Anyone else miss monster books?

[JoeGKushner]

On another thread talking about Monster Manual IV, it was noted that perhaps with five years worth of d20 companies making various monster books, that there are enough monster books and any more are a waste of time.

I disagree 100%.

With monsters able to be customized with levels, hit dice advancement, and templates, among other bits now like specific feats, PrCs, substitution levels, paragon levels, etc... monsters can be as changing as the GM needs them.

Now I remember Mongoose was coming out with a huge monster book for Gen Con, but thanfkully, they had John Cooper look it over and decided to do it right and hopefully when those 3.5 monsters are revealed, the issues will be minmized.

Necromancer has Tome of Horrors III coming out.

Wizards has Monster Manual IV coming out.

Silverthrone Games just came out with the PDF, Template Troves III.

I say that the era of monsters is not quite over year and that the saturation point some fear for new monsters, hasn't hit the same level as some of the hatred we see for Prcs, Feats, and other bits.

Opinions? More monster books in '06 or less?

 

[Crothian]

More creative and interesting monsters...less of the monsters that just exist for people to kill them.

 

[DMH]

I don't want any more monster books as in the MM. I want more template and other option books for monsters (Beast Builder, Template Troves, etc.). What I think would be cool is a supplement like the largest chapter in BB- all the OGC SAs and SQs out there plus new ones.

 

[Khairn]

I agree with Crothian.

A new book of monsters like the Monsternomicon would be great. Filled with unique concepts linked with interesting backgrounds, plot hooks and great illustrations ... a book like that would be a winner.

But another MM ? Nope.

 

[Psion]

I find specialized compilations more informative and iteresting than generalized collections.

There is room for fresh material, but IME, that material comes forth more readily in specialized supplements than larger collections with a looser focus.

 

[JustKim]

I don't know what you mean by "missing" monster books. I have about forty, there are more out there on my to buy list and others which I haven't considered, without counting books that haven't even come out yet. Do I miss monster books? No, I see a constant stream of them. Do I enjoy monster books? Yes, very much, thanks.

 

[Herremann the Wise]

I don't know - I think I'm not your average consumer. I'll get a monster book in a flash if it meets my needs. I don't think the field is saturated yet in quality products.

For me, it's all about the pictures. Give me a real nice picture and I start thinking where I can use the creature. It's this that gets my imagination running. MMIII for all it's statistical issues had some absolutely fantastic artwork. Eldritch Giants, Sorrowsworn Demons and so on were simply brilliant - and very nasty opponents too.

However, perhaps the one thing that really makes a monster book useable are solidly calculated CRs. There would be nothing worse than pulling out an unplanned encounter based upon a CR that was ridiculously out - the Drowned anyone?

For me, if a book does these things, I'll have as many of them as are produced.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[demiurge1138]

Miss monster books? Quoi? I love monster books - they're what got me into D&D in the first place and they're my highest priority in terms of D&D purchases. Even "bad" monster books entertain me, whether I use them or not.

Demiurge out.

 

[Pants]

I can never have enough monster books.


Okay, maybe I can, but monster books are always first on my list to buy.

Addendum: I include the following books under 'monster books:'
- Draconomicon
- Libris Mortis
- Lords of Madness
- Advanced Bestiary

 

[Voadam]

there are enough monster books and any more are a waste of time.

Enough? The SRD has enough.
Waste of time? That would be a publisher decision but as a consumer I enjoy them and buy a lot. I'm pretty sure I have more than 100 for d20.

I had enough before I started buying any, but I want more and more and I am glad and enjoy the fact that I have the ones I do. I plan to continue to get more as time goes on.