Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Monster Smackdown (Buffy RPG) [Hardcover]

Thom Marrion (Author)

Book Description

Series: Buffy RPG | Publication Date: September 4, 2003

Birds gotta fly, fish gotta swim, and a Slayer's gotta have something to slay. Fortunately for her, there's no shortage of vamps, demons, nasties, and Big Bads wandering around out there. And when the latté hits the fan, knowing an Acathla from a Gorch can save the world. The keys to combating these charmless creatures of nightmare are all here, in vivid detail. Buffy: To make you a vampire, they have to suck your blood and then you have to suck their blood; it's like a whole big sucking thing. -1.1 Welcome to the Hellmouth Hey, nobody said living on the Hellmouth was going to be all sunshine and stylish garb The Monster Smackdown is a supplement for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer roleplaying game. In it, you will find: An overview covering the nature of the Buffyverse, hellmouths, and hell dimensions, including some never before seen samples A complete rundown on vampires, including their powers, vulnerabilities, morality, nature, and hangouts A similar treatment for demons, with specific on many demonic races Details on non-vamp undead, primals, human villains, and various other critters that populate the Buffyverse Background and specifics on Buffy's major villains, unique demons, hellgoddesses, and real bad nasties, including a revisit of all the seasonal Big Bads Rules, guidelines, and ideas for creating monsters true to the spirit of the Buffyverse, including a list of mix-and-match monster powers A complete Episode featuring a major turning point in the Djinn Season

Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: Eden Studios (September 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891153900
• ISBN-13: 978-1891153907
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #682,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thom Marrion is an artist and writer living in Seattle with his wife and a dog who is often mistaken for a werewolf baby. He is currently working on another RPG book for Eden Studios, Beyond Human. He is also writing his first novel, with the working title of Werewolf Tango.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you need to know about Buffyverse monsters, January 16, 2004

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Monster Smackdown (Buffy RPG) (Hardcover)

"The Monster Smackdown" is a supplement for the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" roleplaying game, a counterpart to the "Slayer's Handbook" that is also available. Written by Thom Marrion, with assistance form a lot of others, this volume builds on the canon of the Buffyverse (through the show's first six seasons) and expands it to help players of the roleplaying game create new scenarios. While most of the monsters on "BtVS" were based on real world supernatural myths and legends, that is not seen as a limitation but a starting point for Directors. So while "Monster Smackdown" provides a summary of that mythology as it pertains to the darker side of the Buffyverse, it also introduces you to the rules and tools for you to expand your own neck of the "BtVS" underworld as your little (still beating) heart desires.

The book is divided into seven chapters: (1) Welcome to the Hellmouth summarizes the major points about monsters in the Buffyverse that gives you some ideas for locating Hellmouths in other places and a quick lesson on various demon dimensions; (2) Die Young, Live Forever is a detailed look at vampires, from abilities and weaknesses to notes on the soul and mortality; (3) From Hell runs down the "regular" demons who are considered lower-tier threats; (4) Everything You Ever Dreaded Under Your Bed collects all the various non-vamp, non-demon creatures that have appeared in the Buffyverse; (5) Bads, Big and Small focuses on the "name" adversaries for Buffy, from Adam and Angelus to Sweet and Mr. Trick, in what is by far the longest chapter in the book; (6) Monster Spawning provides tips for Directors creating their own adversaries and includes some cast member monsters, new creature qualities, new powers, and new archetypes; (7) The Once and Future HST is a ready-to-slay episode containing a major turning point in the on-going Djinn Season that we have been following along in these Eden Studio publications.

The book is filled with those pithy quotations that made "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" a test of your pop culture knowledge, boxes containing additional information and supplemental charts and tables, and fiction sections or cut scenes that give you a sense of what sort of scenarios you can play out in these games. These books are filled with photographs and illustrations, with gorgeous production values, so that they will appeal to fans of the series who are not necessarily interested in playing the game (which explains why they are on the shelf of my fancy bookcase next to my volumes of "BtVS" scripts).

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome addition to RPG set, September 10, 2009

By 

Buffy Land (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Monster Smackdown (Buffy RPG) (Hardcover)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Monster Smackdown (Buffy RPG)

This book is an excellent addition to your Buffy library. Useful information for your gaming experience.

5.0 out of 5 stars A need for any BtVS RPG Player!, December 22, 2003

By 

Megan Gilmore "Meggie" (Oak Harbor, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Monster Smackdown (Buffy RPG) (Hardcover)

This book is packed full of colorful, eye-catching illistrations along with text true to the show. Many of the monsters included can be easily recognized by any true fan. Includes ways to make your own demon characters!