D&D Monsters that Scare You and Your Players

[megamania]

Dopplegangers with classes of Psion have repeatedly kept players on their toes. Human clerics whom lead lizardfolk now scare two players (long story involving poisons and torture of Daggerford residents in FR)

In Darksun, for obvious reasons- Dragon Kings and high level templars scare the PCs

Beyond that, generally my games stay under 10th level so I don't use Mind Flayers or Beholders very much. maybe for Eberron with the new Monster book coming out

I find it is the presentation that often scares the players more than the battles or set-ups.

 

[megamania]

2) The Quori from Eberron. They can quite literally be anyone, and they can attack you at will in your dreams. There is almost literally no sanctuary from them if your DM is feeling sadistic. They are fond of blackmailing, corruption, and using Mind Seed to convert just about anyone to their cause. Plus, they're nigh impossible to hit back at. You can't friggin kill them. And if you want to take them on on their home territory... well, there are a few thousand of them around, all with Teleport Without Error at will and Psion levels... and that's assuming you can get to their plane in the first place.

It's a beautiful thing......

I just introduced my group to them and the most annoying halfling kender wannabe got a good taste of it. The best part- he thinks he has won. Oh the fun we will have later....

 

[megamania]

Thinking about it- Vampires with class levels of magic or psionics has always been a thorn in my player's sides also.

This is a good thread- it's making me think back .....

 

[Goblyn]

Personally I find the caller in darkness from the PsiHB and the living wall from 2e particularly frightening. I've never run nor encountered either; the concepts are just scary to me.

they are both undead. the caller in darkness is an utterly silent pillar of screaming faces that ... tries to absorb people, I think. It's a lot like Machin Shin from Wheel of Time; once inside it a character is subjected to a multitude of insane voices babbling incoherently.

The living wall IIRC was a dungeon wall that consisted of the undead flesh of various adventurers, and ... tried to absorb people as well, I think. The scary part about it was that not only did it behave like multiple other characters attacking you, but anyone within melee range is subjected to the pitiful moaning of the trapped souls.

...I think there's a pattern here.

 

[DarrenGMiller]

I scared them tonight (at 5th level) with the mere thought that there might be a basilisk nearby. I am just glad I can still scare jaded old vets like my players.


DM

 

[demiurge1138]

Dire quail.

Do not ask, for you do not want to know.

Demiurge out.

 

[Allanon]

Last session was a great session full of fright... for my players. They're currently in a demiplane where there is a 60% chance that a cast spell backfires and become a living spell (the template as seen in the Eberron campaign setting).

Statting all of their spells (although I dismissed silly options like bulls strength etc.) out was daunting but the look of shock on their faces when the sorcerers staple spell fireball (which was enlarged ) suddenly came to life and attacked them was worth that effort. Not to mention the fact that when the cleric tried to cast hold monster on it, it too backfired

 

[shilsen]

Dire quail.

Do not ask, for you do not want to know.

Demiurge out.

Heck, no - I want to know! You cna't just throw a dire quail out there and not expect someone to go for it. Details, please.

 

[megamania]

Last session was a great session full of fright... for my players. They're currently in a demiplane where there is a 60% chance that a cast spell backfires and become a living spell (the template as seen in the Eberron campaign setting).

Statting all of their spells (although I dismissed silly options like bulls strength etc.) out was daunting but the look of shock on their faces when the sorcerers staple spell fireball (which was enlarged ) suddenly came to life and attacked them was worth that effort. Not to mention the fact that when the cleric tried to cast hold monster on it, it too backfired

That's just wrong! You are an evil evil DM

 

[megamania]

Heck, no - I want to know! You cna't just throw a dire quail out there and not expect someone to go for it. Details, please.

Indeed- sounds like one heck of a story.