Bloody Books Review - Dr Dhrolins Dictionary Of Dinosaurs

Before we begin this review, I have to announce a few things in the interest of clarity.

  I've known Michael O'Sullivan for many many years and class him as a very good personal friend (though if he asks, please repeat the worst insults you've ever heard to his face). I will do my very best to stay professional and keep in mind the review over all else.

Also he once was beaten in snake knowledge by my wife.

Written by Dr Nathan T. Barling  and Dr Michael O'Sullivan, this tome intends to introduce a whole heap of prehistoric beasties into your games of D&D in a multitude of ways. It may be that you want to run a campaign back on the continent of Pangaea, add dinsosaur-flavours to a tale or start polymorphing at higher levels into a Spinosaurus*.

Now, D&D has had dinosaurs in the past, and in more recent years, supplements had added for well-known creatures into the supplements. Dr Dhrolin's... however takes a deeper dive than such surface level designs and, as it is written by two paleontologists who intend to bring some hard science to the magic and mysteries of an RPG setting. Everything is loaded with advice and facts, making each entry into the bestiary a joy to behold in and of itself. On top of that come material for playable races, a whole new ballgame's worth of subclasses and systems and, much to my joy, the ability to domesticate and make a fortress on the back of really big dinos! (oh, and optional magic rules for each as well). The book opens up various settings that I quite enjoyed as well, with the Necromancer’s Island being a concept I very much enjoyed. After all, the idea of playing a fantasy Jurassic Park with Necromancer Hammond is now on my RPG bucket list. Alongside such settings are The Lost Word (not the JP sequel) themed The Ancient Plateau, where Dinosaurs have survived cut off from the word. The Mad Chronoficer is setting is a mad scientist either travelling through time or bringing beasts from the past into the present. For the more conspiracy minded (or Monsterverse fans) there is The Hollow World, where the centre of the planet has a self-contained world contained by a crystal. The book mentions a a official release that has more details, and I’ll have to look into this.

This book does exactly what it sets out to do, and does it wonderfully. It may be something of a niche product, but in all honesty I do feel this is one of the best 5th Ed books I've seen. It's a delight to read, and the ability to have everything from a Dimetrodon** to an elemental Spinosaurus (honestly, my favourite part of the book. The Water Elemental Spinosaurus is breathtaking) to Dino-people in a Dino-town just living their Dino-lives is a wonder. There's a lot of knowledge the book has to impart as well, filled with citations and and historical theory from the professional perspectives that elevates it way above a lot of the D&D fare. However, there are times when things fall out of balance within the new rules and material, so a careful bit of DMing may be in order***

I could go into a breakdown of every chapter of the book and the dinosaurs (and Dimetrodon) that are covered, but that would be pages of me blibbering about my favorite exctinct beasts, Which of course is topped by the Triceratops. If you are reading this review, let me know your faverote Dinosaur and why. We don’t talk about such things as adults as much as we should.

I digress though, and I feel it’s important to stress the sheer level of passion that was poured into the book. The authors have managed to cover massive swathes of information in manner that is both readable and exciting, without ever becoming bogged down in the details. Even the parts that do not directly inform the RPG mechanics and settings are a worthy read, with due diligence being paid to the history of paleontology and some of the murkier aspects of such a past.

It would be remiss of me to not point out Dr Mark P. Whitton’s art, as it both brings to Dinosaurs directly to life and expands out the settings in which we can play. There is a lot of joy in drinking in each illustration and enjoying every moment of doing so, and being transported back to the days of youth where dinosaur books fired the imagination with such art.

A lovely book and very recommended, and can be picked up RIGHT HERE

This picture caused my son to have uncontrollable fits of laughter

*We all want that.

**Not a dinosaur

***Show me ANY 5e supplement that doesn't have that in all fairness