Close
Close
Advanced Search

The Monster OverhaulClick to magnify
Quick Preview
/gs_flipbook/flip.php?xml=/demo_xml/421868.xml&w=500&h=354
Full‑size Preview
https://watermark.drivethrurpg.com/pdf_previews/421868-sample.pdf

The Monster Overhaul

ADD TO WISHLIST >

What’s a Sphinx without a riddle, or a Minotaur without a labyrinth? What’s a Dragon without a hoard, or a Peasant without a grievance?

The Monster Overhaul is a massive Role Playing Game bestiary designed for at-table utility. Monsters are presented alongside useful tools, ready for immediate use in any scenario.

This book aims to provide a GM with the tools they need, as they need them, without slowing down a session. In the middle of a game, a GM doesn’t need to be told that Bears live in caves or that Ghosts haunt graveyards. They know that. What they need are interesting prompts that are difficult to invent under pressure; names, details, motivations, secrets, riddles, maps, twists, etc.

Numbers are calibrated around old-school fantasy adventure game principles. This book should be compatible with, and has been tested against, the most popular and enduring old-school systems.

This 336 page book contains:

  • 200+ Monsters.
  • 160+ Pieces of original art.
  • 20+ Maps.
  • Random encounter tables, indexes, and a host of other useful tools.

By Skerples, the author of the CoinsandScrolls blog, Tomb of the Serpent Kings, Kidnap the Archpriest, Epochrypha, Magical Murder Mansion, and Magical Industrial Revolution.

Editing by Dai Shugars.

Art by Lucas Roussel, Robin Carpenter, Iguanamouth, Logan Stahl, Ash Rudolph, Nadhir Nor, Crim_Reaper, Naf, Luka Rejec, Erin Kubo, Conor Nolan, Frenden, Scott Wegener, and Dyson Logos.

This product also includes a copy of the Monster Overhaul Artbook.

pixel_trans.gif
pixel_trans.gif
 
 Customers Who Bought this Title also Purchased
pixel_trans.gif
pixel_trans.gif
Reviews (6)
Discussions (28)
Customer avatar
Lesley N March 20, 2024 10:12 pm UTC
How to describe it so gamers really know what I mean...

Remember the original DMG and how incredible it is... This is how the monster manual should have been released :)

So many levels of OMG.
Customer avatar
Iain R February 22, 2024 1:46 pm UTC
Any idea when Soul Muppet will stock more hard copies to sell in the UK?
Customer avatar
Christopher S February 06, 2024 3:39 pm UTC
What is the licensing on content from this book? Say I wanted to use a monster from it in a commercial module, is that legal? Is attribution enough or should I just take it as inspiration for my own creation? I didn't see any specific licensing information in the book, but I have not dug in too deep yet - awesome stuff!
Customer avatar
Beau Y December 12, 2023 2:12 am UTC
I purchased this in hard copy, so it doesn't look like I can leave a review here.

This is, without a doubt, the best monster manual for OSR. Probably the best monster manual that's ever existed, assuming that your focus is on in-game utility, rather than as a book of lore (although there's a surprising amount of that hidden in the random tables here as well).

It's great for pregenerating an adventure, but it really shines when the players decide their characters are going in a completely different direction than you expected. Oh, you need a town to be over the next hill? Easy. The group decided to take a short cut and go confront the lich, months earlier than you expected them to? This book can generate a memorable unique lich in a matter of seconds, down to his mind-shattering plans that are centuries in the making. The players have decided they're bored with your ship voyage adventure and destroy the ship around their own ears? Great, there's all you need to run an adventure inside...See more
Customer avatar
Matt Y December 07, 2023 1:27 am UTC
PURCHASER
Just got the physical book and it is amazing! Is there any way to get just the lair maps in jpeg or pdf form apart from the document?
Customer avatar
Matthew H August 19, 2023 1:18 am UTC
Wonderful book but where are the demons?
Customer avatar
Patrik L August 15, 2023 4:17 pm UTC
This is so wonderful, please think about a German version :)
Customer avatar
Dale C July 25, 2023 9:27 pm UTC
Will we be able to get hardbacks of this again after the KS copies have all arrived?
Reply
Customer avatar
Patrick G July 31, 2023 3:42 am UTC
Good question.
Reply
Customer avatar
Skerples (CoinsandScrolls) . August 01, 2023 3:40 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Copies are now on sale via Indie Press Revolution (US) and Compose Dream Games (Canada), and will be on sale shortly via SoulMuppet Publishing (UK/EU).
Customer avatar
Glenn R July 11, 2023 1:00 am UTC
PURCHASER
Which is the most up-to-date file for printing? The final_2 pdf, or the artbook pdf. I don't want to presume it's the one marked final_2.
Customer avatar
Lucas B July 02, 2023 8:58 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Will you make new physical copies sometime? Just stumbled over this gem and would love to read it "hands on".
Customer avatar
Tyler B May 30, 2023 11:25 pm UTC
Would this be compatible with osr games like mork borg or DCC?
Reply
Customer avatar
Beau Y June 19, 2023 11:28 pm UTC
Yes. It's an OSR bestiary and doesn't use specific numbers for armor class, for instance, but just says "as chainmail" or "as plate," and lets the DM fill in the blanks. Hit points and damage are spelled out, but should be compatible with the power scale of pre-WotC D&D games.
Customer avatar
James C May 06, 2023 1:55 am UTC
For what it's worth I too vote for a hardcover print version. Will purchase immediately.
Reply
Customer avatar
Michael G June 23, 2023 11:28 am UTC
PURCHASER
Should have been in on the kickstarter. The hardcover is beautifully done.
Customer avatar
H.K. M April 07, 2023 3:31 am UTC
PURCHASER
Great work, would love a print version of this
Customer avatar
Sean C March 14, 2023 7:02 pm UTC
Amazing! Any chance there will be a discounted print version later for people who buy the PDF now? (I’m buying it either way, but…)
Customer avatar
David S March 01, 2023 10:21 am UTC
PURCHASER
Any news on the print version?
Reply
Customer avatar
Skerples (CoinsandScrolls) . August 01, 2023 3:41 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Copies are now on sale via Indie Press Revolution (US) and Compose Dream Games (Canada), and will be on sale shortly via SoulMuppet Publishing (UK/EU).
Customer avatar
Christoph S February 27, 2023 1:38 pm UTC
PURCHASER
The best and most amazing book I bought in the last 3 years and I buy a lot of rpg books. This will be an evergreen and I am so sad, that I was too late for the kickstarter campaign. Bought the PDF an printed it - will buy the physical book as soon as it will be available.
See 16 more
Browse Categories
$ to $
 Follow Your Favorites!
NotificationsSign in to get custom notifications of new products!
 Recent History















Product Information
Platinum seller
Pages
336
ISBN
978-1-9992573-2-3
File Size:
110.62 MB
Format
Original electronic Click for more information
Scanned image
These products were created by scanning an original printed edition. Most older books are in scanned image format because original digital layout files never existed or were no longer available from the publisher.

For PDF download editions, each page has been run through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software to attempt to decipher the printed text. The result of this OCR process is placed invisibly behind the picture of each scanned page, to allow for text searching. However, any text in a given book set on a graphical background or in handwritten fonts would most likely not be picked up by the OCR software, and is therefore not searchable. Also, a few larger books may be resampled to fit into the system, and may not have this searchable text background.

For printed books, we have performed high-resolution scans of an original hardcopy of the book. We essentially digitally re-master the book. Unfortunately, the resulting quality of these books is not as high. It's the problem of making a copy of a copy. The text is fine for reading, but illustration work starts to run dark, pixellating and/or losing shades of grey. Moiré patterns may develop in photos. We mark clearly which print titles come from scanned image books so that you can make an informed purchase decision about the quality of what you will receive.
pixel_trans.gif
Original electronic format
These ebooks were created from the original electronic layout files, and therefore are fully text searchable. Also, their file size tends to be smaller than scanned image books. Most newer books are in the original electronic format. Both download and print editions of such books should be high quality.
File Information
Watermarked PDF Click for more information
Watermarked PDF

These PDF files are digitally watermarked to signify that you are the owner. A small message is added to the bottom of each page of the PDF containing your name and the order number of your purchase.

Warning: If any files bearing your information are found being distributed illegally, then your account will be suspended and legal action may be taken against you.

Here is a sample of a page from a watermarked title:

File Last Updated:
April 18, 2023
This title was added to our catalog on February 13, 2023.