While I finish my test drive of the book's Wilderness Dungeon procedures, I decided to cast an eye over it's extensive list of monsters.
I'm not the first to review this product. Skerples from Coins and Scrolls has levelled a rather scathing critique at it. Despite having playtested the book on multiple occasions (unlike Skerples) I don't really disagree with his conclusions. Into the Wyrd & Wild does lack the tight procedures and gameable random tables that are otherwise the cornerstone of the OSR.
In fact, the book is basically a cargo cult of Patrick Stuart's Veins Of The Earth. Down to the statblock design, exploration procedures, and layout of its maps. And like most mimicries, the original does things better. But I still enjoy it. It helps that I sympathise with Charles' work, given that this blog is mostly me aping other creators I like. This very post uses a format taken from somewhere else.
Anyway. With that preamble done, let's look at some monsters.
