Need a Monster Book Suggestion

[Quasqueton]

I'm in the market for a good, non WotC "monster book". ( I already have all the WotC monster books.)

I want interesting creatures, but not only unique creatures. I want common-type creatures too, like orcs and goblins, but not just orcs and goblins with different faces.

But I also want a book that is well written, well edited, and well illustrated. I don't want to have to pencil in rules corrections.

I would prefer a "world-generic" book, but I'd consider a world-specific book if the world is not too imbedded in the creatures.

What do you suggest? I don't know all the such books available, so I don't know if the selection at my local game store(s) is complete.

Is there a book with d20 versions of the Warhammer creatures? (This would be good because there are minis for these creatures.)

Thanks.

Quasqueton

 

[Crothian]

From what you describe, it sounds like Tome of Horrors would be the best fit.

 

[Voadam]

Is 3.5 a requirement for you?

Penumbra fantasy bestiary has lots of well described, interesting creatures that fill a lot of adventure encounter niches. It is 3.0 and expensive though.

I just got Jade Dragons and Hungry Ghosts for Christmas and I'm enjoying the 3.0 oriental monsters, even though it does not have construct creation rules or great physical descriptions of some of the monsters, the pictures are great and the concepts are neat (undead for women who died in childbirth, undead for stillborn children, bad Karma come to life, etc.)

Do you get pdfs? If so I'd recommend minions complete, a large (128?) full color pdf by Bastion with both 3.0 and 3.5 versions of its critters. Book of Templates Deluxe is another good pdf for a ton of 3.0 templates. And check my sig for a preview of Gaming Frontiers Monsters a short 3.0 monster book that is less expensive than minions.

3.5 there is the monsters of tellene one for Kalamar, but I haven't seen it. There is also the Warcraft Manual of Monsters (don't know how 3.5 compatible but it is recent and very well illustrated with neat creatures).

 

[Voadam]

Oh, and Creature Collection Revised is 3.5 and has ratmen in it. It is for Scarred lands but many people use the creature collections as generic monster books (there are 3 in the hardcover series with number 4 in production).

 

[der_kluge]

Tome of Horrors is awesome. I love it.

The Monster Manual II is really good, too.

And I've heard a lot of good things about the Fiend Folio, I just don't own that one, but I do want it.

 

[Eltern]

Oh, and Creature Collection Revised is 3.5 and has ratmen in it. It is for Scarred lands but many people use the creature collections as generic monster books (there are 3 in the hardcover series with number 4 in production).

Does CC 2 have a 3.5 version like CC1, or is it going to?

Eltern

 

[barsoomcore]

Monsternomicon Monsternomicon Monsternomicon

The BEST monster book EVAH. Awesome awesome awesome.

Cool animals, cool undead, cool constructs, cool all round. Seriously, this is one cool book.

 

[Voadam]

Does CC 2 have a 3.5 version like CC1, or is it going to?

Eltern

Not to my knowledge. CCIII and IV are and will be 3.5 however.

 

[Nightfall]

[Sagespeak] There are no plans to revise Creature Collection 2 at this time [/Sagespeak]


My advice for a non-wotc book, Tome of Horrors, Creature Collection Revised, and Creature Collection 3. Oh and if you want the best in Fiends, Book of Fiends by Green Ronin. Though both CC2 and CC3 have some nice fiends too.

Monsternomicion is nice...but it's 2 things) 1) Lots of steampunk 2) Not 3.5 compatible at the moment.

Can't comment on Penumbra's Beastiary but I will say I do like the stuff that Atlas Games makes.

 

[XCorvis]

I'd say Creature Collection Revised as well. Most of the creatures are not too world specific and there are some that are very interesting. Low CR creatures include: ratmen (skaven), manticores (bipedal lion men), assathi (like lizard men), spider eye goblins (4 arms), harpies (a smarter, non-singing variant).

I actually have the first 2 books (Creature collection 1 & 2), so I'm not sure if all of them made it in to the revised book. The CC:Revised book is an updated version that has more polish and used more standard methods than the first 2.