Original 4E Monsters

[keterys]

Update: July 17th
Rules for Lesser and Minor monsters (less effective than a full-fledged level 1 monster, better than a level 1 minion)
Rules for converting Normal monsters to lower level Elites
Rules for converting Elite monsters into lower level Solos

Update: June 18th
Lurkers 1-9

Update: June 14th
Minor stat updates and added pictures and a little bit of flavor text to the artillery monsters.

Update: June 10th
Second playtest document is a bit less finished, but contains 21 brutes.
Brutes

I have 64 planned, so still a ways to go.

Update: June 6th
The first playtest document I'm making available contains 29 monsters - 27 artillery monsters and 2 minions that go with them.

Monster Playtest - Artillery

I'd also like to provide a link to a web album I've just set up on Picasa for stat blocks, in case anyone would like to glance through them that way or link to a specific monster.

Playtest Monsters Web Album

Update: June 4th
I'll be tossing up playtest documents over the course of the next month or so filled with monsters. They'll look a lot like this:


I'm hoping people will be willing to look them over and point out any dumb mistakes, imbalances compared to existing creatures, and best of all... use them and let me know how they play.

The first will be posted in the wee hours of the morning of June 6th, after I make sure to fix anything obviously messed and verify there are no problems with the GSL. It will include artillery monsters ranging over the whole level range. I suspect I'll work on brutes after that and maybe toss up some templates. I've got notes for over 250 monsters, so if there are any particular requests I can try to address those before others.

These aren't final yet - I have to be realistic and expect that there are problems due purely to the fact that I'm working on these alone and you can provide the best set of editing and playtest assistance I can hope for! The final versions will look a lot nicer, like this - I'm trying to make this very professional.

Working on these in full stat blocks with correct language takes a lot of work and I do have a full time job, so I'm afraid I won't have these done quite as quickly as I might have hoped, but I'll keep a steady stream of stuff to check out and I'll cheerfully credit anyone who helps with the process.

Thanks!

...

Old (I'll retire this to somewhere safe soon):
Since a fair number of people are actually trying to play 4E, I figured I'd make a list of monsters you could possibly use that I'd created. The stats could probably use help... but honestly the mini stats look even more crazy, so if you're using those then go nuts

Orc Rager (1 Brute)
Blood-Crazed Orc Rager (1 Elite Brute)
Kobold Arcanist (1 Controller)
Wind Sprite (1 Controller)
Earthen Defender (1 Soldier)
Feral Ratbeast (1 Skirmisher)
Goblin Pyro (1 Skirmisher)
Peasant Militia (1 Minion)
Goblin Minion (1 Minion)
Kobold Trapsmith (1 Minion Leader)
Pyreskull (2 Artillery)
Frosthammer (2 Brute)
Goblin Warchanter (2 Controller Leader)
Ratling Thief (2 Lurker)
Squid Dog (2 Skirmisher)
Guardian Serpent (2 Soldier)
Hobgoblin Pickfighter (2 Soldier)
Orc Blood Magus (3 Artillery)
Voracious Maw (3 Brute)
Hobgoblin Battlefist (3 Brute Leader)
Chareet Trickster (3 Controller)
Young Ice Dragon (3 Solo Controller)
Goatfolk Slasher (3 Skirmisher)
Cultist Chainfighter (3 Skirmisher)
Goblin Butcher (3 Soldier)
Gravedelver (3 Lurker)
Ice Demon (4 Artillery)
Spore Brute (4 Brute)
Goatfolk Bard (4 Controller Leader)
Dream Devourer (4 Solo Controller)
Faceless Stalker (4 Lurker)
Black Drakehound (4 Skirmisher)
Iron Smasher (4 Soldier)
Kapak Scout (5 Artillery)
Bloat Brute (5 Brute)
Bone Lord (5 Elite Brute Leader)
Travelling Bard (5 Controller)
Dwarf Regnant (5 Solo Controller / 10 Elite Controller / 14 Controller)
Mist Demon (5 Lurker)
Thorn Lasher (5 Minion)
Antfolk Minion (5 Minion)
Human Captain (5 Skirmisher Leader)
Blue Drakehound (5 Soldier)
Forest Preserver (5 Soldier Leader)
Lavakin (6 Brute)
Arya Sunlord (6 Elite Brute)
Stormleaf Guardian (6 Controller)
Redfist Initiate (6 Skirmisher)
Arya Sunblade (6 Soldier)
Kerdat Executioner (7 Brute)
Human Dreamblade (7 Elite Skirmisher)
Antfolk Hivelord (7 Soldier Leader)
Flameblessed Arya Sunblade (7 Elite Soldier)
Corpse Cavalry Archer (8 Artillery)
Thorn Horror (8 Brute)
Syrdoc Watcher (8 Skirmisher)
Vampiric Bat (8 Elite Skirmisher)
Young Lifebane Dragon (8 Solo Skirmisher)
Grim Hound (8 Elite Soldier)
Grim Hound Devourer-Spawn (8 Solo Soldier)
Runestone Hurler (9 Artillery)
Myrdoc Watcher (9 Elite Artillery)
Iron Hound (9 Brute)
Living Flare (9 Minion)
Nightblade Dancer (9 Skirmisher)
Iron Mastiff (9 Soldier)
Lifebane Wraith (10 Soldier)
Horrid Puppeteer (11 Controller Leader)
Horrid Puppet Master (11 Elite Controller Leader)
Terror Carver (11 Skirmisher)
Powerful Sage (12 Controller)
Iron King (12 Elite Skirmisher)
Bone Caller (14 Controller)
Glacial Smasher (15 Brute)
Spirit of Treachery (16 Controller)
Bloodblade Knight (18 Brute)
Psyworm Detainer (18 Soldier)
Frostvale Warder (21 Artillery)
Bloodblade Lord (21 Brute)
Horror Claw (21 Controller)
Astral Demolisher (22 Brute)
Myrdoc Oracle (23 Elite Controller Leader)
Time Ripper (23 Lurker)
Astral Cube (24 Elite Controller)
Demonweb Trapper (25 Controller)
Demonweb Hunter (25 Lurker)
Demonweb Guardian (25 Soldier)

Templates:
Flameblessed (Brute/Soldier template)
Blood-Crazed (Brute/Skirmisher template)
Devourer-spawn (Any type template)

I'd love feedback, especially if you play something and it seems off balance.

I'll try to update this regularly. My plan is to update around 10 or so per week and concentrate on lower level stuff initially. Also I'll occasionally do some of the daily monsters with full stats, instead of just shorthand... after all, I've got a lot of work cut out for me if I'm going to have over 200 monsters ready for June.

I plan to have a PDF compilation of all the monsters available as soon as possible in June. This is the template I'll be using for them. If you have any objections, please state them now before I put everything into that format.

If you're looking for other original pre-4E release stuff, check out this thread, which includes a somewhat out of date (but still useful!) PDF version of these monsters that you can use until I've got my PDF ready.

[Wiman]

Excellent thread idea......will play test as many monsters as I can and give you feed back.

Cheers

[VBMEW-01]

Ditto that

I'm going to toss in what will work against the pregens and see how they do.

[Flynn]

Keterys:

Would you consider putting together your finished monsters into a single PDF as a Netbook for 4E, once all 240+ are updated? If so, I'd personally prefer it in that format, for future use.

With Regards,
Flynn

[keterys]

That is the intention, yes. My hope is to update into 'close' stats at a steady rate, updating to flavor text as the mood hits and much more when I start getting closer to June.

I think at a minimum I want a pdf of 'Close Enough' monsters ready for June 6th.

Once I have the books in hand, I intend to go back over the stats so I can do the minor adjustments needed to fit the rules and suggested ranges. Also, if I've got any playtest feedback or if any new information (new descriptors, other example monsters, how certain things like mounted monsters work, etc) I'll incorporate those...

So probably within a week or so of release I _hope_ to correct any glaringly obvious broken monsters.

By sometime in July I hope to have a pretty finished pdf ready for everyone.

If I somehow get access to D&D rules prior to that, I'll try to adjust my schedule so I can have things ready a lot closer to 'Go Time', but at least I'll have the close enoughs...

[keterys]

Added
Voracious Maw (3 Brute)
Human Captain (5 Skirmisher Leader)

Probably a couple more later today.

[Fallen Seraph]

Say Keterys when all is said and done and the rules are out and we are playing. For those that need very specific campaign/setting monsters... Do you take commissions on monster building?

For example for my campaign I need lots of very abberation-type monsters as well as monsters based around "fluxes in reality", etc.

Now some of those will be covered by the MM, but I am sure I will need some that won't be, as such yeah, how do you feel about helping others in monster creation?

[keterys]

Yep - I take requests already, so to speak. Give me a cool mini, picture, or whatever and I'll (most likely) do something.

[Fallen Seraph]

Originally Posted by keterys

Yep - I take requests already, so to speak. Give me a cool mini, picture, or whatever and I'll (most likely) do something.

Awesome, let me figure out what I may need most importantly and I will get back to you about that

[keterys]

I guess I should clarify - you really want to get your requests in before 4E comes out. Once 4E comes out, I intend to wrap up this project and move onto something else. I imagine I'll still make more monsters, but maybe I'll be making magic items, character powers, adventures... who knows? With any luck, people will like it enough that someone will want me to work on something for them... even if it's just more monsters, for D&D Insider, or whatever.

[Fallen Seraph]

Alrighty Hmm...
Squid Dogs: These Aberrations are formed through the manipulation of the Far Realm upon the World. These hairless mutts can be seen scavenging through the alleys of cities, though some have found service as watchdogs or hunting dogs.

The most distinct feature of the Squid Dog is from its namesake, the back of the beast is covered with small tentacle appendages with a pair of larger appendages forming out of the mass.

This creature still retains its canine-personality, though some on occasion are driven mad during the mutation.

They are a level 2 skirmisher.


Also just some basic low-level:

• Mind-Flayers
• Angels

[Wiman]

Playtest Feedback - Just Finished (Called this the "pregame" show with some early arrivals)

Voracious Maw deal a lot o death in packs of more then 3, if they get in the back rows behind the defenders....that +6 damage to bloodied and -5 to saves on death really sucks when they hamstring the cleric...and the players don't like Paladins.

DM Perspective - That show em....man I shouldn't have had a 4 on 4 here.
Player Perspective - You said what to my death save, -5 *&&#(@*&$ off.

On most fights the players will have someone to make sure the fear ability dosn't trigger due to an outright kill, but my playtest pretty much ended when the cleric won initiative and went to the front lines. The monster is balanced as only the cleric was killed, the -5 to death saves may be a little much for my tastes but is understandable given the fluff. Perhaps a change to -3 but other then that I think a good adition. Could have given the cleric a second chance.....but didn't....3 on 1 is not good odds when the cleric all of a sudden decides he wants the "fighter" position in the party.

[keterys]

Awesome picture - what's that from? I'll try and get to that soon-ish (like by Monday-ish)

I suspect the MM will include a large number of mind flayers and angels, and that neither will be particularly low level. Though, with the changes to angels... I should probably find a use for the old minis. Hmmhmm

[Fallen Seraph]

Thank you so much.

Yeah thus, why I am looking for your help with low-level Mind Flayers and Angels. I am going to make them into my Pandoran race and my Qashmallim servants of the god-machine.

Figured though more people would get use out of them as simply Mind Flayers and Angels.

As for the picture it is from Resident Evil 4, there are mutated wolves where they seem normal but then split open and have those tentacles appear.

[keterys]

Heh. I'll admit - the intent is that those guys make you _do something_ about dropped characters, but with at least 3 rounds to stabilize someone who is dying... as long as you don't leave one free to have lunch... a Heal check for stabilize may be a good use of a standard action (or lay on hands, a healing potion, etc)

I'll be trying to make some encounter group for them later so that it's no more than like two of them in the group, to keep things mixed up.

P.S. Thrilled I already resulted in a death