The Monster Overhaul: DnD Bestiary Review

[@QuestingBeast]

Get the Monster Overhaul in PDF: bit.ly/OverhaulPDF Get it in print: bit.ly/OverhaulPrint Patreon: bit.ly/QBPatreon Old-School DnD newsletter: bit.ly/TheGlatisant

[@inventist]

8:11 Riddle of the Sphinx: "What has red skin like an apple and white flesh like an apple?" Adventuring Party: "An Apple?" Sphinx: "I am not very good at this."

[@princess_intell]

No, but everyone will assume it's not an apple. It's genius.

[@FluffyTheGryphon]

"It is pitch dark. You are likely to be eaten by a grue."

[@delrey28]

HA! RLD&RLD

[@anselmoffrisia2930]

The game ADOM borrowed that line from Zork, I think, but interestingly, death by grue wasn't even an option in that game. *shrugs*

[@NefariousKoel]

Yep, Zork.

[@ericjome7284]

Don't be too quick to throw away animals of the natural world! They fit in a very useful and challenging space in RPGs. They are meta related. Players will be able to interpret them in ways they can't for exotic strangeness. They can have a stronger emotional impact because their reality gives them street cred... er, dungeon corridor cred. They are often just as dangerous, but also great frameworks to impress upon the players things like corruption or evil control.

[@ericjome7284]

"By Tooth and Claw", by Gregory Detwiler, Dragon Magazine issue 116

[@jeremytitus9519]

@@ericjome7284great point. Thank you for raising it!

[@Dragoran5836]

They could have used general animal stats, like Zweihänder RPG did. They put every dangerous animal into "Man-eaters" and gave different stats for Packhunters, Flying Man-eaters, Swimming Man-eaters and so on.

[@thunder.perfectmind]

@@Dragoran5836 That gets into the general question "Are monsters just stat blocks?" and Knock!'s (iirc) article on how every monster could be a Dire Bear; fire demon = dire bear with fire resistance, ghast = dire bear with touch attack etc. Don't think there's an right answer to how much complexity one wants in a game. If we take classes as an example, I can see the charm of both Ben's own "class as choice of slots" design or Hyperborea's more 3.5 approach of multiple variant classes and subclasses (Shaman, Druid, Warlock, Wizard etc). I kind of enjoy each and every monster as their own particular thing but I've also myself often run "dire bear+" to fill some gap.

[@Bluecho4]

Plus, as noted in this video, a mundane animal can easily be reflavored as a less-than-mundane creature. Whether that's by making a normal animal have some more fantastic features (cat that speaks, but only to say when someone is lying), combining the beast with another "template" (baboon mummies that maul and curse tomb robbers), or using the stat block as a scaffold over which an unrelated monster is built (a bear stat block used for some man-sized worm with human arms and human teeth). Moreover, everyone loves pets. PCs, NPCs, hostile mobs, etc.

[@jeremytitus9519]

12:52 I am all about those CHAOS FROGS. Just look at those dudes. They know what they’re here for.

[@yagsipcc287]

6 hit die and in Packs of 3d6. Good way to let low levels to stay out of that swamp 😂

[@mateofantasma]

The reference to Borges is great, very smart and funny.

[@Hellvector]

Love Skerples and The Monster Overhaul! The volume of content in this book gets close to being as staggering as The Tome of Adventure Design!

[@jeremytitus9519]

Woah. That’s high praise.

[@widdle8]

It would be fun to see you look at the original monster manual from the 70s!

[@Elderand]

Zork! now that's a game I haven't thought about in a long time

[@digiridave380]

Probably obvious based on my icon but the Dungeon Meshi (Delicious in Dungeon) mention and the inclusion of flavor/stat bonuses was kind of enough to get me interested. Still hoping someone goes all in on a dungeon gourmet guide complete with preparation instructions and hunting methods. I just really love how that series turns bog standard monsters I tend to treat as stat blocks with a little extra flavor into really engaging and interesting encounters, as well as a jumping-off point for storytelling. It's fun to imagine encountering something decidedly monstrous like a Mimic, realizing we have no rations left, and then figuring out as a group how on earth we're supposed to eat it. Book seems fun!

[@rpgchronicler]

Late comment but throw in Dungeon Meshi and Monster Hunter together, hoo boy more than enough reason for folks to fight especially in OSRs where many consider combat as a fail state when really there's folks who treat OSR systems much like their modern counterparts: a place to kick butt and take loot.

[@raymondnichols4564]

Don’t go into the darkness, you are likely to be eaten by a grue!

[@iantaran2843]

Stitchbound is always a sign of genuine quality. My first GIANT RED FLAG when opening my first 5E Players Handbook. We went through 3 of those things before moving on to something we all consider better. The first one is just sitting in a folder because the whole thing fell out of its cover 🤣

[@ChaseRoycroft]

I love the format. Understated, but with plenty of content.

[@drillerdev4624]

If Ben is amazed by the tables, you know your in for a ride. Also: everybody talking about the grue an noone noticed the hateful goose.

[@MarkFinn]

I lived with a hateful goose. That stat block doesn't have nearly enough hit dice.

[@theredcaps]

One of the best MM's released in recent years.

[@KHfanz]

I feel like standard animals come up a lot in my games, because they’re just easy to “fit in”, I don’t have to think of why a pack of wolves is in the woods, or why the crocodile is in the swamp. Also, the normal animals seem just as effective, if not more so, at killing players as anything else. Crocodiles and wolf packs are feared in my game after one or two unexpected random encounters with them.

[@erikamundsen8918]

Is extremely likely to be eaten by a grue

[@Wraithing]

…expected when playing Zork

[@ATLIATLI]

“How often have baboons come up in your game?” More than you'd think

[@RavensbladeDX]

I kickstarted this and absolutely love it! Serious recommend to anyone on the fence!

[@timsanty3052]

Bought this after watching this video, both in print and as a PDF. Worth every penny. Best bestiary I’ve ever had the pleasure to read!

[@yagsipcc287]

It's so cool I got the PDF and having it printed locally and wirebound (much cheaper with the taxes and shipping to where I am) there is another great OSR type book from Frog God Games, It's called something like Monstrous

[@timsanty3052]

@@yagsipcc287I’ll check it out!

[@Iulian111]

01:00 It's stitch bound if you're not one of the unfortunate european backers that got glue-binded books for the same price as the stitch bound USA copies, all because the creator didn't properly check the offer of the printer they decided to use for the printing of EU and UK copies. I believe european stores still have the inferior glued version of the book, so for those interested, make sure the book you order has sewn binding. PS: obviously the creator decided to use the previously unclear situation regarding if the physical book will be perfect or sewn bound to justify their mistake and the existence of two build versions, one obviously superior and more durable in time, to justify why people that paid the same price for a physical product got different builds. It wasn't ill intent or malevolence, just a mistake, but the "well that happened, let's move on" resolution left a sour taste in my mouth.

[@estelaplateada4]

This is completely accurate, my copy is glue bound. Other than getting crushed by customs (yay!), this was a nasty surprise... :-(

[@Wraithing]

​@@estelaplateada4 Same. I've avoided Skerples subsequent crowdfunders. I like his stuff, but better to wait and hope to get a copy from my FLGS, so I can get the right version. After we've added shipping, we pay far more than the States, which is tolerable if it's a product of equal quality.

[@composedreamgames1919]

@@Wraithing we expect to have some more copies (printed by Friesens in Canada so stitch bound) at our new UK site in a month or so. Still sorting some of the logistics of shipping from Canada to UK.

[@Iulian111]

@@Wraithing I found the way he handled the situation insulting. He half admitted to the mistake by trying to shift it towards the printer as false marketing. In thruth, he just assumed based on costs and description and didn't bother to actually ask. After that, he said that the campaign was always most likely to result in glued hardcovers. It wouldn't had been such an issue if there weren't sewn-binding copies out there sent to people that paid the same money as I did for the project. European backers paid more in total if taxes and shipping is taken into account. No "I screwed it", no attempt to make it up for those that paid the most to get an inferior version of the book, no nothing. I'm never going to back anything from him ever again and I'm going to warn everyone I know about how unprofessional he was with this campaign. I'm probably going to sell my copy because this experience was so off-putting that I don't even use it for my games despite being a great resource for OSR games.

[@Wraithing]

@@composedreamgames1919 Cheers for the thought, but I think paying once was enough. Good for other UK customers though. Edit: just wanted to add another thank you. I've had a look over at your site. Very interesting. I'll bookmark you and keep an eye on your stock 😁👍

[@BunnyNiyori]

This might be the most OMG book I have seen in a long time. It compares with the original DMG for how impressive it is. This is an easy purchase as a hardcover at a high price. If you can locate one.

[@Ziggy7800Pro]

Zork is my favorite type based adventure! Really cool book.

[@philb7975]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the whole book is a random encounter table. Roll D20 for section and then D10 for entry.

[@foxtrotelement]

Thanks Ben! I love your reviews. I feel very informed with the products you do videos on.

[@NuttySquirrel_8]

Thanks, Ben! Based on your review, I ordered the book and pdf. It looks great.

[@shinigamiauthor]

Mc Frontalot - Pitch Dark if you know, you know. good ol Zork

[@noahfreeman8115]

Love this. Found this book last week and was already excited to snag a copy. Thanks for the great review!

[@GrinningAries]

God damn it I feel like I need a raid a dragon's hoard with how many things you get me wanting to buy. Customized monsters differentiated from other settings is such an important thing to me and I feel like it's an idea that usually doesn't get much support.

[@tracyburnham604]

An amazing book! The only thing that gets annoying is that most monsters are described as tasting like pork, to the point where you can start to assume this. No monster taste like rotten peach cobbler or anything really creative 🤷🏼

[@Superrugdr]

Who else went on a shopping spree because of this ? Luckily I found one in Canada. Would it ever be possible to see you use those randoms table in a prep for knave 2 I'm curious as to how your tough process work in that context.

[@composedreamgames1919]

Glad you found us! If you got it from a local Canadian game store, they got it from us, so either way - thanks!

[@RoninCatholic]

To me, the generic stuff is the most useful. I hate being given unusable specificity for something like Faerun or Krynn. I don't want a core rulebook or cross-setting monster manual to ever list the names or sexes of the deities, just the Domain rules if any, or just assume a standard cleric is a Life Cleric.

[@artistpoet5253]

Oh yeah, the Grue is an awesome reference but I agree: I would rather have half as many monsters with more descriptions. Neat book all the same, though.

[@zantharian57]

Hi Questing Beast, do you do regular live plays? I watched your play of winters daughter and would like to see you running more OSE and Dolmenwood stuff, is there another channel for that?

[@BX-advocate]

Its weird I thought you had already made a video about this book. Anyway I hear it's really good the guy who made it also wrote Tomb of the Serpent kings which is also an amazing product.

[@spudsbuchlaw]

12:35 Dungeon Meshi is the Japanese name, and the more used one because "Delicious in Dungeon" is a terrible name. Dungeons and Delicacies was RIGHT THERE! Great series though, would recommend. It definitely feels like a high level DnD megadungeon romp

[@HappyFunNorm]

That book is amazing!

[@CromwellTheArchaeologist]

MC Frontalot is likely to be eaten by a Grue.

[@xer0vi]

I need this book yesterday! This is awesome

[@Akinohotarubi]

Amazing book, I was considering getting one.. Also, I need to put Grues in my game.

[@turkeygod6665]

Wow this is incredible, if I ever get spare money I'll pick this up

[@josephowens9634]

This looks, at first glance, a lot like what Fantasy Craft was doing with their monster stat blocks.

[@smoothesuede4978]

Dungeon Meshi shoutout lets goooo

[@Lakoda26]

Its hard to pick a favorite child, but deep down you know, you just won't let yourself acknowledge it. Its much harder to pick a favorite RPG supplement =P but The Monster Overhaul is mine. In all seriousness, this is clearly a labor of love that is just fun and useful.

[@Irgendwaslanges]

Wow this really like a tome for adventure design just from the viewing point of a monster manual! Is there anything compareable even?!

[@mavfan21]

One of the best Kickstarters I have supported. Lots of great material to mine in that book. I wish it was more widely known. You can use it in any fantasy game.

[@HowtoRPG]

Thanks.

[@snuffcassette7555]

12:35 dungeon meshi mentioned lets go

[@delrey28]

How timely! I was just asking about this on the SD Discord lol

[@bark_madly]

Awww, a ZORK! reference ❤

[@Hellvector]

It is pitch dark…

[@solomani5959]

This looks great. 👍

[@Xepent]

Cards look great

[@sherizaahd]

looks like gold

[@DiomedesRangue]

Does it give a lot of ecological info? Like the hacklopedia of beasts

[@wesleyclark2714]

I didn’t catch which edition this is for. Is it agnostic?

[@QuestingBeast]

OSR in general. Easy to adapt to any edition.

[@wesleyclark2714]

@@QuestingBeast thank you sir!

[@themerrymushmen6390]

the best bestiary of all time. This is what Monster Manual should have been all along.

[@emanuelef.savoia933]

Damn physical copies are sold out in eu 😢

[@kalleendo7577]

Awesome!

[@guyoninternet1599]

I need this.

[@bryansmith844]

ZORK!!!

[@paulcoy9060]

This looks like a more useful version of Alkander's.

[@ViviBuchlaw]

I think I speak for everyone when I say I've been waiting for this review!!

[@Alternatestories]

Faction play social book please. Unique mechanics or settings please.

[@chrisallen9638]

ZORK

[@princess_intell]

This book does everything except roll dice.

[@Dragoran5836]

I was part of Kickstarter. Hot plains chapter was very disappointing. He could have added less known mythical creatures or cryptids from African or Middle eastern folk lore. PS It is thanks to me that Alphabetical Index Of All Monsters lists "Kitsune as Lamia or Werewolf". For some reason Skerples thought kitsune (or other asian fox spirits) worked like werefoxes.

[@iremainteague5653]

First! 😂

[@evanseifert8858]

Grues are obviously a reference to Dark Souls 3.

[@sportyeight7769]

Out of context comment : you should maybe check that ring on your hand. it looks like it's getting pretty small for your finger.

[@QuestingBeast]

Nope

[@sportyeight7769]

@@QuestingBeast all good then, seen to many blood chocked fingers with those rings.

[@ViviBuchlaw]

I think it looks good on him

[@drillerdev4624]

My father has always worn his ring by a small chain, Frodo style. If I ever decide to marry (I'm steady but don't see the need for paperwork), I'll do the same.

[@QuestingBeast]

@@ViviBuchlaw Slides off pretty easily