''I, Tyrant'' is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the ''
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
Several different editions of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game have been produced since 1974. The current publisher of ''D&D'', Wizards of the Coast, produces new materials only for the most current edition of the ga ...
''
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...
role-playing game
A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within ...
.
Contents
''I, Tyrant'' expands on the information given about
beholders primarily in the ''
Monstrous Manual
The ''Monster Manual'' (''MM'' is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'' fantasy role-playing game, first published in 1977 by TSR. The ''Monster Manual'' was the first hardcover D&D book and includ ...
'' through details of the race's history, religion, culture, settlements and psychology, as well as statistics on further true beholder deviants.
The book also provides rules for
psionics
In American science fiction of the 1950s and 1960s, psionics was a proposed discipline that applied principles of engineering (especially electronics) to the study (and employment) of paranormal or psychic phenomena, such as telepathy and psychok ...
and
magic items
Magic or Magick most commonly refers to:
* Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces
* Ceremonial magic, encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic
* Magical thinking, the belief that unrela ...
available to beholders.
Publication history
''I, Tyrant'' was published by TSR in 1996 as a 93-page book. It was designed by
Aaron Allston
Aaron Dale Allston (December 8, 1960 – February 27, 2014) was an American game designer and author of many science fiction books, notably ''Star Wars'' novels. His works as a game designer include game supplements for role-playing games, severa ...
, and featured cover illustrations by
Dana Knutson
Dana Knutson is an artist best known for his work on role-playing game products.
Career
Dana Knutson has had a long career as an artist on role-playing games. He worked at FASA for 10 years, producing art on numerous works for their ''Star Trek' ...
, and interior illustrations by
Arnie Swekel Arnie Swekel is an artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games.
Background
Swekel was born May 2, 1964, and grew up in River Rouge, Michigan. After graduating high school he briefly attended The Center for Creative Studies (now called Coll ...
,
David Martin David or Dave Martin may refer to:
Entertainment
*David Martin (artist) (1737–1797), Scottish painter and engraver
*David Stone Martin (1913–1992), American artist
*David Martin (poet) (1915–1997), Hungarian-Australian poet and novelist
*Dav ...
,
Glen Michael Angus,
William O'Connor, and
Randy Post
Randy "rk" Post is an illustrator of fantasy publications.
Background
Post was raised in Illinois on a farm.
Post has done freelance work for TSR, including ''Red Steel'', ''Cutthroats of Lankhmar'', and '' Spells & Magic''. Post garnered a fu ...
.
''I, Tyrant'' and the module ''
Eye of Pain
''Eye of Pain'' is an adventure for the 2nd edition of the ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game.
Plot summary
''Eye of Pain'' is the first part of an adventure trilogy, in which the player characters are hired by a disguise ...
'' mark the first volumes in TSR's "Monstrous Arcana" series, which focuses on the most popular monsters in the ''AD&D'' game.
Reception
David Comford reviewed ''I, Tyrant '' for ''Arcane'' magazine, rating it an 8 out of 10 overall.
He comments: "As if these multi-eyed nightmares weren't deadly enough, now they can have magical items and psionics too."
He notes that through ''I, Tyrant'', "the amazing versatility of the race is depicted in great detail, raising them from merely a collection of interesting monsters to a curious and powerful civilisation. The results give referees a myriad of encounter opportunities and possibilities for inserting beholder NPCs into existing campaigns for that extra punch of spice."
Comford concludes his review by stating: "The ''Monstrous Manual'' will still suffice for brief encounters with these creatures, but through expanded details on the creatures' behavior, powers, driving forces and tips on how to defeat them, ''I, Tyrant'' is useful to referees or players planning to embark upon a beholder-heavy adventure."
References
{{D&D topics
Dungeons & Dragons sourcebooks
Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1996