Uses of the new 3e MM & MMII monsters?

[Painfully]

I used the Durzagon (fiendish duergar dwarf) as a duergar boss. But, I did change his "beard" weapon into a bite. Beard weapon?! What the heck were they thinking?! A well placed soften earth spell by a party member kept him from making his getaway.

I'm going to use a chain golem soon in my campaign as a guardian/pet for a kyton who is busy working at a forge with some stolen meteorite. Nevermind all the driders protecting him too. No doubt the party will wonder where all these attacks are coming from when they can "see" the kyton in front of them, but get attacked from all over the place (the room will be covered with chains all over the ceiling and walls). They'll realize the pain of their situation once they've been flanked a few times...maybe.

Desmodu are neat, but I plan on keeping them as a mostly neutral race in the dark forest my players are currently travelling through.

Avolakia are dynamic in their uses since they polymorph themselves easily. They can be a powerful and unpleasant surprise for a party that thought they were just dealing with an evil cleric, but then find that he is really this worm-thing.

 

[Pants]

Not sure if the Nimblewrights are new creatures or not:

But used them as guards in a Thayan Compound. Worked great. I lowered the damage on their rapier attacks to 1d6+4 though. They were still pretty deadly though.

 

[demiurge1138]

I really like julajimuses (julajimi?). I've used them as assassins for powerful extraplanar interests. What's not to love about an adorable little kitten that rips you in half with scimitar sized teeth?
And gricks make excellent window-dressing, even in campaigns where they're no longer a threat.
The Chainmail demons (abyssal ravager, et al) are good for low-level encounters and summonings.

Demiurge out.

 

[Olive]

i love the elemental wierds, but have no idea if they are new. I have one in my campaign as an epic level spellcaster who is an ancient seer.

 

[Tewligan]

i love the elemental wierds, but have no idea if they are new. I have one in my campaign as an epic level spellcaster who is an ancient seer.

The water weird was in the 1e MM, but it was pretty different from its current incarnation. It used to be a snakey water elemental that would pop out of a well, pool, or whatever and try to drown a character. They're much cooler these days.

 

[Olive]

The water weird was in the 1e MM, but it was pretty different from its current incarnation. It used to be a snakey water elemental that would pop out of a well, pool, or whatever and try to drown a character. They're much cooler these days.

i remember that. and you're right, they are much cooler.

 

[electric-ant]

I haven't needed to decide what happens to an Elf or Dwarf that becomes Glowmad yet. If anybody has any ideas, I am very open to suggestions.

If I'm picking up on your theme correctly, I can suggest umber hulks for dwarves and yuan-ti for elves.

Sounds like a fun campaign.

 

[Dave Blewer]

That sounds like a great idea. Thanks

Time for me to start using Savage Species in ernest I do believe.

 

[ArcOfCorinth]

Not sure if the Nimblewrights are new creatures or not:

But used them as guards in a Thayan Compound. Worked great. I lowered the damage on their rapier attacks to 1d6+4 though. They were still pretty deadly though.

Interesting.

I'm using one as an NPC right now. Dantes is a modified nimblewright running with a band of roguish duelists. His modifications are to his weapons: his right rapier is now a flaming burst rapier and his left is a rapier of wounding. To compensate, I lowered the damage like you did and then knocked his CR up a notch.

 

[dren]

favorite new 3e monsters

I'm pretty sure all of the creatures below are new, or at least they were new to me when I saw them in 3e

Arrowhawks and Yrthaks in the sky
Chuul for use in swamps
Ethereal filcher & ethereal marauder in and around mage's lairs
Girallon & Grey Renders in forests
Gravecrawler & Nightshades in crypts
and Dire Animals just about everywhere