A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Monstrous Lair #99: Eye Despot’s Domain

Monstrous Lair #99: Eye Despot’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 eye tyrants, which are obviously beholders but due to the terms of the OGL can’t be called such. The d10 tables follow.

1: Outside the Lair has descriptions for the area outside the lair, which in one case merely states it’s far from civilised lands.

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

3: Major Lair Features coves the more important features of the lair.

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

5: Eye Despot’s Appearance has descriptions for the creatures.

6: Treasure are major items of value, though values are not given.

7: Trinkets & Trash mostly consists of items of no value.

Monstrous Lair #99: Eye Despot’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 the nature of eye despots – beholders – some of the parts of this supplement are pretty generic, suitable for a number of different monsters, whilst others are more specific to them, especially their powers. This makes this one of the more variable supplements in the series for being on theme. Monstrous Lair #99: Eye Despot’s Domain is an okay entry in the series and it can be found by clicking here.