Help me find a template to slap on a rust monster

[Sir Whiskers]

Lots of great ideas so far. Some aren't technically possible--awaken only affects creatures of the plant and animal type, the vampire emplate is only applicable to humanoids and monstrous humanoids, and I think a skeletal ruster would probably lose its antenae--but they've certainly planted the seeds for some cool idea. I hadn't thought of the rust dragon angle (from the Draconomicon), but it is a good match. The ghost brute sounds vicious too.

You might consider using the ferrovore template from Book of Templates Deluxe. It converts pretty much any creature into a rust monster by giving it a rust breath weapon. Really, really nasty.

 

[Nightingale 7]

Flavorwise I would like to see wood-elemental/feral/advanced rust monsters.Developed by fanatical druids that think the encroachment of civilisation has gone too far.A special breeding program allowed them to build hard,resilient rust monsters,infused with the power of nature!How does a normal army defeat a herd of creatures who fast-heal wounds dealt to them while destroying their weapons?

 

[Geoff Watson]

Nothing like the Kaiju template (Dragon 289) for a scary monster.

Geoff.

 

[EricNoah]

I was gonna suggest feral and/or insectile but I've been beaten to the punch. Half earth-elemental maybe?

 

[humble minion]

Titanic, from MM2? A nice 20ft+ reach, plus Combat Reflexes means you should have two or three chances to rust away everyone's stuff before they even get to you. And the Trample attack means that everyone, not just the metal-weapon wielders, needs to take a bit of care.

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

Also, I think Savage Species has an ability that alows a creature to detatch a portion of it's body as a raned atack. It reataches the next round and can be fired contiuosly. Not something I'd ever use, but a high Dex rust monster with cover and a ranged touch attack would be scary enough without anything else.

SS also has the War Beast and Creature of Legend templates. Both would be great.

 

[Nifft]

Totally different angle: what about a Storm Giant who used Rust Monsters for ammo?

Alternately: a Rust Javelin (like a Howler Javelin from Savage Species).

Rust Javelin -- Crafted from a segment of a slain rust monster's feeler, this soft-tipped javelin deals only subdual damage when it strikes a foe. However, it is typically used to attack a foe's armor or weapon. The thrower makes a ranged touch attack at -2, and the target gets a Reflex save vs. the thrower's attack roll. If the target fails his reflex save, the attacker specifies which exposed item is targeted (armor, weapon, helm, gauntlets or shield). If the target succeeds on his reflex save, he has managed to block the javelin with his weapon, shield or an empty hand -- target's choice -- which may be subject to the rust javelin's effects.
An average rust monster corpse can be used to craft six rust javelins.
CL 14; Craft Magical Arms & Armor, gentle repose and/or rusting grasp; price 1451 gp.

-- N

 

[Nightfall]

Darn Psion, you said Paragon. Toss on that plus half troll, titanic and Monster of Legend, you go a serious contender.

 

[Fate Lawson]

What? No one has suggested Celestial yet? Maybe some god or goddess of peace and healing has gotten tired of the all the harm caused by weapons, all the pain and hurt.

Edit: And just for some real fun (and I don't even know if these exist in 3.x) throw on Half-Disenchanter

And assuming the characters do kill it. What happens when a good goddess of healing gets mad at them for wacking her new pet-project?

 

[Lord_Anthrax]

Wanna give 'em a scare they won't soon forget? Don't make it a Rust Monster. Make it an Annihilator(found in the Forgotten Realms: Underdark book). Why just rust their weapons when you can threaten them with Disintegration instead?