[Creative Conclave] The Lazy GM Series continues...

[Dr Simon]

We've just released The Lazy GM: Dungeon Beasts with over 400 stat blocks for forty classic D&D monsters including oozes, rust monsters, wyverns, behir, ropers and so on. All advanced by HD, loads of templates (we could also call this one the Big Book of Wierd Zombies), plus many monsters with class levels and variant builds

For more details, visit our website at http://www.creativeconclave.co.uk

Currently in the works, The Lazy GM: Orcs with even more variant builds and opponent stat blocks.

The question is though, what would *you* like to see next?

 

[Pinotage]

All of them! Although demons and devils should be last. Do the more 'normal' creatures first - giants, trolls, orgres!

Pinotage

 

[Voadam]

I'm torn between wanting underdark races such as drow and duergar (especially for psionic class stat blocks), and savage species.

 

[Alzrius]

I'd like to see one devoted specifically to epic-level creatures. More than anything else, those are the stat blocks that are hardest to construct, and take the most time.

I know that existing entries in the series already have quite a few monsters that hit epic levels, but one devoted specifically to enemies that (via a combination of class levels, templates, and advanced Hit Dice) are CR 21+ would be great.

 

[Dr Simon]

Thanks for the comments so far folks,

Alzrius, I agree that the more complex stat blocks are hardest - even creatures with 2HD of Humanoid (the Lizardfolk, Trogs and Bugbears) were troublesome to write sometimes, so I can feel the pain!

A *lot* of Epic creatures would be a lengthy project, but a mini-supplement (like the Halloween Special) could be a possibility....

 

[Pinotage]

A *lot* of Epic creatures would be a lengthy project, but a mini-supplement (like the Halloween Special) could be a possibility....

Something akin to what Inner Circle did with Legends of Avadnu. Or at least length-wise. It doesn't have to be such a huge product or have the variety. Although I imagine at epic levels it will be extremely hard to satisfy everybody. My suggestion would be to stick to 'epic' creatures as well, so you don't have 25th level hobgoblins running around, but rather demons with a few class levels. If you minimise the class levels it shouldn't be that hard. Besides, from what I've seen, you guys are stat block gurus - should be easy!

Pinotage

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I'd love to see Aquatic critters. There aren't enough, imo.

 

[Dr Simon]

Something akin to what Inner Circle did with Legends of Avadnu. Or at least length-wise. It doesn't have to be such a huge product or have the variety. Although I imagine at epic levels it will be extremely hard to satisfy everybody. My suggestion would be to stick to 'epic' creatures as well, so you don't have 25th level hobgoblins running around, but rather demons with a few class levels. If you minimise the class levels it shouldn't be that hard. Besides, from what I've seen, you guys are stat block gurus - should be easy!

Pinotage

Stat Block Gurus - I like that!

I'll have to check out Legends of Avadnu as it's not something I'm familiar with. As for creatures that we could tackle in an Epic book, I note that most of the creatures from the ELH are Open Source, and I also noticed the other day that Balor demons can (officially) be advanced to 60HD. <Mr Burns>Hmmmm....</Mr Burns>.

With high level versions of lowly humanoids and the like, you're right that it probably isn't worth creating too many of these. The essential 'hobgoblin' elements of a stat block become a bit lost at those levels - a 25th level hobgoblin Wizard has nothing to greatly distinguish it from a 25th level human wizard, for example.

 

[Alzrius]

It's true that a Humanoid advanced with just class levels can easily be swapped out with other Humanoids. But the flip side of that coin is that an epic (or near-epic) monster with a couple of class levels isn't that hard for a GM to do anyway (or, in many cases, that interesting - a pit fiend that can cast spells as a 5th-level Wizard just seems odd).

As with most things, the best option is probably somewhere in the middle.

As a note, Legends of Avadnu was a short PDF of new epic monsters. It's not quite the same as a book of existing monsters advanced to epic levels.

 

[Dr Simon]

Alzrius, this is a good point, the hardest builds are a mix of medium-high Hit Dice and medium-high levels. An Epic book would probably have a range of builds for different concepts.

At the time of writing, Demons and Devils seems to be the most popular choice.

Interesting that nobody has expressed a wish to wait until 4th Edition with its allegedly simplified 'monster-building' rules.