What monsters do you favor when developing an
adventure? Maybe there is a monster that
you like the idea of, but never come up against or used as much as you have
liked. I know there is a list for me
that is a mixture of both, ones I like and ones I like the idea.
Cyclops - One of my favorite creatures since I was
kid watching Ray Harryhausen do his magic.
I always thought the cyclops was an underutilized monster. Recently, in the Kingmaker Adventure Path by
Pazio the boss for the 3rd in the path, The Varnhold Vanishing had a cyclopean
lich. Yeah, it is cool.
Doppelgangers - Another underutilized mid level
ranged creature that I think can add a ton to an adventure and the overall
campaign. My god the havoc they can
spread. Taking the form of this or that
person. They are walking virus of
paranoia.
Devourer - This one would be more in the line of a
monster I like the idea of, but I have never put it in an adventure and never
came across one. But the concept of this
undead definitely has it making the list.
Owlbear - This one is the first monster I remember
from playing in the very early days. I
dunno there is something about the simplicity of the odd mixture of the two
creatures that I like. Plus it was my
first. You never forget your first,
unless you drink too much.
And Goblins - The simplicity and flexibility of
goblins makes them a favorite over the orcs.
They can be fierce little obstacles that can throw hundreds of bodies at
a problem or in my world there are large groups who adapt to living next to
other races and the ultimate scavengers of culture. They make good companions and comic
relief.
What are you top five monsters? Hell, I might try to figure out that poll
thing-a-ma-bob and add it on the side for people to vote. But what monsters do you like the fight or
put in your adventures?
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Humanoids. goblins, orcs, elves, dwarves, halflings, lizardmen, all sorts of giants, frogmen (tsathar), fishheads (kuo-toa), humans, mindflayers. I also like the planar humanoids: angels, devils, inevitables.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm just starting to write my own adventure, but I really don't have preference. I'm pretty much just making up the weirdest things I can think of.
ReplyDeleteI tend towards the traditional monsters. Trolls are so good for starting campaigns, because they're big, scary and experience D&D players know they are dangerous too!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite lower level monsters are the goblins races (goblins, hobgoblins, bugbears), undead like ghouls and wights, and ogres. You also can't go wrong with giant vermin and slimes. My favorite higher level monsters are ogre mages, liches, and the various demon types.
ReplyDeleteI've generally found that player knowledge of monsters is a giant weakness. Inevitably, someone has memorized all of the Monster Manuals, and can recite AC, HP, and even Treasure Type rote. I tend to make up my own. Keeps players on their toes, and I don't have to deal with any rules lawyers.
ReplyDeleteAnd making 'em up is easy -- just figure out what you want, and use some other monster's stats. Just make it look and/or behave differently
sweet, Owlbear for the win, creepy
ReplyDeleteGoblinoids are always good. And Slaad.
ReplyDeleteI voted for Liches, and giant frogs and purple worms.
ReplyDeleteLiches are very horror/S&S to me, while I like dungeon vermin since I don't have to worry about relationshipgs between intelligent dungeon-dwellers if I use vermin.
I like the goblins also, but for creepiness factor I go with the giant frog. Even little frogs are disgusting and they also have the danger of poison. After that, the baslisk because there's little defense if taken by surprise. Mind flayer because I hate the thought of losing control. Not entirely sure what a lich is but I've read about them in RA Salvatore's books, I think, and I hated them. And Gelatinous Cube because I think jello is disgusting and this sounds like monster jello.
ReplyDeleteMine are the following
ReplyDelete1: gnolls, dont see them used much in published adventures.
2: fungi, from brown mold, yellow mold,myconid,and so on.
3: mimics,piercers,trappers and such. Love things that are not what they appear to be.
4: rust monsters, 9 out of 10 fighters run away like little girls.
5: brownies, like using these little guys.
Hard to pick just one! But I'm hard pressed to find anything that creeps me out more than the other-worldly horror of a mind flayer.
ReplyDeleteHumans really have to be near to the top of the list, we just make such good villains. All of the tradition character races can all be easily made into interesting villains as well. (I dropped the traditional villainous races from my current campiagn just for that contrast.)
ReplyDeleteChimeric creatures of all types, because they are strange and crazy.
Owl bear and cyclops are definitely in my Top 5 monsters of B/X (cyclops probably being #1). The purple worm was always excellent and deserves a top spot...the others are more challenging to put in order. As a child I loved the "F you" quality of the black budding, but as an adult I'm less enamored of the creature. Mummies perhaps...and maybe harpies (helped by their portrayal in modules like N1 and books like Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn).
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