D&D 5E (2014) Wandering Monsters: Basic Beasties

[gyor]

I see no reason at all for making Manticores as unridable, they were one of the Mounts that PCs could buy in 4e. I was so disliking of that that I voted 1 on the Manticore.

 

[Tovec]

While I agree they're pretty flavourless, giving little more than the base description of the monster, I don't know what else we really expected from it. The description is fine, nothing objectionable. What more would we expect from a Bear, or Lizard, or actual (sea) Shark description? These are supernatural animals. That's it. I don't really need more, and I like not having to deal with plot hooks that (for me) do little more than clutter the already overlong descriptions or give me something I'm not going to use that my players will now come to directly associate with the monster. +1 to the article even though it is boring, IMHO.

 

[steeldragons]

If you have to ask, maybe you have a different experience of a wild, feral mate than I do.

Obviously, I do.

Congrats, on your mate...but not something to base my character (or this"monster") around.

 

[Stormonu]

I'm not keen on giving owlbears a hate-on for wizards or magical anti-magic powers just because of their origin.

Instead, I see it that some wizard wanted a guardian more tractable but stronger than a couple ogre henchmen, and ended up with a beast dumber but fiercer than said ogres.

I wouldn't mind seeing it given a couple non-magical abilities - perhaps a leap (using its "wing arms"), a barbarian-like rage or perhaps an unusual resistance to charm and compulsions (to represent its "stubborn" nature).

<edit> A "magehound" variant of the owlbear wouldn't be a bad idea, but I'd rather not see that be the default. I like the owlbear being a "brute" creature that's about dealing with pure ferocity, with

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Yeah. My reaction upon reading the entries was "meh". Admittedly, my view of Pseudodragons is somewhat confused with Faerie Dragons and Loiosh, so I'd like to see some more personality in the entry.

Cheers!

Yeah, all four are pretty neutral. I have no objection to them, but they don't excite me out of the ordinary, either. On the other hand, they don't need to. I need good usable monsters. Sticking with historical D&D monster style is pretty good for me, for the most part.