(FR) Looking for some alternate Monster ideas for Giant Series....

[dagger]

I'm going to be running the Giant Series(G1-G3) in the FR, north (far north)of Silverymoon. I wanted to get some ideas on some monsters to use in place of the Drow (of the 3rd module) and all orcs in the modules. Also any other cool monsters you think are worth throwing in.



The Drow are kind of important, so who ever they are replaced with has to be very cunning and strong.

I was thinking of using Tanuruuks for the orcs, not sure yet.

Thanks!


Clear hear for cool WAR Fire Giant Beat Down

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

For the Drow, what about a particularly evil enclave of the Deep Imaskari from the FR Underdark sourcebook? If you don't have it, they're a race of human spellcasters that fled underground many centuries ago and used their powerful magic to adapt to the underdark.

Tannarruks would be a good replacement for Orcs, if you want to toughen them up. As I recall, they're a lot stronger than regular Orcs. Part of me wants to suggest Bullywugs, but it's much too cold for them up north.

 

[William Ronald]

The aboleth or the illithid might be good choices to replace the drow.

As for replacements for the orcs, perhaps try hobgoblins, or ogres in smaller numbers than the orcs.

 

[painandgreed]

Mind flayers. Time to use that Lords of Madness book and all the illithid PrCs from BoVD and such.

Or if you want to go the other direction, Cloud giants, and make them head up the mountain to gain access to the cloud the cloud giants live on.

 

[Garnfellow]

I often recommend people substitute in Vallorians from Monte Cook's Legacy of the Dragons. I believe Mike Mearls specifically created this race with the drow in mind. All the details you need can be found in a series of design notes:

I. Playing Valloreans: http://montecook.com/arch_stuff68.html
II. Vallorian Living Arms and Armor: http://montecook.com/arch_stuff69.html
III. Vallorian Society and Culture: http://montecook.com/arch_stuff70.html

 

[Remathilis]

Have you considered duergar or derro?

 

[smootrk]

Githyanki could be a good choice as they have similarities to Drow that would make the changes relatively easy.
1. Comparable Social structure (cities, outposts, enclaves, etc.)
2. Powerful leadership structure
3. Other-planar possibilities (albeit astal instead of demonweb)

but enough differences to make surprises for the characters.
1. Psionics (if used)
2. Dragons, Astral Skiffs, potential slave races
3. Other factions that could be brought into play like Githzerai, Illithids, or other planar races seldom seen in traditional settings.

There was a series of crossover articles in Dragon & Dungeon Magazines that could be brought into use especially the Lich Queen adventure as a good alternative to the Demonweb pits (Lloth finale).

 

[d20Dwarf]

Gith are a good, surprising choice to replace the drow. I like that idea a lot.

As for the orcs, how about using Dekanter goblins?

 

[Psychotic Jim]

Wasn't there a race of artic or northern orcs in FR? Yeti or evil quaggoths might work instead.

If you're looking to use a race native to the area, the daemonfey/feyr'ri (demon-blooded descendants of a decadent sun elf noble house) might work. They are intelligent and might have a bone to pick with any nearby intelligent species, especially elves. Perhaps the feyr'ri have started to massively breed or freed another enclave from their otherworldly imprisonment.

Frost giants might make interesting allies against any enemy fire giants.

 

[RichGreen]

Hi,

Would it work linking the G series with Night Below and having the aboleth as the main villains?

Cheers


Richard