D&D 5E (2014) Give Me Any D&D Monster and I'll Homebrew You A Better Version

[dave2008]

okay - I like the hill giant. stone giant variant is interesting in SKT...but fire giant pretty vanilla...

If you are looking for giants, @Demetrios1453 has a great thread for that: Homebrew Giant Elites

 

[Conflux Creatures]

The humble skeleton and zombie

Got some themed necromancers for each of those, too
Skeletons
Zombies
Necromancers

 

[Conflux Creatures]

The "Guard", the CR 1/4 soldier monster!

Guard

 

[Conflux Creatures]

okay - I like the hill giant. stone giant variant is interesting in SKT...but fire giant pretty vanilla...

I like my giants big:
Hill Giants
Stone Giants
Fire Giants

 

[INTIMIDAT3R]

I want to rewrite every D&D monster from the ground up to be dynamic and flavorful encounters that center the player experience and try to alleviate the workload of the DM. Give me a monster you'll be using soon and want to make an impression, or just one you miss from a previous edition, and I'll juice it up for you.

Cherry Flavored Gelatinous Cube

 

[MechaTarrasque]

The thesslehydra. I figured a D&D could have Cerberus (a bunch of dogs and a snake) and Scylla (wolves and dragons plus one "head" as a humanoid torso) as thesselhydras.

 

[Casimir Liber]

I like my giants big:
Hill Giants
Stone Giants
Fire Giants

Yeah these look fun!

 

[NotAYakk]

I like my giants big:
Hill Giants
Stone Giants
Fire Giants

I'd think the DC for climbing should be dex-based, not strength (on the giant's side).

Body Slam. seems overly punishing for climbing on the Giant. Also should give maximum damage (36) in text.

I might give the reaction option before the save, granting advantage on the save. If you fail at the save, you fail to move. This works well with "on the giant", as the advantage from being flung free cancels the disadvantage nicely, and makes a good narrative.

Brutal Shove and Sweeping Club are a bit too similar.

As a matter of principle, I like having Strength saving throws for melee-ranged "smash" and "push" abilities, rather than Dex. OTOH, I might make the "grab while climbing" pest move be a Dex saving throw (unless you envision it as a contest of strength -- holding on -- instead of one of Dex).

Inner Fire I might make it do max damage if you are climbing on the Giant. The Fire Giant as no other anti-climbing abilities.

The Stone Giant should probably be better with rocks. It knocks prone and has longer range than the Hill Giant, but it is actually a worse move (as it sacrifices more damage) for the creature.

The Rocks being attacks means they aren't that big, as it can be stopped by armor. A Dex saving throw is appropriate here? I might also make it a 5' diameter for Hill and 10' diameter for Stone. Even if that is ridiculous.

 

[Knight_Marshal]

Werewolf centaur. Can you imagine one galloping at you while howling?

 

[Conflux Creatures]

I'd think the DC for climbing should be dex-based, not strength (on the giant's side).

Body Slam. seems overly punishing for climbing on the Giant. Also should give maximum damage (36) in text.

I might give the reaction option before the save, granting advantage on the save. If you fail at the save, you fail to move. This works well with "on the giant", as the advantage from being flung free cancels the disadvantage nicely, and makes a good narrative.

Brutal Shove and Sweeping Club are a bit too similar.

As a matter of principle, I like having Strength saving throws for melee-ranged "smash" and "push" abilities, rather than Dex. OTOH, I might make the "grab while climbing" pest move be a Dex saving throw (unless you envision it as a contest of strength -- holding on -- instead of one of Dex).

Inner Fire I might make it do max damage if you are climbing on the Giant. The Fire Giant as no other anti-climbing abilities.

The Stone Giant should probably be better with rocks. It knocks prone and has longer range than the Hill Giant, but it is actually a worse move (as it sacrifices more damage) for the creature.

The Rocks being attacks means they aren't that big, as it can be stopped by armor. A Dex saving throw is appropriate here? I might also make it a 5' diameter for Hill and 10' diameter for Stone. Even if that is ridiculous.

Thank you, this is all great feedback!