Favorite/Least Favorite Monster Books

[JoeGKushner]

4th Party looking? Well, you've got 1st rate, 2nd rate, and this just looked like they gave it to some one they didn't know who promised them it'd look great but not to review it before printing it because it looks great. I mean what the hell is with publishers nowadays? Some of them are real good about charging a fair price and kinda giving the public a wink that "Yeah, we're publishing real books but we've got a while to go to become top line." and others are gouging with bad editing and terrible art. Yes AEG that means you with some of the crappy editing you've thrust upon the community lately and you White Wolf with a wide range of artists who gives us the crap that is Denziens.

 

[mattcolville]

I hate to ask a potentially damning question, but is there something inherant in the idea of 2 pages of monster text that offends you? As I recall, the 2nd ed. monsterous compendium had many 2 page entries.

 

[Nightfall]

Well I do agree about the art work in places. Example: Albadian(sp) battle dog, for starers. I mean what the HECK IS IT?!! Jack, not that he's not impressive but I've seen better.The Wrack dragons and indeed the mock and Tar dragon, weren't that good either, artistic wise. Garabrud looks like he was drawn by a 8th grader. And the Silver golem, what the heck?!

Anyway I liked the monsters but the artwork (and definately the CRs) needed work.

Matt, for myself, two pages or three is fine as LONG as the artwork reflects the intent of the creature.

Example: compare the Slacerian Dragon in CC2 to the one featured in the SL Dm's/GM's Screen.

 

[Psion]

Not to go off topic or anything, but if you guys have that book and the other new 3e Ravenloft books, does it seem to you that they just arent capturing the spirit of Ravenloft with the way they are doing the stuff in 3e? I mean, I wasnt a big 2e fan, but some of the best 2e stuff was in fact Ravenloft stuff.

Really? I thought a lot of the special rules for Ravenloft came across clunky in 2e mechanics and just feel a lot slicker in 3e.

In addition, I just got Denizens of dread, and must say I like a lot of the creatres a lot. Not my favorite art, though... I hate the work of whoever the WW/S&SS artist is that does all the art that looks like scribbly anime.

Anyways, to the topic:
Favorite: LoH. Great creatures, great ideas.
Least favorite: Probably menagarie. CC1 is close, but I love the Hags & Slitheren.

Nightfall: You need glasses. Good color art in minions? Blech.

 

[Nightfall]

Okay maybe not GREAT but compare that to some of the B&W in CC1. Got to say Minions wins out! (That said maybe I'll get my perscription adjusted. )

As for the whole line, I liked it. It still had the Ravenloft feel, even if it was missing Soth. (I just have a soft spot in my heart for Death Knights. ) Not to mention I enjoyed seeing ways of making undead FEEL more powerful than their counterparts, along with new ideas and reasons for things like Spells and stuff. What I want to see though, or at least skim through, is the Gaz for the domains they will cover. That I think will be a testing point for many people. The other stuff, is great and useable BUT if they don't do the domains well, I do think we'll hear about it. I still think it's more expensive BUT I will admit, if I had the cash, I'd shell out it out for these books.

Btw, I thought the artwork in Warrens of the Ratmen was pretty nice. Might send you a pic since I do have a scanner Alan/Psion

 

[Psion]

Okay maybe not GREAT but compare that to some of the B&W in CC1.

Well, that's true enough. Some of the B&W art in CC1 looks like someone spilled ink on the page.

Btw, I thought the artwork in Warrens of the Ratmen was pretty nice. Might send you a pic since I do have a scanner Alan/Psion

Actually, I have warrens of the Ratmen. 2 copies in fact.

 

[el-remmen]

THE FIEND FOLIO IS THE BEST MONSTER BOOK EVAR!!!!!

 

[roytheodd]

I mostly use the Monster Manual. I own a lot of d20 monster books, but they are so specialized or lame that I don't use them much. I mainly use them for when the group gets too big for its britches and thinks it's seen it all before.

 

[MulhorandSage]

THE FIEND FOLIO IS THE BEST MONSTER BOOK EVAR!!!!!

Sorry Nemmerle. There was a handful of good monsters in FF (I really like the Gith and the Slaadi), but mostly it was exercises in designer cuteness, of which the Nilbog is the worst example.

So if my opinion's a "bah" I'd say FF was a "humbug". In fact, I'm surprised some crazed Brit didn't invent a humming giant bug, and call it a "humbug", and stick it in the book.

Thpugh my dislike of it *has* diminished over the years, as I slowly condition myself to forget all about magic-sucking aardvarks. But as the second TSR volume of monsters, I thought it should have been a lot better, and that opinion has not changed.

Scott Bennie

 

[CRG]

When I was younger I loved the FF.

I came later to understand it was because of a deep-seated love of the encounter and NPC equipment generation tables in the back.

Most of the critters are just way lame. Sadly, some of them have upgraded to MM 3e (Archerai? WTF are they supposed to be and where the hell is my GD axebeak!!!!) Some of them that were cool (Slaad, etc.) have made the bridge and rightfully so.