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The 3E D&D Fiend Folio is a 224 page tome, stitched together from the work of at least 7 different writers. The cover of the Fiend Folio is a hellish vista, enclosed by corroding, barbed iron, wrapped in the skin and ichor of demons. Where the name of the original Fiend Folio (FF) was a clever play on Monster Manual, in the 3E version, "Fiend" is definitely more applicable. The first FF sported a paltry lone demoness (a unique one, no less), a single devil...and not much more. You could push it by including the CN Slaadi, the undead (but demonic) death knight (referenced as a demonknight in BG), and the Retriver. In marked contrast, the new FF is dominated by the outer planes, with much of its contents devoted to various Outsiders, Extraplanars, and Outer-Plane-influenced creatures.
Though the back cover boasts 150+ monsters, the table of contents lists 112 monsters (when templates are included as "monsters"). Of course, the latter count is misleading as a single entry (demodand, for example) can contain 3 (or more) distinctly different entities, and this count would also exclude the wide variety of symbionts and grafts to be found in the appendices. Also, there are three monster-specific prestige classes. Taken together, the seven symbionts, four-dozen or so grafts, three monster-specific prestige classes, and eight templates (half-fey, half-illithid, half-troll, Huecuva, Sword-wraith, Ti-Khana, Wendigo, Yellow Musk Zombie) give one the feeling that this manual is as much a monster "tool set" as a monster "manual". And given the wide variety of "beastie books" I count that a good thing, though I sure there are those who feel otherwise. As for its purely monster manual function, it contains a swarm of new monsters.
Among my favorites are the Hullathoin, the Yuan-Ti Anethema, and the Abyssal Ghoul. The Hullathoin and the Anethema can easily be used as the focus a major plot, if not a small metaplot. The Chwidencha ("Spider Leg Horror") was also pretty good, though the "variants" of driders/Lolth-spawn are becoming tiresome. The Blood Golem of Hextor is gruesome and effective. Of the new extraplanars, the Klurichir demon is the walking slaughterhouse at a CR of 25. The Styx devil of the original FF returns as a "Xerfilstyx", now sporting a slug-lower body...which was interesting at least, though I haven't decided if I like it or not. The gaurdian fiend Maelephant has a particularly vicious breath weapon...memory loss, which strips characters of spells and skills. The effect is not too difficult to remove though, and it has a reasonably low Fort DC (17). One welcome return from the original MM I is the Jackalwere. It was always a sinister and alien shapeshifter, and I was surprised to see it MIA for so long. The aquatic ooze struck me as silly more than anything else. Have you ever stained cheek cells in biology lab? Thats exactly what they look like (at least the bloodbloater). A second comical note is a new form incoporeal undead going by the name of "bhut". The Tunnel Terror is a lithotroph evoking a bad episode of original Star Trek, and the image of Spock mind-melding with a piece of foam whilst moaning "Pain....pain!.....". From D&D it recalls the Denzelian of the original Fiend Folio, and the Rock-Eater of the Mines of Bloodstone. Both of these were more benign...like a kind of wildlife. This version is more sinister (and unecessarily so, it seems to me), eating adventurers as well as rock. The Brain Golem struck me as kind of dumb, with an over-the-top gruesomeness, giving the distinct feel of a B-horror movie. But most loathsome of all is the return of the disenchanter beast. From the moment I first saw these things in the first Fiend Folio, I dispised them, being so clearly what they are. I never had a problem with the thoqqua, because it had a rationale and made sense. The disenchanter beast, on the other hand is about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the head. And the new "Inevitables" are additional blunt instruments which those DMs who like the disenchanter beast will appreciate as well.
Many creatures from the original FF return, and for the better. The Bloodhawk was about what I expected, as was the Caryatid Column, Necrophidius, Yellow Musk Creeper, etc. The creatures that return from the original FF feature greatly expanded descriptions and backgrounds. As for the Flumph and the Protien Polymorph...not one in sight, and good riddance. On all accounts, this manual is a vast improvement over the original, but then, thats what 20 years of ferment give you.
The Grafts and Symbionts are a welcome addition to the Folio. The undead grafts evoke memories of a certain Greyhawk personage, and the Yuan-Ti grafts are fitting (snicker). Other grafts include the Fiendish (which is starting to feel overdone, frankly), Illithid, Aboleth (very nice), and Beholder. The description of the Psionic Sinew symbiote as "revolting" struck me as strange. There is plently of room for "revolting" things in the fiendish symbiotes, and "Psionic Artifacts of Athas" included many similar things that were not revolting (and were actually pretty cool in my opinion). I also must remark on the "undead symbiont" (the Ghostly Visage) as a bit strange in concept, and it made even less sense after reading it. What exactly is this symbiote consuming? If it states it in the description, I missed it. The soul-tick drains blood, the gutworm consumes food and oxygen, other symbiotes consume ability scores, but the Ghostly Visage apparently consumes nothing, raising the question, "Is it actually a symbiont?" The Soul Tick is one symbiote that will definitely be finding its way onto my antagonists, as it's good for at least one nasty shock.
ART
The tradition of an illustration for each creature is continued to good effect. Toma Baxa's art continues to provoke my ambivalence. His work on the Demodands (page 43) was disappointing (though perhaps oddly apt), but his style is perfect for the Maelephant (page 120). The picture of a mud slaad is good for a chuckle (as is the creature on the whole). Additional monster art I liked include the Abyssal Ghoul, the Klurichir (Demon), the Huecuva, the Formians, and the Sword-wraith. The Blackstone Gigant should be singled out for the irridescent sheen it displays. My personal favorite was the Yuan-Ti Anethema (done by Sam Wood), pictured on page 195, alien and sinister, perfectly rendering the expectations of such a creature. It evokes the feeling of the Cthulhu mythos, and combined with REH-like Yuan-ti it shouldn't be too hard to make this aspect of D&D "Cthulhu-like", should one be so inclined.
CONCLUSION
After reading the Folio, I found myself wishing I had a more in depth knowledge of the 2E AD&D Planescape setting. At least some of the extra-planar creatures are clearly from that setting; I know cranium rats, for example, from my encounters with them in Planescape:Torment. I probably could have done a better review with a better background in that area. The 3E D&D Field Folio is one of the best, if not the best, single monster-product I have yet seen for the d20 system. That opinion must be weighed, however, in its role as an adjunct, not basic, product. If you want to make a former-illithid-slave duergar with illithid and aboleth grafts, this is the book for you. Likewise if you want to create a Yellow musk nest, a Yuan-ti cult (complete with requisite grafts), or Hullathoin-led undead horde this is perfect. And if you need outer-planar or extreme beings of all sorts to inspire plots and stories, then you can do no better. But if you are looking for dungeon-filler, this one is not so useful. There are fiends of that sort to be found in this folio, but they are not numerous...the emphasis is on creating groups and providing a toolset. Excellent work.
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