Monsternomicon 2 (Iron Kingdoms) Review

[Cynical Cat]

The Iron Kingdoms is the role-playing part of the setting that includes the Horde and War Machine games. It uses modified D&D rules and blends steam punk with more usual D&D.

This is their second book full of monsters unique to the Iron Kingdoms.

Cover Art: Nice. Shoews the maw of a dragonspawn bursting through the book. Nothing special, but it works.

Interior Art: Very good black and white illustrations

Presentation: A drawing, stat block, fluff, and game mechanics for each creature. As before, it is presented as a scholarly work by Professor Pendrake who has spent time as a captive in the terrible Skorne Empire.

Contents: The book deals primarily with creatures from the peripherary of the Iron Kingdoms, the lands covered in the Hordes minatures game. Most of the critters from the game are stated, but the book includes far more than just some heavy hitters from Hordes. New grimkin (nasty fey), Infernals, dragons, and giants take their place in the book as well as various additional monsters, constructs, and undead. Giants and dragons are presented as unique individuals (they are very few in number) and frighteningly powerful.

Monsters take up about two-thirds of the book. The remaining third is devoted to giving additional detail to the humanlike Skorne, who are are a nasty blend of Melnibone and Feudal Japan. Stats, weapons, armour, culture, territory, and history are presented in some detail. Two new base classes, the Paingiver and the Mortitheurge are included as is the Extoller prestige class. A few new spells and creature templates round out the book.

Overall: If you play Iron Kingdoms, this book is a good addition. If you're doing anything with the Skorne, it is a must.