Mythical beasts that need more attention

[Shade]

Admit it, you're thinking of the bonnacon aren't you? The cow which sh*ts flaming dung?

That was my first thought.

 

[Nepenthe]

Ogre Magi, which I guess would be Oni.

I love what the MWP guys did to Ogre Magi in the Dragonlance setting...

 

[Klaus]

I have to agree with ogre mages. I used to love them as a kid, during the 1E era, but the recent Ecology article just made me sad, since it really pointed out what a freaking mess they are. Starting with Mearls' version would be a good start, but they need a giant fluff upgrade to go along with it.

Paizo's goblins are pretty good, but I'd like to see hobgoblins and bugbears made to not suck, which is especially hard in the case of the latter.

Eberron got all three of those covered.

Hobgoblins and Bugbears are heirs to the greatest empire ever built on Khorvaire. Hobgoblins in Eberron can have PrClasses like bladesinger and Exotic Weapon Master, and all goblinoids are famous for their chain weapons (flails, spiked chains, etc).

Ogre Magi pay a large role in Sarlona, the cradle of humanity, as described in Secrets of Sarlona. There's even a "half-ogre mage") PC race, the (iirc), enoko (like Half-Giants and Goliaths, they have Powerful Build, but also a couple of spell-like abilities).

 

[sjmiller]

I have to agree with ogre mages. I used to love them as a kid, during the 1E era, but the recent Ecology article just made me sad, since it really pointed out what a freaking mess they are. Starting with Mearls' version would be a good start, but they need a giant fluff upgrade to go along with it.

While I agree that the ogre magi needs improvement, and would benefit from a retooling, I do not think that Mr. Mearls version is the way to go. As I said in the original thread about that article, Mr. Mearls created an interesting creature, but it has nothing to do with the ogre magi, and only vaguely resembles what it was meant to be.

 

[Felix]

I'd like there to be more singular monsters.

The Manticore
The Sphinx
The Leviathan
The Chimera
The Terrasque

I'd like the first four to strike the same kind of terror into the hearts of the PCs as the last one does.

 

[Doug McCrae]

I'd like there to be more singular monsters.

The awnsheghlien from the Birthright setting are like that. The Gorgon, the Siren, the Hydra, the Ghoul, the Wolf of Vosgaard, the Boar of Thuringode. Having the place part of the monster's name is very cool and evocative of myth/folklore, like the Lambton Worm, the Stymphalian Birds or the Nemean Lion.

 

[Jesus_marley]

I'd like there to be more singular monsters.

The Manticore
The Sphinx
The Leviathan
The Chimera
The Terrasque

I'd like the first four to strike the same kind of terror into the hearts of the PCs as the last one does.

this problem is easy enough to solve.... create creatures of legend. In the world there may be many manticores but only one Beast of (insert location here), which happens to also be a manticore.

 

[Ry]

Creature of Legend, the Epic Level Handbook's Paragon template, advancing hit dice, it's doable.

 

[Voadam]

I'd like there to be more singular monsters.

The Manticore
The Sphinx
The Leviathan
The Chimera
The Terrasque

I'd like the first four to strike the same kind of terror into the hearts of the PCs as the last one does.

Birthright.

 

[Voadam]

All of them.

I agree, every monster can benefit from further fleshing out. Dragon Ecologies, Complete Guide to X, Slayer's Guide to X, etc.