Sacred cow monsters

[Cthulhudrew]

Sacred Cow Monster- is that kind of like a Shedu?

 

[Waldorf]

Catoblepas and the Froghemoth

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

The general D&D iconics:
Beholder, Drow, Giants (hill, fire, frost, cloud, stone and storm), Golems (clay, flesh, iron and stone), Kobold, Mind Flayer, Troll.

The iconic fiends (to me, at least):
Balor, Pit Fiend, Succubus, Erinyes, Marilith, Glabrezu, Lemure.

A sampling of Spelljammer iconics:
Giff, Scro.

A sampling of Eberron iconics:
Warforged, at least one Quori.

A sampling of Dragonlance iconics:
At least one draconian but ideally all five evil types, Death Knight, Minotaur of Krynn (I'd like to see this *replace* the current core minotaur).

A sampling of Dark Sun iconics:
Braxat, Ravager and Thri-Kreen.

The iconic undead:
Vampire, Lich, Ghost/Spectre/Wraith (dropping 2 out of 3 wouldn't bug me, I'd rather see the Ghost stay as it's a template, but with a lot of its abilities as optional add-ons to a more wraith like base), Mummy, Zombie, Skeleton (the last two could be statistically combined with no objections on my part) and Ghoul.

The basic humanoids:
Orc, Goblin.

Assorted extras:
Some type of reptilian humanoid (either yuan-ti or lizardfolk), the basic elementals, at least one genie, at least one classical human- or multi-headed animal-bodied monster (manticore, chimera, etc).

And at least some dragons. I mean, duh - it wouldn't be Dungeons and *Dragons* with the Dragons, now would it.

EDIT: Forgot a couple

 

[Varianor Abroad]

Stirges.

 

[Kheti sa-Menik]

Kopru
Neogi
Thri-kreen
Ethereal Marauder
Gnoll

 

[CRGreathouse]

Umber hulks.
Elementals -- just the classic four, at least.
Stone giants.
Inevitables.
Minotaurs.
Nymphs.
Trolls.
Orcs and hobgoblins, if they aren't in the PH.

 

[mythusmage]

Die eerie (well, that's what it sounds like). Unless you're really not talking about sacred cows*.

*Ask a Californian about "white miracle elixer".

 

[Nightfall]

Mythus,

You really need to find better puns man.


*still like to see Abishai if Tiamat needs enforcers*

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Yuan-Ti and Giants.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Nyaricus]

• Angels
• Archons
• Eladrins
• Guardinals
• Modrons
• Rilmani
• Slaadi
• Devils
• Demons
• Yugoloths
• Demodands
• All chromatic and metallic dragons
• Githyanki
• Githzerai
• Elementals
• Paraelementals
• Genies
• Illithids
• Beholders
• Yuan-ti
• A good mix of golems
• A good mix of giants
• Templates for undead

True that. Having elves, dwarves, halflings, and gnomes in both the PHB and the Monster Manual definitely feels redundant. I wonder how many times anyone has actually used the MM entries of the PHB races (other than for the subrace's differences). That's space that could definitely be better used elsewhere.

Animals (incl vermin such as spiders, etc).

See, here's what I'd do for 4e.

The MM consists of all the real monsters that can be used in combat. Shades list is a great starting point. The 4e MM should be a bundle product with a 'splatbook' with RL animals statted out in that product, leaving more room in the MM for the real monsters.

Sub-races of the core races should simply be in the the PHB as an option, with certain ones (Dark Elves, I'm looking at you) still in the MM.

Soon after 4e is released, there should be racial books which detail and expand upon each of the core races. So a "Complete Dwarf" type book, which details Hill, Mountain, Gray, et al Dwarves. New feats, PrCs and all should be in here (and the DMG should be kept PrC-free, for more room for DM stuff, rather than player options; there should of course be the section detailing what purpose PrCs have in the game, and how to make your own, and all [likely with an example] but really, more minimal space for that sort of stuff).

And yeah, there's my rant. Point is, the MM should be more about foes that are going to be pitted against the players thank not, and that stuff like RL animals should be in a seperate, buclded product for optimal use of space.

cheers,
--N