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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Psion" data-source="post: 2011408" data-attributes="member: 172">Creatures of FreeportCreatures of Freeport is a monsters resource for the Freeport setting. The book is written by Graeme Davis (who has a history writing World of Darkness and Warhammer material) and Keith Baker (perhaps best known as the author of the Eberron setting by WotC, but also well known for contributions to d20 titles by Atlas Games and Goodman Games.) The book is published by Green Ronin.A First LookCreatures of Freeport is a 96 page perfect-bound softcover book available for $19.95.The cover of the book is illustrated by WotC alumni artist Wayne Reynolds. Reynolds is one of my favorite 3e/d20 artist, and this cover is an example of why. It depicts a dramatic scene where in a fearsome sea serpent threatens a group of unfortunate mariners in a dingy.Interior art is credited to Britt Martin, Chris Keefe, Toren "MacBin" Atkinson, Kent Burles, Johnathan Kirtz, and Macrio Fiorito. Green Ronin regular James Ryman's art also appears, but he appears to have been missed in the credits (which is quite an oversight as some of his contributions, such as the weresharks, are quite memorable.) Ryman, Burles and Fiorito are already some of my favorite rpg artists, and Kirtz, who I spied for the first time in Corwyl: Village of the Wood Elves is quickly earning similar adoration from me. All the artists contribute to what is a very nice looking book.A Deeper LookCreatures of Freeport in monolithic in format and contents. Excepting one page of usage notes (which includes a nonmagical tome that players may find of use that may provide bonuses to knowledge checks regarding creatures in this book), the book is entirely creature entries. However, animals and vermin are featured in appendices.Another monster book, eh? Well, maybe. But to it's credit, Creatures of Freeport takes a page from the widely acclaimed Monsternomicon and provides more than just a brief description and combat stats. Indeed, in addition to the typical information, the book provides additional entries for each creature:Knowledge - This section contains a variety of knowledge DCs (with an appropriate knowledge specialty listed), and each has a quote and description of the information the character knows about the creature in question, with potential in game benefits (e.g., providing a one time bonus to diplomacy checks when dealing with lizardfolk, etc.)Uses - This section contains some of the same sorts of information that was in the treasures section of Monsternomicon, but takes it a little further. For example, using body parts of certain creatures may act as special spell components or have some other magic or alchemical function, or a creature may be used as a familiar or companion.Adventure Hooks - Similar to the plots section of the Monsernomicon, this section provides, this section is typically much more extensive, providing 2-4 adventure ideas totaling a page or more for each creature (except for swarms, animals, and vermin, which have the least additional material.)Sample Characters - Some creatures which are suitable for character class levels (like weresharks and nerieds) have sample character, with their own personality and use notes.A sampling of the creatures within is as follows: -Dead man's brain: An odd take on aquatic hazards, the dead man's brain is a fantastic variant of coral that lures creatures to it to implant its spores, and broadcasts the last thoughts of all those that it has slain. -Lycanthrope, Wereshark: This is another aparently silly thought on the surface until you see the art. Ryman's art helps bring the idea alive. -Nereid: Nereids are aquatic fey. At first, I thought these may have been the classic AD&D creature, which saw d20 treatment in the Tome of Horrors by Necromancer Games, but a look at the abilities (and the section 15) reveal this is an all new take. This nixie is bound to the ocean the same way a dryad is to a tree, but gain benefits while in the water, has spell like abilities spawning from it's voice like a siren, and can influence wheather. Favors from nereids to mortals act as minor artifacts. -Ocean Wyrm: What seagoing campaign would be complete without a gian ship-eating sea serpent. The ocean wyrm is actually an elemental creature. -Tavi: These creatures, also called mongoose folk, are of special note in the freeport setting due to their efficacy in dealing with snake-like creatures. -X'sval: One of the signature features of the Freeport setting is its Lovecraftian twist. X'sval's are parts of the essence of the Unspeakable One, a dark deity at the center of earlier Freeport adventures.ConclusionsOf late, it seems to me that monster books are more deserving of accusations of glut than the prestige class books that accusation normally gets leveled at. However, it seems to me that these days, the books that rise above the packs are topic specific ones like FFG's Lore series, Goodman's Creatures of the Boundless Blue and Endless Dark, and Green Ronin's own Monsters of the Mind.Creatures of Freeport is not only a proud addition to those books focusing on creatures in nautical or island games, but also improves on the Monsternomicon resource-heavy formula, and in some ways resembles books like Malhavoc's event books in that they are one stop shopping for adventure creation with both source material (in this case, creatures) and adventure ideas.Overall Grade: A- -Alan D. Kohler</blockquote>

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