Anyone pick up the Liber Bestarius yet?

[tsadkiel]

Nightfall, I can think of some monsters in the Liber that you in particular will probably like a lot.

 

[Gothmog]

I picked it up last Thursday at my local game store, and overall I am very impressed. I tend to run fantasy that is more geared toward horror/investigation, and 90% of these creatures fit the bill perfectly for me! I found the artowork MUCH better than most other publishers out there (including WOtC)- it looked fairly realistic without being too cartoony and/or overly stylized. The game stats look solid too, and although some CRs look a little low, that can be compensated for by the DM. I question the usefulness of the Badass presented for some of the races, but it might be more useful for some.

I especially liked the boggurt, burning man, dream golem, forest slayer, ghost of the hunt, lich hound, lord of the dream, mantrid, noble stag, poppet, q'stal, razor fiend, shadow ooze, redwing, skresh, slaver, slathering mouther, syft, temple sentinel, and undermind. None of the creatures seemed too quirky or of limited use. Overall, I liked this book much better than most monster compilations, and these creatures are IMO more original and interesting than the new monsters (like the grick, spider eater, etc) in the Monster Manual.

 

[mattcolville]

I picked it up last Thursday at my local game store, and overall I am very impressed. I tend to run fantasy that is more geared toward horror/investigation, and 90% of these creatures fit the bill perfectly for me! I found the artowork MUCH better than most other publishers out there (including WOtC)- it looked fairly realistic without being too cartoony and/or overly stylized. The game stats look solid too, and although some CRs look a little low, that can be compensated for by the DM. I question the usefulness of the Badass presented for some of the races, but it might be more useful for some.

I especially liked the boggurt, burning man, dream golem, forest slayer, ghost of the hunt, lich hound, lord of the dream, mantrid, noble stag, poppet, q'stal, razor fiend, shadow ooze, redwing, skresh, slaver, slathering mouther, syft, temple sentinel, and undermind. None of the creatures seemed too quirky or of limited use. Overall, I liked this book much better than most monster compilations, and these creatures are IMO more original and interesting than the new monsters (like the grick, spider eater, etc) in the Monster Manual.

Gothmog, you're my new favorite person.

It's too bad the ELH hadn't come out much earlier, and been open. I'd have probably made the Forest Slayer and the Burning One Epic-Level guys. Certainly the Burning One, who's already got a lot of epic-levelness about him.

And, hey, don't forget to pick up a Sorcerer's Apprentice at your local Tobin & Spate outlet!

 

[Eden Studios Inc]

It's too bad the ELH hadn't come out much earlier, and been open. I'd have probably made the Forest Slayer and the Burning One Epic-Level guys. Certainly the Burning One, who's already got a lot of epic-levelness about him.

Hell... we could always do the Liber II and make it all Epic level monsters

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

Now that this has shipped and arrived in retail stores, I was wondering what people thought of our d20 monster book.

Any comments?

___

I picked this one up by "accident" last week : The price was miss-marked on the front ( at $17 instead of the correct suggested retail of $27 ) The retailer caught the error but gave me the $17 price anyway. For a book of this size and substance, I would normally never pay $27.00.

BUT: After reading through the book, I will definitely consider buying more Eden Studios product, and feel $27 is fair, though a bit on the high side. I'd rate this book a "9".

What I liked:

1. Great new humanoids, each rated for PC suitability ( as is every monster in the book ) These races are perfect for you home-brewed campaigners out there... I'll be pugging a variant of the "Dactyl" into mine right away.

2. Longer entries and "usage" sections allow for more detail and roleplaying fodder beyond combat.

3. The art is fantastic, and true to the given written descriptions.

4. Aeon, Dark Familiar, Etheral Assassin ( way nasty! ), and Razor Fiends! Most of the beasts are usable, a much higher % than either of the S&S Creature Collection books.

What would make it a "10" :

1. A hardbound book needs more content! ( Better creature to $ ratio )

2. Drop the "badass" descriptors...

3. The Devil Steed is a fearsome opponent, but not suitable as a mount! If I was riding one, I'd have a hard time seeing over the torso/head, and I'd probably want to remove those damned eystalks flailing about my field of vision.

IMHO : Way better than either of the S&S Books, and that Minion's book.

J

 

[coyote6]

Having not been to a game store in more than a month (the withdrawal symptoms are fading, thanks), I haven't seen it. But I liked it in playtest, so . . .

My big problem is that I have this feeling I'll end up having to choose between buying the Liber or buying the Buffy RPG. Argh!

 

[mattcolville]

Re: Re: Anyone pick up the Liber Bestarius yet?

4. Aeon, Dark Familiar, Etheral Assassin ( way nasty! ), and Razor Fiends! Most of the beasts are usable, a much higher % than either of the S&S Creature Collection books.



J

Ok, now you're my new favorite person.

BTW, folks looking for new familiar options, there are several in this book. The Mowz is a new normal familiar, the Dark Familiar is for necromancers, the Syft is for Vampires and for those who have too many familiars in their game. . .the Familiar Eater.

I just felt we needed more interesting familiar options.