D&D General Gargoyles need to be redone.

[Brendan Byrd]

"Barbarian — “The Living Siege Engine”​

Synergy Rating: ★★★★★
Theme: You’re an avalanche with fists."

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You're a landslide with fists. (?)

 

[dave2008]

now I got time to respond

@dave2008

I need to explain.

I am an old greybeard, anthropologist by training (if not by trade), and amateur historian.
I have been gaming for a long time.

when you say "But I see no reason to so thoroughly change 50 years of D&D tradition", where is the break off?

Do we go back to Castle Blackmoor, which had a stupid amount of modern anachronisms, including a gift shop?

Do we go back to kobolds, which changed from dog people to little dragon dudes (started in Dragon Mountain)?

I absolutely love the 2024 redesign of Cyclops that adds a heavy Krull element to the monsters, and for the first time, I have so many ideas of doing fun things.

That being said.

I will be open to all alternative names to avoid complications, but I will also have them refer to them as gargoyles and include any alternative names you suggest.
Barrowfaces
Cradlestone Folk
Choirkin
Craglings
Grotesqueries
Mortarchs
Nightwardens
Spitecarved
Wardenstones
Watchborn
Vigilants

Any of these work?

I explained in a later post, but what I was against was the OP title suggesting gargoyles had to be redone. I love your idea for gargoyles, I just think they should be an addition to, or as a specific setting replacement, not a replacement for the whole game.

 

[Shades of Eternity]

"Stone Form
< snip >

• Vulnerabilities: You take double damage from thunder (resonance-shattering) and have disadvantage on Stealth checks when moving across quiet stone surfaces.

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"Gargoyle Flight
< snip>

• Thunder vulnerability doubles again to quadruple damage while flying (sonic shatter risk)."

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"Echo Voice

Harness your resonant harmonic chamber.

• Your voice can mimic any sound or creature you've heard.
• Once per long rest, as an action, emit a resonant shriek:
  Creatures within 10 feet must succeed on a Con save or take 2d6 thunder and be deafened for 1 minute (save ends early)."

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I don't follow the logic of the thunder (sonic) damage.

I'm not convinced that a feat should increase a character's vulnerability.

Even if it does, shouldn't it become triple damage? 2 + (2-1) = 3​

If they take damage from thunder (sonic) effects...but they also produce thunder (sonic) effects...that seems to be quite a contradiction.
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"False Appearance
....except dwarves using Stonecunning, who roll normally."

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The benefit comes from having Stonecunning, not from being a dwarf.
Stonecunning is not exclusive to dwarves.

ok removing all vulnerability to thunder for now.
also adjusting stonecunning text.
and yes landslide sounds better.

I explained in a later post, but what I was against was the OP title suggesting gargoyles had to be redone. I love your idea for gargoyles, I just think they should be an addition to, or as a specific setting replacement, not a replacement for the whole game.

Oh, no worries, think of them as an add-on to those who want variety with their gargoyle.

Masque Gargoyle
Amphitheater/Emotion-Born Gargoyle
Large Elemental (Gargoyle), Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class 17 (carved stone hide)
Hit Points 136 (16d10 + 48)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft., fly 50 ft. (glide)

STR 18 (+4) DEX 16 (+3) CON 17 (+3) INT 12 (+1) WIS 14 (+2) CHA 18 (+4)

Saving Throws Wis +6, Cha +8
Skills Performance +8, Deception +8, Insight +6, Stealth +6
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities psychic, thunder
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, stunned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Terran, Common, and one local language
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +4

TRAITS

False Appearance (Statue or Frieze).

While motionless, the Masque is indistinguishable from carved stonework, bas-relief mural figures, or decorative masks in an amphitheater.
Creatures without stonecunning have disadvantage on checks to detect it.

Echo-Chamber Voice.

The Masque’s voice reverberates as though spoken in a vast hall.
• Its spell save DC for emotion-based effects increases to 17.
• It has advantage on Charisma (Performance) checks.

Shifted Mask.

As a bonus action, the Masque changes its facial “mask,” gaining one of the following until it changes again:

• Rage Mask: +2 damage on melee attacks; melee attacks deal fire damage instead of slashing.
• Sorrow Mask: Gains resistance to radiant & necrotic; attacks reduce enemy speed by 10 feet until end of next turn.
• Joy Mask: Gains +2 AC and advantage on saving throws vs. spells.
• Terror Mask: Creatures of choice within 10 ft. must succeed on a DC 16 Wis save or become frightened for 1 round.

It may change masks at will.

Amphitheater Acoustics.
Thunder and sound-based effects the Masque creates have double range and do not require line of sight as long as the target is in the same room or cavern.

ACTIONS

Multiattack.

The Masque makes three attacks: two with its claws and one with its Emotional Pulse.

Claw.
Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 14 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage plus 4 (1d8) emotional damage (type depends on mask: psychic, fire, radiant, or necrotic).

Emotional Pulse.
A 30-ft-radius burst centered on itself.
Each creature of the Masque’s choice must make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw.

Effects depend on the current mask:

• Rage: Failed save → target uses reaction to attack nearest creature.
• Sorrow: Failed save → target gains disadvantage on all attack rolls until EoT.
• Joy: Failed save → target is charmed for 1 round.
• Terror: Failed save → target frightened for 2 rounds.

Recharge 5–6.

Shattering Scream (Recharge 6).

The Masque emits a thunderous, theatrical shriek.

• 60-ft-cone, DC 16 Con save
• On a fail: 27 (6d8) thunder damage + stunned for 1 round
• On a success: half damage, not stunned.

Objects take maximum damage automatically.

REACTIONS

Mask of Mockery.

When a creature misses the Masque with an attack, the Masque lashes out with a taunting sonic ripple. The attacker takes 7 (2d6) psychic damage and must succeed on a DC 16 Charisma saving throw or have disadvantage on its next attack roll.

LEGENDARY ACTIONS (Optional for a “mini-boss” version)

The Masque can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from below:

Change Mask.
The Masque shifts to a different emotional mask.

Stone Flutter.
The Masque moves up to 20 ft. without provoking opportunity attacks.

Minor Pulse.
Targets one creature within 10 ft. DC 16 Wis save or suffer a minor emotional effect:

• Rage → 1d6 fire
• Sorrow → next attack is −1d4
• Joy → charmed until next turn
• Terror → cannot move closer

FLAVOR TEXT
Masque gargoyles are born of amphitheaters, forums, bard colleges, and ancient arenas where countless emotions—joy, tragedy, rage, triumph—have been performed or felt.

Their stone bodies are carved into shifting masks that reflect the emotional echoes that birthed them. Their voices carry naturally across caverns and chambers, allowing them to strike from unseen angles, toy with their foes, or whip crowds into frenzy.

Adventurers speak of Masques with awe and fear: creatures that laugh in cathedral voices, snarl in furnace-heat rage, and weep stone-shards that cut like glass.