Manual of Monsters

Manual of Monsters is a sourcebook for Warcraft The Roleplaying Game. It was published in 2003. It contains descriptions and game statistics for a large number of creatures that inhabit the Warcraft setting. As the book was published before the release of World of Warcraft, it only covers a few creatures that were introduced in the MMORPG and mostly covers material from the RTS series.
The book is out of print. However, it can still be obtained in a PDF format. A new creature source book for the World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game was released on February 7, 2007 called Monster Guide. It covers new creatures that appear in World of Warcraft and updates some of the creatures from Manual of Monsters with new game statistics and rules of the new Warcraft RPG game. 
Chris Metzen was a co-author and a member of the "Design Assistance and Additional Material" staff for the book.
==Contents==
===Chapter One: Creatures of Azeroth===
===Chapter Two: The Burning Legion ===
* Doomguard
* Dreadlord (Nathrezim)
* Eredar Warlock
* Felguard
* Fel Stalker
** Fel Hunter
* Infernal
* Pit Lord (Annihilan)
* Tainted
===Chapter Three: The Undead Scourge ===
* Abomination
* Banshee
* Crypt Fiend
* Dire Gargoyle
* Forsaken
* Ghost
* Ghoul
* Lich
* Shade
* Skeletal Mage
* Skeletal Warrior
* Withered
* Wraith
* Zombie
===Appendix One: Animals and Vermin===
* Bear, Dire
* Carrion Beetle
* Elk
* Spider
** Forest Spider
** Giant Spider
** Venom Spider
* Storm Crow
* Tallstrider
* Wolf
** Dire wolf
** Giant wolf
** Timber wolf
===Appendix Two: Villains of Warcraft===
In Appendix Two the book also contains descriptions and game statistics for the following major villains of the Warcraft universe:
* Azgalor
* Illidan Stormrage
* Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider
* Kel'Thuzad
* The Lich King
* Sylvanas Windrunner
* Lady Vashj
===Appendix Three: Other Monsters in Warcraft===
Finally, Appendix Three contains original lore for monsters and creatures adapted into the Warcraft setting from other d20 books (Monster Manual v3.5, Creature Collection Revised, Creature Collection II: Dark Menagerie, and Tome of Horrors). According to the book, the updated lore takes precedence over descriptions found in the previous non-Warcraft books. The section also contains information on how to incorporate other monsters into a campaign for the Warcraft RPG. The background lore could be used by someone who wanted to include the monsters in their campaigns.Manual of Monsters, pg.11
"Other Monsters in Azeroth... Some creatures in Manual of Monsters are similar to the described in the MM-centaur, dragons, elementals, golems, and so on. In some cases the MM descriptions are suitable for use as-is, such as for elementals. Under circumstances, the creature receives no listing in the Manual of Monsters. In other cases, monsters are different enough in their ecology or abilities to require a new description here. When a creature is listed in the Manual of Monsters with the same one as the MM, the description in this book takes precedence for a Warcraft campaign. The same is true for an animals or vermin particular to the world of Azeroth, as described in Appendix One. In the case of identical types of animals the ones in the Manual of Monsters takes precedence.
Many of these creatures are unique, and have not appeared in previous Warcraft video games (although a few like the "floating eyes", "shadows", "bone golems" and others were incorporated later). A few entries (wyvern-wyvern, dryad-dryad, centaur-centaur) seem at first glance to contradict other known lore on the subject; however, the book explains that they are unique or rare variations of those creatures. Some of these rare variations appears to be in later sources (Centaur from the Eastern Kingdom, Dryad (tree spirit), and others).
It's also notable that Appendix III expands upon creatures that were referenced in other chapters, appendices, and sections of the book, for example mites, nymphs and shambling mounds. Some sections from the Appendix Three, such as articles about giant eagles, sprites, nymphs, half-ogres, devourers, and a few others, have been referenced or expanded upon in later sources. The article about the elementals or Centaur from the Eastern Kingdom, were derived from and expand upon ideas made in previous Warcraft games.
Appendix III is not the only Warcraft source to establish original Warcraft-related back stories to creatures from the D&D MM and other non-Warcraft sourcebooks. Some of the earlier chapters in Manual of Monsters incorporated a few creatures not included in Appendix III, including references to darkmantle and girallon.Manual of Monsters, pg.22 Even more original creatures were established in other Warcraft sourcebooks including Lands of Conflict, Shadows & Light, Magic & Mayhem, World of Warcraft The Roleplaying Game, and Monster Guide Web Supplement, such as: dire lions, lizard familiars, or steam mephits, which are found in the story "Dark Iron Chains" that Brann Bronzebeard recounts in Lands of Conflict.
The Appendix Three was split into several sections which sometimes included a small background explanation on how the material related to biology or history of Azeroth. The following is a listing of some of these quotes;
The Kaldorei count many more allies than have been documented so far. Amongst these allies are several species from the Tome of Horrors by Necromancer Games. Some are ancient allies, others newly recruited (or reclaimed) allies, befriended by the night elves in the wake of their lost immortality.Manual of Monsters, pg.198 The minions of the Burning Legion are countless, yet below is a list of shock troops, animal cohorts, and generals alike.Manual of Monsters, pg.199 In addition to quilboar, tauren, elves, and orcs, other sapient species populate the world of Azeroth. Three of them are described in the Tome of Horrors.Manual of Monsters, pg.200 Orcs and goblins are not the only goblinoids on Azeroth. Some of the previously unknown species are crossbreeds, while others seem to be races unto themselves. Three of these species are discussed briefly below. The diversity of animal life on Azeroth is limitless. In addition to the creatures described elsewhere in this book, several species described in the Tome of Horrors can also be found on Kalimdor and throughout Azeroth. In addition to the diversity of life on the surface of Kalimdor, the seas of Azeroth are also teeming with life. Much of this life is mundane, if monstrously large, though the sea has her secrets — and threats. The following aquatic creatures listed in the Tome of Horrors can be found in the rivers, lakes and oceans in around Kalimdor.
===Monsters Ranked by Challenge Ratings===
The final section is a table showing a variety of monsters, how much of a challenge they are, and what classes they tend to be.
==Credits==
;Authors
:R. Sean Borgstrom, Joseph D. Carriker, Bob Fitch, Graveyard Greg, Jason Langlois, Chris Metzen, Ree Soesbee, William Timmins, and David Wendt
;Creative and Rules Design Assistance and Additional Material
:Chris Metzen and Bob Fitch
;Developers
:E. Deirdre Brooks and Mike Johnstone
;Editor
:Mike Johnstone
;Managing Editor
:Andrew Bates
;Art Director
:Richard Thomas
;Layout and Typesetting
:Ron Thompson
;Cover Artist
:Samwise Didier
;Interior Artists
:Carlo Arellano, Samwise Didier, David Griffiths, Roman Kenney, Michel and René Koiter, Chris Metzen, Bill Petras, Justin Thavirat and Ru Weerasuriya.
;Front & Back Cover Design
:Ron ThompsonManual of Monsters, pg. 3
==References==
==External links==
 
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