The needed monster that's never appeared in the MM1 -- or at all, in some editions

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Another thing: are there any other "needed monsters that never appeared"?

I'm sure there are. I'd argue that talking intelligent animals (including the spiders of The Hobbit) are a general category that should be included in the core rules, as a toolkit for creating whatever monster someone wants.

(And with the apparent dramatic changes to the ettercap's appearance, they're even further from emulating the talking spiders in The Hobbit than ever.)

 

[Voadam]

I'm sure there are. I'd argue that talking intelligent animals (including the spiders of The Hobbit) are a general category that should be included in the core rules, as a toolkit for creating whatever monster someone wants.

(And with the apparent dramatic changes to the ettercap's appearance, they're even further from emulating the talking spiders in The Hobbit than ever.)

There are the giant eagles which are intelligent and talk like the ones from the hobbit, and even giant owls that do the same, but a talking animal template is not really out there as a monster entry, but you do have awaken which makes them intelligent and grants them speech, allowing all the Narnia d20 you want.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

There are the giant eagles which are intelligent and talk like the ones from the hobbit, and even giant owls that do the same, but a talking animal template is not really out there as a monster entry, but you do have awaken which makes them intelligent and grants them speech, allowing all the Narnia d20 you want.

Oh, I agree it's in there, but first, I think having a monster template hidden in the PHB is a bad idea (awaken should say "see Awakened Animal in the Monster Manual") and secondly, while you can emulate some talking animals that way, it doesn't work for the second type of them, like Puss in Boots, who can walk on two legs and function as a biped.

Fairy tales are more popular than any of D&D's other source material, and it'd be nice to see WotC servicing that audience (especially since they explicitly want to bring in more new gamers) along with the LotR and fantasy novel crowd.

 

[Aeolius]

I also think there was some d20 "sea adventures" book with stats, need to look into my collection and see what I can find.

While still one of the best, "The Deep" (Mystic Eye Games) suffered from poor editing and is quite difficult to find, now. "Into the Blue" (Bastion Press / DragonWing Games) is now available as a $10 PDF.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Oh, I agree it's in there, but first, I think having a monster template hidden in the PHB is a bad idea (awaken should say "see Awakened Animal in the Monster Manual") and secondly, while you can emulate some talking animals that way, it doesn't work for the second type of them, like Puss in Boots, who can walk on two legs and function as a biped.

Check and check.

Got 'em both as PC races in my homebrew.

RC

 

[Raven Crowking]

While still one of the best, "The Deep" (Mystic Eye Games) suffered from poor editing and is quite difficult to find, now. "Into the Blue" (Bastion Press / DragonWing Games) is now available as a $10 PDF.

Check and check.

Got 'em both. Both are useful for inspiration and ideas, although the general races in "The Deep" suffer from the Christmas Tree Effect inherent in 3e. I can dig an intelligent magical dolphin; I'd rather it didn't need magic starfish and barnacles to be effective.

RC

 

[Aeolius]

I can dig an intelligent magical dolphin; I'd rather it didn't need magic starfish and barnacles to be effective.

I save the magic starfish for the mermaids.

 

[Thaumaturge]

You could always use the just posted Shadow Sea Serpent. Serendipitous.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Aeolius]

kewl... reminds me of my angler beholders

waitaminute... serendipitous... sea serpent...

 

[Baby Samurai]

Fairy tales are more popular than any of D&D's other source material, and it'd be nice to see WotC servicing that audience (especially since they explicitly want to bring in more new gamers) along with the LotR and fantasy novel crowd.

I think D&D has been servicing the LotR crowd for too long.

And I'm a HUGE fan, but still…

I agree on the faerie tale action, though.