The Practical Guide to Monsters: Monster list

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Note: This PROBABLY means nothing, as Mirrorstone and D&D books don't have as much overlap as I think they should. But still, they're releasing this at the tail end of 3E and it wouldn't be terribly surprising to see these monsters show up in 4E ... or would it? There are a few monsters from outside MM1 represented in this kid's book. Maybe they'll show up in the 4E MM1.

In order of appearance (monsters are loosely grouped by subject, not alphabetically, and yes, there is new art on a majority of them):

Remorhaz
Thri-kreen
Ankheg
Phase spider
Bulette
Griffon
Chimera (red dragon head)
Manticore
Yrthak
Harpy
Gargoyle
Medusa
Yuan-ti
Behir
Ormyrr
Frost worm
Purple worm
Werewolf
Werebear
Wererat
Wereboar
Doppleganger (includes recipe for true seeing ointment)
Goblin
Hobgoblin
Bugbear
Troll (new art, splits the difference between 3E and 4E versions, IMO)
Ettin
Fire giant
Storm giant
Frost giant
Ogre
Ogre mage (only magical abilities mentioned by name are turning into gas and regeneration)
Vampire (still consumes life force)
Ghost
Zombie
Ghoul
Nightwalker
Lich
Mummy
Skeleton
Shadow
Beholder (including anti-magic cone)
Ettercap
Chuul
Otyugh
Rust monster (destroys metal)
Athach
Grick
Rakshasa
Nightmare
Azer
Xorn
Couatl

 

[Echohawk]

Yrthak

Woot! The Yrthak might still be in 4E. I know I'm in a minority, but I'm a Yrthak fan am I'm hoping they don't get dropped in 4E.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

There's also about a dozen very detailed lairs (without grids) included. It's a pretty nice fluff book, although it definitely is skewed toward elementary school students with a good vocabulary. (Or a nearby dictionary and a parent who will stare meaningfully at it when asked what a word means.)

 

[Sammael]

Yrthak

I was this close to using an yrthak in my game once. But I didn't. I have neither used this monster or seen it used in games I played for seven years.

Ormyrr

OK, this is an odd choice. I hope the new illustration is better than the one from MM2. Still, this is a damn obscure monster (originally from FR, IIRC) and its inclusion is a puzzle to me.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It's a very cute illustration of the Ormyrr, very charming. It's not the one from MM2. He's drooling as he looks at what appears to be a purple or magenta crystal ball. They get most of a page (the chart of Frost Worm Facts is on the same page).

 

[Echohawk]

I was this close to using an yrthak in my game once. But I didn't. I have neither used this monster or seen it used in games I played for seven years.

In my longest running campaign, there is a large section of forest devastated by a magical blight caused by an elven faction experimenting with the interaction between psionic and magical energies.

Many of the creatures that used to live in that area have become mutated, unrecognizable versions of their former selves. Yrthaks, digesters and destrachans all fit this theme perfectly and since they were all new to 3rd Edition, they had the added benefit of freaking my players out completely, because they hadn't the foggiest clue what their characters were dealing with.

Now if only we could get a Yrthak mini...

 

[Sammael]

In my longest running campaign, there is a large section of forest devastated by a magical blight caused by an elven faction experimenting with the interaction between psionic and magical energies.

Many of the creatures that used to live in that area have become mutated, unrecognizable versions of their former selves. Yrthaks, digesters and destrachans all fit this theme perfectly and since they were all new to 3rd Edition, they had the added benefit of freaking my players out completely, because they hadn't the foggiest clue what their characters were dealing with.

Now if only we could get a Yrthak mini...

Idea yoinked for next campaign!