Monsters as PCs

[Wierdoom]

Hi,
I am considering starting a Monsters as PCs campaign sometime in the near future. So the PCs will play things like Mind Flayers and Ogres rather then elves and dwarves. Would you guys happen to have any tips on how to run a game like this? I'm still fairly new to DMing. It will be in either Pathfinder or 4th Edition D&D.
Cheers!

-Wierdoom

 

[Runestar]

How are you implementing the rules of playing powerful monsters?

 

[Wierdoom]

I think I am going to make a couple creature types in to PC races, so the players will be using monstrous races that are the same power-level as the PHB races. Either this, or use a system similar to the one added in Savage Species.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Hi,
I am considering starting a Monsters as PCs campaign sometime in the near future. So the PCs will play things like Mind Flayers and Ogres rather then elves and dwarves. Would you guys happen to have any tips on how to run a game like this? I'm still fairly new to DMing. It will be in either Pathfinder or 4th Edition D&D.
Cheers!

-Wierdoom

Sounds like an interesting game. It would be hard to imagine a mind flayer that would treat an ogre as anything approaching an equal.

 

[Negflar2099]

If you end up going with 4th edition might I suggest using something similar to the companion rules from the DMG2? Basically those rules are used to create an NPC similar in power to a PC of equal level but balanced for play. Essentially it's like creating an NPC except they get healing surges and different powers based on what role they have in the group. It's worth checking out.

 

[haakon1]

In Pathfinder/3.*e, I'd give them the full abilities of the monster from the start, but make them "earn out" the ECL (Equivalent Character Level) in XP before they can advance the character.

That would mean if you have a kobold and a lizardman in the party, the kobold starts gaining level right away -- but starts much weaker -- while the lizardman starts more powerful but waits to grow.

 

[Votan]

Hi,
I am considering starting a Monsters as PCs campaign sometime in the near future. So the PCs will play things like Mind Flayers and Ogres rather then elves and dwarves. Would you guys happen to have any tips on how to run a game like this? I'm still fairly new to DMing. It will be in either Pathfinder or 4th Edition D&D.
Cheers!

-Wierdoom

I'd be tempted to create a restricted list of options. In 3.X, I found things could get fairly insane if people scoured books looking for the most powerful options (Pixie comes to mind . . .). A restricted list makes it easier to ensure a balanced (anbd setting appropriate) list of choices.

 

[Dice4Hire]

Pixies, Half-Ogres .... I have bad memories of trying monsterous campaigns.

There is a lot inherently unbalanced in the monsters, and remember that monsters were designed to be challenges for characters, not characters themselves.

But I still think it would b e fun, just limit choices to races you think will be balanced against each other. I do not think a kobold and a Mind Flayer in the same party is a good idea.

 

[Runestar]

In Pathfinder/3.*e, I'd give them the full abilities of the monster from the start, but make them "earn out" the ECL (Equivalent Character Level) in XP before they can advance the character.

That would mean if you have a kobold and a lizardman in the party, the kobold starts gaining level right away -- but starts much weaker -- while the lizardman starts more powerful but waits to grow.

Assuming the lizardfolk's ECL is fair to begin with, it has nothing to lose, and everything to gain by starting off with a powerful race.

If we assume a kobold rogue3 is roughly equivalent in power to a lizardfolk, then at 3rd lv, they are both equally strong, but at lower lvs, the lizardfolk has the edge in terms of strength.

How is this fair? That's why the concept of monster class progressions exist.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Best to keep all PC the same race or at least have a pecking order, Mind Flayers with some form of subject race. If there is too much mix, players MAY kill one another off, orge slaps goblin for spear-sticking him in the butt to hurry up.

Just like "heros" they will need a goal and a adventure, this means evil campaign...think about locations and back stabing NPCs.