Monster Encyclopaedia 1 - Out Now!

[JoeGKushner]

There are Two Monster Encyclopedias and a Huge Book coming out

Monster Encyclopedia I is out now and is 256 pages (I think)
Monster Encyclopedia II will be out next month I think and is 256 pages

but at GenCon

There is a huge 1000 page monster book coming out. The is even a contest to name the ficitonal author of the book, if you win they base the appearance to the author on you and you get credit and a free book. (Contest is on this forum and on the Mongoose boards.)

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. Heck, I even through some names in over there at the Mongoose site. but still, I don't want to buy two hardcovers and then find out that the stuff from that is in the 1000 page book.

 

[MongooseMatt]

The short answer is I don't believe so. We are still compiling the GIANT monster book at the moment but, for obvious reasons, I would want to see wholly different monsters in the two sets. We will likely steer the HUGE monster book towards OGL sources while presenting wholly new beasties in the Monster Encyclopaedias.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Any idea when you'll know for sure? I'm not trying to beat a dead horse but "don't think so" isn't "No." I imagine that there are more than enough monsters, heck, Tome of Horror 1 & 2 would provide almost half that book depending on formatting, and I'm sure, like with the various Environmental books by Expedius Press for example, that another hundred pages could be filled, and of course with e-Minions by Bastion, another hundred or so, but that's still a lot of room to fill and if the monsters are going to be in the Gen Con release... then I'd rather just get the Gen Con release.

 

[Voadam]

possible big (128+ pages) OGC monster books

Tome of horrors 1
Tome of horrors 2
Creature Collection revised
Creature collection II
Creature Collection III
Creatures of Norrath
Creatures of Luclin
Manual of Monsters
Creatures of Rokugan
Complete Minions
Book of Fiends
Encyclopedia of demons and devils
Encyclopedia of demons and devils II
Encyclopedia of Angels
Bestiary of Loerem
Advanced Bestiary
Book of Templates Deluxe

Plus more I can't think of right now.
(but many have crippled OGC that would require a lot of work to rename stuff).

With many being available as pdfs that should make plenty easily available for collection without even dipping into Mongoose's vast store of monsters from their own books (although many could use a quality 3.5 update).

 

[DaveMage]

Penumbra Fantasy Bestiary.

Heck, if the mondo-monster book converts these critters in the Bestiary to 3.5 it would be worth it just for that.

 

[Voadam]

Penumbra Fantasy Bestiary.

Heck, if the mondo-monster book converts these critters in the Bestiary to 3.5 it would be worth it just for that.

Gah! and I wrote for that one.

 

[Dr. Harry]

Penumbra Fantasy Bestiary.

Heck, if the mondo-monster book converts these critters in the Bestiary to 3.5 it would be worth it just for that.

I'm with you. PFB is the best monster book I own, excepting (perhaps) the MM.

 

[Voadam]

Do the encyclopedias or the big book have charts for which of the creatures can be used in summon monster or summon nature's ally spells?

 

[JoeGKushner]

Do the encyclopedias or the big book have charts for which of the creatures can be used in summon monster or summon nature's ally spells?

Fair question.

Mine would be, do the charts, in addition to having the names of the creatures in various formats, such as environment and CR, also include the page number? One thing that's annoyed me about previous monster books is that they'll break down things in either alphabetical order or CR but then not give you the page number of the creature

 

[Soel]

Is there going to be a preview of the book? I like to sample the book for its layout, and artwork, and to see a cross-section of critters, to determine if its a book I can use.

I admit that I'm a sucker for a good monster book!