Monstrous Lair #78: Mad Hermit’s Hideaway by Robert Mason 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 first paragraph has some brief details on hermits before moving onto the tables.
1: Outside the Lair has various pieces of exterior dressing.
2: What’s Going On? is what the hermit might be doing when encountered.
3: Major Lair Features has generally major features of the lair.
4: Minor Lair Features is similar, but smaller.
5: Mad Hermit’s Appearance has ten hermits described.
6: Treasure has a number of generally valuable items though no values are given.
7: Trinkets & Trash is mostly but not wholly worthless junk.
Monstrous Lair #78: Mad Hermit’s Hideaway 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.
The tables in the supplement do tend to follow a generally coherent theme, though whether that theme is “mad hermit” or “collector of junk with poor hygiene” is rather open to question. They aren’t bad; they just feel like they’d work for a variety of things, and aren’t necessarily focused on hermits, mad or otherwise. Monstrous Lair #78: Mad Hermit’s Hideaway can be found by clicking here.
Leave a Reply