A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Monstrous Lair #100: Brain Devourer’s Domain

Monstrous Lair #100: Brain Devourer’s Domain by Christopher Broadhurst is a role playing game supplement published by Raging Swan Press. The supplement is stated to be system neutral, but also compatible with any version of Dungeons & Dragons, and is therefore covered by the Open Game License with some parts considered to be Open Game Content as a result.

The supplement is available as an 8-page PDF for $1.65 from DriveThruRPG but was purchased at a reduced price thanks to a special offer. The supplement comes in two versions, a plaintext file and a PDF. Two pages of the PDF are the front and rear covers, two pages are ads, about half a page the front matter and Contents and one page the Open Game License.

Using this Monstrous Lair is a standard piece of text for the series and explains what the tables are and that the supplement makes two assumptions; the GM has a map of the lair and stats for monsters and details of any treasure.

The opening paragraph has some brief details on brain devourers, which are obviously mind flayers but due to the terms of the OGL can’t be called such. The d10 tables follow.

1: Outside the Lair is what can be found outside, which includes mental probing.

2: What’s Going On? is what the brain devourers or their thralls might be doing.

3: Major Lair Features are the more major points of interest.

4: Minor Lair Features are more minor pieces of dressing.

5: Brain Devourer’s Appearance is what the creature might look like.

6: Treasure is the items of value, though values aren’t given, and one is simply the brain of one of the creatures if it’s harvested.

7: Trinkets & Trash is mostly junk.

Monstrous Lair #100: Brain Devourer’s Domain in Review

The PDF is bookmarked with major and minor sections linked. The Contents are to a similar level of depth and is hyperlinked. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of errors. There is a single piece of black and white stock art. Presentation is okay.

Given that brain devourers – illithids – are intelligent creatures, some aspects of the supplement overlap with what could be used for other intelligent creatures. Even the thralls could be used with others. Some, usually those to do with eaten brains, are more specific. Overall, this makes the theming variable. Monstrous Lair #100: Brain Devourer’s Domain can be found by clicking here.