D&D 5E 5e Hardcore: Monster Manual

[dave2008]

I have added the Fire Giants by [MENTION=6801060]Demetrios1453[/MENTION] to the Giants section. These are from his great thread Homebrew Giant Elites , go there to check out his original work and some great flavor text regarding most of these giants. These giants differ a little from his originals, primarily I decided to make the giant chiefs (thane, jarl, etc.) elites per the OP. Thank you [MENTION=6801060]Demetrios1453[/MENTION] for your contribution!

In addition to adding the fire giants I have update the the Hill Giant Chief and Frost Giant Jarl slightly.

 

[dave2008]

I have added the Cloud Giants by [MENTION=6801060]Demetrios1453[/MENTION] to the Giants section. These are from his great thread Homebrew Giant Elites , go there to check out his original work and some great flavor text regarding these giants. These giants differ a little from his originals, primarily I decided to make the giant Oman and Oathguard elites per the OP. Thank you Demetrios1453 for your contribution!

 

[dave2008]

I have added the Storm Giants Omen Reader by [MENTION=6801060]Demetrios1453[/MENTION] to the Giants section. It is from his great thread Homebrew Giant Elites , go there to check out his original work and some great flavor text regarding giants. Thank you Demetrios1453 for your contribution!

I have also added the Storm Giant Paramount and update the Hill Giant Chief, Stone Giant Thane, Frost Giant Jarl, Fire Giant Duke, and Cloud Giant Oman to reflect the AD&D concepts proposed in the OP better. Primarily I gave them a method to mitigate stun-locks and ranged attacks to some extent. These should have been there originally, but I was going to fast.

 

[Nebulous]

Good idea. But why make it soooo long?
Most monsters are fine. Only solo ones are a bit lacking if they are the only encounter of the day.
Again here are the things I am doing and it works out quite fine. Try it.
Single encounter big bad guys
Add 1 feat/ASI per 4 CR (save the first four)
Add 1 legendary action per PC above 4.
Multiply HP by 1 +0.25 per PC above 4.
Add 1.5 AC (round up) per PC above 4.

Here is a modified lich my players defeated at 17th level in a previous campaing.

AC: 17 (natural armor + dex) Now 23 (+1.5 AC x 2 for players number, Staff of power and +1 ring. It could go up to 25 for one attack because of the shield guardian and I am not counting shield. Since shield was an at will power, it became and AC 28 and 30 for one attack)
HP: 135 (18d8 + 54) Now 238 for a 1.5 multiplyer for number of players and tough feat (+36hp).
Spd: 30' (unchanged)
Stats: Unchanged (decided to use feats instead...)
Added: Warcaster, Elemental Adept Fire (that one was a surprise for my players), Tough.
Mage feature added: Shield and Mirror image at will (I counted that one as a feat)
Spell list was changed to reflect the added mage feature and feats.
Cantrip: Removed prestigiditation and added Fire Bolt. Rose number of cantrip to four and added Green Flame blade
Level 1: Removed shield and added disguise self (Lich used it to appear human as she did in her life.)
Level 2: Removed Mirror image and added Misty step instead.

Legendary action Rose to 5 (again 6 players)

Lich was also using Staff Of Power And a Shield Guardian.

I'd love to see a book of stuff like this, just amped up enemies with all the work already done, I don't have to think about it. I'd buy something like that.

 

[dave2008]

I'd love to see a book of stuff like this, just amped up enemies with all the work already done, I don't have to think about it. I'd buy something like that.

Well that is what we are trying to do here!

 

[dave2008]

I have added the first dragons, the red dragon alphas: Ancient, Elder, Adult, and Young Adult.

 

[Matrix Sorcica]

I have added the first dragons, the red dragon alphas: Ancient, Elder, Adult, and Young Adult.

Will these Ancients be identical to your Epic Ancients?

 

[dave2008]

Will these Ancients be identical to your Epic Ancients?

No. They are very similar but the tenants of the AD&D monsters are different than the tenants of the epic monster updates. That being said the 2nd drafts of the epic monsters will probably look more like the AD&D monsters.

All that being said, the Ancient Red is only superficial different between the two threads (HP, DPR, unstoppable, etc.)

 

[Matrix Sorcica]

Ok.
Looking at the ancient, shouldn't the tail attack be able to hit more than one creature? This thing is huge! Plus, it doesn't really have that many physical counterattacks due to legendary actions, tail costing two.
So maybe let tail affect more, or reduce cost to 1?

Oh, and the red dragon colossal mini's space is 40' x 40', just saying

 

[dave2008]

Well, after making the red dragons I decided to push the boundaries a little and I made the CR 30, elite Primoridal Tarrsque. It is in the Monstrosities section. I will get back to more mundane monsters after catching up a bit on my Epic Monster Updates thread.