Review: “The Düngeonmeister Random Monster Generator”
Mix & Match Your RPG Monster with The Düngeonmeister Random Monster Generator
We had a chance at an early preview of the upcoming release from Simon & Schuster The Düngeonmeister Random Monster Generator—the latest addition to the Düngeonmeister Series by authors and RPG experts Jon Taylor and Jef Aldrich. Need more monsters for your next campaign? This interactive illustrated flip book will allow game masters to dream up complex and downright terrifying beasts to challenge their game group.
The book offers you two different ways to create your monsters. First, the DM could build a monster based on any number of story elements or their desires. Second, using dice roles they can randomize the beast creation making traps and events in your campaign even more challenging. In total, there are 120,000 possible creature combinations.
With each of the 3 page sets (head, torso, legs) the book compiles the creatures’ stats based on each element selected. I decided to roll some dice to randomize my creature creation. What I ended up with was interesting, to say the least. The head of a slime creature and the body and legs of a firey creature with a cage capturing its enemies and inflict damage at every turn. The question is, could your team beat this creature if you came upon it roaming a dungeon?
Photo Cr: Robert Prentice / TiBS
The book’s simple rules for usage make it an easy addition for novice or experienced DMs. The illustrations are extremely detailed and warrant a flip through the entire book of page options. The creatures are illustrated by award-winning artist, Sara Richard. The book is also fully compatible with 5E rules and gameplay. You can find this addition to the Düngeonmeister Series hitting your local bookstores or favorite e-tailers starting July 16th.
About The Authors
Jef Aldrich is a professional podcaster from San Diego. Along with Jon Taylor, he has been building a podcast brand outside of the big network channels. Jef started entertaining people as a Sea World tour guide and eventually just started being funny for a living on his own. Jef is the coauthor of Düngeonmeister, The Düngeonmeister Goblin Quest Coloring Book, The Düngeonmeister Cookbook, Düngeonmeister: The Deck of Many Drinks, and Düngeonmeister: The Random Monster Generator. He is also a cocreator and cohost of the System Mastery podcast with Jon where they review and comment on odd classic RPGs, poking fun at obscure stories and systems while taking the game for a spin.
Jon Taylor is a professional podcaster from San Diego. He has a degree in English Literature from UC Santa Cruz. He spent several years as a stand-up comic on the East Coast before moving back to Southern California. Jon is the coauthor of Düngeonmeister, The Düngeonmeister Goblin Quest Coloring Book, The Düngeonmeister Cookbook, Düngeonmeister: The Deck of Many Drinks, and Düngeonmeister: The Random Monster Generator. Jon is also a cocreator and cohost of the System Mastery podcast with Jef Aldrich where they review and comment on odd classic RPGs, poking fun at obscure stories and systems while taking the game for a spin.
About The Illustrator
Sara Richard is an Eisner and Ringo Award–nominated artist from New Hampshire whose work has been printed in Vanity Fair, British Vogue, and other publications. Her art is inspired by Art Nouveau, Art Deco, funerary imagery, and the natural world. Her creations tend to skew into the macabre and unknown with a balance of sweetness and sentimentality, honoring the Victorian-era theme of Memento Mori. As a native of New Hampshire, Sara grew up surrounded by trees and plenty of wild mushrooms. When not making art or writing, she’s watching horror movies, cleaning forgotten gravestones with her mom, and collecting possibly haunted curiosities from the 19th century. Her online gallery can be found at SaraRichard.com.
