Another....Favorite Monster Manuals Thread.

[Ulric]

I haven't been on this forum too long, but I'm assuming that "favorite this" or "favorite that" threads are pretty common. In spite of that....I plunge ahead anyway.

I only own two "monster manuals". The Core 3E Monter Manual and Tome of Horrors 3.

I really like both of them and I'm ready to buy another one. I need/want suggestions.

A couple of requirments: 1) I want a picture of each creature. It doesn't have to be a great picture....just something to help me and my players visualize what the book is talking about.

2) There needs to be a lot of monsters in the book. I'm willing to pay more for a book if it is large....and that's what I want. I know there are good monster/creature manuals with less monsters...but I'd like a book that's full of plenty of 'em.

Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

And, yes, I'm looking for the best bang for the buck. I'm asking for your suggestions because I have a limited idea of what is out there.

Thanks.

 

[Aaron L]

Book of Fiends, by Green Ronin.



It's all Demons, Devils, and Daemons, though.

 

[Pants]

Book of Fiends does have a lot of creatures in it...

The original Tome of Horrors and the Tome of Horrors II are both absolutely full of monsters.

The Fiend Folio has a pretty decent amount of monsters.

 

[EyeontheMountain]

I only really know WOTC stuff, but I would heartily recommend MMII and MMIII. Both ahve lots of monsters that look like they fit a general fantasy section. Too many of the monsters inthe Fiend Folio are so far out in lala land that you spend more time trying to convince your characters it should exist than dealing iwth the monster. I do not own the MMIV but have flipped thorough it and would not recommend it at all.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Denizens of Avadnu (from The Inner Circle)
Fantasy Bestiary (from Atlas Games)
Tome of Horrors - revised (from Necromancer Games) --- there are two others, too.
Creature Collection - revised (from Sword & Sorcery Studios) --- there are two others, too.

Also, there's the Monster Gift Pack, containing MMII, MMIII and FF (from Wizards of the Coast), that came out late last year. It's not a bad buy, IMO.

I'd suggest avoiding MMIV. MMV, if that goes the same way, too.

There are reviews of these books, and others, on this site (and at sites such as rpg.net). They might help you to decide.

 

[Tetsubo]

Monsternomicon, hands down the best monster book I have ever seen...

Now, for the old school players... I loved the MM II 1E version...

 

[Tetsubo]

Denizens of Avadnu (from The Inner Circle)
Fantasy Bestiary (from Atlas Games)
Tome of Horrors - revised (from Necromancer Games) --- there are two others, too.
Creature Collection - revised (from Sword & Sorcery Studios) --- there are two others, too.

Also, there's the Monster Gift Pack, containing MMII, MMIII and FF (from Wizards of the Coast), that came out late last year. It's not a bad buy, IMO.

I'd suggest avoiding MMIV. MMV, if that goes the same way, too.

There are reviews of these books, and others, on this site (and at sites such as rpg.net). They might help you to decide.

What did you like about Denizens of Avadnu? I bought the book, paged through it and promptly traded it in for store credit. In my defense I bought it online sight unseen because people raved about it. I found it dull and really didn't like the art.

 

[wykthor]

1) Denizens of Avadnu. If I may answer, Tetsubo, I liked so much the book because the mechanics are sound, the artwork spectacular and the creatures are have a nice dose of creativity and plausibility

2) Book of Fiends: "we´ve got your vile darkness right here!". I completely agree with that. The daemons put the yugoloths to shame. My only deception was the thaumaturge class (too weak, IMO).

3) The Dungeon Master booklet of the OD&D Immortals Boxed Set. The entities there are way cool. Draedens rule.

 

[DMH]

Penumbra Fantasy Bestiary from Atlas is a thick monster book. Bonuses- lots of variety of monster types, several indexes (by type, terrain, CR, summoning tables, and new d20 material that isn't monsters), 10 jewel golems, 23 templates and one or more hooks for each creature.

Monsternomicon from Privateer is meant for the Iron Kingdoms, but there is enough variety for other settings. I don't own the 3.5 version so I can't give an opinion on it.

Minions from Bastion was one of the first for 3.0 and there is an expanded pdf version for 3.5. I love this book- plenty of odder, but still useful critters.

And speaking of pdfs, I also suggest Brixbrix's Guide to Creatures of Ados. 222 pages of creatures and indexes. Each creature has a very short adventure.

If you are looking for something less generic, more focused, there is the Lore series from FFG (Giant Lore, Dragonic Lore, Twisted Lore (aberrations), etc.) and Monsters of the Endless Dark (underground), Monsters of the Boundless Blue (water) and Primeval Groves (plants) from Goodman.

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

I've always liked the 1e Fiend Folio. I mean, a lot of the creatures were weird and/or goofy, but there were a few real gems in there and the artwork's wonderfully, gorgeously baroque.

For sheer usefulness to my game, though, it's the 1e Monster Manual 1.