Jim Butler
Explorer
Into the Black: A Guide to Caverns and Catacombs
Beneath the earth’s surface lies a dark, eerie subterranean world that remains largely unexplored and unknown to the most seasoned explorers. In September, Bastion Press sheds light on this unlit realm by releasing Into the Black: A Guidebook to Caverns and Catacombs. This book is an ecology and survival for the underground designed to aid both GM’s and players.
We are looking for the most innovative and imaginative monsters to populate this mysterious environment. This is your opportunity to dazzle the d20 universe with your talent and creativity. Each monster should be worthy to call itself a denizen of the sunless lands below the ground.
Submissions should be turned in no later than May 27th, 2003. Please use the template provided when submitting your monster. Return all submissions to submissions@bastionpress.com. Winning authors will be paid 3-5 cents per word accepted. We are not looking for standalone color artwork right now, but we would consider artist/author dual submissions (but please understand we might not accept the artwork even if we do accept the monster).
Designers should understand that this is more than “just” a monster manual, and that your submissions will be reworked to match the format of the rest of the book. Our goal is to craft a unique environmental book that includes cool monsters, but we’ll be presenting the material in a different manner (which is not detailed on the template below). If you have any other questions, please contact Jim Butler.
Template:
Monster Name
Size Type
Hit Dice: ?d? + ? (?hp)
Initiative: ? (+? Dex)
Speed: ? ft.
AC: 0 (+? Dex)
Attacks: Weapon +? Melee, or weapon +? Ranged
Damage: weapon ?d? + ?
Face/Reach: ? ft. by ? ft./? ft.
Special Attacks:
Special Qualities:
Saves: Fort +, Ref +, Will +
Abilities: Str , Dex , Con , Int , Wis , Cha
Skills: Listen +, Move Silently +, Hide +
Feats:
Climate/Terrain:
Organization: Solitary, or group (?-?)
Challenge Rating:
Treasure: Standard
Alignment:
Advancement:
Describe the monster here. This general description should be 2-3 paragraphs that give a general overview of the Monster; a physical description (coloration, number of limbs, specific size classification, etc.). The final paragraph should include the languages that the monster speaks.
Combat
This section should discuss the monster’s tactics in battle, then give explanation of special attacks and special qualities. These are listed on page 8-10 of the MM. You are encouraged to also create your own, if applicable, however try to avoid especially complicated special abilities or other properties that closely mirror those already presented in the MM.
Special Ability 1 (Ex): Describe this ability.
Skills: Detail any skill modifiers the monster might have.
Habitat/Society
Describe the creature’s society if intelligent. If not, discuss whether the monster is a pack creature or solo as well as its hunting and eating habits. You may also describe its mating rituals, preferred environments and locations or other pertinent facts about the monster’s unique nuances.
Campaign
Give 2-3 examples of how to fit this monster into a campaign. This includes adventure hooks or general uses for the monster such as “the monster often serves as a guard for a larger, intelligent creature”.
Variant
This is an optional section that might discuss an offshoot or anomalous version of this monster.
Beneath the earth’s surface lies a dark, eerie subterranean world that remains largely unexplored and unknown to the most seasoned explorers. In September, Bastion Press sheds light on this unlit realm by releasing Into the Black: A Guidebook to Caverns and Catacombs. This book is an ecology and survival for the underground designed to aid both GM’s and players.
We are looking for the most innovative and imaginative monsters to populate this mysterious environment. This is your opportunity to dazzle the d20 universe with your talent and creativity. Each monster should be worthy to call itself a denizen of the sunless lands below the ground.
Submissions should be turned in no later than May 27th, 2003. Please use the template provided when submitting your monster. Return all submissions to submissions@bastionpress.com. Winning authors will be paid 3-5 cents per word accepted. We are not looking for standalone color artwork right now, but we would consider artist/author dual submissions (but please understand we might not accept the artwork even if we do accept the monster).
Designers should understand that this is more than “just” a monster manual, and that your submissions will be reworked to match the format of the rest of the book. Our goal is to craft a unique environmental book that includes cool monsters, but we’ll be presenting the material in a different manner (which is not detailed on the template below). If you have any other questions, please contact Jim Butler.
Template:
Monster Name
Size Type
Hit Dice: ?d? + ? (?hp)
Initiative: ? (+? Dex)
Speed: ? ft.
AC: 0 (+? Dex)
Attacks: Weapon +? Melee, or weapon +? Ranged
Damage: weapon ?d? + ?
Face/Reach: ? ft. by ? ft./? ft.
Special Attacks:
Special Qualities:
Saves: Fort +, Ref +, Will +
Abilities: Str , Dex , Con , Int , Wis , Cha
Skills: Listen +, Move Silently +, Hide +
Feats:
Climate/Terrain:
Organization: Solitary, or group (?-?)
Challenge Rating:
Treasure: Standard
Alignment:
Advancement:
Describe the monster here. This general description should be 2-3 paragraphs that give a general overview of the Monster; a physical description (coloration, number of limbs, specific size classification, etc.). The final paragraph should include the languages that the monster speaks.
Combat
This section should discuss the monster’s tactics in battle, then give explanation of special attacks and special qualities. These are listed on page 8-10 of the MM. You are encouraged to also create your own, if applicable, however try to avoid especially complicated special abilities or other properties that closely mirror those already presented in the MM.
Special Ability 1 (Ex): Describe this ability.
Skills: Detail any skill modifiers the monster might have.
Habitat/Society
Describe the creature’s society if intelligent. If not, discuss whether the monster is a pack creature or solo as well as its hunting and eating habits. You may also describe its mating rituals, preferred environments and locations or other pertinent facts about the monster’s unique nuances.
Campaign
Give 2-3 examples of how to fit this monster into a campaign. This includes adventure hooks or general uses for the monster such as “the monster often serves as a guard for a larger, intelligent creature”.
Variant
This is an optional section that might discuss an offshoot or anomalous version of this monster.
)
