It's a big, scary world out there, and for your players, it's gotten nastier. The Book of Monster Templates gives you more options, more creative flexibility and more ways to just freak out your players with new templates itching to be added to any Pathfinder Roleplaying Game monster.
Enjoy innovative templates like the Bloody Maw, who consumes magic items for their eldritch power; the Boundfury, who lives to punish and guard those it has found guilty; and the Phlogiston Creature, an arcane construct that combines magic and technology to create truly frightening additions to your favorite evil wizard's laboratory.
More than just a collection of templates, each entry comes with Lore information, Ecology, and succinct yet detailed guidelines for how to use the templated creature in your next game. The Book of Monster Templates gives you the creative oomph you've come to expect from Rite Publishing, and it'll give your party something to remember for a long time—if they survive!
Author: Steven D. Russell
Additional Design: Ben McFarland, Crystal Frasier, Jonathan McAnulty, Justin Sluder, Michael Welham
Cover Art: Hugo Solis
Cover Layout: Claudia Burgos
Skipping over the mis-spelling of the author's name on the cover, dive straight in to the Introduction, and a discussion of the whole glorious scope of the template in monster design and modification. Good monsters are a classic staple in fantasy role-playing, yet how many players seem to know them all (even when they don't play budding naturalist rangers who keep field notebooks!) which always takes the edge off the excitement? Templates enable you to put new twists on your monsters without having to spend time inventing completely new ones. No less than 32 templates are included, plenty to keep your monster stable populated and your players on their toes.
So, on to the templates themselves. A formulaic presentation has been used, so that it is a straightforward matter to lay original monster description and template side-by-side and work through your monster methodically. If even that does not appeal, or you are really in a hurry, there are plenty of examples of modified monster you can use straight off. The samples even have the sort of combat notes and (when appropriate) information on how they think and react, to make running them simple. There are also lore charts, to enable the more learned character to have a chance of knowing something about this strange critter he's just encountered even if his player does not.
Analysing one in detail, the formulaic presentation works well. Starting with a paragraph or so describing what that template actually means, how it affects any creature to which you wish to apply it, each facet of a monster stat block is addressed in turn, making it easy to undertake the conversion. The majority of templates are generic enough to be applicable to any monster from any source, whilst the exemplars are suitable for immediate use as 'variant' specimens of whatever the base monster happens to be, complete with a wealth of apposite information.
One gem, though, is the Aware Arcana template. You apply this not to a monster but to a spell, rendering it capable of following simple directions. It appears like a glowing giant ioun stone, and can emit the original spell as a ray attack... several times! When things get up close and personal they can emit the same effect as a spark instead. They last until destroyed (being vulnerable to dispel magic as well as to taking physical damage, until then they are capable of flight and of acting with basic intelligence. Neat! If your spellcasters like this idea, there is a feat that they can take to enable them to make their own and even a magic item to allow more precise control of them.
Amidst the accursed and betrayers and the like, there is also a civilised creature template. These monsters have either developed their own civilisation and culture, flying in the face of what you would expect of them, or have grown to appreciate someone else's culture to a great extent, often found wearing clothes, using tools and other unlikely actions for monsters widely believed to be savage and animalistic at best. However, most of the templates tend to make their recipients even more monstrous than they otherwise would be... and I'm sure I've met the tax collector! Another interesting template is the weapon contstruct creature: here, perhaps, an explanation for that annoying intelligent sword that gives you backchat at inopportune moments.
Overall, it's a fascinating collection presented in a systematic manner. The templates themselves are ingenious and often spawn adventure ideas, while the sample monsters are ripe with inspiration. Rather too many niggling little errors got past the proofreaders, but nothing that actually renders anything unusable: and use this you will!
This product is 111 pages long. It starts with a cover, ToC, intro and credits. (4 pages)
Next it jumps right into the new templates. (104 pages)
Below is a list of all the templates. Each template also has at least one sample creature with complete stat block and lore DC checks. The templates go anywhere from a -50% CR rating to a +3 CR rating.
Accursed Creature Template
Aware Arcana Creature Template
Betrayer Creature Template
Bloody Maw Creature Template
Body Jumper Creature Template
Boundfury Creature Template
Civilized Creature Template
Darkseed Creature Templates
Distortion Creature Template
Drachenchor Creature Template
Dreaded Creature Template
Earthbound Creature Template
Eldritch Spawn Template
Entropy Infused Creature Template
Eternal Creature Template
Exemplar Creature Template
Hatemonger Creature Template
Havenfury Creature Template
Irresistible Creature Template
Jagannath Creature Template
Jaunting Creature Template
Mythic Creature Template
Phalanx Creature Template
Phlogiston Construct Creature Template
Positive Energy Creature Template
Protector Creature Template
Ritefury Creature Template
Rune-Carved Creature Template
Tax Collector Creature Template
Trickster Creature Template
Unsighted Creature Template
Weapon Construct Creature Template
It finishes with a page of two tables that list templates by CR level and a table listing all the new monsters by CR rating. There is a total of 34 fully stated monsters in the book, each using one of the new templates and include DC lore checks and history.
Closing thoughts. While this is a template book, something to throw on a monster to surprise your players with. It is also in a way a new monster book as well. The artwork is black and white and ranges from fair to very good. There is not a lot to say about the book in detail. The templates all look well done some I was meh about, but that was more for I just didn't care for the concept than cause it was poorly done. Many where pretty cool as well and I am sure each buyer will have some they like, some they love and some they don't care for. So what is my rating? I am giving this a 4.5 star, it is a good product that gives exactly what it claims to do, but I also wasn't blown away with all the template concepts. So if you like templates to keep your players on their toes then this is a good pickup.
The book begins with a short introduction by the lead designer, Steven Russell, in which he explains the idea behind the book and explains how to read and use the templates provided. I felt that he does a good job of explaining the relevance and the application of templates, the layout of the entries and how to apply the templates. Then its straight into the actual templates.
This book doesn’t rely on the more mundane templates, such as arctic or aquatic variants – the templates presented are much grander than that. However, that means a GM needs to apply a lot more thought (not necessarily work) when applying these templates, since each embodies a specific theme and may only suit a specific few types of game. Thankfully, Russell presents many sample creatures and fluff to help get the creative processes going.
I enjoyed reading the Book of Monster Templates, since it’s so full of rich ideas. Though not every template appealed to my GM style, those I liked, I really liked. The art is good and the text is presented in an easy to read two-column format. Modifying a monster, using Russell’s methodology is pleasantly quick and easy. The templates, coupled with adventure hooks and the added bonus material and mechanics (like a few new feats) are a great GM resource.
I wrote a fuller review here, which looks at two of the templates provided.
One thing that the Pathfinder Bestiary was a bit light on was templates. Sure, you can use the templates from the 3.5 SRD, Green Ronin's Advanced Bestiary, or Silverthorne Games' Book of Templates: Deluxe Edition 3.5. But, until now (at least to my knowledge), there hasn't been a comparable book that's focused on the Pathfinder RPG system to deliver lots of great templates.
And then Rite Publishing noticed this absence of substantial templates, and decided to "rite" this wrong.
All of the templates in this book are great. As a huge Lovecraft/Mythos/Mind Flayer fan, the Eldritch Spawn template stands out as my favorite, but there's something for everyone here. Incredibly varied templates. I can't recommend this product strongly enough.
I've added the Print/PDF bundle to my cart, but when I go to checkout, Book of Monster Templates only appears under "Digital Purchases", not "Shipments". Is this a problem? I'm trying to determine how many items I can include in one order to compare overseas shipping options/costs before making my purchase.
I've added the Print/PDF bundle to my cart, but when I go to checkout, Book of Monster Templates only appears under "Digital Purchases", not "Shipments". Is this a problem? I'm trying to determine how many items I can include in one order to compare overseas shipping options/costs before making my purchase.
Thanks,
DarkWhite
It's probably not a problem (except that what's going on needs to be more clear), but we'll look into on Monday.
It's probably not a problem (except that what's going on needs to be more clear), but we'll look into on Monday.
Vic is correct -- the shipping price calculated will be correct, we're just not displaying the print portion of the bundle in the list of products for the shipment.
Currently writing the review of minotaurs, taskshaper and some 101's. Plus: Some stuff by OD, ZSP, all the Obsidian Twilight material and some Raging Swan stuff.
Before I finish reading this truly excellent tome and write a concise review, I just wanted to say, in the words of Mr. Universe (from Serenity, the movie): "You always bring me the best violence!"
Awesome stuff!! Oh boy can I ever mess with my players minds using this stuff. There is a whole collective of Aware Arcana headed for their characters in some future unnamed ruin. *giggles with unmitigated evil GM glee*
This is well worth the measely 10 bucks for the pdf. There are 100+ pages of this stuff!! I am only on page 9 so far.
Awesome work Steve & the crew at Rite.
Also, listen to the Succubus (and Endzeitgeist and Megan all the other reviewers), you can trust her.
I would have to put this as one of your better books, there is some great material in here. And it was a very interesting read looking through all those familiar monsters done in an entirely different light thanks to the templates. I think a lot of people overlook templates as a great way to bring something fresh and new to the table, as they literally re-purpose every monster a GM already has at his disposal.
I would have to put this as one of your better books, there is some great material in here. And it was a very interesting read looking through all those familiar monsters done in an entirely different light thanks to the templates. I think a lot of people overlook templates as a great way to bring something fresh and new to the table, as they literally re-purpose every monster a GM already has at his disposal.
Your review brought a tear to my eye. How true...how many hours spent planning the perfect encounter only to have the PCs walk on through it. I'm a recent convert to Rite Publishing picking up: Haunt of Objects, Haunts of Houses, 101 NPC Grudges, 30 Unique Magical Blades, and 101 Malevolent Magic Items. Each of these titles have been excellent and the templates are in the the shopping cart.
Your review brought a tear to my eye. How true...how many hours spent planning the perfect encounter only to have the PCs walk on through it. I'm a recent convert to Rite Publishing picking up: Haunt of Objects, Haunts of Houses, 101 NPC Grudges, 30 Unique Magical Blades, and 101 Malevolent Magic Items. Each of these titles have been excellent and the templates are in the the shopping cart.
Thank you for your support Baldwin, and don't forget 101 Not So Simple Monster Templates, and Pathways our free e-zine (which does a template almost every issue)
Your review brought a tear to my eye. How true...how many hours spent planning the perfect encounter only to have the PCs walk on through it. I'm a recent convert to Rite Publishing picking up: Haunt of Objects, Haunts of Houses, 101 NPC Grudges, 30 Unique Magical Blades, and 101 Malevolent Magic Items. Each of these titles have been excellent and the templates are in the the shopping cart.
Thank you for your support Baldwin, and don't forget 101 Not So Simple Monster Templates, and Pathways our free e-zine (which does a template almost every issue)
I've read the first three Pathways this week and I'm working my way through all the remainder. The Haunts are excellent in the e-zine. I actually dropped the Ogre and Friends (Issue 3) encounter in my KM campaign the other night. That turned out great. Thanks for the additional temptation with 101 Not So Simple Monster Templates.
Justin; I don't remember that ever coming, and probably would depend on what craft skills are available in a campaign, I will see if its creator Crystal Fraiser remembers.
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