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Dog Moon's Creatures [Updated 10-05-13]
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<blockquote data-quote="Dog Moon" data-source="post: 3388981" data-attributes="member: 23023"><p><strong>Maniac</strong></p><p></p><p>Well, sooner than you expected, I'm sure, a little creature. Guess I got inspired. Was thinking 'something crazy' and decided to take it a little literally. Found a good weak creature [Kobold], gave it a couple of abilities, changed the skills to be a little more suiting, added a HD, and bam! here's the Maniac:</p><p></p><p>Note: The Fearless feat makes the Maniac immune to Fear, magical and otherwise.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Maniac</span></p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Size/Type: Small Humanoid</span></p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Hit Dice:</span> 2d8+2 (16 hp)</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Initiative: </span> +1</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Speed:</span> 30 ft. (6 squares)</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Armor Class: </span> 15 (+1 size, +1 Dex, +1 natural, +2 leather), touch 12, flat-footed 14</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Base Attack/Grapple: </span> +2/-3</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Attack: </span> Flail +2 melee (1d6-1/×2)</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Full Attack: </span> Flail +2 melee (1d6-1/×2)</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Space/Reach: </span> 5 ft./5 ft.</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Special Attacks: </span> Manical Laughter [DC 13], Random Action [DC 11]</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Special Qualities: </span> Crazed, Darkvision 60 ft</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Saves: </span> Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +3</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Abilities: </span> Str 9, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 10</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Skills: </span> Bluff +3, Hide +6, Move Silently +2, Perform (Any One) +5, Search +2</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Feats: </span> Fearless</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Environment: </span> Anywhere</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Organization: </span> None</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Challenge Rating:</span> 2</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Treasure: </span> Standard</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Alignment: </span> Always Chaotic</p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Advancement: </span> By character class</p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Maniacal Laughter (Su):</span> As a Move Action, Maniacs can create the effect of Tasha's Hideous Laughter. This does not provoke activites and can be done in any environment in which laughter can be heard. The Will DC is Cha-based and includes a +2 racial bonus. This ability lasts for 1d3 rounds and is cast as a 2nd level caster.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Random Action (Su):</span> As if attempting to spread their own nature upon their surroundings, any creature within 10 feet of the Maniac must make a DC 10 Will save or be affected as with the Confusion, Lesser spell. However, as they cannot instantaneously modify their surroundings, those who enter their area do not need to make the save until the beginning of their next round. The effect, as with the spell, lasts for a single round, but if the character begins his next round within the area, he must make the same save again or be inflicted as with the Confusion, Lesser spell.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Crazed (Ex):</span> It is much more difficult to mentally modify a Maniac. Maniacs have a +4 racial bonus to Will saves.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Tactics</span></p><p>I believe that Maniacs create the opportunity for an interesting encounter. Their physical strength isn't impressive and in fact is quite weak, but their aura is quite powerful. Most of their damage should be expected to come from that aura. To make things interesting, and to make it more difficult for people to be aware of their presence, I would recommend making their aura something they are capable of turning on and off. In my game, I treated this as a Swift Action, though if you desire, you can slow it down to a Move Action, though anything slower than that I think ruins the abilities of the creature too greatly.</p><p></p><p>As Maniacs move through the crowd, some people will pass their saves, though others will fail. People tend to notice those who begin to attack others much more quickly than anything else and frequently focus on them more than the true threat behind the attack. Confusion is the key to playing Maniacs correctly. Put them in groups of opponents and allow them to turn their aura on and off.</p><p></p><p>Also, I would suggest changing the Perform (Comedy) to Perform (Any one), essentially to whatever is most appropriate for the encounter. Lastly, while above I gave them flails, I don't truly believe they should be weilding something so obvious. They need a smaller, hidden weapon, one which cannot be seen and thus cannot point out their ill intent to those who would put a stop to them.</p><p></p><p>Oh, and if you do not use them tactically well and attempt to use them in a straightup combat, their CR should definitely be decreased to 1.</p><p></p><p><em>"Maniacs are ... unpleasant ... to say the least. They are constantly laughing and swinging their flails around. They aren't particularly skilled with their flails, but it's said that they like the 'wooshing' sound it makes when they swing it around their heads.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>The only time a Maniac can actually be considering enjoyable to be around is when they are on a stage - when you're preferably near the back - and they are putting on a comedy sketch. It must be their insane nature which allows them to make any crowd laughing. Or perhaps they simply make people laugh at the right time and other people simply join in; it's really hard to tell. Occasionally the crowd gets involved, but again, no one really knows if the crowd is acting on their own or not.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>So when they aren't on stage, I would leave them alone. Seriously, try to stay away from them. They aren't deadly, but they are certainly annoying.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>As far as I know, they don't have much culture, but then again no one has really been able - or willing - to ask them and find out. Maybe they have families or cults or something, but no one is going to stick around them long enough to find out, except their own kind.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Who knows where they came from, but I really wish they'd go back."</em></p><p></p><p>- An anonymous tavernkeeper as he cleans the mess several Maniacs caused in his tavern during a performance.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dog Moon, post: 3388981, member: 23023"] [b]Maniac[/b] Well, sooner than you expected, I'm sure, a little creature. Guess I got inspired. Was thinking 'something crazy' and decided to take it a little literally. Found a good weak creature [Kobold], gave it a couple of abilities, changed the skills to be a little more suiting, added a HD, and bam! here's the Maniac: Note: The Fearless feat makes the Maniac immune to Fear, magical and otherwise. [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Maniac Size/Type: Small Humanoid Hit Dice:[/COLOR] 2d8+2 (16 hp) [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Initiative: [/COLOR] +1 [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Speed:[/COLOR] 30 ft. (6 squares) [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Armor Class: [/COLOR] 15 (+1 size, +1 Dex, +1 natural, +2 leather), touch 12, flat-footed 14 [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Base Attack/Grapple: [/COLOR] +2/-3 [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Attack: [/COLOR] Flail +2 melee (1d6-1/×2) [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Full Attack: [/COLOR] Flail +2 melee (1d6-1/×2) [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Space/Reach: [/COLOR] 5 ft./5 ft. [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Special Attacks: [/COLOR] Manical Laughter [DC 13], Random Action [DC 11] [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Special Qualities: [/COLOR] Crazed, Darkvision 60 ft [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Saves: [/COLOR] Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +3 [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Abilities: [/COLOR] Str 9, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 10 [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Skills: [/COLOR] Bluff +3, Hide +6, Move Silently +2, Perform (Any One) +5, Search +2 [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Feats: [/COLOR] Fearless [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Environment: [/COLOR] Anywhere [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Organization: [/COLOR] None [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Challenge Rating:[/COLOR] 2 [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Treasure: [/COLOR] Standard [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Alignment: [/COLOR] Always Chaotic [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Advancement: [/COLOR] By character class [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Maniacal Laughter (Su):[/COLOR] As a Move Action, Maniacs can create the effect of Tasha's Hideous Laughter. This does not provoke activites and can be done in any environment in which laughter can be heard. The Will DC is Cha-based and includes a +2 racial bonus. This ability lasts for 1d3 rounds and is cast as a 2nd level caster. [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Random Action (Su):[/COLOR] As if attempting to spread their own nature upon their surroundings, any creature within 10 feet of the Maniac must make a DC 10 Will save or be affected as with the Confusion, Lesser spell. However, as they cannot instantaneously modify their surroundings, those who enter their area do not need to make the save until the beginning of their next round. The effect, as with the spell, lasts for a single round, but if the character begins his next round within the area, he must make the same save again or be inflicted as with the Confusion, Lesser spell. [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Crazed (Ex):[/COLOR] It is much more difficult to mentally modify a Maniac. Maniacs have a +4 racial bonus to Will saves. [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Tactics[/COLOR] I believe that Maniacs create the opportunity for an interesting encounter. Their physical strength isn't impressive and in fact is quite weak, but their aura is quite powerful. Most of their damage should be expected to come from that aura. To make things interesting, and to make it more difficult for people to be aware of their presence, I would recommend making their aura something they are capable of turning on and off. In my game, I treated this as a Swift Action, though if you desire, you can slow it down to a Move Action, though anything slower than that I think ruins the abilities of the creature too greatly. As Maniacs move through the crowd, some people will pass their saves, though others will fail. People tend to notice those who begin to attack others much more quickly than anything else and frequently focus on them more than the true threat behind the attack. Confusion is the key to playing Maniacs correctly. Put them in groups of opponents and allow them to turn their aura on and off. Also, I would suggest changing the Perform (Comedy) to Perform (Any one), essentially to whatever is most appropriate for the encounter. Lastly, while above I gave them flails, I don't truly believe they should be weilding something so obvious. They need a smaller, hidden weapon, one which cannot be seen and thus cannot point out their ill intent to those who would put a stop to them. Oh, and if you do not use them tactically well and attempt to use them in a straightup combat, their CR should definitely be decreased to 1. [I]"Maniacs are ... unpleasant ... to say the least. They are constantly laughing and swinging their flails around. They aren't particularly skilled with their flails, but it's said that they like the 'wooshing' sound it makes when they swing it around their heads. The only time a Maniac can actually be considering enjoyable to be around is when they are on a stage - when you're preferably near the back - and they are putting on a comedy sketch. It must be their insane nature which allows them to make any crowd laughing. Or perhaps they simply make people laugh at the right time and other people simply join in; it's really hard to tell. Occasionally the crowd gets involved, but again, no one really knows if the crowd is acting on their own or not. So when they aren't on stage, I would leave them alone. Seriously, try to stay away from them. They aren't deadly, but they are certainly annoying. As far as I know, they don't have much culture, but then again no one has really been able - or willing - to ask them and find out. Maybe they have families or cults or something, but no one is going to stick around them long enough to find out, except their own kind. Who knows where they came from, but I really wish they'd go back."[/I] - An anonymous tavernkeeper as he cleans the mess several Maniacs caused in his tavern during a performance. [/QUOTE]
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