A thought about the various monsters that challenge D&D characters made me wonder about the monstrous nature of adventurers as they gain experience.
PCs are rather monstrous.
High level monsters might give a blueprint of how certain characters would evolve. I could even say classes could be designed around the monsters the characters may face.
For example, a barbarian of an advanced level might have similar statistics of an ogre or hill giant. They both would be very strong and tough. Whether or not the barbarian throws rocks is a matter of taste. A stereotypical barbarian would evolve into a giant with reduce person casted on it.
A high enough level ranger could be modeled after an intelligent animal or magical beast. Those with magical abilities would look similar to an martial fey or magical plant monsters. And druids can actually transform into these very animals.
The paladin could be confused for an angelic warrior, slashing demons and vampires with a divine smite. Corrupted paladins and blackguards would gain a look similar to a devil as they leveled. Other might meld into something at looks like an archon.
A high level fighters might resemble monstrous humaniods. A fighter charges like a minotaur. They can fight in complete darkness like a grimlock. Their mastery of horses is great enough for them to be mistaken for centaurs.
Spellcasters would feel much like magic heavy outsiders, dragons, and fey. A sorcerer's fire spell deals almost the same damage as a level 7 red dragon's breath weapon.
So here are my questions?
Should higher level character be modeled after high level monsters? (a barbarian having similar damage, accuracy, and hp of a ogre or giant. A charge focused fighter has similar stat to a minotaur)
Should character gain abilities similar to monsters? (paladins get wings)
Should monsters feel like special versions of monsters? (nigrhtwalkers are special undead sorcerer/rogues)
PCs are rather monstrous.
High level monsters might give a blueprint of how certain characters would evolve. I could even say classes could be designed around the monsters the characters may face.
For example, a barbarian of an advanced level might have similar statistics of an ogre or hill giant. They both would be very strong and tough. Whether or not the barbarian throws rocks is a matter of taste. A stereotypical barbarian would evolve into a giant with reduce person casted on it.
A high enough level ranger could be modeled after an intelligent animal or magical beast. Those with magical abilities would look similar to an martial fey or magical plant monsters. And druids can actually transform into these very animals.
The paladin could be confused for an angelic warrior, slashing demons and vampires with a divine smite. Corrupted paladins and blackguards would gain a look similar to a devil as they leveled. Other might meld into something at looks like an archon.
A high level fighters might resemble monstrous humaniods. A fighter charges like a minotaur. They can fight in complete darkness like a grimlock. Their mastery of horses is great enough for them to be mistaken for centaurs.
Spellcasters would feel much like magic heavy outsiders, dragons, and fey. A sorcerer's fire spell deals almost the same damage as a level 7 red dragon's breath weapon.
So here are my questions?
Should higher level character be modeled after high level monsters? (a barbarian having similar damage, accuracy, and hp of a ogre or giant. A charge focused fighter has similar stat to a minotaur)
Should character gain abilities similar to monsters? (paladins get wings)
Should monsters feel like special versions of monsters? (nigrhtwalkers are special undead sorcerer/rogues)
