Book of Vile Darkness (sourcebook)

This article is about the sourcebook. For the artifact, see Book of Vile Darkness.

Book of Vile Darkness is an accessory for 3^rd-edition of Dungeons & Dragons^®.

“

"Only the most indomitable minds dare to look upon the malevolent thoughts and forbidden secrets bound herein. This corrupt tome is filled with deplorable wisdom, malignant ideas, and descriptions of creatures, rites, and practices most foul. Evil permeates every word and image inscribed within it."

— Orcus, Demon Prince of the Undead

This sourcebook for the Dungeons & Dragons game is intended for mature audiences and provides a Dungeon Master with unflinching access to subject matter that will broaden any campaign. Included in a detailed look at the nature of evil and the complex challenge of confronting the many dilemmas found within its deepest shadows. Along with wicked spells, wondrous items, and artifacts, Book of Vile Darkness also provides descriptions and statistics for a host of abominable monsters, archdevils, and demon princes to pit against the noblest of heroes.

”

Description[]

The Book of Vile Darkness introduced several new mechanics relating to evil, including rules for drug use, demonic possession, torture, and ritual sacrifice. It introduced 18 new prestige classes and also included new spells, feats, and magic items. Some, including corrupt spells and vile feats, introduced new mechanics supporting evil characters. Also included were several of the archdevils and demon lords, such as Asmodeus and Orcus, updated for the third edition.

Contents[]

Introduction
Chapter 1: The Nature of Evil
Chapter 2: Variant Rules
Chapter 3: Evil Equipment
Chapter 4: Feats
Chapter 5: Prestige Classes
Chapter 6: Magic
Chapter 7: Lords of Evil
Chapter 8: Evil Monsters
Appendix: Evil PCs

Index[]

Characters[]

Juiblex

Creatures[]

babau • barlgura • chasme • eye of fear and flame • ghargatula • kocrachon • mane • rutterkin • shadow demon

Referenced only

achaierai • bugbear • cornugon • destrachan • drow • duergar • gelugon • half-fiend • harpy • kobold • lamia • manticore • night hag • sphinx • worg • yuan-ti • yugoloth

Religions[]

Erythnul • Karaan • Lolth • Rallaster • The Patient One • Scahrossar • Vecna • The Xammux • Yeathan

Miscellaneous[]

Classes: ur-priest
Items: branding iron • coffin • iron maiden • scalpel • thumbscrew
Materials & Substances: holy water • lead
Languages: Dark Speech

Credits[]

Developer: Bruce R. Cordell
Editors: David Noonan, Penny Williams
Managing Editor: Kim Mohan
Creative Director: Ed Stark
RPG Category Manager: Anthony Valterra
Vice President of RPG R&D: Bill Slavicsek
Vice President of Publishing: Mary Kirchoff
Project Manager: Martin Durham
Production Manager: Chas DeLong
Art Director: Dawn Murin
Cover Art: Henry Higgenbotham
Interior Artists: Daren Bader, Thomas Baxa, Matt Cavotta, Brian Despain, Jeff Easley, Scott Fischer, Lars Grant-West, Quinton Hoover, Jeremy Jarvis, Raven Mimura, Vinod Rams, Wayne Reynolds, David Roach, Richard Sardinha, Brian Snoddy, Arnie Swekel, Anthony Waters
Graphic Designers: Robert Campbell, Cynthia Fliege, Sean Glenn, Sherry Floyd

Appendix[]

Gallery[]

External links[]

Book of Vile Darkness Art Gallery. Wizards of the Coast. (2003-01-26). Archived from the original on 2016-08-16. Retrieved on 2020-03-27.
Excerpts: Book of Vile Darkness (HTML). Excerpts Archive. Wizards of the Coast. (2003-03-02). Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2021-10-21.
Monte Cook (2003-01-17). Even More Archfiends! A Web Enhancement for the Book of Vile Darkness (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2003-08-02. Retrieved on 14-08-2018.
Dungeon Masters Guild product page

Connections[]

3^rd & 3.5-Edition Sourcebooks
Core Rulebooks	Dungeon Master's Guide 3^rd edition • Monster Manual 3^rd edition • Player's Handbook 3^rd edition Dungeon Master's Guide 3.5 edition • Monster Manual 3.5 edition • Player's Handbook 3.5 edition
Sourcebooks	Arms and Equipment Guide • *Book of Vile Darkness* • Book of Exalted Deeds • Complete Adventurer • Complete Arcane • Complete Champion • Complete Divine • Complete Mage • Complete Psionic • Complete Warrior • Defenders of the Faith • Deities and Demigods • Draconomicon: The Book of Dragons • Dragon Magic • Epic Level Handbook • Exemplars of Evil • Expanded Psionics Handbook • Fiend Folio • Ghostwalk • Hero Builder's Guidebook • Manual of the Planes • Masters of the Wild • Monster Manual II • Oriental Adventures • Planar Handbook • Psionics Handbook • Savage Species • Song and Silence • Spell Compendium‎ • Stormwrack • Sword and Fist • Tome and Blood • Unearthed Arcana
Adventures