D&D Supplement Volo’s Guide to Monsters Coming November 2016

Volo’s Guide to Monsters, a new hardcover book of monsters for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, is releasing Fall 2016. The book features new monsters for a Dungeon Master to unleash on his players, lore and lairs for classic monsters, and new playable races.

Some details that we know about the book:

• Their website says the book is coming out September 5, 2016 used to say it was coming out on the same day as Storm King’s Thunder, but the website has been updated with November 15, 2016 as the release date  Jeremy Crawford wrote it would be out November and Mike Mearls said it would be out after SKT. I’d bet on the later date, and I noticed the Neverwinter is March 2016 vs. August 2016, so there are date typos.
  Added: It was also announced it will be out later at the live event.
• It is 224 pages and will cost US$49.95 (C$63.95)
• We’ll get over 100 new monsters
• Lore on classic D&D monsters (and lairs?)
• There will be a limited edition cover available only from game stores

From the official product page:

Explore the breadth of D&D’s monsters in this immersive 224-page volume filled with beautiful illustrations and in-depth lore.

Volo’s Guide to Monsters provides something exciting for players and Dungeon Masters everywhere.

• Dive deep into the story behind D&D’s most popular and iconic monsters, including beholders, mind flayers, and the yuan-ti, as well as classics like orcs, gnolls, and kobolds.
• Gain access to rules and story for dozens of monsters new to fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons, such as the froghemoth, the neogi, and the vargouille.
• Open up new race options, including the goblin, the orc, and the firbolg.

The esteemed loremaster Volothamp Geddarm is back and he’s written a fantastical dissertation, covering some of the most iconic monsters in the Forgotten Realms. Unfortunately, the Sage of Shadowdale himself, Elminster, doesn’t believe Volo gets some of the important details quite right. Don’t miss out as Volo and Elminster square off (academically speaking of course) to illuminate the uninitiated on creatures both common and obscure. Uncover the machinations of the mysterious Kraken Society, what is the origin of the bizarre froghemoth, or how to avoid participating in the ghastly reproductive cycle of the grotesque vargouille.  Dungeon Masters and players will get some much-needed guidance as you plan your next venture, traipsing about some dusty old ruin in search of treasure, lore, and let’s not forget … dangerous creatures whose horns, claws, fangs, heads, or even hides might comfortably adorn the walls of your trophy room. If you survive.

If anyone was hoping to see a Monster Manual 2, I wouldn’t hold my breath. This is a really great way to provide more monsters like a Monster Manual or Bestiary, but also provide some lore too – similar to the recent Monster Codex from Pathfinder. I’m a big fan of lairs for monsters, so I’m happy to have more lairs.

The decision to provide a limited edition cover to game stores is a really great way to push people towards their FLGS (Friendly Neighborhood Gaming Store) and away from Amazon, which is good for D&D’s organized play (Adventurers League) and the overall hobby.