Review: Wizards of the Coast – Boo’s Astral Menagerie (Dungeons & Dragons)


Boo’s Astral Menagerie

Boo’s Astral Menagerie is one book from the Spelljammer: Adventures in Space boxed set. This review is part two of a series of 4 reviews. See all associated reviews under the tag spelljammer.

Boo’s Astral Menagerie is an epic fantasy supplement for Dungeons & Dragons, written by Christopher Perkins and published by Wizards of the Coast.
By Aaron T. Huss

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Spelljammer!

Pirate fantasy amongst the Astral Plane!

Boo’s Astral Menagerie is the second of three books (four products total including the DM’s Screen) within the boxed set for the reincarnation of Spelljammer. It is a bestiary for adventures in the Astral Plane. Although it includes a number of monstrous beings to throw at your players, it also includes a large collection of humanoids to populate all those ships plying their trades in the Astral Plane. This is important for DMs as it provides the stats they need to run those pirate-themed games where each ship has a crew ready for a conflict.

There are two main aspects of the Astral Plane that come into being within Boo’s Astral Menagerie – weird and sea. First, the weird… there is no shortage of weird creatures to encounter including many versions of creatures found elsewhere. Sometimes the bestiary goes all out and throws something horrific at you as well! That’s my favorite part of the weird. Second, the sea… the Astral Plane includes the Astral Sea which is akin to an actual sea but in wildspace; like literally. There are fish-like creatures that travel the Astral Sea as if they are swimming through the sea. This is just a fun aspect of the setting that really promotes that pirate-theme of the Spelljammer. To go along with that pirate-theme is some of the humanoid adversaries that you’d find on a ship. Some are normal fantasy, some are a bit weird, I like it!

Boo’s Astral Menagerie isn’t that long, but that’s because it’s part of the 3-book set. I would love to see a Volume 2 that includes even more pirate-themed weirdness!! However, you get everything you need to run the included adventure and plenty of options for many games to come.

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