monsters do not! A new monster is always welcome, but once defeated, players "know" how to defeat it and thus, the monster loses a bit of the angst it did the first time. With variations in the pool of possibilities, players are kept on their toes as they do not know in advance which variants they will face. They do not have their set tactics at their disposal. They must adapt. This is why these books are a must for any DM. (And this comes from a guy that rarely buys third party books...)

 

[LordEntrails]

Great artwork and promising reviews on the previous books. Any chance of you getting these converted for Fantasy Grounds? You can still sell them on the Guild. There are several groups that do conversations if interested. Not worth my time to buy the PDF and convert into FG myself, but if you had FG versions available I would buy those in a heartbeat.