The Oracle Monster Generator Review

The Oracle Monster Generator is a well-made, well-organized box of cards that does exactly what it says. I just haven't used it. I'm a busy GM who doesn't spend much time building my own worlds or adventures, and this is made for GMs who do. If that's you, it's worth a look. If it isn't, it's a $50 box that sits on the shelf.

What I reviewed

The Oracle is a collection of cards for inspiring and creating new monsters for your world or adventure. There's a deck for each biome. From it, you pick a card for the monster's type, behavior, archetype, special ability, and intrigue, and every card has four options on it, so the number of combinations is huge. It's system agnostic, which is awesome. I backed it on Kickstarter for $50.

I haven't used it in a game, so this is a read-through.

Usefulness8/20

It has its uses, but it's not something I'd use enough to justify it. Where I can see it shining is a monster-hunting campaign, like Daggerheart's Dark Heart of Andaluria frame, where you're hunting a new monster most sessions. Or if you're building your own world and want ideas. For a GM running published adventures, it's a very niche thing to own.

Layout16/20

The cards are organized, and each biome's deck is easy to get to. If I hadn't prepped anything and needed a monster quickly for a session, I could whip something together fairly easily. I still have to find each category in the deck, but they're color-coded, so that's quick. The cards and the box are very nice.

Who it's for

GMs who build their own worlds and adventures, and anyone running a monster-hunting campaign. If you mostly run published adventures and don't make many monsters of your own, skip it.

The verdict

A 12 out of 20. A great tool for the right GM. I'm just not that GM.