Alzrius
The EN World kitten
Wizards of the Coast has just released pay-for-download PDFs of two AD&D 2nd Edition Monstrous Compendiums that almost bookend the series' release: MC2 Monstrous Compendium Volume Two ($4.99) and Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume 4 ($4.95).
As its notation makes clear, MC2 is the second half of the "universal" monsters for AD&D 2E. Released in August of 1989, it has a generic presentation instead of being set in a particular campaign setting the way so many of the Monstrous Compendiums would subsequently be. From the sphinx to the swanmay, the kraken to the naga, the cyclops and the otyugh, quite a few (in)famous AD&D monsters made their 2E debut here. Contrary to popular belief, this release did not come with a binder the way MC1 did; the second (and final) binder released with a Monstrous Compendium was found with the MC4 Dragonlance appendix.
Releasing almost ten years later, the 1998 MC Annual Vol. 4 is a collection of creatures from a disparate number of sources. While that was expected of the Annuals by that point, this one helpfully included a notation at the end of each entry which noted where they were from (along with logos depicting the campaign setting, or alternatively, a simple generic AD&D logl, or even a Dragon Magazine logo). Several, such as the moonstone dragon, unseelie nymph, and sonic mold (under the chromatic mold) are new, and there's even a conversion of the fraal from the Alternity RPG here as well.
These follow the recent PDF releases of the Poor Wizard's Almanac (BECMI) and the Poor Wizard's Almanac III (BECMI).
Other recent PDF releases from WotC have been Battlesystem Skirmishes (AD&D 2E), the Cardmaster Adventure Design Deck (AD&D 2E), the AD&D Permanent Character Folder (AD&D 1E), C6 The Official RPGA Tournament Handbook (AD&D 1E), the D&D Monster & Treasure Assortment Sets One to Three (OD&D), the D&D Character & Monster Assortment (BECMI), the Non-Player Character Records (AD&D 1E), AC5 D&D Player Character Record Sheets (BECMI), and the D&D Character Sheets (BECMI; called the Character Record Sheets on the product's front cover), Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy (D&D 5E), Domains of Delight (D&D 5E), the Priest's Screen, Wizard's Screen, Wizard's Player Pack, Priest's Player Pack, Thief's Player Pack, and Thief's Screen (all for AD&D 2E), as well as Luck of the Draw (a supplement for Three-Dragon Ante/D&D 3.5), Gamma World 2e, The Complete Starter Set: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Game 2E, Blood Spawn (Birthright), the Savage Coast Campaign Setting (Mystara 2E), and Savage Coast: Orc's Head (Mystara 2E).
Other PDF releases have included the Shattered Keeps map pack, the Worlds of Adventure fast-play game for AD&D 2E, the Hexagonal Mapping Booklet, Quadrille Graph Paper, Outdoor Geomorphs Set 1 - Walled City, Player's Secrets of Muden (Birthright), The Planescape Conspectus, Midnight on Dagger Alley (AD&D 1E), the AD&D 2E starter set Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game, and the 3.5 Deluxe Character Sheets.
Free releases have included Wrath of the Immortals (BECMI), The Book of Regency (Birthright), Three Dragon Ante, Rob Kuntz's To the City of Brass, and the World of Krynn Trail Map and The Eastern Countries Trail Map (Mystara).
Please note my use of affiliate links in this post.
As its notation makes clear, MC2 is the second half of the "universal" monsters for AD&D 2E. Released in August of 1989, it has a generic presentation instead of being set in a particular campaign setting the way so many of the Monstrous Compendiums would subsequently be. From the sphinx to the swanmay, the kraken to the naga, the cyclops and the otyugh, quite a few (in)famous AD&D monsters made their 2E debut here. Contrary to popular belief, this release did not come with a binder the way MC1 did; the second (and final) binder released with a Monstrous Compendium was found with the MC4 Dragonlance appendix.
Releasing almost ten years later, the 1998 MC Annual Vol. 4 is a collection of creatures from a disparate number of sources. While that was expected of the Annuals by that point, this one helpfully included a notation at the end of each entry which noted where they were from (along with logos depicting the campaign setting, or alternatively, a simple generic AD&D logl, or even a Dragon Magazine logo). Several, such as the moonstone dragon, unseelie nymph, and sonic mold (under the chromatic mold) are new, and there's even a conversion of the fraal from the Alternity RPG here as well.
These follow the recent PDF releases of the Poor Wizard's Almanac (BECMI) and the Poor Wizard's Almanac III (BECMI).
Other recent PDF releases from WotC have been Battlesystem Skirmishes (AD&D 2E), the Cardmaster Adventure Design Deck (AD&D 2E), the AD&D Permanent Character Folder (AD&D 1E), C6 The Official RPGA Tournament Handbook (AD&D 1E), the D&D Monster & Treasure Assortment Sets One to Three (OD&D), the D&D Character & Monster Assortment (BECMI), the Non-Player Character Records (AD&D 1E), AC5 D&D Player Character Record Sheets (BECMI), and the D&D Character Sheets (BECMI; called the Character Record Sheets on the product's front cover), Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy (D&D 5E), Domains of Delight (D&D 5E), the Priest's Screen, Wizard's Screen, Wizard's Player Pack, Priest's Player Pack, Thief's Player Pack, and Thief's Screen (all for AD&D 2E), as well as Luck of the Draw (a supplement for Three-Dragon Ante/D&D 3.5), Gamma World 2e, The Complete Starter Set: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Game 2E, Blood Spawn (Birthright), the Savage Coast Campaign Setting (Mystara 2E), and Savage Coast: Orc's Head (Mystara 2E).
Other PDF releases have included the Shattered Keeps map pack, the Worlds of Adventure fast-play game for AD&D 2E, the Hexagonal Mapping Booklet, Quadrille Graph Paper, Outdoor Geomorphs Set 1 - Walled City, Player's Secrets of Muden (Birthright), The Planescape Conspectus, Midnight on Dagger Alley (AD&D 1E), the AD&D 2E starter set Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game, and the 3.5 Deluxe Character Sheets.
Free releases have included Wrath of the Immortals (BECMI), The Book of Regency (Birthright), Three Dragon Ante, Rob Kuntz's To the City of Brass, and the World of Krynn Trail Map and The Eastern Countries Trail Map (Mystara).
Please note my use of affiliate links in this post.
