2011 Books 4

[subplotkudzu]

4) Savage Species: I got a copy of the out of print 3E rulebook for handling Monster characters and I am _very_ impressed. It takes the concept and approaches it three different ways in the rules, giving step by step instruction and fleshing each of them out with extensive worked examples. This was a solid addition to the 3E cannon and I'm kind of bummed that I hadn't picked it up sooner. Personally I'll be instituting parts of this into my next Fasaad expedition at the very least, but clearly any new campaign I put together will be influenced by these options. If I have any complaints it's the silly inclusion of new magic spells in it (apparently a requirement for each sourcebook) that, as usual, range from the useless to the OK for this specific text to the neat general things that I hesitate to add because they're in an unusual place. 

Comments

[anu3bis.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, it's been extremely useful for our games. There are few things that throw a party more off-kilter than a red dragon with one level of monk, or a leveled-down monster the players think of as unkillable, but the characters really should know nothing about. It knocks player knowledge off the table entirely and really gets them thinking.

You should also check out Paizo's Misfit Monsters Redeemed. They take the stupidest monsters and give them a makeover. And yes, flumphs are included.