Rust Monster Lovin'

[Voadam]

The rust monster tends to gank your warrior types, but at the same time there arn't many monsters I can think of that are equal in their targeting of other character categories. A spell-'n-component stealer, a de-stealther, and so on.

Stealth Nerfer, anything with scent or blindsight/sense.

Magic blaster Nerf, anything with SR.

Funny enough, check out the Castigoran Manavore I wrote for the Penumbra Fantasy Bestiary, for a magic eater. It is a modified rust monster that works on spells (and spell slots) and metal magic items but not mundane metal items.

I know I've come across things that target spellbooks (some type of worm I think) but can't remember the names or souces off the top of my head.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Unfortunately, that also turns it into just another damage-dealing melee machine. Kinda destroys the whole point of the critter.

-The Gneech

Very true.

Hail to the Rust Monster! Foe of fighters for 30+ years. Let it never be turned into a carebear.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

This has just inspiried me to put a rust monster in my next session, they are only 1st and 2nd level so it will be fun.

Even with all leather and wooden weapons, that sounds like a probable TPK to me, since it can soak up a lot of damage while having a pretty good chance to hit those (lightly armored) characters.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Well there are six players, with a first level Knight in the mix. And I can just make it a 3HD version with a 16 AC. The runt of the litter so to speak.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Stealth Nerfer, anything with scent or blindsight/sense.

Magic blaster Nerf, anything with SR.

None of which are the least bit analogous to the question at hand.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Wizards can lose their spellbooks, thieves their theives tools, clerics their holy symbol.

Most of those items you listed can be replaced, or multiple spares purchased, for a handful of loose change. Only the Wizard's spellbook would be comparable.

 

[Knight Otu]

The small group followed the tunnel, somewhat nervous about the skittering sounds from ahead, outside the area of the light spell. "There's a large cavern ahead," the elf said, who saw farther than the rest. "The skittering sounds come from there." Cautiously, they entered. The elven priest. The halfling mage. And then, the human warrior, in half-plate, wielding a greatsword. The torchlight revealed only parts of the cavern, with its uneven walls, with large holes and outcroppings, good hiding places for something that could climb. The ground, nearly as uneven. Just then, the warrior felt something jumping on him, seeing ripples start to run through his armor. It is softening, he realized with surprise. Only then he managed to turn his eyes towards the odd creature that tackled him, a large, somewhat insectile creature with red chitinous plates covering its body, two feathery antennae adorning its small, mandibled head. The mandibles teared into the armor, but failed to penetrate it. The warrior struck against it, and after he gleefully noted the green blood squirting from the creature's wound, he shockedly realized that the same ripples began to run across his sword, and its balance changed for the worse. The mage shot some magic at the creature, and it skittered away, vanishing on the uneven walls. Then, the skittering sounds multiplied. There were more creatures like that in the cavern...

I think it could work. But I still would prefer the damage to be permanent.

 

[stevelabny]

I LOVE the advanced rust monster in dragon magazine that is accompanied by samurai wraiths that commited seppuku after loosing thier Katanas to the beasty.

Oooh. sounds fun. what issue?

As for the conversation, when I read the rust monster article last night, I almost threw my laptop at the wall. I always mock messageboard threads that contain rants about people hating different styles and always seeing what they hate creep into the game. And I would NEVER have dreamed of using video-gamey as a bad word.

But this is ridiculous. So I guess I've become what I hate. This is sooo videogamey.

Presumably this is hitting me different, cuz it's not just the assumption of why the mechanic exists, but an actual explanation of from the designer that says

"Sorry, negative consequences suck for whiny spoiled players."

Screw that. I was just commenting the other day to my player how every negative effect seems much much much more easy to avoid long term effects of in 3e, and this disaster walks right along? Target practice.

Without the risk of serious negative consequences, there's NO FUN.

Why bother playing if you know you're going to win and you're just going through the motions? And this "game is about the story" nonsense makes no sense. Part of the story is CHARACTERS HAVE BAD THINGS HAPPEN OR DIE. Now lets see how good a storyteller you are and how you continue your story. If you can't change the story, that means its always been a railroad from the start.

The most important word when it comes to RPGs isnt combat or story or roleplaying.
The most important word is GAME.
Let the dice fall where they may. And sometimes you're gonna LOSE.
And you can still have fun when you lose you big whiny babies.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

And you can still have fun when you lose you big whiny babies.

Well, at least the conversation is remaining on a mature level.

 

[The_Gneech]

Most of those items you listed can be replaced, or multiple spares purchased, for a handful of loose change. Only the Wizard's spellbook would be comparable.

Er? A longsword is 15 gp. A chain shirt is 100 gp. A MW longsword is 315 gp. By the time you're encountering CR 3 critters, most characters have probably got older equipment they can fall back on if one of their items goes up in green smoke -- or at least have the funds to pick up a new one if they don't. It's not that debilitating!

-The Gneech