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The ''Monster Manual'' (or '''''Monstrous Compedium''''') is the primary sourcebook for Monster s in the '' Dungeons & Dragons '' Fantasy Role-playing Game . It includes monsters derived from both Mythology and Folklore , and creations invented for D&D specifically, describing each with game-specific statistics (such as number of Hit Dice ), a brief description of its habits and habitats, and an image. With the '' Player's Handbook '' and '' Dungeon Master's Guide '', it is one of the three "core rulebooks" in all editions of the ''(Advanced) Dungeons & Dragons'' game. CURRENT ''MONSTER MANUAL'' (3RD EDITION DUNGEONS & DRAGONS) The current version of the ''Monster Manual'' (July 2003 ), subtitled ''Core Rulebook v3.5'', is a revision of the ''Monster Manual'' ( 2000 ) for Third Edition ''Dungeons & Dragons''. The v3.5 revision has a slightly different entry on each monster, particularly the division of the attack into Attack and Full Attack entries. Also, most of the monsters now have an enhanced version of them near the original one as an example of advancement (usually either with a template or with class levels). Many monsters now have instructions on how to use them as player characters. These volumes are not major variations from the earlier concepts of the ''Monster Manual''; they update older monsters to Third Edition rules. In 2001 , ''Monster Manual'' won the Origins Award for ''Best Graphic Design of a Roleplaying Game, Adventure, or Supplement 2000''. ''Monster Manual II'' (2002) and '' Fiend Folio '' (2003) are new monster-specific rulebooks, though some of the specific monsters featured therein have almost no overlap with those of their first edition namesakes. There have been no new versions of ''Monster Manual II'' and ''Fiend Folio'' for v3.5, however update errata are available for both volumes and the original third edition Monster Manual are available for download from the publishers website . ''Monster Manual III'' (2004) contains more monsters and was originally published in the v3.5 format. ''Monster Manual IV'' is scheduled for release later this year. It will be published in the v3.5 format, but little else is known about it. EARLIER ''MONSTER MANUAL''S - 1982 ) features some of the most amateurish artwork of the early game.]] Early ''Dungeons & Dragons'' The earliest ''Dungeons and Dragons'' box games did not have separate ''Monster Manual''s but contained the monsters in the manuals in the boxed set. The original boxed set included a ''Book 2: Monsters and Treasure''. After the publication of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'', the game was still published in level-based boxes. Monsters of the appropriate levels were included in the rulebooks in ''Basic/Expert/Companion/Master/Immortals Sets'' and ''D&D Rules Cyclopedia'' book. ''AC9 Creature Catalogue'' ( 1986 ) and its expanded revised namesake ''DMR2 Creature Catalogue'' ( 1993 ) were the only major new monster specific accessory for ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (pre-third edition). Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1st Edition) The original ''Monster Manual'' ( 1977 ) was written by Gary Gygax . It was the first Hardcover book for any ''Dungeons & Dragons'' game, and the first of the Core Manuals for the new ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''. Except for a cover art change in 1983 to match a new logo and House Style , and some minor corrections introduced in the 1978 printings, it went through very little change in its fifteen printings up to 1989 . The Pen And Ink illustrations within the first volume of the ''Monster Manual'' are uneven—some artwork is amateurish (as in many early D&D publications), while some shows skillful use of lines and media. Many illustrations even evoke a feeling of medieval woodcuts. The cover for the first ''Monster Manual'' is one the most notable uses of non-orthodox fantasy artwork (c.f. Boris Vallejo ) by TSR, and is often jokingly disparaged by fans, although this two-dimensional "Bic pen and school notebook" style vividly captures and expresses the quaint, adolescent nature of 1970s fantasy roleplay. Despite their uneven quality, the illustrations within the tome are some of the best in the series. The credited artists of the first manual, in order, are David C. Sutherland III (DCS), David A. Trampier (DAT), Tom Wham (TW), and Jean Wells . It is a common misperception that Erol Otus contributed to the first Monster Manual; he did not. The first edition ''Monster Manual'' is also famous for the topless portrayals of its female monsters, such as the succubus and Type V demons, the lamia, the sylph, among others. The casual depiction of female nudity is a hallmark of first edition ''Dungeons and Dragons'' art. ''Fiend Folio'' ( 1981 ) was produced by TSR UK and originally scheduled for 1979 . Many of the ''Fiend Folio'' ''Monster Manual II'' ( 1983 ) was also credited to Gygax, though some of its contents was taken from modules. It introduced the new logo and art style on the cover that was used on latter reprintings of the other manuals. While the ''Monster Manual II'' added many popular monsters to the ''D&D'' mythos, there were also some ridiculed monsters such as the Modron . 2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons ''Monstrous Compendium'' ( 1989 ) replaced the ''Monster Manual'' when ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' Second Edition was released. The ''Compendium'' was a binder of looseleaf sheets rather than a hardback book. The first two volumes contained the "core" monsters of the game. These were followed by a large number of appendix volumes that contained extra monsters for particular Campaign Settings . The format was intended to help Dungeon Master s keep all of their monster statistics in one place and in alphabetical order. It would also mean they would only need to purchase core volumes and appendix volumes for the campaigns they wanted, rather than getting a mix of monsters in books. However, the binder format ultimately proved impractical for two main reasons:
The artwork in the looseleaf volume of the manual is generally considered the absolute worst of the game, especially when one considers that the art budget available for the ''Monstrous Compendium'' series was much higher than that for the original ''Monster Manuals''. In particular, the art in the first two volumes of the ''Compendium'' were almost entirely illustrated by a single artist in a style that seemed to many to be rushed and careless. However, later ''Monstrous Compendiums'' made a return to form with full-color art on quality paper that was up to professional standards. In 1993 the ''Monstrous Manual'' was released, compiling all monsters from the first two volumes of the ''Monstrous Compendium'' plus a large number of monsters from other sources into a large 384 page hardcover book. More ''Monstrous Compedium'' Appendices were released as a supplement to the ''Monstrous Manual'' in the form of Paperback books, mostly 128 pages. They included updated reprints of loose leaf ''Monstrous Compendium Appendices'' and new volumes. ''Monstrous Compendium'' volumes issued The MC series was the loose leaf version. These included:
After the loose leaf version was abandoned, ''Monstrous Compedium'' Appendices were published in book form. Except where noted, are 128 page Paperback s with mostly new material. They included:
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