Creatures Anathema Review (Dark Heresy)

[Cynical Cat]

Creatures Anathema is a basically a monster manual for Dark Heresy. Yes, it has Lictors, Genestealers, Eldar, Orks, and Daemons. Without further ado, I'll get to the review.

Appearance and Art: Nice cover and back art. Attractive interior work. Interior art isn't quite as good as previous Dark Heresy products, but it's still quite nice. High marks.

Organization: The book is broken down into chapters. The first is mutants, then follows forbidden science, death worlds, vermin and predators, xenos, forces of chaos and adversaries. Adventure seeds are included for each entry and fluff commentary is common. Common gear is also detailed.

Flaws: There are a few typos. Also the book is thinner than I would have preferred. There are an acceptable number of entries, but more would have been better.

The Meat: It's good. The last section deals with optional mook rules and adversary upgrades, something some GMs will find useful. There's some advice for generating horror and moral quandries. Classic daemons are stated as are some new ones as well as a variety of nasty fauna and constructs.

The book really shines when it comes to the classics. Enslavers, orks, genestealers and the rest are stated as is some of their signature gear. The Eldar Dire Avenger is, like the Space Marine, a TPK waiting to happen. The genestealer is bad, bad news, but not unstoppably vile. Since this will be asked, the following are stated out:

Dire Avenger
Ranger
NPC Corsair

Shuriken Pistols, Avenger Catapults, Ranger Long Rifles

Boy
Nob
Gretchin
Attack Squig

Slugga, Shoota, Choppa, Mega Armour, Snazzgun

Overall: It's good. Not flawless, but good.