B is for Boo-lay - or something like that

So I’m at B. Already some of these things are irritating me; why were some of these creatures statted out as monsters?
Seriously ....... Badger,Baluchitherium, Barracuda, Beaver ..... just no need. Also the writing is completely random, I quote from the Bear listing

“The grizzly bear is a brown bear of very aggressive disposition. Black bears are usually not aggressive, brown bears are,  and cave bears are quite aggressive. “. What? The description really should have been “its a bear, you know, a bear”.

And why do Beavers have treasure- By the book they could actually have magical items!!

Boar and Buffalo - see Bear above.

Blink dogs are a classic, lawful good and a great companion for the ranger in your life. (Again, where does it keep its treasure?)

Black pudding - now I like black pudding on general principles but I’ve just never been a fan of slimes and oozes - looking at the stats though a couple of these could quite easily devastate a party / drop off the ceiling and there you go 3d8 damage a round and destroying your armour in short order. A DM could really go to town with one of these if he rules that a PC is envelopes and could take damage from his allies as they try and destroy the thing.

Brownie - dull faerie-kin, and I always thought they were evil because of the artwork.

Brain Mole -psionics, need I say more. Just a creature for that particular arms race between players and DM when they discover psionics are a thing.

Bugbear - essentially  a big old goblin but the 50% chance of surprise was new to me.

Bull - yep it’s a big cow.

And so to the real meat and drink here, the Bulette and the Beholder. I will save the wonderful Beholder for another time but the Bulette needs comment.

It’s pronounced Boo-lay I hear in many places but it doesn’t say that here. I’ll go to google and try and find out why, perhaps you could do it for me and leave a comment because I really might not get round to it. The 3 separate AC listings - AFAIK AD&D didn’t really go for variables like this on a big scale, perhaps I just missed that in the rules, but looking at it I’m sure my players would have gone for the eyes!! ( oh and beware the eight foot leap which can give it 4 3-18 attacks- bloody hell I would have him bouncing around like he was on a pogo stick if I was running him🙂. )

So that was B - some dead wood but some great fun as well

The Bulette and the Brownie, which looks like the more evil bugger?

And this just needs showing - Saxon Angel - a mini painter who’s work makes me think I should just cut my hands off😀

A is for Axe Beak - among other things

So my first foray into my beloved Monster Manual, with the letter A.
I have read through the stars and descriptions of all of the monsters, 6 beasts covering two pages and frankly not an auspicious start. Normally in creature codex type books you might expect some colour, flavour or even perhaps an adventure hook or two. This part of the MM will leave you disappointed I’m afraid; from the aerial servant to the Axe Beak via Ankhegs,ants and apes.
The Aerial Servant is quite a tough beast but seemingly has a habit of going mad-perhaps because it’s an air elemental type with no fly move, the poor bugger just mooches along rather than swooping through the air like it might in its home plan.
As for Ants and Apes; frankly I’ve got nothing, I honestly don’t even know why they bothered to stat them out- and why do either of these beasts have treasure? Gems for ants and the potential for magic items for the Carniverous Ape - utter nonsense (or old school d&d at its best if you prefer).
And on to the Axe Beak. .....all I can say Pitt the poor adventurer killed by an ostrich on steroids. Looking at the numbers (HD and attacks) these fellas could do some damage to a second or third level party, if I could be bothered I would play out the combat (Might do this in future if I get a bit more time.

So that’s it, the start of the worlds first monster book, I feel I may have wasted my time a bit - never mind B will surely B better!!

Until next time, look at this chap and tremble with fear

Fresh start - with added monsters

After a long hiatus I am going to try and reboot this blog again - I need to get some kind of proper hobby in my life even if it is just posting about the nonsense I like.

In an attempt to force myself to post regular content I have decided to go through the AD&D first edition Monster Manual from a-z; I haven’t really decided on a format yet but imagine it will be kind of a mini review/let’s read - nothing new but the world needs to hear a 49 year old sad sacks take on a book that is 41 years old and in no way relevant.

Just to tease you here is the book - it’s definitely not my original but it is a GW soft back version and thus a collectors piece. (If you are a collector like me that is - I’m sure more of my views on game collecting will come out as time goes on)

I

It’s not pretty but it’s mine!

Next post, the Letter A - to include the axe beak, and why not

All the best

Carl