Blackdirge’s Dungeon Denziens (BDD) is a fascinatingly eclectic monster tome that opens a world of creative possibilities.
Layout: You’ll find this work to be smartly laid-out and easy to use. Stat blocks, monster tactics, and encounter groups follow the core book’s format, and the entire piece is well-indexed. BDD goes a step further, though, offering monsters categorized not only by level, but also by origin, type, and keyword. Further, where the core book’s background text is decidedly lacking, entries in BDD tend to be detailed and engaging.
BDD is illustrated by a number of artists with a variety of styles. The cover-art is strong and catchy, as is much of the interior art. Many of the sketches are reminiscent of the 1st edition monster tome (which old-schoolers will appreciate). While not all of it is a home run, enough of it is done competently to solidify the work as a whole.
Content: Monsters of every level from 1 to 30 are provided, and all are well-written and balanced to be integrated seamlessly into any campaign. While loaded on the low-level end, paragon- and epic-tier creatures are so well-developed and thoroughly detailed, as are their lower-level henchmen and minions, that an entire campaign could be built around them, providing a multitude of opportunities for play.
As a bonus, a handful of yet-unseen monsters you’ll recognize are re-envisioned in the 4E format. An appendix with racial trait information is provided. You’ll also get stats for a couple of new diseases.
Recommendation: “Blackdirge” and Goodman have delivered a well-produced monster tome that packs creativity and substance where the core book is found lacking. Balance, creativity, and depth are the highlights of the work. Of particular note, readers will be pleased to find that there is a certain amount of thought and development behind each entry. The bulk of the art adds to the book as a whole. Blackdirge’s Dungeon Denizens is sure to be a resource you’ll value.