D&D 5E Folklore Monsters, early access!

OK, so it's a playtest request (with the inferences from that: require feedback, confidentiality, etc). Here's what it is:

A whole bunch of monsters compatible with 5e are ready to be playtested. Each monster has a statblock and text entries. These creatures are based upon historical folklore, rather than how they've been depicted in modern fantasy literature/games/media.

If you're interested in taking these and putting them into your game, let me know and I'll IM you the appropriate documentation. It's a 275 page file, just so you know.

Here is an example of the first page (of 2) of the Black Annis as it will appear in the book. The playtest file does not have the 5e style guide or layout; it's simply text and the statblock, which is OK because these are for playtest purposes (sort of like the early 5e monster packets back in 2012-13). But it does include everything that would be in the final entry.




Contents
Content Warning Flags ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Exceptional Variant Guideline ........................................................................................................................................................... 6
Lair Actions ................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Traits ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 8
Crafty Traits .................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Leadership Traits .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Stat Block Descriptions .................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Abhartach........................................................................................................................................................................................ 12
Adar Llwch Gwin ............................................................................................................................................................................. 16
Aeternae ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Afanc ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 20
Alkonost .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Alp ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Alvita ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Amphisbaena .................................................................................................................................................................................. 28
Andvari ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 30
Aos Si ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Aralez .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 35
Arion ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 37
Askafroa .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 39
Athach ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 41
Azhdahak ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 43
Baba Yaga ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 46
Balaur .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 49
Banshee .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 51
Barbegazi ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 53
Barghest .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Basajaun .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 57
Basilisk ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 59
Beithir ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 61
Biasd Bheulach ................................................................................................................................................................................ 64
Biasd Na Srogaig .............................................................................................................................................................................. 66
Black Annis ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 68
Bluecap ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 71
Bodach ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 73
Boggart ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 75
Bøyg ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 77
Bran ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 79
Bregdi .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 81
Brownie ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 83
Bugbear ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 85
Buggane .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 87
Bukavac ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 89
Cailleach .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 91
Caladrius ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 95
Calygreyhound ................................................................................................................................................................................ 97
Căpcăun .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 99
Carcolh .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 101
Cat-sìth .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 103
Cirein-cròin ................................................................................................................................................................................... 105
Cornu ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 107
Cro sìth .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 109
Cù-sìth ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 110
Cuegle ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 112
Cuélebre ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 114
Cyoeraeth ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 119
Dames Blanches ............................................................................................................................................................................ 121
Dhorko .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 123
Dobhar-chú ................................................................................................................................................................................... 125
Drac ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 127
Drangue ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 129
Draugr ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 131
Dullahan ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 133
Each-Uisge..................................................................................................................................................................................... 135
Eachy ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 137
Eikþyrnir ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 139
Ellén Trechend .............................................................................................................................................................................. 141
Ellyll ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 143
Enbarr ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 145
Eotin .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 147
Fachan ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 149
Fálga .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 151
Far Darrig ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 153
Faun .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 155
Feardorcha .................................................................................................................................................................................... 157
Fear Gorta ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 159
Fear Liath Mòr ............................................................................................................................................................................... 161
Fenrir............................................................................................................................................................................................. 163
Fetch ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 166
Fey Dragon .................................................................................................................................................................................... 168
Finnbheara .................................................................................................................................................................................... 170
Foawr ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 173
Fomorian ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 175
Fuath ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 178
Gaishon ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 180
Galtzagorriak ................................................................................................................................................................................. 182
Gancanagh .................................................................................................................................................................................... 184
Garmr ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 186
Gaueko .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 188
Glashtyn ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 190
Grindylow ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 192
Guivre ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 195
Gullinbursti .................................................................................................................................................................................... 198
Gulon ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 200
Gytrash .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 202
Hægtesse ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 204
Hafgufa.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 206
Heiðrún ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 209
Helhest .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 211
Herensuge ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 213
Herne the Hunter .......................................................................................................................................................................... 215
Hoberdidance ................................................................................................................................................................................ 218
Hobgoblin ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 220
Hræsvelgr ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 222
Indrik ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 224
Írusán ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 226
Jaculus ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 228
Jentil .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 230
Jörmungandr ................................................................................................................................................................................. 232
Jötunn ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 234
Jötunn, Ægir .................................................................................................................................................................................. 236
Kelpie ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 239
Kergrim ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 242
Knocker ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 244
Knucker ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 246
Kobold ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 248
Korrigan ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 250
Kulshedra ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 252
Laignech Fáelad ............................................................................................................................................................................. 254
Lampago ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 256
Lavellan ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 258
Leprechaun ................................................................................................................................................................................... 260
Lindwurm ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 263
Llamhignyn Y Dwr .......................................................................................................................................................................... 265
Marool .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 267
Myling ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 269
Nuckelavee .................................................................................................................................................................................... 271
Ojáncanu ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 274
Pech .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 276

Dang it, I'd love to playtest it, but I'm not running a game for the moment, I'm a player for the first time in a long time. I'll try to get my DM to ask for the playtest packet and use it.

That looks fun! Can you share a bit about your playtest process? I was planning on running an online fey-themed one-shot for players who've never played together in December (I've run two already and they were pretty successful), but that might not work with your schedule.

What timeline/deadline are you looking at for soliciting playtest feedback?

Are there any limitations or restrictions about groups you're looking for? I don't imagine so, but always good to double check.

Is there a NDA? Would the entire group need to sign?

275 pages and all those monsters is a lot of content – how are you breaking up the monsters? Would I pick a couple I like? Is there a "sign up sheet"? Are they being randomly assigned? Alphabetized?

Will you be soliciting some kind of standard feedback form? Or is it "anything goes" feedback?

vincegetorix said:

Dang it, I'd love to playtest it, but I'm not running a game for the moment, I'm a player for the first time in a long time. I'll try to get my DM to ask for the playtest packet and use it.

Click to expand...

I'll send you the file anyways

Quickleaf said:

That looks fun! Can you share a bit about your playtest process? I was planning on running a fey-themed one-shot in December, but that might not work with your schedule.

What timeline/deadline are you looking at for soliciting playtest feedback?

Are there any limitations or restrictions about groups you're looking for? I don't imagine so, but always good to double check.

Is there a NDA? Would the entire group need to sign?

275 pages and all those monsters is a lot of content – how are you breaking up the monsters? Would I pick a couple I like? Is there a "sign up sheet"? Are they being randomly assigned? Alphabetized?

Will you be soliciting some kind of standard feedback form? Or is it "anything goes" feedback?

Click to expand...

I'm pretty loose with NDAs (because they are impossible to enforce, really, so I try to limit distribution and ask for goodwill to not steal it or reshare it). There's a typical copyright notice in the front along with some instructions.

Time frame is pretty flexible. I'm not anticipating this to be ready until next summer.

Basically you pick the ones you want, and just report back (the email contact is in the file) your findings and any suggestions you might have if something is too wonky. Or positive feedback for things you really liked. No assignments at this point. At this point, any and all feedback is welcome.

OK, yeah then since you have some lead time, I would be happy to playtest some of your monsters! It would probably only be a handful (3-4) that I could tie around some theme or perhaps an old Dungeon module.

I'd love to test some of these out. I'm planning on running a short "critters adventure" set in a fairy tale wood with "burrows" that are towns full of critterfolk like harengon and grung and tabaxi, where "medium" is a couple feet tall and "small" is a foot or less (so an easy mousefolk would just be to use a halfling), and the only humanish folk are fairies and gnomes, which are small enough to ride on the back of a fox.

So, perfect for folk tale monsters like the Black Annis. I'll try to take a look at the list and do some googling later, after work.

Yeah love to playtest (starting to DM again soon) always felt the monsters needed to be "richer" from old folk sources

Oh hell yes I love folk lore monsters and I'm in 3 campaigns one of which I run I'm sure I could make use and test out a few om eyeballing the glashtyn knowing it's lore and the fact were on a boat right now in one game and the dm wants an intresting encounter.

kazekage1822 said:

Oh hell yes I love folk lore monsters and I'm in 3 campaigns one of which I run I'm sure I could make use and test out a few om eyeballing the glashtyn knowing it's lore and the fact were on a boat right now in one game and the dm wants an intresting encounter.

Click to expand...

you are a 'tad' late... you can get the finished product here


There is also an OSR version

Got anymore of the folklore side of things? That Black Annis stat block is fairly vanilla