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Three Characteristic Behaviors Per Monster
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<blockquote data-quote="mmadsen" data-source="post: 455610" data-attributes="member: 1645"><p>In a past thread, I took an idea Maldur suggested and asked for three characteristic behaviors per monster -- little quirks you could add to encounters to give monsters some character. For instance:</p><p></p><p><strong>Trolls</strong> -- Hunch over and stomp their feet like sumo wrestlers before they attack.</p><p></p><p><strong>Orcs</strong> -- Beat great drums before they go on a raid. These drums can be heard over a very long distance, making the villagers panic days in advance.</p><p></p><p><strong>Goblins</strong> -- Insult humans in broken Common, make rude gestures, throw filth on them, etc. -- but only from out of reach. Break fences, steal livestock, etc. to extort cookies from human farmers.</p><p></p><p><strong>Hobgoblins</strong> -- Goose step. Always march in order with magnificent battle standards and symbols of power. Shout a battle cry in unison before charging.</p><p></p><p><strong>Gnolls</strong> -- Cackle eerily. Females dress like males, may be chieftains. Hate lions, even heraldric designs thereof.</p><p></p><p><strong>Ogres</strong> -- Slam their clubs into the ground before battle (to challenge and scare the opponent). When charging, throw around stuff laying about (overturning tables, throwing pots and pans, etc.).</p><p></p><p><strong>Minotaurs</strong> -- Throw their heads back, roaring in defiance. Before charging, scrape their hooves along the floor (like bulls). Chase their prey at leisure, their loud footsteps echoing through their mazelike lair -- since they dont have to rush; they already know where to turn.</p><p></p><p><strong>Hill Giants</strong> -- Lick boulders before throwing them. Love to throw with their mates in waves. Wear multicoloured kilts. Clap their hands after hitting and holding up their fingers to give a rating of their throw.</p><p></p><p><strong>Kobolds</strong> -- <em>Never</em> stand still (except when they're lying in ambush, of course). Even in melee combat, they're continually taking 5' steps at the very minimum. </p><p></p><p><strong>Displacer Beasts</strong> -- Usually napping. Watch birds, squirrels, and other game. Try to scare off enemies after making a kill (to eat safely). </p><p></p><p><strong>Giant Owls</strong> -- Eat Were-Rats and Ratmen. Regurgitate giant pellets (maybe with treasure). Always looking around -- turning their heads 180 degrees.</p><p></p><p><strong>Treants</strong> -- (In tradition of Tolkien's Ents...) Live in geologic time. Speak slowly and laboriously, never succinctly. Remember ancient history. </p><p></p><p><strong>Blink Dogs</strong> - Wag their tails before 'blinking'; like to stand on their hind legs; love to drive normal dogs crazy by blinking in and out. </p><p></p><p><strong>Hags</strong> -- Offer tasty treats. Very maternal and sweet -- until upset. Hate beauty.</p><p></p><p><strong>Celestials</strong> -- Speak in riddles. Only make formal declarations, no small talk. Look through people.</p><p></p><p><strong>Centaurs</strong> -- Always talk in terms of astrology. View any suggestion of riding them as deserving death. Eat both horse and human food for their two stomachs.</p><p></p><p><strong>Medusa</strong> -- Hire models to "pose for a statue", keep cages of mice to feed their hair, decorate their lair with real statues as well as victims. </p><p> </p><p><strong>Ettins</strong> -- Argue between heads. Play "good cop, bad cop" (if they parlay at all). Heads fight over food like two dogs. </p><p> </p><p><strong>Ratlings</strong> (Nezumi, Skaven, etc.) -- Always sniffing, especially in a new place. Gnaw on wooden objects (spear shafts, staves, etc.) when bored. Attracted to glittering objects. </p><p> </p><p><strong>Yuan-Ti</strong> -- Taste air with tongue. Stare -- without blinking -- at people. Bob their heads.</p><p></p><p><strong>Troglodytes</strong> -- Move around a lot when angry or frightened; it helps spread the stench from their musk. If parlaying, attribute the most authority to the worst-smelling member of a group. Change skin color in order to express feelings.</p><p></p><p><strong>Otyughs</strong> -- Willing to trade choice items from pile for disgusting pieces of trash. Cultivate fungi on self - such gardens often contain rare fungi unable to survive in the local area. Territorial but willing to share lair in symbiotic relationship (certain undead are a favorite as they tend not to consume their prey).</p><p></p><p>Anyone have more evocative traits for these monsters or others?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="mmadsen, post: 455610, member: 1645"] In a past thread, I took an idea Maldur suggested and asked for three characteristic behaviors per monster -- little quirks you could add to encounters to give monsters some character. For instance: [b]Trolls[/b] -- Hunch over and stomp their feet like sumo wrestlers before they attack. [b]Orcs[/b] -- Beat great drums before they go on a raid. These drums can be heard over a very long distance, making the villagers panic days in advance. [b]Goblins[/b] -- Insult humans in broken Common, make rude gestures, throw filth on them, etc. -- but only from out of reach. Break fences, steal livestock, etc. to extort cookies from human farmers. [b]Hobgoblins[/b] -- Goose step. Always march in order with magnificent battle standards and symbols of power. Shout a battle cry in unison before charging. [b]Gnolls[/b] -- Cackle eerily. Females dress like males, may be chieftains. Hate lions, even heraldric designs thereof. [b]Ogres[/b] -- Slam their clubs into the ground before battle (to challenge and scare the opponent). When charging, throw around stuff laying about (overturning tables, throwing pots and pans, etc.). [b]Minotaurs[/b] -- Throw their heads back, roaring in defiance. Before charging, scrape their hooves along the floor (like bulls). Chase their prey at leisure, their loud footsteps echoing through their mazelike lair -- since they dont have to rush; they already know where to turn. [b]Hill Giants[/b] -- Lick boulders before throwing them. Love to throw with their mates in waves. Wear multicoloured kilts. Clap their hands after hitting and holding up their fingers to give a rating of their throw. [b]Kobolds[/b] -- [i]Never[/i] stand still (except when they're lying in ambush, of course). Even in melee combat, they're continually taking 5' steps at the very minimum. [b]Displacer Beasts[/b] -- Usually napping. Watch birds, squirrels, and other game. Try to scare off enemies after making a kill (to eat safely). [b]Giant Owls[/b] -- Eat Were-Rats and Ratmen. Regurgitate giant pellets (maybe with treasure). Always looking around -- turning their heads 180 degrees. [b]Treants[/b] -- (In tradition of Tolkien's Ents...) Live in geologic time. Speak slowly and laboriously, never succinctly. Remember ancient history. [b]Blink Dogs[/b] - Wag their tails before 'blinking'; like to stand on their hind legs; love to drive normal dogs crazy by blinking in and out. [b]Hags[/b] -- Offer tasty treats. Very maternal and sweet -- until upset. Hate beauty. [b]Celestials[/b] -- Speak in riddles. Only make formal declarations, no small talk. Look through people. [b]Centaurs[/b] -- Always talk in terms of astrology. View any suggestion of riding them as deserving death. Eat both horse and human food for their two stomachs. [b]Medusa[/b] -- Hire models to "pose for a statue", keep cages of mice to feed their hair, decorate their lair with real statues as well as victims. [b]Ettins[/b] -- Argue between heads. Play "good cop, bad cop" (if they parlay at all). Heads fight over food like two dogs. [b]Ratlings[/b] (Nezumi, Skaven, etc.) -- Always sniffing, especially in a new place. Gnaw on wooden objects (spear shafts, staves, etc.) when bored. Attracted to glittering objects. [b]Yuan-Ti[/b] -- Taste air with tongue. Stare -- without blinking -- at people. Bob their heads. [b]Troglodytes[/b] -- Move around a lot when angry or frightened; it helps spread the stench from their musk. If parlaying, attribute the most authority to the worst-smelling member of a group. Change skin color in order to express feelings. [b]Otyughs[/b] -- Willing to trade choice items from pile for disgusting pieces of trash. Cultivate fungi on self - such gardens often contain rare fungi unable to survive in the local area. Territorial but willing to share lair in symbiotic relationship (certain undead are a favorite as they tend not to consume their prey). Anyone have more evocative traits for these monsters or others? [/QUOTE]
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