Book of Distant Stars - a monster manual by Mesh Hong - EN World: Your Daily RPG Magazine
126762 gamers and counting!

Go Back   EN World: Your Daily RPG Magazine > General Discussion > D&D 4th Edition Discussion
Not a member yet? REGISTER your account!

Notices

D&D 4th Edition Discussion Discuss D&D 4E rules and house rules in here.

Visit Our Sponsors
Subscribe!
EN World: Your Daily RPG Magazine
All the latest EN World official reviews, columns, and subscriber articles here. Don't have your subscription yet? It's only $3 a month and you can grab it right here!
Subscribe to RSS Follow EN World on Twitter Use our Facebook App Free iPhone App Free Android App EN World TV Subscribers Content Subscribe! Search Send me a Scoop
 
Share LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 23rd June 2009, 04:21 PM   #1 (permalink)
has regressed to a lurking state

Registered User
 
Mesh Hong's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 822
Book of Distant Stars - a monster manual by Mesh Hong

Following on from my last Monster Manual (Book of the Dead) I have created the next in my series:

Book of Distant Stars – part 1 heroic tier
A monster manual from the Far Realms by Mesh Hong

The 80 page book contains 64 new aberrant creatures ranging from levels 2 to 12 and is split into 2 sections; general and themed. All the creatures have their own full stat block and a short description.

I have also included a section introducing mechanics for adding psychological conditions and mental disorders to your game and provided examples.

List of general creatures:
Bep’nar Mite
Brutal Tusk Hound
Bulbous Lasher
Burning Ice Horror
Crimson Haze
Cryo Glider
Dreamtree Psychic
Dustworn Nomad
Far Touched Vermin
Feeding Fingers
Fire Polyp
Floating Shrieker
Graknik Brain Eater
Green Mist Spider
Highplane Thrasher
Infected Squatter
Jibber Jab
Kelfirn Pelter
Kelfirm Stonehammer
Kelfirn Stonewalker
Lightning Polyp
Metallic Ooze
Nrel’gorn Savage
Shat’mar Crytalline
Silvertail Infinpede
Star Swarm
Swarm of Lies
Temporal Polyp
Wasteland Absolutionist
Whip Tongue

List of themed creatures:
Arri-Vastril Drone
Arri-Vastril Drone (experienced)
Arri-Vastril Drone (veteran)
Arri-Vastril Defender
Arri-Vastril Radiant Arc
Arri-Vastril Juggernaught
Arri-Vastril Prophet
Arri-Vastril Saviour
Mudman Sludge Fighter
Mudman Sludge Thrower
Mudman Earthshaker
Mudman Crystal Caster
Pugee Warrior
Pugee Chanter
Pugee Darkshell
Pugee Hardshell
Pugee Frostback
Pugee Cragback
Pugee Doom Wrecker
Sorn Scum
Wretched Sorn
Blood Soaked Sorn
Sorn Crossbow Abomination
Winged Sorn
Sorn Overlord Abomination
Warp Fragment
Warp Swarm
Warp Guardian
Warp Cultist
Warp Cult Fanatic
Warp Feeder
Warp Elemental
Warp Master
Warpblade Cult Leader

Like usual I would welcome any feedback.

Thanks

Comments
  
  Thanks for sharing your efforts with the rest of us!
  
  epic monster books
  
  Good stuff!
  
  this resource makes me ever so happy. Thank you!
  
  This is awesome!
  
  Awesome. Thanks for the hard work and for sharing.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Book of Distant Stars - Mesh Hong.pdf (796.1 KB, 680 views)
Mesh Hong is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23rd June 2009, 04:57 PM   #2 (permalink)
has no status.

Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: New Paltz, NY
Posts: 11,360
Sweet. I have been looking forward to this.

General question: why is the Mudman an aberration, and not say, an elemental being?
Rechan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23rd June 2009, 05:04 PM   #3 (permalink)
has regressed to a lurking state

Registered User
 
Mesh Hong's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 822
Thanks Rechan.

Now to answer your question....
[looks around for a handy exit]...maybe because it is a native of the Far Realms and is therefore considerred an aberrant for monster knowledge checks etc rather than an elemental?.....is that enough, no? well it is a bit poor I suppose......[looks sheepish]....er just because its skin oozes does not make it an ooze itself, therefore it can plausably be an aberration...[legs it and doesn't look back]
Mesh Hong is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23rd June 2009, 05:50 PM   #4 (permalink)
Low-level Moderator

RPG Tinkerer
 
keterys's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lynn, MA
Posts: 6,747
Ooh, that was fast. Nifty.
keterys is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23rd June 2009, 06:26 PM   #5 (permalink)
has no status.

Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 770
Ooh, great. Swarm of Lies is the best name for a creature I have ever seen. Where are Cthulhu and Azathoth?
EDIT: link in your sig to book of distant stars is broken (the undead one works fine).

Comments
  
  thanks for pointing out the error in my sig

Last edited by eriktheguy; 23rd June 2009 at 09:45 PM..
eriktheguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23rd June 2009, 06:50 PM   #6 (permalink)
has no status.

Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: New Paltz, NY
Posts: 11,360
Then perhaps it is mud animated with a sinister intelligence. Sort of a byproduct of certain aberrations on the very soil around them - causing them to spontaneously animate and worship the Elder Evils. Tieing it back to the ToEE/Tharidzun.
Rechan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23rd June 2009, 11:13 PM   #7 (permalink)
has regressed to a lurking state

Registered User
 
Mesh Hong's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 822
Quote:
Originally Posted by eriktheguy View Post
Where are Cthulhu and Azathoth?
As much as I love the Great Old Ones (Cthulthu Phtagn ) I have no plans to convert any mythos creatures directly. (actually I think someone already has if not on this forum it must have been the official one)

Last edited by Mesh Hong; 24th June 2009 at 07:29 AM..
Mesh Hong is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th June 2009, 11:52 AM   #8 (permalink)
is usually wrong.

Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Give, Denmark
Posts: 156
That was fast!
Looks nice as always Mesh Hong.
Are you planning to continue your success? And if so, what will be the next theme?
Neubert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th June 2009, 12:19 PM   #9 (permalink)
has regressed to a lurking state

Registered User
 
Mesh Hong's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 822
I am not sure what I should turn to next.

I am open to any suggestions from people as to creature themes or general areas that need expanding.

I considered doing a monster manual for the Fey Wild for a while and might start on that as it is not really a part of my own campaign at the moment.

I have also tentatively started on "The Book of Serious Threats", which will consist of solo creatures and themed adversaries. My reasoning is that there arn't that many solo creatures in the official monster manuals and most of the ones presented (especially in MM1) are a little underwhelming.

I have also very briefly toyed with the idea of releasing the encounters and creatures from my ongoing campaign, but I don't think I will bother. There is probably no way I could explain the plot in any way that would make enough sense for anyone to run it.

I might try and put together a few short side quests, plot ideas and situations though. the Book of Adventure maybe? or the Book of Distractions?

Hmm, I will see how the mood takes me, unless someone comes up with a good idea.
Mesh Hong is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th June 2009, 12:35 PM   #10 (permalink)
has no status.

Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: New Paltz, NY
Posts: 11,360
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mesh Hong View Post
I considered doing a monster manual for the Fey Wild for a while and might start on that as it is not really a part of my own campaign at the moment.
I would be interested in this.

Quote:
I have also tentatively started on "The Book of Serious Threats", which will consist of solo creatures and themed adversaries.
I would be interested in this. I like your "phase" based solos.

Quote:
I might try and put together a few short side quests, plot ideas and situations though. the Book of Adventure maybe? or the Book of Distractions?
I would be interested in this. There are a few books out called "En Route" which are basically one or two encounters/side quests you can have while on the road/on a journey. Non-combat situations, etc. There's another series called "Foul Locales", which are just set pieces within areas - like a well where a fey trickster lives, and when people make wishes, he comes out and makes it happen in an unfortunate manner. I'd like to see a book of this.

One thing I've been wanting for a long time is a book of encounter areas or fantastic terrain like in the DMG. Interesting features of the area, or flavorful themed terrain/room that you can drag and drop. (Like a clockwork room with the info on the mechanics of the room itself).
Rechan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th June 2009, 01:57 PM   #11 (permalink)
is usually wrong.

Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Give, Denmark
Posts: 156
I can just echo the "I would be interested in this" that Rechan said.
They all sound good, and I don't really want to influence you to do something you might not find as fun or interesting.
Having said that though, I think a lot of people a thirsting for terrain and hazards. I don't know if doing a whole book on them is possible (I find it harder to come up with ideas for hazards than monsters), so it might be more appropriate to add a few in each monster book? Something that fits the monster theme of course.
Neubert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th June 2009, 03:43 PM   #12 (permalink)
has regressed to a lurking state

Registered User
 
Mesh Hong's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 822
Yes Terrain and Hazards was a section I was going to add in the last book, but I somehow forgot.

I will be sure to add ideas for these in my next offering.
Mesh Hong is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th June 2009, 07:39 PM   #13 (permalink)
has no status.

Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: New Paltz, NY
Posts: 11,360
Then I have a suggestion.

Book of Treacherous Footing: Traps, Hazards and Terrain.
Rechan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th June 2009, 06:38 PM   #14 (permalink)
has no status.

Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 262
This -
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mesh Hong View Post

I have also tentatively started on "The Book of Serious Threats", which will consist of solo creatures and themed adversaries. My reasoning is that there arn't that many solo creatures in the official monster manuals and most of the ones presented (especially in MM1) are a little underwhelming.
and this -
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mesh Hong View Post
I might try and put together a few short side quests, plot ideas and situations though. or the Book of Distractions?

Hmm, I will see how the mood takes me, unless someone comes up with a good idea.
__________________
Player: "What are you going to do us next?! Key our cars after the session?!" Listen to our game play podcast here or on itunes.
DanmarLOK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 8th July 2009, 07:18 PM   #15 (permalink)
has no status.

Registered User
 
The Forsaken One's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The forest of increasing Irony
Posts: 3,261
This book has been a great help to me, thanks! The arri-vastril we're the perfect solution to a main heroic tier plot I was brewing in my world where the majority of the populace is undead (but not many intelligent) as the plane is on a collision course with the shadowfell .

edit: which I populated with alot of your undead from your previous book haha. I just hate presenting my players with standard MM monsters so I always custom bake them myself but now you handed me a nice tool for the job. Really helps against metagaming .
__________________
Some are born to live, others born to die. I belong to the last, born to burn, born to cry. For I shall remain alone... forsaken.
[sigvirus]uhoh[/sigvirus]
The Forsaken One is offline   Reply With Quote


Tags
aberration , mesh hong , monster , monster manual

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



Check out our sponsors!

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2

All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:37 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0