This is a little jewel! Let me explain why I think so. First you need to know that by now I am 38 years into TTRPGs and going stronger than ever before. So yes, I have read, played and seen much and not only in English as I also collect in French an German. All in all you get 16 pages in v1.1. I page Cover, 13 pages conent, 2 pages example. Now, if you are reading this, you know how to use tables. And you get your fill on tables. Interesting approach on how to concentrate on the services that PCs will most likely look out for when they visit a settlement. My approach till now was more what would the settlements inhabitants need first and only then, especially when it isn't anylonger a hamlet but a town, what it could offert to "outsiders" - most also the reason while the settlement has grown into a town and isn't a simple hamplet anylonger. And exactly THIS questions get answered in a neat, short way so you can put a town up in a very short time and even know how many inhabitants there are and which quarter (Hex Zone) has which Landmark for the PCs to orient themselves. Good or good? Common buildings? - Check Uncommon buildings? - Check Dynamic Events? - Check To only name a few of the tables included. Only one litte sad point in the latest update, the example maps on page 16 are somehow cut and deserve their own page(s). But I am sure Loki will remedy this as soon as he gets aware of it and the file will be updated accordingly. For sure you can get into more details and there are enough publications who cover this all. But when you need to wipe something up in say 20 to 30 minutes - this gets you started. More details you can always add later.

Disclaimer: Being a TTRPGler for over 35 years by now and a long time subscriber of Raging Swan on Patreon I have seen, read and own a tremendous stuff of TTRPG material in several languages so I allow to share my perspective on this product that I own only in PDF version. My physical library is overflowing so I simply can't buy anylonger physical stuff - a pitty.

This product is the collection of the Monstrous Lair series published over the last few years. No matter if you plan your sessions long time in advance or are running out of time - this (as all other Raging Swans product) help gives you neatly arranged lairs for a whole bunch of monsters. You can us them as published or plunder them or us them to kick your creativity. Best of all three is a system neutral version - so no need to restrain you and usuable for ANY system and IMHO also for any setting. Worth every cent and if you are still unsure, check his free one-pagers to get a taste.

The first product I bought from this line and the one that got me hooked. Well written introduction into the setting, how you can use with the setting or without, and with interesting conflicts. Conflicts are the fuel for great stories and this you get. Easy enough to adapt for any other fantasy setting or even historic setting. I will for sure look out for more products from ZealZaddy.

As a long time patreon subscriber of Raging Swan Press I might be biased but Creighton and his crew overdid themselves once again. Whatever you need as a DM you have now available in one BIG file or book depending on your preferences. I prefere the files as I find things much faster than in books nowadays and this despite being an Oldtimer (born 1965). So even if you have some, most or all of the material that is now collected in the Dread Thingonomicon it is still worth to buy. If you are not my opinion then please let me know what they could make better - I am more than eager to hear errr read it. Cheers!

Well Thilo G. aka Endzeitgeist hast already said what there is to say. So there is only few I can add but a sort of a life-report. Was a bit stressed last week because real life cut my GM prep time more down than ever. And I had this next stretch my players have to travel trough already fixed in my head, also to show them, that my world isn't all pleasentness. And here comes Raging Swan like the Knigh in Shining Armour to save my pour soul. So once more, when the play started without having noted anything more but only by reading this help I was ready to improvise and to really drag in my players once more.

And this is what it's als about, isn't it?

Cheers!

Next to many if not all Village Backdrops, Apia slumbered happily on my drive since 2016 - till yesterday when I dared to interrupt its slumber as I need a rural village for my campaign NOW! And I found to 80% what I was looking for. And exactly for that Apia and all the other Village Backdrops have been written. To be there when you need them, to spare your time in creating or adapting a settlement.

And for this I am more than happy to own it (and all the others).

More detailed reviews have been written, so no need for me to double them.

My two cents and for now - over and out!

You get 15 pages full of ready to use material - except you need to translate it first when English is not your main language. What I love in "The Ruin of Bleak Hill", which is also to strong point in all the other products of Raging Swan, you can drop it without changes or with minor changes right in your campaign. When you use an electronic device as GM at your table then the contents with the jumplinks are really helpfuls as are the reading marks (they eat space on your screen though).

Yout get some background for the location, can spray some hooks with whispers & rumours, and find anything to even use the same location several times or plunder the unused rest for another location.

So, for all who don't have tons of time at their hand or struggle with interestening ways to present a location - go get it! Youu will not regret it.

On my honor as a Medici.

Stay tight, keep your wits and have always fun playing no matter if online or when you come together with your buddies.

Cheers and out Andrea

Only got it last week and I haven't read it all - too much stuff in there. And as the first tome it is full to the brim with useful stuff. My head is already spinning so much ideas I got. If you like to save time as much for preparing your next gaming session as building your world - this is the thing. A BIIIIG collection of useful stuff.

If you like it - let me know and tell me your favorites. Good or good? If you don't like it - let me know too and especially how YOU would make it better. Deal?

Having discovered Raging Swan many years ago - can't remember since when - and finding their products more than a bit useful and especially matching my style and helpful in my worldbuilding with The Thingonimcon you get it all in one piece. A big bag full of more than thousand ideas which will spark your ideas - garantied. If you don't know Raging Swan yet, THIS is the product to get to give you an idea what they are doing and how good their are doing. I didn't regret a second to having bought it.

Let me know if you are the same opinion and if not - I am curious what didn't suit you.

Cheers Andrea

A nice adaption of The Hunchback of Notre Dame for 1 player. I plan to use it as a screening/introduction adventure for future players who are interested in my gaming style, my home-developped rules and world.

As with the whole Hârn-Line this is an outstanding product. If you love "reality" and detail in a low-fantasy setting - then this is your product. Even if you don't play HârnMaster or on Hârn itself it can easily adapted to your own setting. In any case this sampler is free so you have nothing to loose to give it a try - and if you get hooked on it like I did over 30 years ago then you realize you have found a treasure.

Good reading and happy gaming!

Ah... Gor. So many different opinions exist out there about it. Still it is a wonderful Fantasy-Science setting with a greek touch. This preview is very promising and I look forward to see it published. Stuff is more than enough out there to make this a whole series. And the illustrator Michael Manning... a fitting match and because of him alone I will collect what I can get.

The preview is clear, neat written, gives you first glimpses and also a good explenation on how it came into being. I hope that in the final product the bookmarks in the pdf version will already be included.

Vengers style and approach is for sure unique but what can a GM want more than to get challenged and to discover new approaches? Despite being in the RPG scene for nearly 30 years now and for having read 1000 and 1000 of pages in Englisch, German and French about how to be a good GM (and a good player too) I don't regret to have supported the Kickstarter of this product. The tables are very inspiring though, as usual, I will adapt them to my very personal style and create generators out of them. When one was looking for a product to have all served on a silver tablet - well then this is not for him. But for the old ones out there who love to create their own stuff from scratch, and for the youngster who want to follow this most honorable path, I can only recommend "How to Game Master like a Fucking Boss". The least it will do is to joggle your mind and make your creative juices flow... flow in abundance. On my word and honor.