A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Monstrous Lair #97: Banshee’s Haunt

Monstrous Lair #97: Banshee’s Haunt 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 banshees, undead spirits, and where they live. The d10 tables follow.

1: Outside the Lair has dressing details for the surrounding countryside.

2: What’s Going On? is what the banshee might be doing, or what else might be happening.

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

4: Minor Lair Features are lesser pieces of dressing.

5: Banshee’s Appearance has descriptions for banshees.

6: Treasure are valuable items though values are not given.

7: Trinkets & Trash are pieces of primarily trash.

Monstrous Lair #97: Banshee’s Haunt 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 supplement does assume to a degree that the banshee will be encountered in areas such as moors, swamps and marshes, which does limit its broader utility, at least for other terrain. Some of the results are also less specific to banshees than they are to the type of terrain in question, making this a less focused entry in the series. Monstrous Lair #97: Banshee’s Haunt can be found by clicking here.