Mythological Figures & Maleficent Monsters Gets Our 5E Games Back To Godhood.

Perhaps you remember an old D&D book called Deities and Demigods. This book was a mainstay for storytellers and players who loved to dream big. After all, with enough time and experience (and a storyteller crazy enough to let it happen) you could become a god. That is what appealed to most players.

For most storytellers, it was the actual expanded religion section and various myths dropped in stat form. Not only were they fun to see; they gave storytellers the tools needed for running them in their campaign. Fast forward to 2020, and some of the same people behind Deities and Demigods have returned with Mythological Figures & Maleficent Monsters. A 5E tomb of information containing Cryptids, Myths, Folklores, and more. Let’s take a look!

I’m not going to lie and say I’m not a fan favorite of Judge Dredd and the Worlds of 2000AD. So when I found out about the same team members working on this project, I…may have already been opening the wallet. I also tend to run games heavily based off legends and myths; and often my entire party ends up meeting gods at one point or another. Hell, Lucifer actually took over the earth at the end of one of my last games (players doing player things, that’s a story for another time).

Mythological Figures & Maleficent Monsters functions by incorporating and inventing new classes like the Gunslinger and Tinkerer for gods and legends that don’t fit into the standard classes. While these classes are technically fully listed in the Masterclass Codex, En Publishing lets you have all the rules you need to run those classes for the gods in question. This gives the gods and legends a unique flavor to them, to be honest, makes me feel as they would be good mentors (or patrons) to characters.

The gravy is in the special stat blocks though. I was really glad to see that not every god was rocking challenge ratings of 18+, and the myths and legends were across the entire spectrum. All of them, have unique special abilities. Like Antaeus, whom as long as he’s in contact with the earth, his Strength is increased by 4 and he has advantage on Strength checks and saving throws. Lift him off the ground like Hercules did, and he loses his enhanced strength. Antaeus is only challenge rating 4, and is something that a budding hero setting out on their journey could encounter.

WHICH IS FRIGGIN AWESOME!

Most books dealing with gods and myths stat the things so bloody far, there is no sense of scale. Everything becomes a meaningless bag of hitpoints. So, for that reason, is why I’m excited to work with the material. Don’t worry… for those curious, Lucifer is a CR of 35, and is the King of Darkness, but Saladin just has a damn cool feat about knowing the time.

Pick up your copy and help back their Kickstarter Here!

Would you ever incorporate cryptids and legends in your world? Let us know your favorite myths below!

Featured Image: Mythological Figures & Maleficent Monsters

Rick Heinz is the author of The Seventh Age novel series, and a storyteller with a focus on D&D for Kids, The Red Opera, and an overdose of LARPs. You can follow the game or urban fantasy related thingies on Twitter or reach out for writing at RickHeinzWrites@gmail.com