Review originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2023/10/reviews-im-going-to-hell.html
Emirikol's Guide to Devils
PDF, 246 Pages. Color art. $15.00
From Sean McGovern, of The Power Score RPG blog. So right away I knew this was going to be a well-researched product. Sean has been one of the best at deep lore D&D research in the blogging scene for years. He is meticulous and encompassing on any topic he tackles.
This is a massive volume at 246 pages and covers the Hells and its inhabitants. It takes D&D lore from as far back 1st/2nd Edition (I noticed that details from "Politics of Hell" are not really included though, but everything else is) and tries to bring them all together. It leans heavily into the 5th edition versions of Hells (naturally), and the book is presented like many of the newer 5e books, with notes from Emirikol the Chaotic and Natasha the Dark.
The information makes for a great read, and there are some details I really enjoy. I like how the author explains the shift from Demon to Devil to Fiend for Succubi. There are plenty of stat blocks, which is good if you don't have all the devils and Archdevils. And there are plenty of new devils and backgrounds on playing characters associated with devils and the Hells.
The art is a mixed bag, as with any DMsGuild product, and I am not 100% on board with all the lore choices made here. But there is enough text and information here to keep me busy. Plus any choice I don't like I can simply say "well, Emirikol got it wrong" or even "This was from Natasha when she was younger and not yet Iggwilv."
In any case, it is good to have multiple points of view on something as complex as the Nine Hells.
I do wish there was a printer-friendly version. This would be nice in my big red binder of devil information.
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