Pathfinder 1E Monster Codex worth it?

[Evenglare]

I don't necessarily play pathfinder, because I have moved onto other things but I still keep up with it supporting them. In the past few months I have sort of slacked off with the new books. Last book I got was Advanced class guide. I recently ordered the Strategy Guide, and of course Pathfinder Unchained. I -believe- the only hard back I don't have is monster codex, and to be honest I haven't even looked at at all except for the synopsis. It's something about expanding certain monster races to be much much more indepth or something? I'm assuming the book is written with stuff like Orcs and Goblins and all of that. Is the book actually worth it as a GM? I guess even more relevant, is it worth it for a collector?

 

[Kramodlog]

I don't necessarily play pathfinder, because I have moved onto other things but I still keep up with it supporting them. In the past few months I have sort of slacked off with the new books. Last book I got was Advanced class guide. I recently ordered the Strategy Guide, and of course Pathfinder Unchained. I -believe- the only hard back I don't have is monster codex, and to be honest I haven't even looked at at all except for the synopsis. It's something about expanding certain monster races to be much much more indepth or something? I'm assuming the book is written with stuff like Orcs and Goblins and all of that. Is the book actually worth it as a GM? I guess even more relevant, is it worth it for a collector?

If you're not a noob I would cancel the Strategy Guide. It is for beginners. Helps them build PCs.

Monster Codex was disappointing. Monsters we are familiar with (e.g. vampires, goblins) with classes isn't that great of an idea. It reminds me of MM 4 and 5 of 3.5, when WotC put monsters with classes in them. It felt like filler.

Maybe if you want to avoid making your own NPCs it could be useful

Strangely, I find the NPC Codex much more useful.

 

[delericho]

I don't play Pathfinder, and therefore didn't (and won't) pick up this book. However, if I were running Pathfinder (and not one of their Adventure Paths), then this is a book I absolutely would get. It's not that I can't stat up higher-level monsters for use, but it's a pain and frankly not something I enjoy. So, a big book of such things is definitely something I'd be interested in.

(And, yes, in contrast to goldomark, I rather liked 3.5e's MM4 and MM5, and felt they were a little unfairly maligned for those advanced monster stats. Indeed, those stats are one of the few things I did use from those books, and probably saw more use than anything from any MM after the first. But YMMV, of course. )

 

[Voadam]

You can preview the range of races coverd (20 total) and stat stuff on the PRD.