I need coldweather monsters!

[Tomalak]

I'm unexpectedly producing a one-shot game for tonight! I need help finding 4e stats for monsters or creatures (preferably natural, no undead, elementals, etc) appropriate to a cold weather setting. I have an ice-encrusted forest (natural, not magical), and i need level 1-5 monsters. I have kobolds and wolves. Any advice? Thanks in advance!

 

[renau1g]

Re-flavour some monsters, change a hexer, to an ice hexer (or something) feel free to add cold damage to regular attacks.

Frostlings work and the Spirit of Winter (from Menace of the Icy Spire dungeon adventure) are great for that level... check it out if you have DDI

 

[Tomalak]

actually, I was hoping to find more 'natural' types of monsters, and reduce the number of magical things to one or two, so they seem 'special'. Mostly i'm looking for things like wolves, bears, giant spiders, etc. I'm particularly trying to avoid having more than one kind of intelligent race (i.e. humanoid). I'll look into the monsters you've mentioned though, thanks!

 

[Hjorimir]

I know the session has come and gone, but this is a simple re-skinning job waiting to happen. Take a spider, add white fur and you've got yourself a wolly frost spider. Instead of using webs to entrap you, it exhales an incredibly cold liquid that litterally freezes its targets in ice.

Etc.

Etc.

Etc.

 

[Jhaelen]

actually, I was hoping to find more 'natural' types of monsters, and reduce the number of magical things to one or two, so they seem 'special'. Mostly i'm looking for things like wolves, bears, giant spiders, etc.

Well, mundane beasts are no longer 'monsters' in 4e. They're used as mounts or companions but (almost) never as enemies to fight.

4e monsters based on natural beasts are typically fey-touched, shadow-touched, or linked to an element.

 

[Jack99]

All cold-based monsters from level 1-5 that are available from wizards are from those presented in Dungeon 159. None are natural beasts. List is below.

Name Level
Frost Goblin Cutter 1
Ice Warrior Shardling 1
Frost Goblin Sharpshooter 2
Ice Warrior Icicle Hurler 2
Ice Warrior Raider 2
Frost Goblin Hexer 3
Spirit of Winter 3
Ice Warrior Frostling 4

If you only want beasts, why not make a cold template and apply it to whatever beasts you want to be there? Cold attacks usually slow and immobilize, it should be fairly straightforward.

 

[fba827]

there is a tiger or panther or some sort of great cat in the MM -- refer it as a snow leopard, and adjust its level down a little if need be.

polar bears - take a brown bear or black bear and change its description and level the same way.

penguins (or similar small flightless cold bird) - take some minion (like a goblin) and call it a penguin and change the attacks to beak attacks.

pack animals (mules, llamas, etc) .... but they'd be too boring as an encounter since they're often nonagressive and would instead run away

white dragon and frost giant.... okay, maybe not

don't forget terrain features! snow slides down a slope or snow falls off of trees. difficult terrain or slippery terrain. and some endurance checks to avoid being too cold unless they have that endure elements ritual.... depending on how cold you want to make it anyway.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Do you have access to the monster builder? If so then you can find a basic creature that you like and select it for editing. Then call up the list of powers and filter for the cold keyword. Dont restrict by level because you might find something with cool flavor and you can always tone down the level of high power trait.

Replace the powers normally served with your base creature with folgers icy crystals.

Save the critter and print it out.

 

[Tomalak]

[sblock=Original reaction]The only spider below level 6 is the level 4 mexican jumping spider of DOOM. I had to (carefully) delevel a level 11 monster to get my frostwood spiders.

I'm happy to continue the discussion, as last night turned into 'special meeting night' instead of 'adventure whipped up on the fly night'.

My real issue is that most low-level monsters seem to be humanoids and undead, or other magical craziness. Not as many critters and beasts as I remember from previous editions. I want more animals than rats, bears, and wolves...

And what does 'natural' mean in this edition anyway? How do undead count as natural?[/sblock]
Wow. So, I got back and read the first entry, then made the above reply. Then, having completed it, saw all the other replies. Thanks guys. I have some extra time to flesh this out, and I see there is a lot more response than I expected.

 

[the Jester]

Well- here you will find a 1st level spider and dire weasel; here are a black bear, shark, bat swarm and ape, all 2nd level, which could be used/reflavored; here are a bonesnapper, giant wasp and violet fungus at 3rd level; and here is a giant crab at 4th level.

Hope some of these help!