New answers tagged monsters
3
Every edition of D&D has called any hostile NPC a "monster", including human opponents. There is even an explicit note in 1st edition AD&D Monster Manual that the term is used this way for both human and inhuman opponents (emphasis original):
The term "monster" is used throughout this work in two manners. Its first, and most important, meaning is ...
4
Well, back in 1E, monsters didn't have "levels" at all, just hit dice, and they were presented completely differently than player characters were. That meant that they could often attack multiple times to any individual characters' single attack (the infamous "two claws and a bite" being a great example) but it also meant that they didn't necessarily have, ...
7
There is actually a Paragon Path that can help with this. Specifically, its utility power "Ride the Giant Down":
Ride the Giant Down
Daily ✦ Martial
Move Action
Melee 1
Target: One Large or larger creature
Effect: You move into the target’s space, provoking opportunity attacks as ...
0
I'm assuming you're asking this because the books only really has humanoid creatures for level 1-3 encounters. Add a special feature about the group that makes the different and interesting.
Shared hp bar - use a handful of level 1 bandits but they all share the same hp bar, when one is attacked make sure you say they all flinch as if being hit by that ...
3
When it comes to negative levels, I default these levels to being temporary unless there is an explicit description of them being permanent. As it stands, negative levels already have a chance of becoming permanent:
If a negative level is not removed before 24 hours have passed, the
affected creature must attempt a Fortitude save.... On a success, the
...
1
You've got a couple major options.
Zazz Them Up
Still use orcs, goblins, and hobgoblins - just make them interesting. 3/3.5e lets you level up humanoid opponents to add some rules diversity but that's not the main part of the challenge. Note what Paizo has done with goblins in their game world - they've created an alternate take on them that people find ...
6
I don't believe the highlighted text about the attack being a Death effect make any difference on how the attack works. It's just there to interact with other effects, such as Undead and Constructs being immune to Death effects.
Nothing in the Bodak entry implies that this attack follows energy drain rules as such, except for the use of the term negative ...
16
Creatures' skills are listed at the bottom of their info sheet/card.
Creature sheets have ability modifier + half level, which is what you should be using, already calculated at the bottom of the sheet.
For example, a level 14 lich necromancer has the following ability stats at the bottom of his/her monster sheet:
Skills: Arcana +18, History +18, Insight ...
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