Well the idea isn't to put the same monster in multiple books. I'd think more straightforward monsters like "bear" would end up in the 1-page-spread book, whereas something like a barghest would be in the 2-page-spread book (and not appear as a 1-pager.)This could work if the demand for the lore companion book was enough to pay for the cost of making and printing it. Needing to carry around 2 books to run a specific monster is also a significant drawback, for those who value the lore monster book.Maybe two lines of books - bestiaries with 1 page/monster, and then something like "Imrijka's Tome of Monster Lore" with 2 pages/monster.This would be awesome. With the disadvantage of having to buy two books, I think this would keep everybody happyI appreciate the clarification on this, thank you. I would imagine that if there where enough monsters in the straightforward monster book to run a game with it should work ok.
On a separate note, I wonder if there will be a NPC Codex or similar. Having pre made NPCs with classes was really nice.
I certainly hope this idea is considered. I'd love to have more lore, but I NEED monsters, and lots of them, especially at the beginning.
I'd be surprised if they didn't do something like the NPC Codex, and hopefully soon. That was an innovation of Paizo's, correct? Like, no one had done something like that before? It was one of my most useful tools, and I imagine the same is true for many others.
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I would like to see the larger initial monster book. I'm actually picturing a multi-book set (with or without a sleeve), even if that adds more to the cost.
And I would LOVE to have an NPC/Villain Codex type of book either be included in that, or come out as soon afterward as possible.
Converting most monsters from one edition of the game to another can be fairly straightforward. Converting NPCs is always more challenging, so having a good cross-section of available NPC stat blocks will help immensely in feeling like we have the tools to create our own scenarios or to convert existing APs to the new edition.
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Would it be possible to give each bestiary an explicit theme, after the first one?
Bestiary 1 will be „bread and butter fantasy monsters“ anyway. But beyond that, I would prefer if I could take for example only the „desert bestiary“ (if I am running a desert themed adventure) along with the „core bestiary“ - and have all momsters relevant to me, rather than having to bring Bestiaries 1 through 9 and only needing a few monsters from each.To that end, I would be happy to have a bigger core bestiary and much thinner thematic bestiaries. I also wouldn’t mind if some monsters were reprinted across different thematic bestiaries.
Problem then is that, if you do a niche bestiary, less people may overall buy it, as they don't game in deserts, or seldom use fey, or never make it to high level. I would prefer a variety of monsters of different types, niches, and CR.
If there is a theme, I would prefer it to be vague enough to allow lots of types of monsters. Kind of like how the current bestiaries have subtle themes going through them.
Also...yes I agree on needing a good NPC book. Not as high priority as getting a couple of bestiaries first however.
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Maybe two lines of books - bestiaries with 1 page/monster, and then something like "Imrijka's Tome of Monster Lore" with 2 pages/monster.This would be awesome. With the disadvantage of having to buy two books, I think this would keep everybody happy
Except Paizo who would see their sales split...
I do like the lore heavy monster focused Campaign setting products. But that's not something that works for every monster and it's no replacement for flavour in monster books.
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Would it be possible to give each bestiary an explicit theme, after the first one?
Bestiary 1 will be „bread and butter fantasy monsters“ anyway. But beyond that, I would prefer if I could take for example only the „desert bestiary“ (if I am running a desert themed adventure) along with the „core bestiary“ - and have all momsters relevant to me, rather than having to bring Bestiaries 1 through 9 and only needing a few monsters from each.To that end, I would be happy to have a bigger core bestiary and much thinner thematic bestiaries. I also wouldn’t mind if some monsters were reprinted across different thematic bestiaries.
Problem then is that, if you do a niche bestiary, less people may overall buy it, as they don't game in deserts, or seldom use fey, or never make it to high level. I would prefer a variety of monsters of different types, niches, and CR.
If there is a theme, I would prefer it to be vague enough to allow lots of types of monsters. Kind of like how the current bestiaries have subtle themes going through them.
From a commercial point of view you are probably right.
Personally, I would still prefer explicitly themed bestiaries (similar to the „... revisited“ series) to the subtly themed bestiaries of today, because I feel it would reduce the number of books I have to carry for a given adventure.
Personally I wish we had gotten more hardcover bestiaries instead of the NPC books, I would have been less angry at the 2e news.
Just wanted to say:
I am pretty much down for big books with lots of fluff and tons of monsters
But since I usually buy the pdfs and not the books the question if I would pay 70$ for it is neglegible
(I would pay more money on the pdf though if it contains enough...stuff)
