The second volume of the almost proto-D&D original version of the game covers, as the title says, monsters and treasure. So half of this is a primitive version of what in later editions would become the Monster Manual, a list of monsters and stat blocks for them so that you can use them in adventures and see how they would interact with players.

The other half of the book is a section on equipment which explains both normal and magical items, how to build them and their effects. Again, as in the first volume this is at the same time a very no-frills system while being overly complicated. There is little in terms of description of the monsters, mainly giving practical information, but the information that they do give is pretty confusing and often extremely superficial. This would be much improved in later versions of the game.

Again mostly of historical interest, it’s really cool to see the start of a game that would become so influential. The drawings of creatures and adventure scenes here are extremely amusing in how amateurish it all feels. Still, if you are at all interested in the history of D&D you owe it to yourself to at least leaf through this.