I, Tyrant (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons/Monstrous Arcana Accessory) [Paperback]

Aaron Allston (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: TSR (July 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786904046
• ISBN-13: 978-0786904044
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,102,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beholders, Beholders, Beholders, July 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: I, Tyrant (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons/Monstrous Arcana Accessory) (Paperback)

Q: "What is the best way to kill a beholder?" A: Hire someone far stronger than you to do it.

First off, let me say that Wizards of the Coast should let TSR continue with these Monstrous Arcana books. If you are a fan of the "Dragon Ecologies" in Dragon Magazine as I am, the Monstrous Arcana series are for you.

This book covers the beholder race, also known as "eye tyrants." The best way to imagine what a beholder looks like is to imagine a baloon. Now, put a single eye in the center of the balloon. Put a mouth full of sharp teeth below that eye. Put a ring of tentacles on the top, each ending in a single eye. Voila! Eye tyrant.

While the Monstrous Manual has information on these beings, the Monstrous Arcana expands on so much more so.

This book gives a complete ecology of the beholder race, including religion, social interaction, eating habits, anatomy, genetic deviations, alliances and hatreds. Diagrams include a typical beholder lair and disection. Each eye of the beholder has its own power, a ray of magic, each of which is categorized here. New beholder weapons and vehicles (!) are in here to, including mouth tools (they have no hands) and the bizarre eyedozer. Game stats cover the different variation of the beholders (including the three undead types).

I hesitate to say this is a "must have" for D&D gamers, but it is really interesting.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique look into an alien race!, August 23, 1999

By 

Christopher (Lilburn, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I, Tyrant (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons/Monstrous Arcana Accessory) (Paperback)

I bought this work in a fit of curiosity and have found it to be absolutely fascinating. An extremely well done look into an alien way of life. Beholders, Beholder-Kin, and the undead forms of the same are thoroughly detailed.

If you want to use a beholder (or a group of the same) in your adventures and want them to be more than just magic-wielding balloons, then this is the book for you. Learn about their origins, gods/forces, and civilizations.

0 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent insight in Beholders, September 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: I, Tyrant (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons/Monstrous Arcana Accessory) (Paperback)

You get to know almost anything you would like to know about Beholders and their kin