D&D 5E Wandering Monsters: Morons and Salads

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

For whatever it's worth, I've been playing since '79 and haven't heard of anyone using aarakocra even once. I honestly think they coast on a good old school illustration.

 

[Celebrim]

For whatever it's worth, I've been playing since '79 and haven't heard of anyone using aarakocra even once. I honestly think they coast on a good old school illustration.

I was in a sea-faring/pirates campaign for about 5 years where aarakocra played a role as minor NPCs.

 

[Hussar]

For whatever it's worth, I've been playing since '79 and haven't heard of anyone using aarakocra even once. I honestly think they coast on a good old school illustration.

We had an aarakokra PC in a 2e game back in college. It was generally amusing because every time he failed a save vs fire, he got his feathers burnt off.

 

[jadrax]

One of my friends ran a game where the world only had 8 sentient races, the aarakocra were one of them.

 

[Celebrim]

One of my friends ran a game where the world only had 8 sentient races, the aarakocra were one of them.

What I think this proves is that what monsters are 'core' is very much a subjective experience. D&D has had enough published modules over the years that very few if any DMs have used all the monsters available. Different monsters resonate with people to different degrees. Different settings make use of different resources to different degrees. Because my games rarely go beyond 10th level (it can take 2-4 years to get there), anything above CR 14 rarely will see play and nothing above about CR 6 can really be considered 'common'. Other groups actually start PCs at 10th level.

The most awesome Monster Manual I've read in the past 10 years is 'The Bestiary: Predators' by Betabunny Publishing, and it was just animals. But it provides the template for what I'd want to see in monster manual. He even provides detailed rules for handling very common issues like: 'What happens if the PC's haul this thing back to town and try to sell it?' It's a real shame the author didn't publish Herbivores, Dinosaurs, Undead, Dragons, etc.

 

[D'karr]

We had an aarakokra PC in a 2e game back in college. It was generally amusing because every time he failed a save vs fire, he got his feathers burnt off.

So you played with Foghorn Leghorn? Awesome.

Fortunately I keep my feathers numbered, for, for just such an emergency.​

 

[GX.Sigma]

You know what's weird about modrons? Some of the base modrons (thinking of the monodrone and quadrone) have a pair of arms that can be swapped for a pair of wings. The winged versions are supposed to be rare--but the art always shows them with wings, and the text always describes them with arms (or both at once). What's that about?

 

[Dausuul]

Please, please, if anyone of import is reading, do not listen to this person, aligned planes are a glorious and wonderful idea, that has been a marvellous part of the D&D cosmos for many years, do not be swayed by people who especially seem to want to change the D&D game into another one.

Aligned planes are an interesting setting conceit. They are not at all essential or integral to the D&D game. BD&D didn't have them and neither did 4E, and I personally have run many a campaign without them, across all editions.

They should certainly be presented as an option, but the core ruleset should not assume their existence. Fortunately, I don't expect that will be a problem.

 

[zoroaster100]

For whatever it's worth, I've been playing since '79 and haven't heard of anyone using aarakocra even once. I honestly think they coast on a good old school illustration.

I've seen these used frequently in Dark Sun campaigns as flying humanoid opponents in the desert.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I stand corrected about the aarakocra!