Monsters who must give clues

[Aberzanzorax]

I was watching Monster Squad (movie from the 80's) and Dracula leaves a phone message as Alucard (Dracula spelled backwards).

It got me thinking. What "ecologies" could we develop (or even new monsters) that are in some way forced to give clues?



So, please, feel free to suggest (any of the following or all of them together):

1. Possible clue types monsters must leave.

2. Possible "ecology" reasons why they must leave clues.

3. How they might do so in more subtle ways so as to survive in a world of adventurers.

 

[Stormonu]

Are we talking for a more modern game or traditional fantasy?


Some ideas:

Dopplegangers are always yes-men
Illithids always ask "what's your IQ?"

more as I think of 'em.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I'm not quite sure what you mean: do you mean just monsters that have a compulsion to leave clues (the riddler)? Or just a monster that leaves clues by it's very nature (ie - gelatinous cubes leave a dungeon sparkling clean)?

 

[Mark CMG]

There's the Riddle of the Sphinx.

 

[SiderisAnon]

I would think any really over the top badguy would want to leave clues, at least if you're using human psychology.

There's this thing were a certain kind of disturbed will leave clues, hints, riddles, messages, and whatnot. Sometimes this is because they want to get caught. Sometimes this is because they have some compulsion they cannot control. Sometimes it is because they must taunt their opponents with superiority.

The last one is very common in American movies and TV. "I am so much smarter than you that I will leave you clues which you will never figure out before my master plan is complete, which lets me feel even more superior because you not only didn't catch me, you didn't catch me with the clues." Though in the movies, it backfires once the heroes see through the clues.

 

[ExploderWizard]

There's the Riddle of the Sphinx.

That's quite strange. When I asked the sphinx for the answer, she said mums the word.

 

[Aberzanzorax]

example:


Vampires of the northern tribe are irresistably attracted to violets. It is close to, but not quite, as intoxicating as blood to them.

So, there may be violet petals where these vampires have been. They may keep beehives for growing violets. And...so on.

The idea is to create a mythology for monsters that the players can both be mystified and follow along with...


another eg...

the medusa and "stone statues"

 

[TarionzCousin]

Player: "Hmmm... this half-eaten corpse that is hideously mauled might mean that there is a big nasty monster nearby."

Of course, if the characters succeed at a Monster Knowledge check, they can learn that the dreaded buggleflat beast mauls its victims in exactly this manner.