Dungeon Mastering is a unique form of art; you’re storyteller, author, and game designer all in one. Newer Dungeon Masters are quick to admit it can be overwhelming, which is why there’s so much content focused on how to be a better DM.
But what about that next level? That place where you feel comfortable rolling with player decisions, improving a funny NPC, and running a decent combat. Where does intermediate go to improve? Keith Amman delivers a masterclass in DMing better games with REMONSTERED! The Monsters Know What They’re Doing: Updated Combat Tactics For Up-To-Date Dungeon Masters.
2019’s The Monsters Know What They’re Doing has been cited as a must-read for new DMs for years. It came as an answer to a question many ask at some point when prepping adventure modules, “what is this monster even doing here?” The answer was twofold: give beasties a motivation based in the Monster Manual’s lore and give them combat tactics that take advantage of their stat block. (Amman later expanded this approach to other TTRPGs with Making Enemies.) REMONSTERED does it again but for the 2024 rules, aka Dungeons & Dragons 5.5e.
To say it up front: yes this is a very good book. Amman details non-combat solutions, turn-by-turn battle strategies, and his own creative contributions to DnD’s many monsters. This time around, he also laid it all out in a more intuitive way. Monsters are separated by their creature types, and there are hint boxes addressing deeper concepts like alignment or magical darkness. It’s great for my style of prep where I come up with a general situation and then think “I need some kind of demon here.” I just pop open the section on fiends and let Amman’s tactics inspire the kind of immersive encounter that seems masterfully planned.
You don’t need to be a wargamer to use the tactics in this book. What a monster should do on their turn is spelled out in detail, with some advice even showing you how to set up a deadly combo for a future turn. Amman also isn’t shy about declaring when an ability just shouldn’t be used, either because it’s too easy for players to dodge or because it doesn’t fit the monster’s theme. More importantly, Amman tells us why the monster uses their abilities in a certain way.
Beholders focus on keeping mages in their antimagic cone because their Intelligence stat is high enough to know that spells end fights. A human assassin will flee when they are outnumbered, potentially making use of chase mechanics if the party decides to pursue. That’s another thing I really like about Amman’s ideas; they remind DMs to make use of negotiation, chases, and equipment to offer alternatives to combat. It not only adds variety for the sake of strategy, but it also makes your world feel more alive when the creatures you encounter seek different things.
Another area where REMONSTERED shines is in explaining why these tips are being given. Amman candidly breaks down his thought process. He describes if a tactic is meant to build up the monster’s character or if it's to give the fight more gameplay variety. Hopefully both are achieved, but he admits that sometimes a monstrosity is just there to bite and claw some HP. Even then, there’s ways to make it more immersive. This being an update also means Amman goes into the good and the bad of 5.5e’s changes, and what that means for your encounters.
REMONSTERED! The Monsters Know What They’re Doing is a great gift for a Dungeon Master looking to add that extra bit of spice to their campaign. A brand new DM should focus on pacing and solidifying their rules knowledge. But someone a year into the hobby is in the right place to receive the advice Amman has to offer. It’s also a solid resource for professional DMs– a reminder to add more dimensions to the next dungeon room. Hopefully the party has a diamond on hand.
5 out of 5 Stars
A copy of REMONSTERED! The Monsters Know What They’re Doing was provided by Gallery Books for this review.
Sergio Solórzano is the best Dungeon Master in the USA (according to an official D&D competition, anyway). He loves minis and terrain but also goes all-in on improv!
