Fiend Folio Review T-Z

Really this should have been finished a long while ago, but better late than never. Seeing the estimable Marsworms post her Part 15 (almost two months ago now -_-) reminded me I need to get this wrapped up.

Tabaxi

★★★☆☆

WHAT is that illustration, I want to shoot it with a hunting rifle. Much like with the Kenku, it is interesting to see the roots of what later becomes an extremely popular player character choice. This ancestral tabaxi is much wilder. I like the bit about them disguising scent with aromatic herbs. The tool use and innate weapon comprehension thing is weird. The cat behaviors could be played up more and them hunting in "prides" is silly. Learn about any cat other than lions people.

Tentamort

★★★★★

I must admit to a weakness for weird dungeon ecology creatures, especially one's with a name as excellent as 'tentamort'. The creature hits the sweet spot between too mundane and too weird. Defeating one would require some cunning and observation. My one qualm would be that it's liquid digestion needle attack is extremely lethal to a healing magic-less party, but that's an easy fix.

Terithran

★☆☆☆☆

The illustration is uninspiring unfortunately, and the entry's not great either, lacking a distinctive theme, aesthetic, or gimmick. I do enjoy the idea of an otherworldly creature just being pissed about wizard magic causing weird weather in their home plane and marching off to fuck the wizard up, but it is poorly implemented. The terithran is just some guy with miscellaneous spell powers who randomly appears to attack the magic-users of the party. There's nothing to really build it into a more interesting encounter.

Thoqqua

★★★☆☆

Larval rock-worm that melts its way through the earth and will set you on fire and melt your stuff if it attacks is pretty good, unfortunately there's no clear reason why it would attack besides "because." Once again we have an example of a monster who you can only interact with through combat. At least the khargra (which is of a similar type to this burrowing worm) had its affinity for metals and gems. Nonetheless I could imagine using the thoqqua as is, so it gets three stars instead of two. 

Thork

★★★★★

Giant metal bird which spews super heated steam. Hell yes. Another entry that hits the line perfectly between naturalistic and weird. It feels akin to the best of medieval and ancient bestiary entries. I can see myself using the thork as a piece of weird-wildlife for populating some jungle river basin, or island. As well, the description of its behavior if it is attacked (and the incentive to do so, owing to its valuable copper plumage) is well written in terms of utility in the moment; sucking up water in preparation for its attack and whatnot.

Throat Leech

★★★★☆

Feels more like an environmental hazard than a proper monster, that said it's gross and nasty and creates a fun problem to solve.

Tiger Fly

★★★☆☆

Baffling illustration. Not really sure what the theme is supposed to be here. I do love parasitic wasps though and the egg laying is deliciously gruesome.

Tirapheg

★★☆☆☆

Why's it got three legs, three arms (two nothing but spikes) three heads and a mouth in its belly? Why's it got two tentacles above its mouth? Who knows! It likes eating decaying flesh though and makes exclusionary copies of itself in a fight. Another entry which doesn't really have a readily comprehensible theme. Maybe it was pulled from some sci-fi novel? As an encounter its gimmicks are neat enough but there's nothing here that would let me plug it into a wider game world.

Trilloch

★☆☆☆☆

It's a life-draining energy blob which you can't interact with except for the spell 'dispel magic' and can't even detect without the spell 'detect magic.' Boo.

Giant Troll

★☆☆☆☆

It's just a big troll. Good illustration though, I like it's crude poleaxe.

Giant Two-Headed Troll

★☆☆☆☆

Again, it's just a big troll, but with two heads now. You already have a two headed giant, you literally mention the ettin in the description. At least make the heads argue. A missed opportunity all around. If you treat trolls as a sort of walking cancer you could have it be some horrible conglomerate of two trolls that regrew together and hate each other or something.

Ice Troll

★★★☆☆

Much better. Excellent illustration here, a nice enough variation on troll's normal regeneration gimmick although you lose a lot of the meat horror. Not stellar but I could see myself turning it into something fun.

Spirit Troll

★☆☆☆☆

It's a magic invisible fog troll which is a "perverted crossbreed of a troll and invisible stalker" yadda yadda. Does not bring anything interesting to the table.

Tween

★☆☆☆☆

Awful name. One of the worst kinds of monsters are the ones you can't hurt except with very specific spells/items. Kind of a neat idea, what with having a host and boosting their luck by seeing slightly into the future but at the cost of fucking over everyone else's luck around you, but seems like it would be frustrating in play and there's just no meat to it, evocatively speaking.

Umpleby

★★★★★

Hell yeah, weird seal guys. Actually, upon rereading this entry I can find no mention of the umpleby being aquatic. It just seems like they should be. Their hair nets are weird and go well with their electrocution attack (entangle then zap) and the dynamic of them forcibly joining a party as demanding henchmen is fun.

Urchin

★★★☆☆

Did the authors think regular sea urchins can shoot their spines like a crossbow bolt? Mildly baffling, would be like making an entry for dogs and then saying they have detachable tails that they can regrow. That said, I'm weirdly infatuated with these things (also the concept of sea urchins being able to infest land as well as sea is terrifying).

Vision

★☆☆☆☆

Doesn't even have a form. Vaguely attacks with illusions that you can throw off with a roll. Extremely boring.

Vodyanoi

★★☆☆☆

Points off already for stealing the name of an excellent Slavic mythological creature and using it merely for a 'close aquatic relatives of the umber hulk'. Basically just a big underwater brute that rips up your boat and tries to eat you. I do like the hint at a salt-water species twice as large and more ferocious, that's nice. 

Volt

★★★★★

Funky little thing, feels like a Vancian monster. Has a nice lil gimmick (blood drain plus electric whip tail) and design. Could see these guys flying around in a wizard's lair after having broken out of their big glass holding jars. Maybe their from a strange moon.

Vortex

★☆☆☆☆

It's a whirlwind. Basically just an air elemental. Eh.

Whipweed

★★★☆☆

A murderous plantanimal. It's okay, not super exciting. Could put it in some murderous wizard garden or some such.

Witherstench

★★☆☆☆

Evil skunk. Its stench isn't even as bad as a normal skunk, it wears off when the creature leaves. Good name though.

Witherweed

★★★★☆

Really more of an environmental hazard than a monster, but a good one nonetheless. The toxic smoke is an excellent counter to a typical strategy and makes it a potential asset for players who can think up ways to exploit the weed's effects. Honestly I don't know why it has an attack, mechanically speaking, it would work just fine if grabbing at it poisoned you.

Xill

★★☆☆☆

More parasitism baby. Good visual design, okay motivations, weird mechanical gimmick. Decently evocative. Could use some more elements to make encountering them interesting. 

Xvart

★☆☆☆☆

Boring humanoid made to fill a mechanical niche between goblins and kobolds that did not need filling.

Yellow Musk Creeper

★★★★★

Stellar. Stupendous. A weird fucking flower that makes zombies to propagate itself. It's weird, it's ecological, it's got a sick visual design going. It could be encountered in the wild or in a wizards fucked up garden. Could be weaponized by players. Maybe some prince is cultivating a garden of yellow musk creepers in order to unleash a terrible apocalypse.

Zombie, Yellow Musk

★★★★★

See above.

And that's a (belated) wrap!

Fog Giant - My Edition

Fog Giant

Loom out of the mist. Twice as tall as any man. Milky white skin, silvery white hair, black penetrating eyes. The jangle of baroque armaments.

• Solitary, 1-6 might be encountered at time.
  
• Keen sense of smell, rarely surprised (only on a 1 in 6). Can weave the mists about them and usually surprise their opponents.
  
• Love massive ornate swords and make armour from white dragon hides studded with silver. 
• Fight with their favorite swords or with fists. Hurl boulders. 
• Speak a strange, isolate language; unintelligible even to their close kin.
  
• Live under barrow mounds and in moorlands, marshes, swamps, dense forests, and cold sea coasts.
• Shepherd the mists. After shearing they weave the fog into prized lightweight garments which carry brumes with the wearer.
  

Kamadan - My Edition

Kamadan

Fearsome leopard, a mane of snakes sprouting from its shoulders

• Breathes a sleepy miasma.
• Drags slumbering victims back to its den to feast on dreams.
• Attacks with claws, jaws, and fangs as a last resort.
• Dream-pearls form round particularly indigestible dreams in its stomach. 

Fiend Folio Review R-S

Here we go again! 

Retriever

★★★★☆

A funky fellow, the different eye rays feel cobbled together, I would likely narrow the range of what they do if I reinterpreted, the spider aesthetic is good, cleaver arms used while the ray's are recharging good, all together I warmed up to this one a lot more on second reading. I adore this line, 'demons sometimes mount howdahs on the back of a retriever and ride the creature to the hunt' it pushed me over from being eh, to being yah! The name is odd tho, since it seems to come out from the singular line about being servants of demogorgon.

Revenant 

★★★★★

An undead with a purpose! Besides aimlessly shambling around. Silliness aside its nice to see an undead that comes back for matters of unfinished business, a classic staple of undead in folklore. The particularities about it being driven by sheer will power, and not necessarily being evil (and thus immune to turn undead) are wonderful and suggests that players can perhaps reason with it. Strangulation as method of choice, but being guileful enough to use other tactics. Retainment of some abilities from life. Just a solid entry all around.

Rothé

★★★☆☆

These are really just underground yaks but I like them regardless. Feels like something some medieval travelogueist would write about"'... and in the mountain caves there dwell short, yak like creatures that the locals do call rothé, which are shy beasts with an aversion to the rays of the sun...."

Sandman

★★☆☆☆

I feel like you shouldn't be allowed to write a creature whose whole gist is putting you to sleep and then not have any weird dream adventures or mind eating happen. The Sandman could be great, but sadly falls extremely short here. I would steal its aesthetic and put it to better use.

Scarecrow

★★☆☆☆

Bit of an odd one, but a decent monster. I enjoy that its 'charm' effect is one of fascination. Needs a bit more idea fuel and intractable elements for players.

Screaming Devilkin

★★★☆☆

Is described as looking like a mephit. Art does not look like mephitic art (for the better I think, why have a entry that just looks exactly like another one). The pain howling screaming is rather neat in that it complete drowns out all player voices entirely. Yet another 'always attacks' monster though, disappointing if not crippling since it should provide for a fun one off combat encounter. 

Shadow Demon

★★☆☆☆

It's just a demon themed evil shadow. Normal shadow weaknesses and strengths. Eh I'm just meh on it. Maybe someone else has a more favorable look at it.

Sheet Ghoul

★★★☆☆

.... how does corrosive nose acid tie into an evil bedsheet....

Well its a decent enough sub-monster to go with the sheet ghoul.

Sheet Phantom

★★★★☆

Something tells me this and the scarecrow came from someones halloween one-shot. Its got a good combat gimmick going for it, attacks hurting its victims its draped over is a nice touch. The details about it perhaps being an undead form of cloaked are fascinating though bizarre and not to my tastes at all. Surprisingly I find myself giving this one a four out of five.

Shocker

★★★☆☆

Zap! Nice aesthetic, good abilities, lacking in behavior. I think it should have something more interesting to either do, or drop when dead. Give it an agenda, or a more unique treasure than gems. The 'others postulate the existence of an electromagnetic plane' line is good fun. Reminds me of the dune stalker, similar pulp sci-fi energy (in no small part due to the same artists illustrations).

Skeleton Warrior

★★★★★

Love this sucker, quality design right here. Could use streamlining like most of the entries (all this dross of ranges and what) I love the risk of losing the circlet and having the skeleton warrior straight up attack, as well if the warrior is being used by an opponent it creates further fun (I would be tempted to let the skeleton warrior communicate some way (perhaps writing?) to make for fun ethical dilemmas in controlling it). Their creation is a nice vague hook that could be nicely tied into a setting in some way or another. All in all one of my favorite entries.

Skulk

★★★★☆

Fascinatingly weird entry, cuttlefish human sub species that hide from most society which will kill them if found out. Surprised no one has adopted this one for their edgy loner persecution characters (update: I have been informed they were a player race in 3e (?). This entry feels like it was written by anti-skulk bigots, 'their cowards who murder whole families in their beds!'. Fear-mongering the lot of it.

Slaad

★★★★☆

Chaos frogs chaos frogs chaos frogs. I'm wobbly on the slaadi symbols/head jewels, on one hand it makes for a neat method of control/summoning beyond true names. On the other they shouldn't require specific spells to remove. Unfortunately, though I adore them, the actual slaad entries are a bit lacking in distinction and unique gimmicks being rather same-y. 

(also it bothers me that the entries are not in their hierarchal order but rather alphabetical).

(also also all the dross about different percentage chances of gating in other slaad types is neat but a bit clunky)

Blue Slaad

★★★☆☆

The blue/red rivalry is nice. The blue slaad only having defensive psionic has interesting implications for the other slaad (though not really expounded upon). Besides that there's three meh spell-abilities (which I must say I greatly dislike, an entity should have any abilities shortened to spells be tied into their character, not just pegged on with no discernible ties to their theme/gimmick).

Death Slaad (the lesser masters)

★★☆☆☆

Four is quite a small number! I feel like they should have a more coherent aesthetic (perhaps with individual differentiation (like the nazgûl)) if their so powerful yet small a group. I'd enjoy grabbing onto the detail about swords and expanding upon it since most of the other slaad don't seem to use weapons (except in human form?) and the mental picture of a hulking frog with naught but a loincloth and massive sword (heheh) is a good one. More spell-ability lists... sigh.

Green Slaad

★★☆☆☆

Sadly lacking in unique gimmick or abilities, instead having a pile of a spell list. The illustration makes me think some kind of bureaucrat/consular/merchant-ly sort. The bit about reincarnating as a blue slaad if killed I think should be expanded to all the Slaad reincarnating as a color lower when killed.

Grey Slaad (the executioners)

★☆☆☆☆

Unfortunately not as evocative as the name, pretty eh all around, not much I can even spin off of. Its all essentially just 'they will have spells and maybe some magic items'.

Red Slaad

★★★★☆

Decently set up, has more aesthetic coherency than the bloated spell lists of the others. The pellet bit is weird though evocative, feels like it should either just be venom/poison or you should be able to try and dig out the pellet with a knife or whatnot. Details on a Wish spell allowing for forcing it into obediance but only with other spells is weird but I guess it made sense in the milieu of ad&d's rules.

Ssendam - Lord of the Insane (slaad lord)

★★★☆☆

Giant amoeba with a brain inside. Beautiful. The black sword is interesting (potentially could tie into the death slaadi swords if you went that route). Sadly another spell list. Interesting idea that he always gives his name, very arrogant announcement like I presume. I think this entry has a lack of solid coherency/vibes/personality but the giant amoeba form is neat enough so I'll bump it up to a three star.

Ygorl - Lord of Entropy (slaad lord)

★★☆☆☆

Hrm, aesthetics feel out of wack with rest of slaad and ssendam. Always being in shadow is neat. Sickle is a neat enough signature weapon (though feeling out of place with the rest of the slaad again). Sigh... spell lists.... the dragon steed is cute.

Snyad (pestie)

★★★★☆

Pretty neato, solid behavior, most of the aesthetic draw is owed to Russ Nicholson's art, suggested interaction with mites is fun, feels like you could fit it into a dungeon 'ecology' easily. Small thieving humanoids are rather generic (this could easily just be goblins if this is how you wanted to do goblins) but it sails by with just enough of its own uniqueness. 

Son of Kyuss

★★★★★

Excellent, could use some polish, cutting back of the ad&d dross and percentiles with disease infliction and what (its mostly just the intersection of the monster and ad&d rules which necessitates quantifying elements of the monster, so to be expected), but the base is sturdy as cement. Walking corpses full of worms that jump out at you to turn you into one of them. Probs one of the best undead, pity it doesn't see more use (that I know of). Specially since there's an excellent implied hook with the name.

Stunjelly

★★★☆☆

Ehhh, it's not bad? Its kind of just another tricksy ooze variant but it is sort of unique, disguising itself as a wall and paralyzing then trying to envelope. But its just a variation upon the basic gist of a translucent gelatinous cube  (which is mentioned in the very entries text). I might be being too harsh on it.

Sussurus

★★★★☆

Fascinating entry here, another one with pulp sci-fi vibes. The dronesong effect on undead is neat, unexpected, and potentially very very gamible for players. Attacking oxygen consuming flame is also a nice touch that forces players to figure out how to interact with this beastie. I would love to throw this in as a random encounter in a bit of a gonzo game. It'd feel at home in the ultraviolet grasslands. 

Svirfneblin (deep gnome)

★★★★☆

I found myself liking these fellows surprisingly, the excellent illustration helps, as well as several interesting tidbit such as their stun-gas darts (an excellent mental image there, of short underground folks flinging darts which explode in puffs of colored smoke). I like also, the mention of having to pay hefty bribes to escape earth elementals. But besides bits I can string out into more interesting features, most of the entry is decent at best. Lots of percentiles for things, some okay behaviors, more spell abilities, etc.

Symbiotic Jelly

★★★☆☆

A very d&d monster, existing within the context of treasure hoards and monster killing to acquire them. I personally don't like it, but it's a fairly solid monster as written. With a clear motivation, and some decently interesting tactics to achieve thereof with its charming of monsters and illusions of treasure and weakness.

My analysis so far has been rather slapdash, but if there's one thing Im hitting on it's the importance of a Gimmick for any entity. That being of course a combination of aesthetics, behavior, and abilities all tied up in a core idea of the creature which can be spun out and extrapolated upon. 

The Skeleton Warrior is a good entry because it has a solid gimmick with its control circlet, skeletal demeanor, and desire for freedom. The Green Slaad is a poor entry because it doesn't have solid gimmick, just a generic list of spell abilities. And so on and so forth.

We're getting near the homestretch!

Achaierai - My Edition

Achaierai

Devil bird possessing a spherical head-body atop four mighty legs

• Brought up from some infernal realm long ago by onerous summonings. 
• Moves with long, speedy strides.
• Attacks with its clawed legs each one as tough as a bull.
• Its soft head-body is held high above most blows, and its legs are metallic.
• In dire straits it vents a cloud of caustic black smoke and flees.

Dark Creeper - My Edition

Dark Creeper

Short, light hating thieves hidden under many-layered cloaks, turbans, and wraps

• Are greatly pained by bright light and will whisper a spell to extinguish all lamps, torches, and fires near them when going about their thievery.
• Kill only when necessary, preferring to 'repossess' desired items by subtler means, if forced into violence they will freely employ hit and run tactics and the numerous magical items they have acquired.
• Hide stolen matchboxes, pilfered magical trinkets, and other items in their copious pockets.
• Violently combust upon death.

An odd people from the far-off City of Dreams. Can be found in small cadres pursuing esoteric agendas for their shadowy masters. Sporadically work with others if it suits their purposes but prone to suddenly abandoning allies. Occasionally one might meet their agents hunting a rogue cadre.

Fiend Folio Review M-Q

YOU THOUGHT IT HAD BEEN FORGOTTEN BUT ITS BACK

Phew this book is longer than I remember.

Magnesium Spirit

★☆☆☆☆

Seems extremely overpowered, pretty much no means of interaction besides fighting (and tbh it doesn't sound like it make for a good fight) could be much improved if perhaps the spirit still did its whole 'fight to take over a host body' shtick but then has to take time preparing its complex ritual to return it home. Giving players options to disrupt, negotiate, etc...

Mantari

★☆☆☆☆

Its a flying manta ray that murders people... well its not the worst... not very interesting either.

Meazel

★★★☆☆

Solid. A tricksy foe, signposting via 'sacks full of bones' near their lairs, a unique attack (garroting, which suits its sneaky ambush demeanor well). Could use one or two more bits. Maybe a specific item that they go after/want to steal? Or some interaction with another creature/people (besides just 'they want to kill it').

Meenlock

★★★☆☆

Creatures which transform (or try to anyway) characters are always great, and this one's got a strong location to go with it, neat tactics (paralyzation + trying to extinguish light), the hunting is good. Biggest flaws is that 1) why would adventurers go to shaft (besides curiosity) 2) the transformation into meenlock should have more intractability, perhaps proceeding slowly in stages so it could be stopped?

Mephit

★★★★★

I love mephitis, their serve excellently as like 'elemental imps' and their cheerfully vulgar demeanor is wonderful, they'd make a good greek chorus to throw into a game. I particularly love this bit "if they can obtain them... they will wear clothes of the most garish design and colour possible." Oh and of course this "They are often seen puffing upon smoking rolls of exceedingly foul-smelling dried vegetation" (mephit's smoke weed y'all)

Mezzodaemon

★★★★☆

I like Mezzodaemons their a bit messy and lack a strong identity but a kernel of excellence is there, and the bug fella illustration is amazing. Mostly the entry needs focus, I've rewritten it a few times myself choosing to play various abilities. 

Mite

★★☆☆☆

This is just another Meazel but with more traps? The two should just be rolled together.

Necrophidus

★★★★★

Magical dancing skeleton snake that dances you to death love it. Silly and awesome.

Needleman

★★★★☆

Excellent, pulpy creature that's not what you'd expect. I'd run this thing so players assume its some ghoulish zombie thing stumbling through the woods then NEEDLES. Very fun. 

Nilbog

★★★★★

Could be fun to make players carefully think out their actions to get rid of this nuisance, or couple it with some 'normal' goblins who're using this one's abilities to their advantage. Though I would make it so the actions players take are reversed, rather than them being compelled to do things so they retain their agency. Feels very goblin all around. I like it.

Nonafel 

★★★☆☆

Solid beastie if only a combat encounter mostly, you should be able skin it and use its fur to mimic the duplication ability.

Norker

★☆☆☆☆

??? Its just an aesthetically different kind of tough hobgoblin ???

Nycadaemon

★☆☆☆☆

They don't really have anything unique to them. Just a kind of generic higher level demon/devil.

Ogrillon

★☆☆☆☆

What if an ogre but with next to no of an ogres unique traits.

Osquip

★★★★☆

These things are grotesque and I love them. Could use some more interactive bits though. Maybe people train them as attack animals. Maybe they hold vendettas. Something to add some more interaction.

Penanggalan

★★★★☆

Wayyyyy to much text >:P great otherwise, classic monster (seriously though why is there so much text for this one?????).

Pernicon

★★★★☆

Love insects, water finding antenna, pincer attack that sticks fast even when they're dead. All solid.

Phantom Stalker

★★★★☆

The illustration is a bit at odds with the text, looks more like some kind of pulp biotech spaceman rather than an elemental spirit. I'd flavor things more ifrit like (and steal the illustration for other purposes) but otherwise this one's pretty neat. Bound spirit to a wizard, clause that makes it hunt the party down after its masters death. Could use a clear way to communicate this to the players however, maybe the wizard and the spirit have a big glowing sigil on their heads that any wizardly sort could tell is a 'revenge' charm or something like that.

Poltergeist 

★★☆☆☆

Ghosts always have lots of potential though the passage squanders it a bit by just having the ghost 'attack' and drive away any who comes near its haunt. Needs more interactivity.

Protein Polymorph

★★★★☆

This is just a more shoggoth-y mimic.

Quaggoth

★☆☆☆☆

Hairy ape people? Theres really not anything unique here that distinguishes them from any other pulp style hairy ape person. The illustration and name are nice enough I guess.

Quipper

★★☆☆☆

I kinda like these things for some reason, they have a good name. But otherwise they're pretty bland, bitey fish. Meh. 

Qullan

★☆☆☆☆

Insane naked savages (implied to be inhuman as well by the text) who do nothing but attack on sight are... not great to put it lightly :I The confusion ability is kinda of neat, might steal that and build some kind of special magically cursed warrior out of it. Otherwise I'll pass on this one.

Slowly, we are inching towards the end.

Fiend Folio Review I-L

The reviewing comes forth once again.

Ice Lizard

★☆☆☆☆

The Firedrake's frosty counterpart. Pretty bland. Basically just a less powerful dragon with an ice theme.

Imorph

★★☆☆☆

A fun gimmick, it mimics its opponents shape and attack patterns, but only one at a time, so missed opportunity for it to split off into multiple sub-sections that mimic each player and one core. The organ that when eaten grants polymorph is sweet and a good incentive to interact with this creature. Could maybe use something give it more distinct visual appearance however. As well, what does this creature do? Is it a wizard experiment? Does it exist as part of ecosystems somehow? 

Iron Cobra

★★★★☆

I love this thing, its literally just a metal snake that does what you command and has some poisonous fangs but I love it anyway. A bit sparse in abilities that make it unique (the hidden compartment for poison is nice) but 'big magic robot snake' is a strong enough concept it stands on its own (at least to me, but Im biased because I like big magic robot snakes).

Jaculi

★★☆☆☆

Ehhh, they're snakes that leap at you? Not the worst of creatures but a bit bland. Could be spiced up with like, how people interact with them. Maybe they get used to make traps?

Jermlaine 

★★★☆☆

These guys are pretty neat enough, tiny evil people who will beat you up and wreck mischief. Bane-midges is a delightful name also. However they don't really speak to me in anyway. So I guess Im pretty neutral on them. 

Kamadan

★★★★☆

Honestly this things pretty bitchin' even for how sparse it is. Sweet aesthetic, an interesting power (breath is a cone of sleep). But it does lack a certain je-ne-sais-quoi that would make it amazing. Namely it needs some motivations/behaviors/basically any kind of point for interaction that's not just combat. Maybe something that builds off of the sleep breathe. Does it kidnap people? Put them to sleep and eat their dreams?

Kelpie

★★★☆☆

A bit disappointing that they didn't play up the horse features but lump of seaweed that tries to lure you to your doom is fun enough. Some of that old 'evil sexy seductress stuff' and 'females' being immune (blech). The bit about kelpies perhaps having been created by a sea-lord angry that people did not pay proper respects is cool.

Kenku

★★★★★

Its interesting how much Kenku have changed since this original one which is described as having the head of a hawk and has a rather noble bearing (quite the difference from the scraggily crow things of nowadays). The bits concerning polymorph and disguise feel wonderfully appropriate for the Kenku, but the other spells fall a bit flat since they don't really tie into the theme very well. I love the detail about them freely giving out treasure that will crumble to dust later, not enough of that sort of thing. Stuff like the treasure and the disguising feel delightfully folkloric, though its muddled by the naturalist bent many of these entries take.

Khargra

★★★★☆

Sold if odd. Got a reason to interact (the guts full of precious metals) got a unique feature (eats metals and rock) and a fun aesthetic (leaps out of stone like a fish). Could use some more concrete points of interaction, and the design is... odd. But a good enough being even if I couldn't see myself using it anytime soon. 

Killmoulis

★★★☆☆

Not particularly my cup of tea but not bad either. A good 'spirit negotiation' type problem for the players to solve. the detail about cat/dog antagonism is excellent, especially since it offers a route for the players to take in order to remove one if that situation would arise.

Kuo-Toa

★★★★★

Bestist. right up there with bullywugs. Love me some fish people. A bit iffy in areas (oh their naturally unstable and prone to insanity that's nice :I ) but underground fish people is such a strange & strong theme. I love the detail about them coating their shields with glue, and I utterly adore the bit about two kuo-toan priest's joining hands to shoot lighting, that's just mwah (I can't help but imagine it looks a bit like lightening bending from Avatar with the wide stance and pointing fingers). My biggest criticism is that there's lots of bloat and meaningless details (like the random table of strength scores ???). But their a soldi and fun concept to work with.

Lamia Noble

★★☆☆☆

Meh, people with the lower body of a snake. Could be very evocative and cool in the right hands. But with just the text in this entry they're pretty boring. However I'm partial to snake people and I think they could be turned into something delightful with some work.

Lava Children

★★☆☆☆

A pretty good aesthetic but like many of these entries lacking in strong hooks besides 'fight it'. The detail about just ignoring metal is good. 

Lizard King

★★★★☆

L I Z A R D  K I N G

K I N G  L I Z A R D

They've got a trident and they mean to use it.

All Hail The Lizard King

That is all. Further reviewing in progress.

Fiend Folio Review G-H

Behold! More highly subjective takes!

Galltrit

★★☆☆☆

Eh, not a bad creature, its got that parasite with anesthetic saliva thing going which is neat, but I find the aesthetic choice of a small wingéd humanoid to be kind of bland. Better off making them the parasites from Man After Man if you want to preserve the humanoid bit. Or just make them some kind of insect or leech.

Gambado

★★★☆☆

This creature is so wonky, it's basically a predatory, mobile jack in the box with a skull for a head. Bizarrely specific in design but also somewhat endearing. Just a liilllltttttlleee bit to wonky to get a four star, but its a fun little creature and Im sure someone could do something interesting with it.

Garbug

★☆☆☆☆

An excellent name and a strange creature. It's a... flying lobster bug? That does... something? Unclear what the creatures gimmick is besides attacking people and being a lobster bug. And I like arthropods, but, ech, there's really not much here. Strong Aesthetic though.

Giant (category)

★☆☆☆☆

Doesn't provide any additional evocative inspiration or information about giants.

Fog Giant

★★★★☆

I really like these fellas. Milky white-grey giants with jet black eyes that hide in fog and have massive ornate swords they love. Excellent descriptors. The only thing that would make them better is if they had to permanently inhabit the fog and could not leave it and had massive fog palaces or something (maybe a land of fog just adjacent to reality). 

Mountain Giant

★☆☆☆☆

Unfortunately the mountain giant really can't compare. How is this entry different from a hill giant except in a few stats? The illustration is fun, but again it's not really different from the hill giant in anyway (and I have to mention the hill giant since the text literally mentions hill giants). 

Giant Strider

★★☆☆☆

This is a bird apparently. It sneezes fireballs. I have an extreme and irrational dislike for it.

Gibberling

★★☆☆☆

Not my favorite, the only distinct thing they have is their shrieking, gibbering (which makes me uncomfortable to be honest) otherwise their just murderous humanoids. Make them really tiny or something. IDK. 

Githyanki

★★★★★

I love the githyanki, I love them a lot. They're an entry that really hits that spot of evocative yet open for all sorts of creativity. It suffers a bit from the typical gygaxian bloat, but if you ignore that its wonderful. They've got space boats. Space Boats. And Space Castles. I love the tidbits about them being escaped mind flayer slaves and the implied relations therein (though them being self-liberated slaves and being written as Lawful Evil... doesn't sit well for me, but I don't follow such strictures anyhow). The 'special silver swords' are awkwardly named to say the least but otherwise kind of interesting. All around delightfully evocative and there's some good material to work with.

Githzerai

★★★☆☆

A good counterpart to the Githyanki, monastic where they are knightly, ascetic where they are baroque. The fact both are ruled by immortal deity-lords has interesting implications (perhaps they were once lovers?). However the description is a bit lacking in areas. A hint about the origin of they and the githyankis animosity would be nice. Myself, I'd really play the Githzerai (if I were to use them) as psionic mystics or the like, meditating monks holding together great astral fortresses with their minds. 

Goldbug

★☆☆☆☆

It's a gotcha and not a particularly good one (especially when there's already mimics to use).

Gorbel

★★☆☆☆

I can't... I just... I can't... it's so goofy looking. Ahem, okay. So it's kind of a neat creature. It fixes itself to people's backs and can't be harmed by blunt weaponry. Apparently its just... Mischievous? It doesn't seem to have any motivations besides messing with people. Extremely bizarre.

Gorilla Bear

★☆☆☆☆

A gorilla plus a bear is one of the most boring combo animals I've seen in a while. Literally nothing about this excites me. 

Grell

★★★★☆

Incredibly wonky, but in a very gonzo and fun way. You'd think it would have some kind of motivation concerning brains considering that it's a giant brain but apparently it just likes eating people.

Grimlock

★★☆☆☆

Hmmm, on one hand I like them, on the other 'degenerate savage underground race of humans' is... iffy territory. Details about the poor eyesight but excellent hearing & smell is good. As are how they interact with mind-flayers. Making them not enterally violent would improve things a heck of a lot.

Gryph

★★☆☆☆

Besides being a multi-legged bird, the only gimmick this thing's got is the parasitic egg laying, something that the Assassin Bug in this very book already does. You could certainly spice the Gryph up by perhaps having it be sentient? I dunno. The Aesthetic feels very folkloric but it's written very naturalistically.

Guardian Daemon

★☆☆☆☆

Ech, this is one of those exhibits of old (and I guess current) D&Ds unnecessary taxonomy. Why must this be its own special category? Why can't someone summon any one of the demons/devils already around as a guardian? Its not like this entry has anything special to it to distinguish it (Though the illustration is fun).

Guardian Familiar

★★★☆☆

Now this entity is a bit more fun, I like how it plays with a cat's nine lives. Though it would be interesting if the guardian cat was a bit more proactive (perhaps hunting escaping thieves down).

Hellcat

★★★☆☆

Okay, this isn't the greatest of creatures and it interacts with annoying alignment but the idea of a massive, tiger sized, invisible-except-for-a-fiery-outline, cat that just shows up and afixes itself to a party member is wonderful. You could just play up all the cat things. It leaves you mauled human corpses as presents. It sits on you and demands scratches. All the things.

Hoar Fox

★★★☆☆

Not too bad of a critter. Has a valuable pelt. Breathes coldness. Pretty neat. It's a bit weird that they're so big though. They do feel a good bit folkloric so I might be inclined to use them in a game.

Hook Horror

★★★★☆

Incredibly gonzo and wack. Wonderful being. Up their with the Grell in utterly bizarre creature territory.

Hornet, giant

★☆☆☆☆

Bad. Demonizes a bug that is perfectly nice. And is also just a big version of a normal animal. Could have had cool thing about bribing a wasp with sugary fermented fruits, or even used one of those cool parasitic wasps. Wasps deserve better than this thing.

Hound Of Ill Omen

★★☆☆☆

Hmm, its kind of a fun creature, very foreboding and doom-y. But it also doesn't really provide any fun ways for the players to interact with it. It just shows up, curses you, then leaves. Feels like its intended as a way to 'punish' players.

Huecuva

★★★★☆

This is an excellent undead but it could use a bit more description of its behavior. Its clearly implied that it disguises itself (the polymorph self) but to what ends? Is it just trying to kill people or give them a 'acute cardiovascular disease'? Also the name is apparently taken from important entities in Mapuche culture, and as far as I can tell (but keep in mind I am no expert and this is just cursory web searches) doesn't really bear a strong resemblance at all. So I would personally rename the thing. But otherwise I quite like it and could see myself using it in a game.

Next up! I-J.