Under your bed. In your closet. Is it better to out-monster the monster or to be quietly devoured? This tag covers questions relating to monstrous antagonists.
3
votes
2answers
72 views
About monster definition and distinctions
I was having a discussion with some guy and I argued that I think D&D made distinctions between monsters and regular characters since earlier editions, and it even employed different mechanics. ...
6
votes
2answers
95 views
Is a Bodak's Death Gaze an Energy Drain Effect?
My party recently ran into a Bodak. One of it's nastiest features is it's Death Gaze (Su) gaze attack which causes:
1d4 negative levels, 30 feet; Fortitude DC 18 negates. The save DC is ...
9
votes
1answer
123 views
Where are a monster's skills?
If you grab a goblin for example, and the goblin test to escape it says to have it make an acrobatics or athletics check but I can't seem to find where it says there skills? Any help?
8
votes
1answer
281 views
Constitution drain, energy drain, dominating gaze - but incapable of crossing running water?
I'm interested in when this constraint from vampire lore was first integrated into Dungeons and Dragons mechanics: has it been there since the first D&D vampire?
Vampires are... unable to ...
6
votes
1answer
162 views
Were there gray renders before the year 2000?
I'm interested in compiling some lore on the gray render, but the Wikipedia entry dates them no further than D&D 3.0. Did they exist before this? Did they exist before D&D came along or were ...
11
votes
2answers
171 views
Reducing a monster below CR 1
There are many instances in Pathfinder and other 3.5 based systems when you might need to reduce a monster below 1 or 1/2. For example, if I'm using a CR 1/2 monster from a 3.5 source in Pathfinder, ...
8
votes
3answers
166 views
How does acquiring a template that changes hit dice affect pre-existing hit points?
When an existing creature acquires a template, and that template changes the creature's hit dice, does this change the creature's existing hit points?
Example:
A 3rd level human cleric with no bonus ...
4
votes
1answer
134 views
How can I include Dresden-Files-style vampires in my Pathfinder game?
I have a concept for a campaign that uses a Dresden-Files environment in a medieval fantasy setting, but for reasons of familiarity and experience prefer to use the Pathfinder system. I specifically ...
2
votes
2answers
255 views
Cthulhu in D&D 3.5
I am planning a campaign arc where the antagonists are followers of the entity known as Cthulhu from H.P Lovecraft's strange tales. In the end of the campaign I'd like to have the adventurers fight ...
7
votes
8answers
499 views
How can I tailor an encounter so that a low level, mostly mundane party can defeat a wasp swarm?
I'm GM'ing a game with a large, mostly mundane party where all PCs at level 2. The party is made up of a good aligned cleric (i.e. no damage spells), wizard, druid (with wolf animal companion), monk, ...
4
votes
2answers
70 views
What resources regarding monsters are compatable with Rule of Cool's Legend system?
I've been closely following Rule of Cool's Legend game system that they are releasing and it looks like something I'd be interested in trying out with my group. They are still developing their monster ...
23
votes
3answers
528 views
Why is Survival not a class skill for animals?
Question in title.
Seems odd that an animal isn't naturally inclined to get bonuses to Survival, which typically involves dealing with the wilds and it's associated difficulties (an animal's natural ...
6
votes
2answers
140 views
What is the physical stress cap for a Diminutive Size creature with Claws?
Consider the lowly garden gnome. He's got the Diminutive Size [-1] power, which means he is
Wee. [...] When your size is a factor in combat, you can only inflict 1 physical stress per attack (but ...
3
votes
1answer
122 views
Attack Bonus question for Monsters with multiple attacks from multiple weapons
When a monster wields multiple weapons, and can attack multiple times with each, how do I alter (or should I leave) the given attack bonuses on each type of attack on the enemy's stat block?
Take, ...
6
votes
1answer
133 views
How many attacks can an Olethrodaemon get with a full round attack?
I am a new DM having a little trouble understanding the monster stas blocks for higher level Pathfinder monsters. I get most of the lower CR monsters, but then I doubt myself when enemies seem to be ...
4
votes
2answers
169 views
Monsters with negative HP
I'm not sure I remember correctly, but I think a certain, early Ravenloft Monster Manual featured a creature (some kind of a goblin?) that had negative HP, as in it operated (lived) with negative HP, ...
6
votes
3answers
247 views
How can I acquire Charm Person/Charm Monster as an SLA for my NPC?
So, I'm creating the overarching villain for a campaign I intend to run - an Osyluth with class levels known as Molkor the Quartermaster - and I want to get him into the Fiend of Corruption prestige ...
7
votes
4answers
171 views
Monster resource from Cthulu Mythos adjusted for D&D
I want to introduce some monsters from Cthulu Mythos in my campaign, but I have problems finding a good resource on them. I am looking for suggested abilities, general information and art of them. It ...
6
votes
3answers
236 views
The effects of saving throws on mind reading
A number of creatures in D&D systems (specific editions may not be necessary here, but let's use 3/3.5/3.75 for simplicity) have the ability to use spell or spell-like effects such as Detect ...
10
votes
2answers
340 views
Is that blackguard riding a dragon? Nope, but their pony sure looks evil
In Elder Evils, there is a bodak blackguard who has a really cool mount. It's a flying construct with a nightwing's essence bonded to it. Very reminiscent (perhaps borderline steal?) of the Hobgoblin. ...
14
votes
2answers
947 views
Are there any Animal Companions that are not actually Animals?
I’m just curious if any supplement out there includes an Animal Companion that is not, in fact, an Animal. As in the type.
I mean that just any Druid of sufficient level can take; there are ...
15
votes
2answers
409 views
How can I play monsters and NPCs up to their potential?
In many cases discussions about balance in 3.5 will, inevitably, involve one side or another invoking an anecdote of the time they fought this monster, or a member of that class, and they didn't ...
10
votes
2answers
206 views
Yummy, I love the taste of ghosts..?
The SRD says
An incorporeal creature has no physical body.
Do incorporeal creatures have matter - any at all?
If one argues that ectoplasm is matter (with some supplements such as Ghostwalk), ...
6
votes
4answers
258 views
Creating rules for jumping or climbing onto monsters?
Partly inspired by this thread's discussion about creative role-playing and one answer there referring to stunts, I wanted to adapt a similar concept to the fairly rules-strict D&D 4th Edition.
...
8
votes
2answers
437 views
Do Druid animal companions go up in size with HD and gain size-based stat increases?
I have an animal companion which has just gained its 5th HD. On page 291 of Monster Manual 1, the Improving Monsters section says that an increase in Size also changes stats.
Do animal companions ...
5
votes
1answer
79 views
Are the Monster Lore paragraphs from the printed manuals available online?
I got a subscription for DD Insider and have been especially satisfied with the online compendium: being able to quickly open the relevant monster entries in seperate tabs during an encounter has ...
9
votes
3answers
290 views
How can I convert monsters from 4e back to 3.5?
For Christmas this year, I got the Monster Manual Three. Only problem is, this one is for 4e and I play almost exclusive 3.5. However, I started flipping through the pages anyway out of curiosity.
...
11
votes
4answers
339 views
Would flying monsters ever land during combat?
Spooney asked this question in one of his podcasts, and I've started wondering about it myself.
In a D&D 4.0 encounter, why would an at least moderately intelligent creature (including, but not ...
7
votes
1answer
150 views
Guards for a Raven Queen Temple
I have a party of four 3rd level adventurers. They will be breaking into a temple dedicated to the worship of the Raven Queen. There will be a ritual taking place in the sublevels of the temple. I ...
12
votes
1answer
134 views
Are there guidelines for creating & customising MM3-style monsters?
I've heard that Monster Manual 3 came with an improved design philosophy for monsters (particularly solos), and there are questions about updating pre-MM3 monsters for MM3.
I want to create and ...
3
votes
1answer
170 views
When do 4e Monster powers (with the recharge ability) recharge?
How often do I roll power recharge rolls and at which point in a turn do I re-roll them?
I'm trying to find the official definition of the recharge mechanic in the online compendium and I'm not ...
4
votes
2answers
78 views
Monsters of Encounter Levels below 1 in Legend
In legend, antagonists/monsters/loot-on-legs are made the exact same way as PC's, though less restricted.
I have always loved hordes in epic fantasy, but the rules make this hard to portray at lower ...
15
votes
2answers
596 views
Creating solo monsters
One thing I haven't found in 4th edition online is a plethora of solo monsters. The idea of these fights are fascinating! Sadly though, all the products in 4th focus on multiple opponent fights (with ...
5
votes
1answer
187 views
What are some good unusual races for Shadowmancers?
I have an idea for a Shadowcaster/Child of Night character, but I'm not sure what race would work best for it. I kinda wanted to use one of the more exotic playable races or even something playable ...
3
votes
2answers
155 views
Wraiths across multiple games
In a freeform game, I'm running a story involving a creature that subsides upon stolen energy obtained from draining the magical or life energy out of other creatures, particularly humans. Coming from ...
6
votes
1answer
403 views
How does the Soul Eater's Energy Drain touch work?
I've been doing some theory-crafting and attempting to build a high-level villain as a gestalt character, and I'm not sure the combo I was planning on using actually works.
In the Book of Vile ...
4
votes
2answers
150 views
Is the animating force of a golem always from the Elemental Plane of Earth?
I'm researching some homebrewed golem rituals not covered in WFRP 2e. My baseline ideas are coming from the D20 SRD. One thing struck me odd, but maybe to an experienced d20 player or DM it may make ...
8
votes
2answers
166 views
In 3.5/Pathfinder, what is the rough CR adjustment for Damage Reduction?
I have seen several breakdown and rough rules for adjusting a monster's CR according to various special abilities and qualities. The Pathfinder Core book and Bestiary has rules about things like high ...
0
votes
2answers
205 views
Are there any large monsters with a small corpse? [closed]
I want to carry around a small corpse, and then raise a large monster during battle with "Raise the Dead". Are there any such creatures?
0
votes
1answer
159 views
Fleshing out an idea: “an orc was raised by humans, so he fights with the humans against his species” [closed]
So my younger brother is getting started in the RPG space ( <3 ) doing variations on a Lego RPG (they make those now?!). I'm advising him on his GMing.
But, crazy twist, he wants to have one of ...
5
votes
3answers
267 views
Is there any good place on the internet that hosts monster playtests?
I've been a DM for a while for 3.5. I've run many NPC characters, however only a small fraction of monsters out of the books (comparatively). Also, I like to use templates liberally as well as advance ...
8
votes
5answers
1k views
Standard monster tactics for 4E D&D combat
In a similar vein to a question on tactics sources, I'm interested in knowing what are common tactics for monsters to use. The DMB and the MV mention monster groups, which are very useful, but I want ...
7
votes
3answers
370 views
What do you see in a mirror when a vampire picks up an object?
When a D&D-vampire picks up an object, what do you see in a mirror? With the vampire having no reflection (and neither his clothing), does the item float? Does it get invisible? Does it depend on ...
0
votes
1answer
232 views
How could I make a giant pc in dnd 4e?
I really would like to make a giant character for a 4e campaign, and if anyone could help me make some character profiles for each of the types of giants I would really appreciate it.
2
votes
1answer
117 views
Rules for a 5th Level Arcane Ballista?
Looking for rules on how to run a semi sentient Arcane Ballista that can be used as a monster and equipment. Any ideas where I can find rules for this or does someone have rules they can share?
7
votes
1answer
276 views
Can monsters make multiple attacks in a single action?
In the bestiary for the new D&D Next playtest packets, some creatures look as though they get multiple attacks per round.
e.g.: An owl bear gets Melee Attack: Claws +5/+5 (etc.) and Bite +5 ...
6
votes
2answers
108 views
Are the offspring of Wild Card creatures also Wild Cards?
If a creature is a Wild Card, are its young also Wild Cards, or do they only become Wild Cards once they have matured?
5
votes
1answer
781 views
How many hit dice do monster player characters have?
Let's say we have party of humans and a minotaur(cr 4). Everybody is level 10, so according to Pathfinder's monsters as races rules minotaur should have 8th (let's say barbarian) level.And the ...
9
votes
11answers
1k views
How do you make a vampire cleric stay dead?
In our current D&D 3.5 campaign we have made enemies with powerful drow vampire clerics. They have an annoying habit of resurrecting as their god is one who brings people back from the dead to ...
5
votes
1answer
564 views
Resisted energy types and immunity
I would like to know the distribution of energy resistances and immunities in 3.5 monsters, and especially the four basic types fire, cold, electricity and acid.
It is often said that fire is most ...
