I received a copy of Volo’s Guide to Ghosts from Sign of the Dragon for free to write a review. We already know the authors for other works such as Vault of Magic and Achererak’s Guide to Lichdom, of which we have already spoken positively; let’s see if with this new work they have maintained the same high quality level.
Volo’s Guide to Ghosts deals with the theme of the paranormal, the ghosts, the infestations and communication with these entities. Its contents add valuable material for D&D5e, both for horror and epic scenarios. In general I found the hooks to the various official settings of Wizards of the Coast very useful, so that I could easily use this manual with scenarios such as Eberron and Ravnica. But now let’s see in detail what can be found inside!
Autopsy of an ectoplasm
First of all it must be said that the title does not deceive: each page concerns the specters and the similar creatures, but this certainly does not make it boring or repetitive. The topic is treated analytically and precisely, so everything looks varied and above all useful. Both the narrative and the mechanical parts are smooth and ready for use. It is divided into three chapters and two appendices for easy reference.
The first chapter is devoted to the classification of types of ghosts. How did they become such? What is their appearance? What prevents them from passing through? This section offers very valid ideas for creating situations and encounters out of the usual stereotypes, avoiding that every infestation of your campaign always seems similar to the previous ones.
In the second part of the manual the special actions that can perform these entities are shown. Thanks to these mechanics, each specter can be unique, fearsome and evocative in the way of acting. I liked this approach to the point of imagining a similar manual dedicated to each major fantasy creature. How nice would it be to be able to assemble antagonists by giving them a set of capabilities of your choice? Thus one would never have the impression of meeting the “usual monster”.
The third chapter introduces the figure of the Medium. Its job is to understand the ghosts and get in touch with them. It explains in detail how it works mechanically but also how society can consider them. It also represents the only element that players can use: a feat that allows their PC to do these things.
In the last part of the work we can find two appendices. The first introduces some “famous” specters, explains their background, statistics and inclusion in official settings. The second proposes a ghost ship and its operation, both as a being in itself, and as regards its crew.
Structure of the manual
The 24 pages of this manual are well laid out, do not show problems of any kind and the graphic style is very reminiscent of the official manuals of D&D5e. The double column structure and the font confirm this. Here and there you can also read some nice text boxes containing thoughts of the famous wizard Elminster; they don’t add content, but make reading even more enjoyable.
Even from a graphic point of view there are no lacks: the text alternates with high quality images, which already creates the desire to start an adventure with a paranormal theme.
Conclusions on Volo’s Guide to Ghosts
As I think you already understood, I liked a lot this product. We must not expect a work that deals with too many topics, after all it keeps the promises of the title; the low price (about €3) also justifies its relative brevity; but be careful, at the end of the reading you won’t feel the lack of anything and the sense of satisfaction will be great. It has a very specific target, he sets himself a goal and reaches him with flying colors.
Speaking of votes, on DM Guild (where it is available in digital format in English and Italian) Volo’s Guide to Ghosts has already received some awards despite being on the market for a few days. For example now, as I write this review, it has the title of Best Copper Seller, it is first in the ranking of products under €5 and fourth in the general ranking; and, in my opinion, it deserves this success.