I do have to say that the Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition Monster Manual is a wealth of fantastical information on individual monsters. Ideas abound on powers, abilities, features, description, and artwork to spark the imagination. Those observations aside, I don't feel this BOOK is CORE to any RULES the 4th Edition of the most widely recognized role playing game ever created. Page 4 of this book, however, is CORE to the game, as well as the few pages that define what you find on page 4.

Page 4 of the Monster Manual is the most important page simply due to the monster template found there. The rest is just made up fantastical beasts that the game creators say are "CORE RULES" but really are just fantasy beasts forced in to the game rules for 4th Edition D&D by way of the monster template on page 4. I have been playing D&D for over a decade. I have friends that have been playing since that old red boxed set. There are endless monsters to be found in my own past not to mention the infinite amount of monsters to be found online.

The mechanics of how to make a monster are very well laid out in this book. Then Wizards of The Coast precedes to list over 300 exemplary examples of how to work these mechanics of monster creation for use in the 4th Edition rules. For $35 US I expected more. Pages 4-7 define the sections of the template and 284-287 is a glossary of terminology used to fill in the various sections of the template found on page 4.

Those eight pages could be a VERY short chapter in the thinnest CORE RULEBOOK of the three, the Dungeon Maters Guide. Add a few monsters in to that section for examples and help people use their imaginations to create even more monsters that work with their campaign worlds. That would be a better use of mine and others' money. My recommendation for this book is to go read it at the bookstore, copy down the monster template (or download the SRD as it is in there on page 55, too) and learn pages 4-7 and pages 284-287. Don't limit yourself to just the list of terminology in the glossary. Create your own features and work them in to the template. The template is great, just not $35 great.

Wizards of The Coast would like to sell you on these main features:

The Monster Manual presents more than 300 official Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game monsters for all levels of play, from aboleth to zombie. Each monster is illustrated and comes with complete game statistics and tips for the Dungeon Master on how best to use the monster in D&D encounters.

• Core Rulebook: The Monster Manual is the third of three core rulebooks required to play the Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game.



• Quick and easy play: The improved page layout and presentation enables novice and established players to learn and understand the new D&D rules quickly.



• D&D Insider: The Monster Manual will receive enhanced online support at www.dndinsider.com.

1.) I really do have to argue that the 4th Edition Monster Manual it is required to play. This is a GAME. I require to have fun. That is it.
2.) As I stated, those eight pages are easy to understand and get you up and going. Put that in the DMG and save me $35 US.
3.) D&D Insider is a good tool, but that doesn't come with my book. I don't even get a trial. So why do I need a feature, that I have to pay extra for, to enhance my support. I didn't know I needed support to create a monster to kill my PCs?

The 4th Edition Players Handbook and the 4th Edition Dungeon Masters Guide are the only real CORE RULEBOOKS needed to play this latest edition of D&D. There are plenty of monsters in the world, I work with a few, just put their stats in to the template and go slay them!