Are Mongoose's Monster Encyclopaedia any good?

[Vraille Darkfang]

I really want to buy these (Monster Encyclopaedia ), but I've been burned 1 too many times by Mongoose to set my money down sight unseen.

I got Ultimate Monster I (one of the WORST d20 books I've every seen, and the worst I've bought withouta FFE logo on the front).

But, I like Monster books, & Mongoose has improve lately.

So, does anyone have either of these 2 books & are they any good? Arew the stat blocks ok?

I didn't see any reviews on teh review section, so I'm asking here:

For someone who LOVES (almost to the point of obsession) monster books, is this worth it?

Thanks!

 

[Kanegrundar]

I have ME1 and while I haven't gone over all the stats Mongoose has cleaned up their editing process as far as I can tell. The monsters themselves are fairly interesting, but there is a fair share of monsters that feel like rehashes. Overall, I'm happy to own it.

Kane

 

[JoeGKushner]

They were supposed to have sent John a review copy so I'm waiting to see what the word is.

 

[Gothmog]

I've got both the new Monster Encyclopedias (just bought #2 yesterday), but so far I am really enjoying them. #1 had a lot of interesting/unusual monsters, and a few that seemed like rehashes, but overall a very solid book. #2 looks even better so far, focusing entirely on evil monsters, with quite a few outsiders, fey, and really weird critters. I'm happy with the purchases, and don't regret either one.

 

[DaveMage]

On a quick glace through (of the first volume) there are certainly a couple of stats errors which I'm sure John Cooper will present in detail, but overall I'd give it a thumbs up. My conclusion reading through it was that I can use this.

However, I have not studied the stat blocks in detail, I just noticed that the hit point calculation was off on a couple of them so I'd look for the Cooper review for a good stat block analysis.

(As an example of an error, the Herald Anachra is listed as having Hit Dice of 10d8+27 (67 hp). It's Con is 16, so it should have +30 hit points, and with 10 HD, it should therefore have a total of 75 hp (45+30).)

 

[Soel]

I've got both the new Monster Encyclopedias (just bought #2 yesterday), but so far I am really enjoying them. #1 had a lot of interesting/unusual monsters, and a few that seemed like rehashes, but overall a very solid book. #2 looks even better so far, focusing entirely on evil monsters, with quite a few outsiders, fey, and really weird critters. I'm happy with the purchases, and don't regret either one.

Would you mind giving a couple of examples of creatures? (brief descriptions)

Also, how is the art in these books?

 

[MongooseMatt]

Hi guys,

It seems Mr Cooper's copy we sent has gone AWOL and we are arranging another one to go off to him as I type!

 

[JoeGKushner]

Hi guys,

It seems Mr Cooper's copy we sent has gone AWOL and we are arranging another one to go off to him as I type!

Since the second one is out, you should send him that one two. Might as well kill two birds with one stone and all that.