The popularity of monsters - part II

[Nalfeshnee]

this list has more creatures ive used than the first. so...
arrowhawk yup, a whole flock of 'em in the Elemental Plane of air; as a DM
chuul yup, a colony in a cliffside cavern; as a Player
formian yup, in a cog on Mechanus (the adventure was centeed around them); as a DM
grey render yup, random creature in a ruin; as a DM
grick yup, anything that looks freaky works for me ; as a DM
howler yup, my favourate 'hound' creature, decision to use heavily influenced by the artwork - in Pandemonium; as a DM
krenshar yup, (mounts to some rebel gnomes... long story );as a player
purple worm yup, great desert creature; as a player
shield guardian yup; love the artwork in the MM; as a DM
shocker lizard yup a fellow PC and i had them as familiars (two shocker lizards + summoned shockers are a good combo ); as a player
sphinx yup, as a DM
xill yup, had a xill ftr/monk as a boss in a planescape adventure; DM

as i said in the first thread, my choice of monsters is heavily influenced by the artwork, then abilities. Though i do like most creatures, its just i have to find the right time/place to use them as a DM. for instance, though i love krakens and aboleths, I've never DMed an adventure that takes advantage of their deep sea terrain. of course, if i really wanted to use them, id specifically make an adventure in such a location. Im not too keen on naval campaigns, mind you

 

[Turjan]

I'm a bit surprised to find the Purple Worm on that list. I always thought it was one of the most popular monsters in that range.

 

[Mark CMG]

I've used almost all of those. Only the Razor Boar and Xill have yet to be used in one of my games.

 

[Ycore Rixle]

I play a lot, and I still haven't used the belker or the ravid.

I love the shocker lizard and the chuul though. Did both of these debut with 3E? That's the first place I remember seeing them. Ditto for the gray render. I think it's interesting to see what new iconic monsters 3E has added.

 

[Wik]

Good god, I've used quite a few of those...

Chuul's are just cool, if only because they're a low-CR aberration.

My group's never fought a Grey Render, but I have used one as a myth in one of my games, and the group *sort* of encountered one.

A grick was once responsible for a near TPK - The group were a bunch of 2nd level characters, and they came across a grick with no magical weapons (and one of the characters was too stupid to use that scroll of Magic Weapon they had found!). It was the first time we came across DR in 3.0, and the whole thing wasn't very much fun. The grick ate through the two tanks in a few rounds, and then started work on the cleric, while the wizard and rogue more or less said "Yeah, I run away". I've never used a grick since, but when I encountered one as a player, I was a LOT more edgy than I should have been.

Purple Worm: Oh, HELL YES. I'm even planning on using one in my post-apoc game, one of these days. Actually, I'm a little surprised the worm is on the list.... isn't it a popular critter?

Shield Guardians are one of those monsters I think are really cool, but the only time I've seen them used was in another GM's game - and it didn't really do much, unfortunatey.

Shocker Lizards are one of my favourite Low-CR critters, because they combine some of my favourite "elements" of D&D (non snake-like lizards, and electrical attacks). They sort of remind me of the compies from Jurassic Park, with a shock ability, and I play them as such. I've both used them as a DM, and fought them as a player. I've also seen a few variations on them at larger sizes.

 

[Tinner]

Arrowhawk - Nope. Stupid.
Belker - Yes, fairly tough monster IMO.
Chuul - Yes. Good grappler. They're in one of the mini-adventures for free on the WotC site IIRC.
Digester - Killed every horse in the party with one! And left most of the party in low HP! Love these stupid looking freaks!
Formian - Dull. Never used.
Grey Render - Not yet, but I like them. I'll find a place for one eventually.
Grick - Yes. Not a bad little guy at all.
Howler - There's one in the first chapter of SCAP, so I used him there.
Krenshar - The first time I ran 3.5, one of these turned into a TPK when every party member failed their save!
Kraken - Absolutely! These guys are awesome. Hard to just throw in, but they make solid BBEG's.
Lillend - I never really saw the point in having the PC's fight "good" monsters, and they don't really lend themselves to just including for their own sake.
Phantom Fungus - Always nice in a fungus patch with some gas spores, ascomids, etc. I use them all the time.
Purple Worm - Personal favorite of mine. They swallow whole, they sting, and they're full of valuable gems! They're like big purple pinatas!
Ravid - Man, what? No, seriously, what is the point?
Razor Boar - I'm not even sure where this guy is from.
Shield Guardian - Had a Mystic Theurge PC that built one.
Shocker Lizard - Fun little pest. Makes a nice improved familiar too.
Sphinx - Classic riddler monster. The Androsphinx is my favorite.
Yeth Hound - Never found a purpose.
Xill - Man, what? Again, what is this goofy thing supposed to be?

 

[Matafuego]

A little help to the community

As a little help we'll like to show you the picture of the most unknown creature of the SRD.

This is the Razor Boar

If you see one of them or know someone who has please present yourself to the nearest police station and file a Missing Monster report.

Should we make a petition asking DM's to include a Razor Boar in their campaigns?

"September: Month of the Razor Boar"

 

[Gold Roger]

Arrowhawk - I kinda like these. I don't think I've used one jet, but I will sooner or later

Belker - It's a weird puff of smoke. I like it, but couldn't use it so far

Chuul - Pure awesome. Haven't seen one in combat jet, but have used them in campaign background. I can't believe I've never used it.

Digester - Now that's a monster that just screams "What the heck?". Not that I don't like my players screaming that, but I didn't use it so far

Formian (Any) - I found these booring. Give me Modrons over these every day. Haven't used them

Grey Render - It's a big monster and natural bodyguard. I think the only reason I haven't used them is a lack of apropiately high level play.

Grick - Jepp, used them. Kinda booring monster.

Howler - haven't used them so far

Krenshar - Used it, but barely remember doing so.

Kraken - Haven't jet, plan to do sooner or later

Lillend - Nope.

Phantom Fungus - Haven't used it, but I'm not averse to doing so, though an air grue propably makes for a better low level invisible opponent.

Purple Worm - Never played high enough level

Ravid - Nope, haven't used it.

Razor Boar - Odd choice in a poll that otherwhise has only MM1 stuff. Haven't used it.

Shield Guardian - Used it very successfully. Great Monster

Shocker Lizard - Encountered them. Awesome little critter

Sphinx (any) - Nope

Yeth Hound - No, though I've found myself recently wondering on possible uses and found some good ideas

Xill - Encountered one, but the DM had barely read the adventure and MM entry, so all it did was use full attacks.

 

[Hussar]

I've used pretty much all of these at one time or another. Of course, the fact that I'm running the World's Largest Dungeon might have something to do with it. OTOH, I have actually used many of them before that as well.

I loves me the shocker lizard and always did. Howlers are bloody cool too.

 

[der_kluge]

Razor Boar - Odd choice in a poll that otherwhise has only MM1 stuff. Haven't used it.

Hmm, is this not in MM I? I used my book for the first poll, but it's upstairs, so I used the SRD for the second one. Maybe this is one of the OGC monsters from MM II? That might explain it's rarity. My bad...