Since the Trailblazer monster book is going to have a lot more "stuff" and there may be some original monsters submitted by patronage supporters, we are a little concerned about page count, at least for the print version.
So, in the case that we do go over, we may have to cut some monsters.
No, you may have to
EXTREME cut some monsters.
As a hypothetical, which of the following would you prefer we cut and which would you prefer we keep?
Hm, okay, here's my take on these guys.
Keep it. Yeah it's kinda silly, but this guy has been around since 1E. That kind of pedigree deserves some respect.
I don't hate this creature or anything, but if something's gotta go, give it the axe. It seems to exist solely to make sure that acid attacks are well-represented at the lower levels.
Keep. Sexy outsiders are sexy.
You know, not too long ago I'd have been all for kicking this thing out on its fung-ass. But after reading an ecology article on them from
Kobold Ecologies Volume I about how these things are part of a "fungal collective" ruled by none other than the mi-go, I did a complete one-eighty on this invisible 'shroom. Keep it.
How do you waste this much potential? The idea of sentient slime that can take the form of anybody is one you see a lot of throughout the media, and yet the phasm is one of the most forgettable monsters in all of 3.5. Lose it.
No love for this little guy either. Being a spider-legged creature from the Plane of Fire that drinks blood, the rast is a mish-mash of concepts that don't create anything greater than the sum of its parts. Kick it to the curb.
Now this is an idea I can get behind. A creature from the Positive Energy Plane - the Plane of Life itself - that brings everything around to life just through its presence, this is a good idea. Keep it.
Keep it. It's been around forever, and besides, I like cats.
Another thing that seems to exist just to make energy attacks more ubiquitous at lower levels. The "tazer lizard," as I call it, isn't as dumb as some of the other dumb monsters, but it's nothing I'd miss, either. Lose it if you have to.
It's a fire worm, there to make fire attacks more prevalent at lower- oh you know what? Just cut this guy. Seriously, get rid of him.
The only thing the turtlesquidcrab here has going for it is that it comes with three stat blocks for creatures of different ages, making it three monsters for the price of one. Besides that, it has nothing to recommend it except that it's a water-based grappler. Lose it.
When I make a D&D movie, it'll be called "Kill Xill," so you have to leave this guy in. Seriously, the xill has been like an Ethereal-version of the githyanki since 1E, albeit getting far less coverage. Still, the potential is there, and I think this monster can make a great series of adversaries. Keep it.
And rounding out the "we need energy attacks at lower levels" monsters is the yrthak, though it's a bit stronger than the others. I guess if you want to keep sonic damage as something the players should be afraid of - or just to serve as a reminder that that energy type exists at all - this thing does well enough. But otherwise, yeah, it's superfluous. Lose it.
Are there any other SRD monsters you wouldn't mind to see get the axe?
Yeah: I'm looking at you, belker. When's the last time you did anything that was at all noteworthy, huh? Huh!? I didn't think so! Get you and your second-hand smoke outta here!
