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Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Monster Smackdown (Buffy RPG)

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"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).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Monster Smackdown (Buffy RPG)

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

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!