I just got the creature vault, which is fairly stand alone except: I have no idea what various abilities do.

Affectionate

Mark of Nurgle

Diseased (x)

Implacable Horde

Swarm Vulnerabilites

Tiny Creatures

Dead Calm

Dead Earnest

Filthy Vermin

Also does fear 1/2 mean that the fear rating is 2 when they outnumber you and 1 other wise.

Sounds like some of the referenced abilities that are in the Creature Guide.

I don't plan on purchasing one without the other. I'm sure the creatures with those abilities are perfectly playable without you knowing what they do, but you'll have to get the Guide for the straight poop.

Yep, I would totally recommend getting both the CG and CV

I'm a little tight for money at the moment, and It's not the greatest design if the creature vault isn't standalone. Which in the small but vicious conference thingy I'm pretty sure they said you could get eather they just suggested you get both. All it would take is for fantasy flight to pack a little slip that A. told you what all abilities mean and B. Broke down the creature card. (I understand the creature card just fine but I think others might not immediately understand the card.)

The Creature Vault isn't really very useable without the Creature Guide, as noted something like "Dead Calm" (a quality vampires have) is only explained on p.101 of Creature Vault as far as I can see.

If you have to get only one, the Guide is the better one to get though it has its flaws too.