This article originally appeared in d20 Weekly
Liber Bestarius: The Book of Beasts
Published by Eden Studios, Inc.
Edited by M. Alexander Jurkat
160 page b&w hardcover; $27.00
The Liber Bestarius is a little different from your standard monster manual: It's meant to put the hurt on the players. The first way this hardcover from Eden does this is by undervaluing the challenge ratings of the Monsters. Every monster is at least one CR lower than it should be, and this is done as a design decision. The attitude of the book is put the players in for a fight. Strangely enough, while the Liber Bestarius may have overrated the monsters, players have so many options available to them that bumping down the CR by one may not make any difference.
In general terms, each monster has a layout similar to a standard monster book. You've got name, stat blocks, and background. Liber Bestariusgoes a little further in a few places. When a monster is suitable for a player race, you get racial traits including gods worshipped along with domains, and favored classes. You also get a section on Usage . . . exactly how should you use these new creatures? Those always wishing that the MM had more basic details on the creatures will be happy to know that Liber Bestarius entries have sections on Physiology and Habitat.
In my opinion, this book has three things going for it: high-level monsters, monsters with player character racial traits, and new familiars with master bonuses. With the Epic Level Handbook now out, there is definitely a demand for . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: August 14, 2002
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