Classic Reviews by Crothian
Review of Book of Templates by Silverthorne Games
This is a pdf filled with templates that can be added to any creature in the any of the many monster books. This review will cover the 69pg main book, the 20pg web enhancement, and the two free templates that were released as a preview to this product. There are thirty templates in the Book of Templates, eight templates in the web enhancement, and two free templates. It should be noted that one needs to have the Book of Templates before you can access the web enhancement. The layout of the Book of Templates is okay. It does have a color cover, but doesn’t have any borders so it should be relative easy to print out.
All the templates are presented in the standard way introduced in Core Rulebook III. Also, they all have one sample creature presented with the template attached as an example of how the template can be used. All the templates were designed for DMs to use as add on to the monsters. It is strongly suggested that players not use these templates as many of them can really disrupt a game. I would have liked to see suggests to use these for players along with some ecls given. Also, the each template gives a challenge rating adjustment, but the DM must keep in mind that some creatures will benefit more or less from certain templates. Therefore, the DM might need to alter the CR a little higher or lower then is suggested. Below I’ll disguise a few of the templates.
Amorphous: This template can be applied to any creature. It gives many defensive abilities and interesting qualities. The example given is of an Amorphous Hill Giant and that can really be an interesting challenge to players.
Denizen of the Deep: This is a template that an evil creature earns. It is a curse that takes a creature from the land and places him into the sea. These creatures have a hunger that can never be filled so they become a true terror under the waves.
Enchanted: The enchanted template is given to creatures that through some means like drinking from an enchanted pool or meeting a magical creature. The template is one of the weaker ones, yet is also one of the more interesting. They get the use of some spells like detect magic and light. They also gain sorcerer r as a preferred class.
Feral: This template is another good idea. It takes a creature and makes them a little more mean and vicious.
Half Human: The Half Human template can be applied to most intelligent creatures. It is a nice way of doing something a little different.
Hypermitotic: This strange template gives the creature amazing reproductive ability. Basically, once a week the creature divides into two identical creatures. It’s very strange and does not sound that easy to use.
Overall the templates in the book seem pretty balanced. The DM really does need to be careful with some of the templates and with certain creatures. The CRs will need to be watched with certain creature especially from third party sources.
The web enhancement is in the same format as the Book of Templates. The apocalyptic template will take almost any creature and allow it to challenge even epic level characters. The apocalyptic titan they have as an example is truly something that can change many gods. The half troll template is good one that easily be applied to any humanoid or monstrous humanoid. It gives the creatures many typical troll abilities and can really make an interesting creature. Hive Mind is one of the most creative templates anywhere. It is used with a bunch of creatures to allow them to share thoughts and gain bonuses for other being around.
The two free templates are Quickened and Iron Kin. The Quickened creates a very fast creature with amazing ability to get around. One of these could possible out maneuver a high level monk. The Iron Kin is a construct in the form of the base creatures. Rather basic, but nice easy to use.
Overall, the templates are all varied and cover many different ideas. This is a good product to take the routine monsters and give them unique qualities and interesting abilities.
Book of Templates Deluxe edition
How does one get the most out of their Monster Manual? There are many d20 monster books out there, but I still see many people mostly using the core monster book. But after a while players and DMs can get a bit bored with using the same creatures over and over again. So, instead of just switching to another monster book, DMs have always had the option to alter the creatures in there. The Book of Templates Deluxe Edition allows for such alteration in the form of many, many templates.
This is a revision of a past product, the Book of Templates. It is a large revision. They added templates and greatly expanded the ones they had. This pdf is two hundred and sixty pages in length compared to the sixty nine pages of the original. That is a lot of new material. It is good to see Silverthorne Games take a popular product and make it better. So, if one has the first one and really liked it this new and improved one is much better and well worth acquiring.
The Books of Templates Deluxe version is as I said a two hundred and sixty page pdf. It comes in a zip file a little over eight megs and inside are two versions of the book. The smaller one is designed for print and is under four megs and the big one is designed for use on the computer screen and it comes in at under six megs. So, this is not going to take up much hard drive space at all. The on screen version is well book marked making it easy to go from template to template. And in a book of this size it is needed. The layout is nicely done with table and pictures inserted well. The art is also well done depicted various creatures with the templates. There is not a lot of art in the book, but it doe not feel sparse.
There are about eighty five templates in this book. That’s some monster variety. There are templates for undead creatures, for constructs, for legendry type monsters, and for half races. There are templates that can make some very odd creatures, so interesting encounters, good allies, and ferocious monsters. It might be impossible to have a template for everything in a single book, but I would have to say the Book of Templates Deluxe Version comes close.
Each template is presented in the same manner. It starts with a definition of what the template is. It then gives a description change of what a creature with the template looks like. The n it goes into the game mechanics, what parts of the stat block are altered by the template. This includes what types of creature the template may be added to, new abilities and defenses, alterations to attributes and skills, hit dice modifications, etc. Some templates include a level advancement for them as well. Each template has at least one sample creature using the template. The creatures presented here are fully stated out and described making them ready to use in any campaign.
Apocalyptic: This Template is just nasty. Any template that multiples the HD of a creature by 10, increases them to a d12 and give max hit points for them is looking for trouble. This template represents creating a single creature that can possible end the world. There are two examples of this template used, one on a titan and the other on a hell hound. Campaigns can be created around such a creature.
Beast, Elder: This is used to create an animal or beast that is intelligent and possible of an age long past. I like the use of this template over legendary creatures except these are not going to be as powerful as legendary ones can be.
Blind Oracle: This template is pretty self explanatory. It is one of those that lists a level adjustment and could make a for a very interesting character.
Dragon Blooded: This is a much more subdued template adding more character then abilities. It is a good mix of character and few, but well suited abilities.
Half Gnome: I include this one as an example to just show that they are willing to do something that not many people would think to do.
Heighten: This is a very flexible template that has many options. IT represents just a better version of a race but also allows for many choices so each heightened creature can be very different.
Immortal: This is another not so obvious looking template that can be used to create an interesting NPC. They have the immortality defined as being given from a deity.
Mephit Lord: Quite simply, the rules of the mephitis. They aren’t hugely powerful, but a nice increase from the normal mephitis. While a general template is used for all mephitis, there are specific powers listed for the individual types.
Moon Wildling: Natures answer to evil Lycanthropes. I really like the idea here and the template. I found it nice and creatively done.
Puppeteer Ooze: This has a template for the ooze and the creature the ooze controls. There is lots of potential and creepiness here.
Quickened: This is simply template that increases the speed of a creature. One of the sample creatures they have for this is a Quickened Treant. That is something the players will not be expecting.
Obviously, that is a short list of just some of the great templates that this book has to offer. This book is equal to the Monster’s Handbook in terms of getting the most of ones monster book. The only thing I would have liked to see was template levels. That would have been a lot of extra work and I do not fault them for not including them. But it would make a great web enhancement for some of the templates that are more player oriented.
