Review of Asian Bestiary Volume One

[OddHat]

As submitted to RPG Net:

Short Take:
The Asian Bestiary stands as an excellent product, useful for Asian themed games in many genres. A good choice for Hero System gamers, and useful for players of other game systems.


Longer Take:
Michael Surbrook’s Asian Bestiary Vol.1 presents 144 pages worth of monsters and mythical beasts from China, India, and elsewhere in Asia for use in Hero System games.

I picked this book up at Dundracon, looking for ideas for my Pulp era campaign, and I wasn’t disappointed. Surbrook’s writing style is crisp and readable, and the research he poured into this shines through on every page. There are monsters, odd creatures, godlings and strange sub-races of men here, all with the flavor that only comes when a writer starts from traditional mythology.

Surbrook has not tried to modernize these creatures, instead staying as closely as possible to the form each beast takes in traditional Asian myths and folktales. China, India, Cambodia, Indonesia, Mongolia and Viet Nam are all represented. Each creature receives its own short entry, and many are accompanied by extra bits of lore and a number of package options demonstrating how the write up can be used to represent similar mythical monsters. The resulting collection should prove very useful to Hero gamers exploring any genre where fantastic beings may be encountered. Gamers who work in other systems should still find plenty of useful information and adventure seeds here.

The layout is not as strong as the content, but is still solid. The art ranges from interesting to merely acceptable, and a small number of typos have snuck through. As far as the art is concerned, many entries would have benefited from a more stylized, Asian themed approach. Many mythic creatures just don’t look very impressive when drawn in a basic Western realistic style, unless the artist puts the time in to manage Alex Ross style super-realism. The book itself is well indexed and well put together.

I expect I’ll get a lot of use out of the Asian Bestiary in my Pulp and Weird Conspiracy games, and it is perfectly suited for its intended use in Asian themed fantasy campaigns. In a Super Heroic game many of the creatures would require a moderate power upgrade to present an interesting challenge to players. Adapting these creatures for use in Science Fiction games is also an option.

Overall, I was very happy with this purchase, and I’d recommend it.

[Susano]

Thanks, Oddhat!

Come GenCon I'll be sure to sign your copy, if you want. :)

[OddHat]

Thanks, Oddhat!

Come GenCon I'll be sure to sign your copy, if you want. :)

Groovy, looking forward to it. :)

[Curufea]

Good - but I had to download the latest version of Acrobat in order to read the PDF at home :)

Anyhow, one of my players will be overjoyed at the fuller writeup for Rakshasa to say the least. The other entries all look good as well!
I can see a lot of potential for their use in the exotic Kartaran empire.

[Hierax]

This is definately on my "must buy" list!

But is it really $24.95 USD (~$31.25 CDN) for only 144 pages?

When I first heard it was going to be 2 volumes I thought wow thats a frickin lot if they have to split it up. So, why 2 vols. unless the 2nd one is way bigger than the first? I mean 288ish pages for a Hero book wouldn't be too big at all. Why the split?

[Susano]

This is definately on my "must buy" list!

But is it really $29.95 USD (~$37.50 CDN) for only 144 pages?

When I first heard it was going to be 2 volumes I thought wow thats a frickin lot if they have to split it up. So, why 2 vols. unless the 2nd one is way bigger than the first? I mean 288ish pages for a Hero book wouldn't be too big at all. Why the split?

The listing under "Our Products" says $24.99.

[Duke]

Looks like I'll have to try harder next time.

Good review though, I can't wait to see the book myself when it gets here.

[Hierax]

sorry, I guess I couldn't read my own writing.

But what about the size of the books? How many pages in Vol. 2?

[Steve Long]

AB2 is 136 pages, IIRC.

[Susano]

Considering Volume II has Japan and the Philippines, I'd say 144 pages sounds about right.

EDIT: Dang I'm good. :D

[PhilFleischmann]

Is the rest of Asia covered in one of these books? Arabia, Turkey, Persia, Caspian and Aral Seas, all the -istan countries?

Or will these be in Asian Bestiary vol 3?

Just curious.

[Curufea]

I'd class most of those as Middle East though, rather than Asia.

[Susano]

Is the rest of Asia covered in one of these books? Arabia, Turkey, Persia, Caspian and Aral Seas, all the -istan countries?

Or will these be in Asian Bestiary vol 3?

Just curious.

The Asian Bestiaries cover SE Asia....

Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

You're asking about what I'd call The Middle East

[Curufea]

Hmm, now I'm hoping for an Oceania Beastiary - New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Antarctica :)

[TheQuestionMan]

[Review] Asian Bestiary I

Writing (4 out of 5)
Michael's writing has done nothing, but improve since Ninja Hero. I had to cross reference some of the Creatures from various sources and was very pleased to see how we he adapted mythological creatures into fiction. The Racial Package Deals are inspired, but they left you anticipating Cultural Package Deals somewhere (Maybe I missed them, but I do not believe so). If this is Book One of a Two Book set let me place my order for Book 2 NOW!!! My only complaint is a lack of Creature Sub Plots and Asian Wisdom in the borders reguarding them.

Layout (4.5 out of 5)
The layout by Region is inspired (Wish I had thought of that???). The Table of Contents, the Appendix Resources, and the Indexes are up to DoJ's high standards. The Creatures Listed by Country Table is great, but when, not if, but when Doj does a second print run they should add page numbers to it. The Shaded (?) Racial Package Deals and Additional Sections where a good choices and make it easy to reference. The Art placement is a big improvement over Fantasy Hero's Bestiary. Again my only complaints is The Creatures Listed by Country Tableand the many empty borders

Art (4 out of 5)
The Cover Art, what there is of it is nice, but I want full Cover Art (Personal Preference). The Interior Art is of better quality than recent DoJ Books. There are several great pieces and I love Duke's "Rakshasa" (Plug). Yet another reason I will be getting Book 2. Niiiccceee!

Summary (4.67 out of 5)
You want to through something strange and new at your Gamers, this is the book for you. I really envy Gamers who get to play in Asian Camapign settings and now I HATE YOU! The Asian Bestiary is the perfect addition to any Gamers Library. Its focus is on Fantasy Hero, but with little work it can be adapted to any Hero Genre.

Susano and DoJ did a great job and I highly recogmend the Asian Bestary Volume 1 for everyone.



More Later

QM

P.S.: I gots it and its mine mine I tell you muhwahahahaha!!!

[Susano]

[Review] Asian Bestiary I

Writing (4 out of 5)
Michael's writing has done nothing, but improve since Ninja Hero. I had to cross reference some of the Creatures from various sources and was very pleased to see how we he adapted mythological creatures into fiction. The Racial Package Deals are inspired, but they left you anticipating Cultural Package Deals somewhere (Maybe I missed them, but I do not believe so). If this is Book One of a Two Book set let me place my order for Book 2 NOW!!! My only complaint is a lack of Creature Sub Plots and Asian Wisdom in the borders reguarding them.

There are no Cultural Packages, mainly because I directed readers to FH and MMM for the packages there. Anything I would have done would have been redundant. Also, the HSB doesn't have sub-plots, so I never considered creating any. As for "Asian Wisdom," I'm not sure what you're looking for, but I suspect a lot of that would be under "Campaign Use."


Layout (4.5 out of 5)
The layout by Region is inspired (Wish I had thought of that???). The Table of Contents, the Appendix Resources, and the Indexes are up to DoJ's high standards. The Creatures Listed by Country Table is great, but when, not if, but when Doj does a second print run they should add page numbers to it. The Shaded (?) Racial Package Deals and Additional Sections where a good choices and make it easy to reference. The Art placement is a big improvement over Fantasy Hero's Bestiary. Again my only complaints is The Creatures Listed by Country Tableand the many empty borders


To me, presenting the creatures by region was a virtual requirement, as some many were interelated in a specific region.


Art (4 out of 5)
The Cover Art, what there is of it is nice, but I want full Cover Art (Personal Preference). The Interior Art is of better quality than recent DoJ Books. There are several great pieces and I love Duke's "Rakshasa" (Plug). Yet another reason I will be getting Book 2. Niiiccceee!

Summary (4.67 out of 5)
You want to through something strange and new at your Gamers, this is the book for you. I really envy Gamers who get to play in Asian Camapign settings and now I HATE YOU! The Asian Bestiary is the perfect addition to any Gamers Library. Its focus is on Fantasy Hero, but with little work it can be adapted to any Hero Genre.

Susano and DoJ did a great job and I highly recogmend the Asian Bestary Volume 1 for everyone.


I feel the AB(s) are perfect for people involved in Fantasy Hero, Ninja Hero, Pulp Hero, and Horror Hero games. I also feel the AB(s) would be useful for people involved in the following RPGs: Feng Shui, World of Darkness (Kindred of the East), Oriental Adventures, Legend of the Five Rings, Stalking the Night Fantastic, Chill, GURPS Hellboy, Shadowrun, Call of Cthulhu, and so on and so forth.

Thanks for the kind words, QM!

[TheQuestionMan]

There are no Cultural Packages, mainly because I directed readers to FH and MMM for the packages there. Anything I would have done would have been redundant.
I disagree, I think Regional Cultural Package Deals would make a great addtion. Background Skills too.

Also, the HSB doesn't have sub-plots, so I never considered creating any.
The Sub Plots whould have made great GM Hooks to draw GMs to the Creatures and the Players too.

As for "Asian Wisdom," I'm not sure what you're looking for, but I suspect a lot of that would be under "Campaign Use."
Some yes, but Asian Wisdom or Stories of the Creature in question, how to confront, defeat, appease them would add even more colour.

To me, presenting the creatures by region was a virtual requirement, as some many were interelated in a specific region.
And thank goo great minds think alike ;)

I feel the AB(s) are perfect for people involved in Fantasy Hero, Ninja Hero, Pulp Hero, and Horror Hero games.
Like I said great minds think alike. ;)

I also feel the AB(s) would be useful for people involved in the following RPGs: Feng Shui, World of Darkness (Kindred of the East), Oriental Adventures, Legend of the Five Rings, Stalking the Night Fantastic, Chill, GURPS Hellboy, Shadowrun, Call of Cthulhu, and so on and so forth.
Shadowrun??? Hmmm... gonna have to look at the Shadowpunk Campiagn Rules again ;) Damn you!!! ;)

Thanks for the kind words, QM!
Heh, they were not all kind, but they were well deserved.



Cheers

QM

[OddHat]

And thank goo great minds think alike ;)


Any particular goo? ;)

[TheQuestionMan]

Mi-goo?
Nooo you Groo

Doh, Tangent

QM

[Susano]

I disagree, I think Regional Cultural Package Deals would make a great addtion. Background Skills too.


Off the top of my head, I can't think of what would go into a Cultural Package Deal or who I'd need to write it for. I mean, how would they be any different than the ones already made? Also, for the sapient humanoids I think I included the cultural elements. Now, if this is in reference to the Fantastic Men of China... many of the Racial Packages include this sort of thing.



Some yes, but Asian Wisdom or Stories of the Creature in question, how to confront, defeat, appease them would add even more colour.


A lot of that is found under Ecology and Powers.


Shadowrun??? Hmmm... gonna have to look at the Shadowpun Campiagn Rules again ;) Damn you!!! ;)


Sure. Awakened creatures of the Far East!

[TheQuestionMan]

This song says it best

"I want it all I want it all I want it all and I want it now" - Queen



Cheers

QM

[PhilFleischmann]

I'd class most of those as Middle East though, rather than Asia.

The Asian Bestiaries cover SE Asia....

Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

You're asking about what I'd call The Middle East
That's what I call the Middle East as well, but it's still part of the continent of Asia. It seems kind of silly for Asia Minor to not be considered part of Asia. The entire continent gets its name from a small region between the Black and Caspian Seas.

I also find it odd to think of, for example, the former Soviet Republics of Georgia and Kazakhstan as being part of the Middle East. Which bring to mind the majority of the land area of Russia, which is also in Asia. There's more to Asia that rice, martial arts, pagodas, and gongs, folks!

Or am I just being pedantic? I'm not really complaining at all. The door is open for an Asian Bestiary, Volume 3, if and when the demand arises (which I accept is probably not as great as for China, Japan, SE Asia and the Indian subcontinent).

[Curufea]

So we should be expecting Brazilian, Aztec and Canadian monsters and myths in the American Beastiary?
;-p

[PhilFleischmann]

If by "American" you're referring to the continents of the Americas, then yes. But to be clearer, you could have two books: the North American Bestiary, which would include Aztec and Canadian; and the South American Bestiary, whcih would include Brazilian. Of course, there's probably even less demand for these.

[Susano]

For the record, when asked about what would be in the AB(s), SE Asia was expressed as the desired region. The "classic" definition of Asia.

That said, I could have a lot of fun doing similar books for other regions. Africa would be just bizarre to our eyes, I'm fairly sure, while a bestiary of North American (specifically, tall-tales America) would be a blast, and in the case of the tall-tales, a riot to read about and write up.

I'd also love to do a series of character sheets for American folk heroes -- Paul Bunyan, Peco Bill, and so on.

[TheQuestionMan]

I'd also love to do a series of character sheets for American folk heroes -- Paul Bunyan, Peco Bill, and so on.
Is that Paul's bunyans like calaces on you feet?

[Susano]

Is that Paul's bunyans like calaces on you feet?

You mean calluses?

:p

[Susano]

Woot! My copies arrived!

[Curufea]

Your free author copy?
That took some time :)

There's nothing like seeing your name in print :)

[L. Marcus]

Yah. My wanted poster really shocked me.

[FenrisUlf]

That said, I could have a lot of fun doing similar books for other regions... while a bestiary of North American (specifically, tall-tales America) would be a blast, and in the case of the tall-tales, a riot to read about and write up.

I'd also love to do a series of character sheets for American folk heroes -- Paul Bunyan, Peco Bill, and so on.

And I'd love to read it.

But may Heaven help you if you forget Joe Magarac. For Pennsylvanians Joe Magarac is the :king:

[FenrisUlf]

Is that Paul's bunyans like calaces on you feet?

Why, Paul didn't just have some calluses, son! His calluses were so thick, that one day when he visited his friend Joe Magarac, he decided to warm his toes, ao he went walking through molten steel in Pittsburgh. The steel stuck to his feet, and while it couldn't burn him none through those calluses of his, it got mighty slippery to walk on, so Paul just made a mighty couple of kicks and launched that hunk of misshapen metal all the way to Arizona. And when it fell, it hit so hard it made what some folks call 'Meteor Crater'. 'Course, scientists don't believe any of that, but folks as that know Paul, know better.

[Play4Keeps]

The Asian Bestiaries cover SE Asia....

Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam
Is the Tibetan stuff in volume one or volume two? Is there Nepali, Bhutanese, Kashmiri and other Himalayan/Karakoram/Pamir stuff with it? Oh, and Sinkiang?

[Susano]

Is the Tibetan stuff in volume one or volume two? Is there Nepali, Bhutanese, Kashmiri and other Himalayan/Karakoram/Pamir stuff with it? Oh, and Sinkiang?

Tibet is in Volume II. Nepal and Bhutan do not have separate entries, although Tibet covers them to some extent. Kashmir would fall under India, as would (I presume) Himalayan/Karakoram/Pamir & Sinkiang. I realize that this means some stuff ends up lumped under a common header, but I did the best I could with the sources I had.

[Basil]

Tibet is in Volume II. Nepal and Bhutan do not have separate entries, although Tibet covers them to some extent. Kashmir would fall under India, as would (I presume) Himalayan/Karakoram/Pamir & Sinkiang. I realize that this means some stuff ends up lumped under a common header, but I did the best I could with the sources I had.

BTW, Sinkiang is north of Tibet, so it and the Pamir Mountains (and the Karkoram Mountains to some extent) are Central Asia, not East, Southeast, or South. Just for your information. :)

[Susano]

BTW, Sinkiang is north of Tibet, so it and the Pamir Mountains (and the Karkoram Mountains to some extent) are Central Asia, not East, Southeast, or South. Just for your information. :)

Sinkiang would fall under China (Volume 1).

As for the others? I don't know. That might start getting into the "stans" (Pakistan, Afghanistan, and so on), which were areas outside of the region I selected when discussing this project with Steve.

[Egyptoid]

I like the Bee spirits.

and the Indonesian monkeys.

When the "teen asian sorceror" in my
Champs game screws up,
guess who's paying a visit.

"Paybacks being hell, mago-san" "Indeed!"

[Super Squirrel]

I'd also love to do a series of character sheets for American folk heroes -- Paul Bunyan, Peco Bill, and so on.
Make sure in the North America one that you include the horrific soccer mom.

[L. Marcus]

. . . But that's not a legendary creature, surely?

[Basil]

Sinkiang would fall under China (Volume 1).

As for the others? I don't know. That might start getting into the "stans" (Pakistan, Afghanistan, and so on), which were areas outside of the region I selected when discussing this project with Steve.
Oh, no problem. Just thought I'd give a little FYI re. geography. :)

And I've definitely got to get both Asian Bestiaries. I'm waiting for both to be available.

Say, anyone know if there's going to be a "bundle" of the two of them?

[Lethosos]

J got me a copy; he made me promise him a review. I'll have to sit down and re-read the book, but... well, I'm not gonna say a thing right now.

But the China entry will be handy once I start fleshing out the hinterlands of the Empire in Eight Sages. Can't wait for Vol. 2 soon, I wanna read the Japan entry.

[Susano]

J got me a copy; he made me promise him a review. I'll have to sit down and re-read the book, but... well, I'm not gonna say a thing right now.

But the China entry will be handy once I start fleshing out the hinterlands of the Empire in Eight Sages. Can't wait for Vol. 2 soon, I wanna read the Japan entry.

I'm guessing this is a good thing?

:D

[Lethosos]

Oh, it is... it is... especially when it's a present from him. Totally unexpected. :D

Like I said, I'm not saying a thing--yet. I don't want to leak anything from the review itself, but I'm already bouncing with the prospect.

[Susano]

Oh, it is... it is... especially when it's a present from him. Totally unexpected. :D

Like I said, I'm not saying a thing--yet. I don't want to leak anything from the review itself, but I'm already bouncing with the prospect.

Are you waiting for Volume 2 to do the full review? And will it be posted here?

[Lethosos]

No, and no. Well, I'll leave a link, or at least a copy; I intend to put those reviews on my Iron Dragon Studios blog. Get more mileage out of it.

[Play4Keeps]

Kashmir would fall under India, as would (I presume) Himalayan/Karakoram/Pamir & Sinkiang. I realize that this means some stuff ends up lumped under a common header, but I did the best I could with the sources I had.
I forgot to ask :doi: is India in volume one or volume two, too? (Volume tutu? :winkgrin:)

[Susano]

I forgot to ask :doi: is India in volume one or volume two, too?

Volume I, along with China, Indonesia, Cmaboida, Thiland, Vietnam, and Monglia.

Volume II has Japan, Tibet, the Philippines, Burma/Myanmar, Korea, and Malaysia.

[Captain Obvious]

I would expect Sinkiang (or Xinjiang) to be more similar to the -stans as far as the local monsters go. Maybe some Han Chinese type beasties leaking in, but mostly Central Asian steppe-things.

Oh, and by the way, I have decent internet access once again, so expect a fair amount of thread necromancy over the next few days.

[yamamura]

Okay in my grubby little hand today was delivered Asian Bestiary One. 1st the Pros.

1. Well Researched. It is obvious Mike spent a whole lot of time digging for facts.

2. Well Organized. It is easy to find a creature based on country. Though a table on Enviroment my be cool too.

3. Highly Informative. Already I am dreaming up villains even hero inspired ideas based on the things in this book.

4. Ridley's Picture of a Churel. This picture grabs my attention.

Now the Cons.

1. Requiring the buyer to have more then FREd. Yes I know saying to apply this set of powers to a creature in MM&M or the Bestiary saves time and space but it keeps the books from being a stand alone product with FREd. This is a minor complaint for me (especially since I own the books being referenced) but may not be to someone who don't have those books.

So far that is it. If I come across anymore Pros or Cons, I will append (hopefully the Pros keep leading over the Cons)...

[Michael Hopcroft]

Antarctica :)
SS Killer Penguins!

(Oh, I suppose you could just ahve "Killer Penguins", but come on -- who doesn't think of little waddling Nazis marching across the Antacrtic plains vowing "ve vill haff our revenge against the elephant seals!"?)

[FenrisUlf]

SS Killer Penguins!

(Oh, I suppose you could just ahve "Killer Penguins", but come on -- who doesn't think of little waddling Nazis marching across the Antacrtic plains vowing "ve vill haff our revenge against the elephant seals!"?)

You ever read GURPS Technomancer?

Though in there, the penguins were a Stalinist hive mind. "Urrah Stalino!"

[L. Marcus]

That's some *bleep*ed up *bleep* right there.

Me like. :D