D&D 4E Kruthiks, Needlefang Drakes and Foulspawn in 4e MM

[FireLance]

New Dungeoncraft article mentions that kruthiks, needlefang drakes and foulspawn will be in the 4e Monster Manual.

Kobolds, goblins, orcs and hobgoblins are also in.

Mind flayers and aboleths will be in, but there will not be many low-level aberrations. Carrion crawlers are in, and should be encountered as the characters reach paragon levels.

The article also mentions that the 4e DMG will have a list of adventure seeds.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Just had a look at both of the articles (the one you've linked to and the previous one) and they're both good reads.

Another note is that PC's can be asked to perform a 'ritual' by other classes - whether that ritual is just for story or to actually have an effect in-game isn't clear.

 

[Khuxan]

I thought the coming-of-age hook was fantastic, even if it was his least favourite. That's a great way to get the whole party together without making it seem cliched.

 

[FireLance]

I thought the coming-of-age hook was fantastic, even if it was his least favourite. That's a great way to get the whole party together without making it seem cliched.

Some might see that as yet another example of flavor built around a gaming premise. See, even our cultural traditions are adventure hooks!

 

[Sitara]

Hmm, I hopetheir arw more aberrations in the MM at mid levels in the heroic tier. I like 'em too.

I wonder if yuan-Ti still classify as aberrations. There acould be benefits and drawbacks to each alternative,

 

[Grymar]

Great article, especially for the novice DM looking for ways to work out an adventure. This isn't the sort of thing I would use, but it would be great to have in the DMG.

 

[Kwalish Kid]

I'm happy that it looks like the carrion crawler has finally become a threat. It's now Paragon only.

You've come a long way, baby!

 

[mhensley]

I'm happy that it looks like the carrion crawler has finally become a threat. It's now Paragon only.

You've come a long way, baby!

I think that confirms that the balance in the game has changed a lot. A carrion crawler in 3e is what, CR 3? Now it figures to be something that you fight at around 10th level. I'm guessing that pc's are much less powerful at 10th level in 4e than they were in 3e.

 

[Kwalish Kid]

IIRC, a carrion crawler is the first monster I ever threw at anyone, I think. One is outside the dungeon in the DMs book in the Big Red Box.

 

[LostSoul]

Now the characters have a good story reason for entering the dungeons. Here's the catch: The PCs enter the dungeon, kill some of its inhabitants, perform their ritual, and leave. Naturally, that angers the other denizens of the dungeon, and they launch some raids into the village and farms. So we do actually reach the cliché, but now the PCs have a really good, personal reason for stopping the raids: the raids are, essentially, their fault.

Why does that last bolded part bug me?

I guess it seems too heavy-handed for my tastes.