Rating: 
Summary: A good start
Review: "Creature Collection" is a good place to start when introducing people to the Scarred Lands campaign setting. I very much liked the details and bits of history that were given in each entry. Unfortunately this book does suffer from two flaws. Many of the illustrations in the book were just plain bad; they were just poorly done. The other thing I did not like about this book was the fact that many of the creatures were ludicrous and not really useful outside of the campaign setting without a lot of changes. If you were going to be campaigning in the Scarred Lands, I would recommend getting this book; otherwise you can safely skip over this item without really missing anything.
Rating:
Summary: A good start
Review: "Creature Collection" is a good place to start when introducing people to the Scarred Lands campaign setting. I very much liked the details and bits of history that were given in each entry. Unfortunately this book does suffer from two flaws. Many of the illustrations in the book were just plain bad; they were just poorly done. The other thing I did not like about this book was the fact that many of the creatures were ludicrous and not really useful outside of the campaign setting without a lot of changes. If you were going to be campaigning in the Scarred Lands, I would recommend getting this book; otherwise you can safely skip over this item without really missing anything.
Rating:
Summary: If you are buying it for the pictures beware
Review: As far as an informative book for the game this complies a 100% but if you, as me, like these books because of the drawings learn now that they are black and white and not very appealing to look at.
Rating: 
Summary: A great start to things
Review: First of all I think that the book overall rates 4 and a half stars. Why five then you may ask. The main reason is a start to all things. I think that the open license will open up Dungeons and Dragons back up to the populace that went to White Wolf (even if white wolf owns SSS) and other products. I also think that this shows all of those critics aho have bashed WoTC for purchasing TSR and realistically saving it. And their Open License could make D&D bigger then it was when WoTC purchased TSR. If you play D&D and you want 200 more monsters that are creative and extensive then get this. Nobody should be disappointed with this product. I look forward to additional products and the scarred lands world setting. This book has good artwork in it who cares if its not in colors. I like to see quality work not pretty work. And a good bonus to things is the included (Wrack) dragons. Like Dragons are not nasty enough in 3rd Edition already.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as the hype
Review: First off, let me say that the main thing that encouraged me to buy this book were all the good reviews of it. I'm really sad I listened to them.I felt most of the "monsters" in this book were uncreative and bland. The main gripe I have about it is the fact that it seems most of the book contains animals with twists on them. Want to fight a "Great Swan"? How about a "Moon Cat"? And hey, if you have a bird fetish, you can even choose from the "Great Harrier" or "Cerulean Roc", or even the "Dread Raven". *snore* If I wanted to fight D&D's wild kingdom, I would have bought a book revolving around that. And the things that aren't even animals just seem like monsters with different templates, such as the golems or hags they have in the book. Silver Golem? I could've thought up that one myself, and for less. The only reason I don't give it a 1 is because of the few (few being two or three) monsters that I'd actually want to use. Also, as mentioned, the layout is nice. But besides that, this book is a major rip-off in my opinion. My suggestion to everyone who wants to buy this is to just think of an animal, like a goat or a dog, and put "Fire" or "Razor" or something in front of the name. Bam. You have the Creature Collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Ratmen and Golems and Titans! Oh My!
Review: For those that are NOT familiar with the idea, WOTC has offered an 'Open Game License' to any publisher that would like to contribute to the further growth of the d20 system that has been implemented with D&D3Ed. Sword and Sorcery Studios is one of the leaders in the race to see who will dominate the d20 market (outside of WOTC). With White Wolf Games as Publisher/Printer of their materials they stand a good chance. The Creature Collection is a reasonably priced (if not as well illustrated) addition to the Monster Manual. The CC provides some incites into the Scarred Lands Campaign setting, forthcoming form SSS. The resulting creatures range from the Excellent, with the facinating Ratmen and the ridiculously HUGE Mithril Golem, to the absurd, with the idiotic Karnival Krewe. This being said... the whole collection manages to work well and add some very nice elements to what appears to be an exciting campaign setting. Finally, SSS has stated their manifesto to be "3rd Edition D&D with a 1st Edition feel"... with that goal in mind... I'd say they are succeeding.
Rating:
Summary: Good layout, but unlikely monsters make this a bit dull...
Review: I guess if you want to surprise jaded players with new beasts, this is for you. If you play in the Scarred Lands, this is for you. But if you want to adapt some of these monsters to your own campaign, you are in for some work. Most of them have very specific histories that are difficult to modify. Normally I like little creative notes and world specific blurbs. At times they are inspiring. But here they just make the creatures difficult to port to my own campaign. The page layout is MUCH better than the Monster Manual, but the pictures are a dull black and white and they do not have the edgy 3E feel. Good art for 2E or 1E, but not what I was looking for. I also thought the creatures were a bit silly at times, but then I rarely use any aberrations. I am more of a humanoid/construct type who plays a lighter magic campaign. Heavy magic campaign folks may not shy away from these monsters as much as I did. Even with the drawbacks I mentioned, I still felt this was an average buy. I will likely get a few game sessions of material out of it, and in my opinion, that will pay for the cost of the product.
Rating:
Summary: Good layout, but unlikely monsters make this a bit dull...
Review: I guess if you want to surprise jaded players with new beasts, this is for you. If you play in the Scarred Lands, this is for you. But if you want to adapt some of these monsters to your own campaign, you are in for some work. Most of them have very specific histories that are difficult to modify. Normally I like little creative notes and world specific blurbs. At times they are inspiring. But here they just make the creatures difficult to port to my own campaign. The page layout is MUCH better than the Monster Manual, but the pictures are a dull black and white and they do not have the edgy 3E feel. Good art for 2E or 1E, but not what I was looking for. I also thought the creatures were a bit silly at times, but then I rarely use any aberrations. I am more of a humanoid/construct type who plays a lighter magic campaign. Heavy magic campaign folks may not shy away from these monsters as much as I did. Even with the drawbacks I mentioned, I still felt this was an average buy. I will likely get a few game sessions of material out of it, and in my opinion, that will pay for the cost of the product.
Rating:
Summary: A Handy Addition
Review: I have so far found this to be a useful and easy to use reference, although it is not presented quite as nicely as the Monster Manual. The black and white illustrations just don't quite bite the imagination like the full colour of the MM.
Rating:
Summary: A Handy Addition
Review: I have so far found this to be a useful and easy to use reference, although it is not presented quite as nicely as the Monster Manual. The black and white illustrations just don't quite bite the imagination like the full colour of the MM.
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