D&D General d&d arcane monsters

[Tales and Chronicles]

I'd maybe go really crazy and use the Living Spells from Eberron, but up to 9th level spells (or even Epic spells from previous editions.

or use the high elementals (phoenix, elder tempest, zaratan, etc) and create the same type of creature for all other elemental type to represent the living pinnacle of each component of Magic.

 

[Voadam]

Djinn or Efreeti using wish magic.

 

[Mind of tempest]

I love dragons, but I think something based on the Spell Weaver is the most logical. They fit the bill of: "arcane magic comes to them as breathing comes to us" and are also alien / weird from another place.

spell weavers are good but are also similar to something else I had for the setting and people end up linking things that wat you know.

What about an alien type of dragons? As in, the normal types are there, but there are new breeds that are different from your typical chromatic and metallic dragons.

These are for Pathfinder 1E, but LPJ Design's Monsters of NeoExodus: Dragons of the Mind has dragons with powerful psionic abilities and other dragons with psychic spellcasting abilities. For ones with power over more traditional spellcasting, there's Rogue Genius Games' Monster Menagerie: Draconis Arcanus.

Please note my use of affiliate links in this post.

I see no need for the normal type just because it is tradition to have them does not mean I should have them.
I will look into the ones you suggested.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

I’m surprised the dragons in the MM don’t have spell lists.

They do encourage you to pick and choose your own list, though...

Variant: Dragons as Innate Spellcasters (MM p86)

Dragons are innately magical creatures that can master a few spells as they age, using this variant. A young or older dragon can innately cast a number of spells equal to its Charisma modifier. Each spell can be cast once per day, requiring no material components, and the spell's level can be no higher than one-third the dragon's challenge rating (rounded down). The dragon's bonus to hit with spell attacks is equal to its proficiency bonus + its Charisma bonus. The dragon's spell save DC equals 8 + its proficiency bonus + its Charisma modifier.

 

[dave2008]

spell weavers are good but are also similar to something else I had for the setting and people end up linking things that wat you know.

Well I offered to make a custom creature for you, but you have not given enough information to really make that possible. I am willing to help you out - I love making monsters, but I need some solid information to go on. Rejecting evey idea is getting us nowhere. What do want? We "arcane" magic is important, they should be powerful and bid. Now, what about:

1. What CR range?
2. What size? What is big? Large or Huge or Gargantuan
3. What do they look like?
4. Do they have wings or do they fly?
5. Are the humanoid or monstrous?
6. How many limbs do they have and how do they move?
7. Are the furry, scaly, slimy, naked (skin like a person or a rhino), or insect like?
8. Do they have claws, teeth, or other natural weapons
9. Do they wear clothes or armor?
10. Any idea about special abilities or traits?

 

[Blue Orange]

You might be interested in the Empire of Netheril sourcebooks for 2e if you can find them, they had a fallen empire of archwizards that became superpowerful and blew everything up.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Well I offered to make a custom creature for you, but you have not given enough information to really make that possible. I am willing to help you out - I love making monsters, but I need some solid information to go on. Rejecting evey idea is getting us nowhere. What do want? We "arcane" magic is important, they should be powerful and bid. Now, what about:

1. What CR range?
2. What size? What is big? Large or Huge or Gargantuan
3. What do they look like?
4. Do they have wings or do they fly?
5. Are the humanoid or monstrous?
6. How many limbs do they have and how do they move?
7. Are the furry, scaly, slimy, naked (skin like a person or a rhino), or insect like?
8. Do they have claws, teeth, or other natural weapons
9. Do they where clothes or armor?
10. Any idea about special abilities or traits?

25 and up cr
huge minimum.
looks uncertain other than they have arms with eight digits two are thumbs. also need to invoke awe but not be something from the planes.
wings would be nice big and really different not like anything you normally see.
six minimum
skin like armour, the flesh of titanium partly arcane energy forced corporeal, both ethereal and almost more than real.
both are options but most are multi-classed super wizard sorcerers. the high eight specialise in one of each type of magic like an archmage on super shoulder syrum with a body that is no weakness.

any arcane spell used against them just makes them stronger.
can't use ki or psionics ever no one knows why.
their servitor race is made in the image but much weaker and is intended as a player option

 

[Mind of tempest]

You might be interested in the Empire of Netheril sourcebooks for 2e if you can find them, they had a fallen empire of archwizards that became superpowerful and blew everything up.

yeah, might cut it up for parts.

 

[jmartkdr2]

25 and up cr
huge minimum.
looks uncertain other than they have arms with eight digits two are thumbs. also need to invoke awe but not be something from the planes.
wings would be nice big and really different not like anything you normally see.
six minimum
skin like armour, the flesh of titanium partly arcane energy forced corporeal, both ethereal and almost more than real.
both are options but most are multi-classed super wizard sorcerers. the high eight specialise in one of each type of magic like an archmage on super shoulder syrum with a body that is no weakness.

any arcane spell used against them just makes them stronger.
can use ki or psionics ever no one knows why.
their servitor race is made in the image but much weaker and is intended as a player option

Those sound more angelic than anything else, but ultimately I think you have the base ideas to make a really cool new race. You just need a cool name.

 

[dave2008]

25 and up cr
huge minimum.
looks uncertain other than they have arms with eight digits two are thumbs. also need to invoke awe but not be something from the planes.
wings would be nice big and really different not like anything you normally see.
six minimum
skin like armour, the flesh of titanium partly arcane energy forced corporeal, both ethereal and almost more than real.
both are options but most are multi-classed super wizard sorcerers. the high eight specialise in one of each type of magic like an archmage on super shoulder syrum with a body that is no weakness.

any arcane spell used against them just makes them stronger.
can use ki or psionics ever no one knows why.
their servitor race is made in the image but much weaker and is intended as a player option

Thanks! Do you have a name I could call these things?