RPGnet d20: Review of Fiend Folio



	Disclaimer I: I have seen in reviews that the content had "spoiler" ascribed to it. I feel that if you are reading a review, you invite that upon yourself. If you don't want "spoilers," why would you read a review of a product you do not own? I will not use the phrase of "Contains Spoilers" in my reviews, if you want a non-biased review that doesn't reveal content-look elsewhere. Disclaimer II: The majority of this review is opinion; your actual enjoyment of this product should vary accordingly.

"… Dark ones are a mysterious race of beings that inhabit the Underdark. Their only contact with other races occurs when they defend their homes and steal trinkets from enemies under the cover of darkness…" (Dark Ones, p. 37)

WARNING SHOT: Is the Fiend Folio just another revised monster book to add to the Dungeons & Dragons 3e game line, or does it have its own merits? While some of the Fiend Folio original monsters reappear, the Fiend Folio itself reappears without the neat styling that it had when it first appeared in my gaming spheres as almost the first hardcover book I picked up at Payless but my parents didn't want my influenced by D&D (which was too late). Its forward compatibility with the looming revision is nice, but how does it stack with campaign use now?

The Fiend Folio sets out with the intent of bringing back some classic favorites along side villainous creatures from the Outer Planes. Some of the Fiend Folio has neutral aligned creatures in an attempt to help broaden the usefulness of the book, but these are not the best creatures in the book. While it achieves its goal of adding villainous monsters to the D&D setting, it seems that the book designers decided to stop at a certain point and add new prestige classes (which seem to follow Wizards ideal that most evil stems from fiendish association, rather then inner evil a la the Book of Vile Darkness). The three prestige classes are interesting add-ons, but nothing to really write much about. They're designed for fiends and their friends, we'll move on. The most interesting use of space is the grafts and symbionts, neat add-ons to give characters (and monsters, etc.) a little kick. While grafts act like non-magical items magic items (function like magic items, don't use the slot) and symbionts are tiny creatures that attach themselves to the character and a battle of wits may occur (symbionts have ego scores that determine who controls the host from time to time). What does this book offer gamers looking for something to add to their campaigns? Beyond new monsters and some fiendish prestige classes, not much. The Fiend Folio does offer some insight on the Outer Planes, at least with regards to what may be found out there to encounter (for campaigning out there, the book directs folks to the Manual of the Planes instead). A nice update to the general monster layout is found, the Fiend Folio has connection sidebars as to better use the book with products you might already own. The designers added Level Adjustments in certain creatures stat-block, making it easier to use those creatures by classing them with core or prestige classes. In the scheme of rating the D&D monster books, the Fiend Folio fares better then the rest, having the designers fix the little bugs from the previous works. Not the best in getting setting ideas across, but not a bad work to stand up against in the thick of things. Personal thoughts: The Fiend Folio does a good job at advancing the monster book cause, but lacks the detail of setting that I would find more useful (say, like a Planescape work or such). But as a D&D monster book, it holds promise for making the next round of monster books better. But, we'll see.