Need help finding suitable monsters

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Darren from Edmonton, this is for my game, so don't read.




Okay, I'm running my level 13 party against a MV mindflayer... but I need thralls to do his bidding. I'd prefer several choices of non-minion, as some of them will be named NPCs and I want them to be able to put up a fight. This is happening in a city, so they'll be any of the PH1 races (except dragonborn) and some of them will definitely be tieflings.

Anyway, I've already flipped through the MV and MM3 and nothing jumped out at me. Basically, I'm looking for creatures from 9-16 level to reskin and relevel, but am having a hard time finding creatures that are early paragon but "feel" like core races (rather than monsters) and run very simply without too much fancy effects (as that's what the mindflayer will do, plus the adventure to that point will have been full of that kind of stuff).

Anyway... anyone have any suggestions?

 

[rjfTrebor]

you might have better luck using some of the henchmen or companion character templates that showed up a few months ago.

or you could look in old adventures and modules for some statted out npc's

 

[wlmartin]

Darren from Edmonton, this is for my game, so don't read.

Lolmao... I have refrained from posting specific DM type questions in here such as "Rate my adventure" or "Should I use a Mindflayer in my next adventure" because if any of the group I play with saw it, they may cotton on to my plans... however it is nice to know that there are still some trusting people out there and that Darren can look away should he ever be reading

I think the best method would be a (sblock) spoiler, this means that if he is reading and accidently notices what you posted, he is in trouble but if you spoiler blocked it, it required him to activly click on it.

Okay, I'm running my level 13 party against a MV mindflayer... but I need thralls to do his bidding. I'd prefer several choices of non-minion, as some of them will be named NPCs and I want them to be able to put up a fight. This is happening in a city, so they'll be any of the PH1 races (except dragonborn) and some of them will definitely be tieflings.

Anyway, I've already flipped through the MV and MM3 and nothing jumped out at me. Basically, I'm looking for creatures from 9-16 level to reskin and relevel, but am having a hard time finding creatures that are early paragon but "feel" like core races (rather than monsters) and run very simply without too much fancy effects (as that's what the mindflayer will do, plus the adventure to that point will have been full of that kind of stuff).

Anyway... anyone have any suggestions?

I would say that any creature can be a Mindflayer Thrawl but some of the best choices I have used before are

Githerzi - They were once enslaved by the Mindflayers, who knows perhaps some still are
Drow - Since Mindflayers are creatures of the underdark it seems fair that perhaps some dark trades were done with Drow familys to exchange some of the Drow Worker Slaves for Thrawls in exchange for cash
By Language - Sometimes if I am stuck on a creature, i look at what language they speak... If I want something that works well with Goblins, I will search Goblin and if the language comes up under another creature I didnt think of, great... So search Deep Speech.
Low Cha/Wis - Some people think that low int = easy to control but if you think that Charisma and Wisdom are the key skills for Will and Will is the no.1 defense for Mind Control, creatures will low values in these scores will be easier to control and a good pick for a Mind Flayer.


Also, try searching for Mind Flayer itself, there may be entries in the MM that say "This creature has no will of its own and relies on instinct. As a result the Mindflayers often choose these as Thrawls as they require less effort to control


Some people don't care for what looks right... They will put a Giant Rat Creature in commanding a group of human bandits... it makes no sense but if they rolled for a random encounter and picked one high level character and some lower level minions, this might have generated itself... it is stupid we know.

This said there are still some encounters that just dont feel right... So yes there is a Mind Flayer and he has some human thrawls, ok - that makes sense(ish) but what if the storyline says that humans are non existant in the area, where did he get them from?

 

[NewJeffCT]

OK, these are from the offline monster builder. Not sure what sort of "theme" you wanted, but I'll try for a few brute/soldier types that mind flayers might use as cannon fodder/meat shields:

HUMAN
1) Human Murderer, Level 10, Brute, Standard
2) Watch Sergeant, Level 10, Soldier, Standard, can mark opponents (mind flayer thrall on the city watch...)
3) Ebony Guard, level 12, Soldier, Standard, can mark opponents
4) Uthias Darkwell, Level 12, Soldier, Elite, can mark opponents, has an aura that grants allies +2 to all defenses.
5) Sons of Mercy Basher, Level 13, Soldier, Standard, can mark opponents
6) Human Gladiator, level 14, Soldier, Elite, can mark multiple opponents,
7) Sand King Freeblade, level 14, Soldier, Standard, can mark multiple opponents
8) Una Wyrmguard, level 14, Soldier, Elite, can mark opponents
9) Copper Guard, level 15, Soldier, Standard, can mark

DWARF (did not have much)
1) Duergar Hellcaller, level 12 artillery

ELF/HALF-ELF
1) Bloody Knives Lieutenant, level 10 soldier, elite
2) Countess Tesyn, level 15, artillery, elite

TIEFLING
1) Iron Talon, level 12, soldier, standard

ELADRIN
1) Eladrin Bladesinger, level 11, skirmisher, standard
2) Eladrin Blackguard, level 12, soldier, standard

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Thanks everyone, especially NewJeffCT - I'll look into this more before my next session, and let everyone know what I chose and why.

 

[NewJeffCT]

No problem - let me know if you need more info.

 

[GameDoc]

I would say don't focus exlcuslively on humanoids. Throw in some beasts. In a city, the guard and some resident adventurers will have mounts and other animals trained for war and will bring them along to fight just as they would their armor and weapons. Beasts often make good brutes and allow for other tacitcal options.

"Oh by the way, that eladrin bladesinger... her mount is a griffon and he's swooping in to aid her."