How do use Slaadi?

[fnork de sporg]

I always liked to play my slaad like hyperactive children but instead of fidgeting they fight. You can talk and parley with them but only for as long as you can keep from boring them. I also tend to have them absentmindedly singing or huming as they go about their business. They like bards, a lot. Unless, of course, they feel the bard is boring.

Can't you picture the poor low level bard desperately strumming his fingers off as more and more sladd gather to listen to his guitar, trying to figure some way out of this horrible situation? I know I can, and it makes me smile.


Though not canon I think I would like to play Green Slaad as tricksters, using their shapechanging to infiltrate wherever and sow chaos.

Grey Slaad do essentially the same, but with more of an eye on the long term goals and outcomes.


Of course as summoned beasties they usually just try to kill or get killed as quickly as possible. I imagine the probably dislike being summoned and forced to another's bidding.

 

[Felon]

Is there really any info out there on the slaadi as a people (I hesitate to use the word "society")?

The Monster Manual doesn't offer any details on what their goals and motivations are. Do they actively seek to convert other living creatures into slaadi? Do they want to spill their plane of pandemonium over into other dimensions? Since they're creatures of elemental chaos, and lack even a basic desire to promote a good or evil agenda, it's hard for me to imagine them getting organized enough to get anything accomplished. Maybe they just look for opportunities to kick ass [/shrug]

 

[Shallown]

I run them in the old 1st edition method. They are insane by our standards. Doesn't mean they don't have goals or agendas justthat they are ones that don't make sense to us. I love running Slaadi just to be Chaotic in the sense of random and contrary. I can switch gears and not have to explain it. To me they are primal forces of Chaos. One reason they are not the world rulers they could be. They are fun in that aspect.

later

 

[Desdichado]

Ehh, I just use them as a variant of demon, to be honest with you. Attach them to Tsathogga from the Cthulhu book as servitors, and you're good to go.

Then again, I'm not really into the Outer Planes as described anyway...

 

[der_kluge]

I'm using Slaads in my campaign. They are currently searching for a lost source of chaotic power in the land. The PCs have encountered them on occasion, and will encounter them much more frequently as time goes by. I upped their stats, since I felt they were too weak. I gave greens and greys levels in wizard, for example. You can find these stats in my Rogues Gallery thread if your interested.

 

[Olive]

Ehh, I just use them as a variant of demon, to be honest with you. Attach them to Tsathogga from the Cthulhu book as servitors, and you're good to go.

No offense, but this is kind of what I'm trying to avoid.

 

[Desdichado]

Not offended, I suspected that was the case. I guess I fall into the camp that sees them like you do; what really differentiates them from demons anyway, other than they aren't evil with a capital 'E'? Except the Death Slaads of course?

 

[jessemock]

Not offended, I suspected that was the case. I guess I fall into the camp that sees them like you do; what really differentiates them from demons anyway, other than they aren't evil with a capital 'E'? Except the Death Slaads of course?

Does anyone know where the word 'slaad' comes from?

 

[Desdichado]

I suspect it's just made up. Can't confirm that, though, of course.

 

[Joshua Randall]

I like the idea of making the Slaadi more a force of nature (or un-nature) than a coherent enemy. They are chaos: they simply spread, inexorably, like the second law of thermodynamics come to life.

You might liken them to the Aliens of the movie of that name. Like the Aliens, the Slaadi reproduce by impregnating a host creature with an egg. Unlike the Aliens, the Slaadi actually turn the host creature into a Slaad (rather than using the host creature as an expendable incubationg chamber). That's pretty horrific.

You could create a bleak adventure (or entire campaign) in which an infestation of Slaadi gets out of control and starts an epidemic. Gradually more and more nations fall to the Slaadi, their people being transformed into hideous frog-creatures. Of course, only the PCs can save humanity from this terrible fate....