Monster Spell Library
The Monster Spell Library extracts monster-only spells from bestiary stat blocks and makes them searchable in the Monster Creator—without altering the monsters that supplied them.
What the library is for
In Shadowdark, many monsters cast spells that do not exist in the standard player spell list (such as a Naga's Hypnotize or a Lich's Doom). These spells normally live only as embedded items inside individual monster stat blocks.
The Monster Spell Library automatically extracts and indexes those spells into a reusable compendium folder. When authoring an NPC in Monster Creator, you can search and attach any monster spell with a single click.
Where the spells land
All generated monster spells live inside the Shadowdark Enhancer — Items
compendium (sde-items), organized by source folder:
Shadowdark Enhancer — Items
└── Monster Spells
├── Shadowdark Core
├── Cursed Scroll 1
├── Western Reaches
└── Other Sources
Generated entries use the naming convention Spell Name - Monster Name
(for example, Blast - Mage).
Source Actors keep their embedded spells. The library contains standalone copies rather than live links, so an NPC you create retains its attached spell even if the source monster is modified or removed.
Quick use
- Automatic sync on load: When you log in as the primary GM, the module
automatically syncs Shadowdark Core and the managed Enhancer Actors pack
(
sde-actors) into the Items compendium. This sync runs once per module version. - Importing monsters: Importer Hub automatically syncs their embedded spells into the library after monsters are created or replaced.
- Browsing the library: Open the Shadowdark Enhancer — Items compendium and navigate to the Monster Spells folder to inspect any generated entry.
- Using spells in Monster Creator: Open Monster Creator, expand the Spellcasting section, and select Monster Spells in the source filter.
- Context and preview: Search or filter the list. Click the arrow button on any entry to open the source monster sheet for context.
- Attach to draft: Click + on a spell to attach a full embedded copy to your NPC draft.
- Manual sync: To reconcile specific sources by hand, click Build / Refresh, choose your sources, review the dry run, and confirm. (GM-only).
What the markers mean
When browsing monster spells in the Creator or compendium, several icons provide status and validation hints:
- Branch icon (Variant): Marks a same-name spell whose mechanical definition differs from another spell with the same name. Tier or source details are appended to keep variants distinct.
- Pencil icon (Curated edit): Marks a generated entry with curated edits. A library refresh will preserve your custom version as a curated conflict rather than overwriting it.
- Warning triangle (Data issue): Marks suspicious source data in the original stat block, such as:
- A stated DC that disagrees with
Tier + 10 - Bare dice notations written in prose instead of structured fields
- A prose duration that contradicts the structured duration
- Damage dice missing a roll formula
- Note: Validation reports these issues for your review; it never silently alters the source spell.
- Native icons: Core-system entries and monster spells from Cursed Scrolls 3, 4, and 5 use visually matched Foundry-native icons from the built-in icon collection. Other imported sources retain their imported art.
Document protection and safety
Generated spells carry the monsterSpell.generated flag to protect them from
accidental overwrites:
- Import collision protection: If you import an item pack that happens to contain an item with the same name as a generated spell, selecting Replace existing in the conflict dialog is safely downgraded to Keep both. Your imported item is created under an available name, and a warning notification names the protected spell.
- Deleting generated spells: If you intentionally want a generated spell replaced with a custom item, delete the generated spell from the compendium first, then re-import.
- Curated conflict preservation: Hand-edited spells survive subsequent
library refreshes. The refresh resolves items by
libraryId, so your curated edits remain intact and are reported during dry runs (e.g.,0 added, 0 updated, 1 curated conflict preserved).
How refresh, migration, and reconciliation work
### Provenance tracking Each generated spell document stores metadata linking it back to its origin: * Source Actor UUID and embedded Item ID * Source compendium pack and package versions * Content fingerprint of the spell mechanics * List of all monster stat blocks providing an identical definition ### Refresh matching rules Refresh matching relies on provenance rather than bare item names: * **Consolidation:** Identical spell definitions from multiple monsters consolidate into a single library entry. * **Variants:** Spells sharing a name but having different rules remain distinct. * **Updates:** Untouched generated entries update automatically when their source monster changes. * **Curated preservation:** Entries with hand-edited content become protected conflicts and are preserved. * **Stale entries:** Spells no longer present in source monsters are reported as stale during scans but are not deleted automatically. * **User items:** Hand-authored items created directly in the folder are ignored. ### Version-gated automatic refresh On world activation, the primary GM client compares the `monsterSpellSyncVersion` world setting against the module's version: * If the setting matches the module version, the automatic refresh is skipped. * If the module has updated (or on a fresh world), the GM client automatically refreshes spells from Shadowdark Core and the managed Actors pack (`sde-actors`). * The version setting advances only after a complete, successful sync. If a sync fails or is aborted, the stamp remains unchanged to retry on the next load. ### Legacy pack migration and safety net Earlier releases stored monster spells in a dedicated `world.shadowdark-enhancer--monster-spells` compendium. This pack is automatically migrated into `sde-items` on world load: * Generated spells consolidate into `Monster Spells /Related: Monster Creator · Compendium Packs · Importer Hub