Volo's First Review Says "Worth every gold piece"

The first review of Volo's Guide to Monsters has appeared! The Arcana Times was able to purchase the book yesterday, and reports that "All in all this is a great publication from WOTC and worth every gold piece. The writing and art are superb, but the biggest selling point is the shear amount of information and how it is presented. I think it is definitely worth shelling out 50 bucks for." It doesn't include a lot of new information not already out there in the many previews at this stage, but it mentions new Quirks and Obsessions and a couple of challenge ratings (0 for the cranium rat and 22 for the mind flayer lich); plus, apparently, a good appendix listing monsters by type, challenge and environment. Thanks to Atsur for the scoop.

See the full review here. Check out all the various previews here. Review the book yourself here.

 

[Von Ether]

I am a little disappointed that there are no rules yet for were-characters. I would have loved to see some pure-blood lycanthrope rules, but maybe that will be in another publication.

As a sidenote, I've never seen a set of were-PC rules that I was happy with. The attempt to their powers and disadvantages fit into a zero to hero level system has always been awkward at best.

Usually because it starts with at lower levels with "You only change during a full-moon," which is fairly useless except once a month. ... if you can even control PC during that change.

 

[timbannock]

As a reviewer, I take over a month to get a review out. You know what? I still get a bazillion clicks, so I don't know where the time pressure comes from.

As to dissecting a monster book, I can't believe for a second the person's done a good job if they turn it around in a manner of a couple hours. You ever see the errata for the 3.5-era monster books? People literally went number by number, line by line...and found a thousand mistakes. Some were so minor it didn't actually matter, but some weren't, yet it takes thorough cross-checking to verify things. Therefore, monster stats don't get a skim when I review a book, at the very least. YMMV.

Enough with the meta commentary. Let me say that this book does look and sound amazing, and I'm really looking forward to getting my mits on it. The previews have looked stellar AND appear to be solid mechanics-wise, so that's a testament to Wizards' ability to put out strong books in every way: looks, fluff, mechanics, and editing.

 

[gyor]

I forget how many zeroes is in a Bazillion again?

Kidding, kidding.

 

[timbannock]

I forget how many zeroes is in a Bazillion again?

Kidding, kidding.

In my world? Like 4. ;-P

 

[ShadoWWW]

Even now, it is available on Fantasy Grounds.

 

[Nylanfs]

Doug was talking about how they were getting sales even before they posted that it was up for sales.

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/foru...now-available!&p=298425&viewfull=1#post298425

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.xcp?id=WOTC5EVGM

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Gold pieces? I thought we were on the silver standard? Such inflation, I tell you ...

 

[Corpsetaker]

I'm always incredibly impressed by people who buy a book one day and manage to have read it and given it due consideration in time to offer a review the next day.

I always ignore reviews that say things like the following:

1: "Great Book!"

2: "Must have!"

3: "Spot on!"

4: etc... (enter as many one and two word reviews as you wish)

Now the ones I do believe are the ones who actually give you Pros and Cons of the book.

 

[jhilahd]

So I kept myself out of the loop on the previews and such on this book. I did know about the fancy-schmancy cover for specialty shops. So I went to my FLGS today and they had a copy. I flipped through it. And when the first chapter is Ecology... all 100 pages for fantastic freaking material - I knew I had to pick it up.

This is simply a beautiful book and the options for creatures, players and things to do - highly recommended.
I want all my future monster books to like this.

 

[Darrius_Adler]

Just got my copy and I am so happy to have all the goblinoid races, gotta start planning a Dhakaani campaign for Eberron.