So many monsters ... way too many, in fact

[Tonguez]

Depending on your viewpoint/belief system/etc, some would argue there are a whole lot more lurking out there to get you. For example:

Sure, not all of these correspond to monsters in the MM, but the point is there COULD BE a lot more dangers out there than just animals and people.

EXACTLY - the movie Van Helsing featured what 5 different monsters (6 if you count Van Helsing, 7 if you count the Gypsies).
Most of the MM monsters are derived from real world Mythology which may suggest that monsters in DnD should be regionalised - ie Pegasi live in the Greek-area but not the British-region

Then of course there is the idea of 'creature palettes' so for instance IMC I have no large mammals (except for dire wild boar and monstrous dogs), and most monsters are reptiles, birds, vermin or aquatic (including Abberations-with-tentacles).
Trolls are fiendish, dwarfs and orcs don't exist and elfs and halflings are Fae creatures (and thus NPC)

BTW the MM/SRD is all anyone needs for monsters - templates, class levels and homebrew mods (yes my giant eel can shoot acid from its gills!) can make enough variety

 

[Aaron L]

There are an estimated 1.5 to 1.7 million described species of organisms on Earth. That's just one planet, and only what we have described. So, if you really feel the need to limit yourselves to a handful of monsters, then go right ahead. I'll gladly take advantage of the resources you spurn.

 

[Gez]

There's more monsters than I can use, but it don't means that's too many.

I don't use the same monsters as someone else, and it would be quite egotistical of me to think only "my" monsters are needed.

Besides, it's always funny to read monster descriptions.

 

[Psion]

I have a confession...

I almost didn't buy ToH2 because I felt like I had enough monsters.
(Psion sobs into his hands.)

Seriously, these days only specialized monster books excite me anymore. Like Monsters of the Mind or Necromantic Lore.

 

[Salad Shooter]

The amount of monsters out there is a mixed blessing. Mucho variety, and theres so many monsters out there that it would take forever for players to learn all the weaknesses and strengths of every monster out there. Granted, its not impossible, and I'm certain there are players/GMs who could tell you the proper way to kill anything, but for the most part, you can always come up with a surprise.

On the other hand, if there really are that many monsters out there, why doesn't every commoner have at least a few levels in fighter or another PC class? It's pretty dangerous out there! I mean, you figure, theres only so much land for these things to spread out on. And with 50 varieties of dragon, each with enough to be classified as a seperate race, how much land do you have left?

Yes, yes. Only the monsters you WANT to be in your world are in your world. Say hey for Rule 0, the Golden rule, or whatever! I like the monster books because they give me pretty shinies to look at. That, and if they left it at the Monster Manual and nothing else, we would no longer have the Faerie Dragon, which would make me grumpy.

And thats it from me.

 

[Beholder Bob]

Lamoni/anyone else interested:

I have an excel file of beasties - w/ MM 1-2, Creature Catalog 1-3, Monsternomicon, Arms and Equipment Guide, Monsters of Faerun (3.0), Book of Eldritch Might, Book of Vile Darkness, Legions of Hell, Savage Species, Miniatures Handbook Expand. PSI, and the Complete Warrior. I break them into 1 of 3 catagories: regular critter, template, or unique. I list each by name - with the following fields: source, CR, type, sub-type, note if swarm, aquatic, flyer, or incorporeal, and environ (Aquatic, Underground, Forest, Hills, Mtn, Plains, Swamp-Marsh, Desert, and Planar.

There are sure to be some errors, please let me know what you find.

I tried to stay true to orig source, but I did tinker with environ (far too many authors felt 'underground' and 'any' were appropriate environs).

Let me know what you think - and let me know of errors found!

Also - I should have included alignment, didn't think of it at the time....

Thanks, BB

 

[Beholder Bob]

God damn limited file size....Firk dink blast....Holy mother of....DOH!

Ok, here is the main page broken into 3 pieces

BB

 

[Kealios]

I've got a similar project in the works

God damn limited file size....Firk dink blast....Holy mother of....DOH!

Ok, here is the main page broken into 3 pieces

BB

Nice files, Beholder Bob. I dont know how to post files like you did, but Ive got a similar project going for myself, made in Excel. Currently I have included all monsters from MM and MM2, with plans for Ghostwalk, XPH, Fiend Folio, BoED, Manual of the Planes, and I think that's all the monster books I own.

My spreadsheet is, currently, 1500 entries (many are the same creature, listed in all its environments, so that you can physically sort any environment and get an accurate representation of the monsters).

I have listed:
Name, size and Type, including subtype, environment, alignment, CR, found with, and all relevant Hide, Move Silently, Listen, Spot check mods. Thats all on the main page. I've then broken down the lists by environment and sorted them onto separate pages, listed as "Trivial" (0-1 CR), "Low-end" (CR 2-7), "Mid-level" (CR 8-15), and "High-end" (CR 16+).

Anyone is welcome to this database--just email me at kealios@sbcglobal.net for my file. Its got a lot of work to be done to finish it, and if anyone improves on it, send me back a copy so I can enjoy what you've done with it.

Kealios Achilles-Fang

 

[Zappo]

I wholeheartedly agree on the excessive number of monsters. I solve the problem by not buying more monster books than what I need. Similar solutions can be applied to a whole host of problems that are often mentioned on these and other message boards.

 

[elforcelf]

That is why I love DragonStar/Spelljammer setting you have many planets that different monsters can be on.elforcelf.