Monsters are an important part of the Dungeons & Dragons experience. They are a story hook that lures adventurers to explore dangerous locations. They can be antagonists that players can bargain and communicate with for information on bigger, badder villains. They are the opponents in the tactical combat game that test players on their knowledge of their skills and abilities. Monster compendiums are a very popular type of D&D book.
Kobold Press has capitalized on this popularity throughout the run of Fifth Edition. They’ve released two monster books so far: Tome of Beasts, Creature Codex and Tome of Beasts II. They are currently funding a third Tome of Beasts volume on Kickstarter that has already raised over $400,000 as of this writing. These books are known throughout the D&D community for their production values and the upcoming book looks no different.
Inside The Tome
Tome of Beasts III features over 400 new monsters for use with Fifth Edition. Not only is each monster accompanied by a lavish illustration, but the designers for Kobold Press are known for creating creatures full of memorable abilities and challenging play. Tables bored with the usual array of orcs and gobilns will enjoy figuring out how to defeat torch mimics and ghost knight templars.
Monsters By The People, For The People
In addition to monsters created by industry veterans and notable members of the community, Kobold Press is opening the pages of this tome to Kickstarter backers. Anyone who backs can submit a monster concept to the designers and the best ones will be developed into a creature that will appear in the book. Kobold Press was kind enough to share a pair of monsters that you won’t find anywhere else until the full book comes out.
Monster Preview: Devouring Angel
The earliest devouring angels mimicked the shapes of the angels they saw, producing wing-like pseudopods from their spined backs and evolving exaggerated humanoid features, such as arms and legs.
- It has claw-like pseudopods, which it uses to grab then swallow its enemies.
- It can launch acid-covered spines from its back.
- It can squeeze itself into small spaces.
Monster Preview: Hellfire Giant
These powerful soldiers eventually rose against their loathsome masters and escaped their hellish prison. Hellfire giants now enact brutal reprisals against all they deem allies to fiends.
- It can activate its runes to increase its armor, turn invisible, or curse attackers.
- It can fire a beam of magical malachite at its enemies.
- It is adept at taking down fiends and those with fiendish blood.
A New Book Of Lairs
Backers also have an opportunity to get a copy of the latest Book of Lairs featuring monsters from this book. This companion volume uses monsters to set up small encounters and dungeons that are perfect for one shots or those nights when the Dungeon Master couldn’t get anything prepared for their greater storyline. Both Tome of Beasts III and Book of Lairs are available in electronic, regular and deluxe editions in the Kickstarter.
Tome of Beasts III is on Kickstarter through February 23rd, 2022 with an expected delivery date of November 2022.
