This article originally appeared in d20 Weekly
Monsternomicon - Volume I: Denizens of the Iron Kingdoms
Published by Privateer Press
Written by Rob Baxter, Colin Chapman, Andrew Flynn, Brett Huffman, J. Michael Kilmartin, Joseph Miller, Doug Seacat, Matt Staroscik, Jon Thompson, & Matt Wilson
Illustrated by Brian Snoddy and Matt Wilson along with Brian Despain, Tony DiTerlizzi, Chippy Dugan, Scott Fischer, Gerald Lee, and Ron Spencer
240-page b&w hardback; $29.95
Of all the d20 System material released, my favorite setting has to be that of the Iron Kingdoms, the campaign created by Privateer Press. So with their fourth release, the Monsternomicon - Volume I: Denizens of the Iron Kingdoms before me, it is only fair to admit my personal bias. I liked its mix of low fantasy and gritty industrialism with a technological base slightly more advanced than that of other d20 System worlds, but which requires a combination of magic, science, and engineering to work. Primary among these are the Steamjacks, steam-driven lumbering robots that run on coal, but are magical constructs and firearms that use silk pouches of magical blasting powder as a propellant and need every round individually made for them.
For many, the arrival of the Monsternomicon will be a welcome sight, for it has been a very long wait for what is only the fourth release from Privateer Press. The first three made up the Witchfire trilogy of scenarios -- The Longest Night, Shadow of the Exile, and The Legion of Lost Souls. Another adventure, Fool's Errand, was released by . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: October 16, 2002
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