Monstrous Arcana: The Illithiad

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Monstrous Arcana: The Illithiad is a 98-page sourcebook for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition released in April 1998.

Official synopsis[]

The Illithiad is a visually stunning tome that details important information on mind flayers, their mental powers, and their dire plans to control the multiverse.
This "complete book of illithids" covers:

The anatomy and physiology of the mind flayer.

The terrible truth about the mind flayer life cycle.

Illithid-kin, undead mind flayers, and new' flayer-kin monsters.

A balanced look at illithid psionic powers.

a detailed description of a typical mind flayer community

Unique mind flayer psionic abilities and items.
The Illitiad is the third volume in the popular Monstrous Arcana game accessory series and is indispensable to DMs who want to add these terrifying creatures to their campaigns. The Illithiad supports the mind flayer adventure trilogy: A Darkness Gathering, Masters of Eternal Night, and Dawn of the Overmind

Content[]

Development and release[]

Development[]

The book was written by Bruce R. Cordell. Art was provided by Fred Fields, Glen Michael Angus, James Crabtree, David Martin, Mark Nelson, William O'Connor and Arnie Swekel.

Release[]

Monstrous Arcana: The Illithiad was released by Wizards of the Coast in April 1998 for $^{[missing data]} US or $^{[missing data]} Canadian.

On July 08, 2014, it was re-released in digital format. It is currently available on DriveThruRPG and Dungeon Masters Guild for $5.99.

Reception and influence[]

Critical reception[]

As of 2023, Monstrous Arcana: The Illithiad reached the rank of Platinum seller on DriveThruRPG.

Influence on other works[]

External links[]

References[]

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition
Core rules
Player's Handbook • Dungeon Master Guide Monstrous Compendium Volume One • Monstrous Compendium Volume Two • Monstrous Manual First Quest • Introduction to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Game • The Complete Starter Set • Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game
Optional core rules
Player's Option: Combat & Tactics • Player's Option: Skills & Powers • Player's Option: Spells & Magic Dungeon Master Option: High-Level Campaigns • Campaign Option: Council of Wyrms
Supplement lines
Player's Handbook Rules Supplement • Dungeon Master's Guide Rules Supplement Monstrous Compendium Appendix • Monstrous Compendium Annual Encyclopedia Magica • Historical Reference • The Magic Encyclopedia • Monstrous Arcana • Priest's Spell Compendium • Wizard's Spell Compendium
Other supplements
Bastion of Faith • Book of Artifacts • Castle Sites • Chronomancer • City Sites • College of Wizardry • Country Sites • Den of Thieves • Dungeon Builder's Guidebook • Guide to Hell • Legends & Lore • Rogues' Gallery • Shaman • Tome of Magic • The Vortex of Madness and Other Planar Perils • Warriors of Heaven • World Builder's Guidebook
Adventures
The Apocalypse Stone • Axe of the Dwarvish Lords • Cleric's Challenge (II) • The Dancing Hut of Baba Yaga • Destiny of Kings • Die Vecna Die! • Dragon Mountain • Dungeons of Despair • Fighter's Challenge (II) • The Gates of Firestorm Peak • A Hero's Tale • Labyrinth of Madness • The Lost Shrine of Bundushatur • Moonlight Madness • The Murky Deep • Night Below: An Underdark Campaign • A Paladin in Hell • Return to the Tomb of Horrors • Reverse Dungeon • Road to Danger • The Rod of Seven Parts • The Shattered Circle • The Silver Key • Swamplight • Tale of the Comet • Tales of Enchantment • Temple, Tower, & Tomb • Thief's Challenge (II) • TSR Jam 1999 • Wizard's Challenge (II)