We would like to thank Limitless Adventures for sending us a free copy of Limitless Monsters in order to write this review. We recently discovered their site (which we recommend you go see) and it immediately struck us as very interesting and full of digital content for D&D5e to help the Dungeon Masters in their wonderful but arduous work. It boasts a well-populated collection of 82 products for sale ranging from locations to encounters and quests. They kindly offered us to choose a product and we headed to their monster manual, Limitless Monsters.
Before starting with the actual review of Limitless Monsters…
As this is the first time we have reviewed products of the Limitless Adventures site, I think it’s fair to introduce the authors. The whole team is made up of players with at least twenty years of experience. They have tried all the editions of D&D and continue to meet every Tuesday to give it all, I’m sure, with the same enthusiasm as ever.
According to them they started with the idea of creating a simple set of tools to help Dungeon Masters suffering creative block. Then they got such good feedback that they kept making more products. They also have 15 Kickstarter campaigns under their belt, most of which have garnered support from over 700 backers.
The secret of their success? Let’s try to find out!
The DM and the game at the center of the layout
They don’t say this, I imagined it, but that’s the feeling I got when I first took a look at Limitless Monsters. First of all, you get two versions when you buy the product, the color one with parchment pages and a b/n printer-friendly version without illustrations. Each monster occupies its own page, sometimes two, but there is no overlapping of monsters on the same page. This allows you to print only the relevant item (saving ink with the printer-friendly version), or to view it in full on a screen. Furthermore, if there are slots or powers that can only be used occasionally, there are special spaces (simple circles) to mark their use. Everything seems designed to meet the needs of practicality and speed that all those who run sessions have.
In addition digital tokens of the monsters are also included in the purchase. There are more than sixty of them, with some monsters featured twice, both full-length and in profile.
The practical choices are reflected in the artistic side, too. Apart from the fascinating illustration that occupies both covers, the illustrations inside are simple and only some of the monsters are represented. Simple does not mean ugly. The illustrations have a retro feel, reflecting the team’s twenty years of experience and they are pleasant and well-crafted in that style.
The layout is clear, except for some pages on which the illustrations slightly overlap the text. While it can be deciphered still, it is an issue easily solved in an update.
Come on, let’s talk about monsters!
The time has come to focus on the contents. Limitless Monsters is 122 pages long and features a hundred entries, including both monsters (most) and NPCs. It is a collection of creatures also taken from previous Limitless Adventures works but, as in all their products, there are new creations too.
After the name, each entry gives a brief description followed by a table with all the mechanical information. Then there is a section on the combat tactics used, on the lore, on treasures and finally the section “Further Adventure”. This provides one or more ideas for making use of the monster in question. It is one of the more interesting additions. Many of these ideas are imaginative, unique, and easy to apply.
There are more classic monsters, such as the aasimar, although most of the famous names in monster manuals always carry some variations. For example the azer raider, the sorcerer kobold, the vampire priest or the alpha troll. There are multifaceted creatures that show great creativity, such as the nightmare mephit or the grave mephit, and other brilliant ideas I can’t wait to try! These include the Brass Oracle, the Echo of Death, the Living Hoard or the Elder Mimic (a fantastic bridge mimic!).
The NPCs provided are interesting and not obvious. For example, there is the Jester, and the Street Kid Pickpocketer, and the Dragon Hunter.
Limitless Monsters, final evaluation
I’m glad I chose to review Limitless Monsters. It’s a monster manual that gets right to the point, giving everything a DM needs to view or print what they want, and in a small space. The variety of creatures presented is good, and the proposals for including the monsters in campaigns are simple and credible, yet show creativity.
I like how everything is designed primarily to facilitate the DMs work. Although less flashy or colorful than other similar manuals, it almost gives the impression of being an enticing collection of a friend’s notes and ideas put together in fair copy, as if it had been written down by one of us for future use. And I don’t say this to diminish the graphics, but to emphasize the sense of utility that lies under the work.
I’m curious to read more of Limitless Adventures and see how they present other products, maybe about side-quests, or encounters, or adventures!