A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Monstrous Lair #96: Gelatinous Cube’s Dungeon

Monstrous Lair #96: Gelatinous Cube’s Dungeon by Robert Manson 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 gelatinous cubes, cubical, mindless creatures that dissolve flesh. The d10 tables follow.

1: Outside the Lair has some features for outside the dungeon.

2: What’s Going On? is what the gelatinous cube might be doing.

3: Major Lair Features are major features of the lair.

4: Minor Lair Features are more minor dressing.

5: Gelatinous Cube’s Appearance has descriptions for the cube.

6: Treasure has items of value, though no value is given.

7: Trinkets & Trash has primarily trash.

Monstrous Lair #96: Gelatinous Cube’s Dungeon 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.

This is a bit of an odd one. It’s essentially theming a dungeon around a gelatinous cube. The results are thematically appropriate, but the gelatinous cube seems to being given more influence than is likely the case; it’s as if there’s nothing more dangerous than the creature in its location. That might perhaps work for a single area of the dungeon. Monstrous Lair #96: Gelatinous Cube’s Dungeon can be found by clicking here.