So which Desert of Desolation Monster isn't in the Monster Manual I?

[Felon]

I think it's safe to say that the reference was to a monster, and that merchant guards and farmers and Bruenor Battlehammer don't count.

My bet is the astral stalker.

 

[Felon]

And can I say for the record that I'm sick and friggin' tired of the NOUN-NOUNs? Macetail? Visejaw? Thundertusk? Ugh.

Portmanteaus. Yes, they have grown quite cloying.

 

[DaveMage]

My guess: fire elemental. I believe we were told that in 4th edition there will no longer be standard elementals distinguishable only by size.

Ditto.

 

[Larrin]

And can I say for the record that I'm sick and friggin' tired of the NOUN-NOUNs? Macetail? Visejaw? Thundertusk? Ugh.

still it makes one realize that alot of real animals use the ADJECTIVE-NOUN formula (and sometimes color can be both....)

whitetail deer
longhorn sheep
hornyback toad
redthroated whatever-bird

So they aren't exactly blazing new ground, just new names. Its what people do when they have similar things to name....


But yeah, they don't need to do it for everyfreaking monster, and some of them are not what a local person would name the boar with big nasty tusks. they'd call him the longtusk boar. or razortooth(back?) boar or something more down to earth. Not thundertusk, unless his tusks actually explode with sonic damage when he hits you....

 

[Wormwood]

still it makes one realize that alot of real animals use the ADJECTIVE-NOUN formula (and sometimes color can be both....)

whitetail deer
longhorn sheep
hornyback toad
redthroated whatever-bird

So they aren't exactly blazing new ground, just new names. Its what people do when they have similar things to name....

A few off the top of my head:

razorback
cottontail
humpback (whale)
widemouth (frog)
whiptail (lizard)

pedantic guy: The terms in question are compound words, not portmanteaus.

edit: frog, not bass.

 

[Merlin the Tuna]

Hammerhead shark, small/largemouth bass, and blue-footed booby come to mind, as well.

 

[Hussar]

sabertooth tiger
tyrannosaurus rex
musk ox
hornbill
german shepherd
Labrador retriever
ring tailed lemur

They're not exactly rare are they?

 

[WhatGravitas]

They're not exactly rare are they?

Especially, if you translate dinosaur names:

Deinonychus: Terrible Claw (Terrorclaw? Direclaw? Dreadclaw?)
Tyrannosaurus: Tyrant Lizard (Lizardtyrant?)
Brontosaurus (though now called Apatosaurus): Thunderlizard.

Use wikipedia... most dinosaurs ave silly names.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Wormwood]

Especially, if you translate dinosaur names:

Deinonychus: Terrible Claw (Terrorclaw? Direclaw? Dreadclaw?)
Tyrannosaurus: Tyrant Lizard (Lizardtyrant?)
Brontosaurus (though now called Apatosaurus): Thunderlizard.

Use wikipedia... most dinosaurs ave silly names.

Cheers, LT.

In a world without Latin, 'macetail' is appropriate.

 

[kettite]

My guess is that many of the names for the miniatures are not considered part of the base monster name, so while you might not see "Feral Troll" or "Umber Hulk Delver" in the MM, you will find the Troll and Umber Hulk.

Given that, I'm guessing that the Shadar Kai do not appear in the first MM.