You all know I’ve got that FOMO. I hate missing out, and when it comes to getting in on the ground floor of something exciting, I need to be there. And when that something is a home-grown expansion to the wonderful world of Dungeons & Dragons, well… you just know David needs this in his life.

So let’s talk about the exciting new expansion that just dropped on BackerKit today. From the minds of Driftforge Games comes Vault of Monsters, a 5e-compatible bestiary inspired by British folklore, local legends, and regional oddities, their words, not mine, but dammit, that is an absolutely fantastic hook. Seriously, how could anyone resist that concept?

The book contains far more than just monsters and stat blocks. It dives into the lore behind these creatures and shows DMs the best ways to utilise them, which in my humble opinion gives the whole thing a far more authentic feel. So yes, you can genuinely learn while you play. For instance, until today I had never heard of a Tatty Bogle, and that’s just one of the many rabbit holes this campaign has already sent me tumbling down.

So if you’re wondering why you should invest in this brilliant little bestiary, well, it’s a fun way to freshen up your gaming table while learning something new, because you never know when East Anglia’s Black Shuck is going to come tearing out of the darkness at your party.

More importantly though, this is something crafted with genuine passion and love by people who clearly adore Dungeons & Dragons and want to use that passion to share stories from their own little corner of the world. And you all know me — I love how TTRPGs bring people together. So seeing an expansion for the world’s most famous tabletop RPG helping bridge cultural gaps through myth, folklore, and shared storytelling? That’s something I can absolutely get behind.

This is an independent team trying to create something genuinely special, and honestly, that passion shines through in every part of the project. So if you like what these folks are brewing, check out their links here — and if you love what they’re doing, definitely give our article on Roll Britannia and the UKGE a read too.

If you want to know more check out their Instagram here, and here too, the campaign is here to.