MAGGI PICAYUNE

Monster Codex is an excellent time-saving book for GMs, especially when they need to set up an encounter with D&D/PF’s most-common monsters: Orcs, Gnolls, Goblins, Bugbears, Hobgoblins, Ogres, etc. Fire and Frost Giants were unusual choices but I’ll take them. Never know if we’ll ever do a modified version of the infamous Against The Giants adventure.

Monster does utilize some classes outside the Core Rulebook so if you’re like me, those pre-made foes require work to modify; a Bugbear Anti-Paladin becomes either a Fighter or a Blackguard if it has enough levels to qualify. Keep in mind, Monster is providing leaders, sergeants, spell casters and unique NPCs you sprinkle into the rank-and-file versions (aka the standard/stock ones from Bestiary). The players discovering a Duergar Monk who can punch their lights out will give them pause.

The book is broken down by monster race in alphabetical order. Each section opens with new Feats, Archetypes and Spells these opponents may utilize. Then it closes with a new monster which is associated with them. They’re either a subtype (Flinds for Gnolls, Troggles for Ogres) or something they utilize for defense or livestock (Steam Boars in Fire Giant lairs, Yzobu found near Hobgoblin settlements).

Not sure if Paizo will be issuing any Codices in the cheaper, smaller, pocket form with Second Edition being a year away. They do sell it as a PDF for $10, then you only need to print out what you require as you go. Either way, Monster is a boon for GMs regardless of their experience levels.

Strategy Guide is really code for Powergaming Guide or how to make your PC more efficient, screw the roleplaying. I originally thought it was a book on how the PCs can utilized Team Feats and/or set up cool moves like the X-Men’s fastball special.

Sadly it’s a breakdown book, class by class on how to “win” at Pathfinder; at this level take Feat X, put more points in Skill Y, so on and so forth. When tabletop has been making a slight comeback and still struggles against computer-based stuff, the last thing I want to see is how to make a tabletop character into a “winning” clone from WoW or whatever flavor-of-the-month online game. I’ve said it a thousand times, if the Fellowship of the Ring acted like a typical group of online gamers, it would be a boring film featuring hours of “mining gold” or more appropriately, murderhobo‘ing their way to Mount Doom.

A book on basic combat strategies to help DMs? Yeah, that’s a good idea. Some DMs are not well versed on basic tactics and strategies to apply with the opposition. Often they may fall into the trap of running a “dungeon” like a computer simulation; the residents of one room somehow don’t make enough noise to alert others in the next room to gain reinforcements. Thus the players do the other style of play I don’t care for, the kick-in-the-door, raid and loot game. Me? Oh, I tend to have a small copy of the map, tracking the monsters’ locations and if there’s straight-up fight with say Lizardfolk; the PCs get tied up with all in the entrance but one. The “survivor” takes off to start warning the other guard posts, their hatchery, etc. The reinforcements will either pour in or more likely, since most players love to break up a la Scooby Doo, they’ll fall back and apply the traditional pincher maneuver, taking advantage of the PCs’ smaller numbers.

Back to my point. This book won’t be missed as Pathfinder moves toward a second edition and I doubt this will be reprinted in pocket form.