D&D 5E Iconic low level monsters

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trentonjoe

Explorer

• Nov 12, 2014

• #1

I run a game for a bunch of 13/14 year old kids who are playing for the first time. I wanted to expose them to "iconic" monsters. So far I have used skeletons and orcs. I plan on using ghould soon. What are the other "must see" low level monsters?

The party is 3rd level.

 

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Boarstorm

First Post

• Nov 12, 2014

• #2

I don't have my books handy to check CRs.

Carrion Crawlers
Rust Monsters
Mimic
Displacer Beast

 

Nebulous

Legend

• Nov 12, 2014

• #3

Kobolds
Green Slime
Gelatinous Cube
Troll
Giant Rats
Ogre

 

Nebulous

Legend

• Nov 12, 2014

• #4

trentonjoe said:

I plan on using ghouls soon. What are the other "must see" low level monsters?

The party is 3rd level.

Click to expand...

I just noticed this in another thread, i hadn't seen it before. Under the "paralyzed" condition of 5e (which ghouls can impart) attacks have advantage AND hits are auto-crits, which makes them super effing dangerous....

Just saying, your "iconic" swarm of ghouls can literally tear a group to pieces if they're surprised.

 

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Tormyr

Hero

• Nov 12, 2014

• #5

Find a copy of Ari's Monster Sorter. It lets you sort by CR. Anything 2 and below that you recognize the name of would work, and there are a lot of them.

And yes, the ghouls starting getting scary fast as you pile them on.

 

thalmin

Retired game store owner

• Nov 13, 2014

• #6

Of course, a dragon. It needs to be a fire-breathing dragon. Reskin a Brass Wyrmling so it just breathes fire (CR1). Or if they are higher level, choose a different wyrmling. But the game is called Dungeons and Dragons, why wait forever before they get to fight a dragon.

edit: But not in its (parents') lair!

 

Last edited: Nov 13, 2014

steeldragons

Steeliest of the dragons

Epic

• Nov 13, 2014

• #7

My typical low level adventures look something [clicheed, perhaps, but I still always love 'em] a little like this:
Kobolds
Carrion Crawlers
Giant Centipedes
Giant Rats
Giant Spiders
Giant Snakes
Wolves
Dire Wolves
Goblins
Piercers
Harpies
Orcs
Ogres
Owlbears
Trolls

A variety of traps.

At least 1 every couple of [pc] levels of something potentially helpful, their reaction to the party to depend on how the PCs' handle the encounter: Dryads, Nixies, some kind of fae is always good for low level parties, npc dwarves or elves, maybe a unicorn or centaur.

 

GMMichael

Guide of Modos

• Nov 13, 2014

• #8

Iconic? The green slime:



and the imp:

 

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Lerysh

First Post

• Nov 13, 2014

• #9

Kobolds!

Kobolds, Kobolds, Kobolds, Kobolds.

Barbarian Kobolds with tiny great axes that use Pack Tactics for Advantage and pose a decent threat to a 3rd level adventurer.

... Kobolds.

 

Ravenheart87

Explorer

• Nov 13, 2014

• #10

A friendly beholder. So they learn not every monster is sword fodder and there are things you shouldn't anger.