What Demonic Monsters?

[Dave G]

Okay... my campaign is gearing up to a new level of threat... I want to introduce a demonic element in my next session to start hinting about larger plots going on behind the surface of my story.

[in a nutshell= A demon is marshalling the Goblinoid tribes in the mountains, trying to sweep them down to take out the settlements in the lands below... Players don't know about the demonic influence yet, but this is the first large exposure they've had to the enemy forces to date. (they are ECL: 2 + 2nd level characters) ]

So what creatures are "demonic" or have demonic origins...

are there any that don't require magic weapons to hit? I need something fairly low CR but that pretty obviously screams (DEMON! 8))

Thanks in advance!

 

[las]

Use the half feind template on a goblin. In wont get DR as fare as I can tell to low of HP that is unless you give it class levels.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

you could even use the fiendish template for creatures up to 11 HD. they'll have a DR of 5/+1 or 5/+2, but as long as the PCs can do more than 5 points of damage per attack, they'll still damage the fiendish creature

 

[Voadam]

I'd go with the fiendish template on some of the goblins who have been most tainted by association with the demon. You can also add it to their attack beasts if they have say attack dogs, wolves or big spiders. They only gain cold and fire resistance 5 and SR2 but gain a cool darker demonic appearance that done right can freak out players. If they immolate themselves with alchemists fire and then try to grapple that can be pretty impressive. Tactically better would be to lob alchemists fire after front rankers grapple but it is not as intimidating.

The reason I would go with fiendish over half fiendish is the power level and ease of putting it on the critters.

 

[Voadam]

from the srd (but check the MM for the flavor text)

Fiendish Creatures

"Fiendish" is a template that can be added to any corporeal creature of nongood alignment (referred to hereafter as the "base creature"). Beasts or animals with this template become magical beasts, but otherwise the creature type is unchanged. A fiendish creature uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

Special Attacks: A fiendish creature retains all the special attacks of the base creature and also gains the following.

Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can make a normal attack to deal additional damage equal to its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe.

Special Qualities: A fiendish creature retains all the special qualities of the base creature and also gains the following.

Darkvision with a range of 60 feet.
Cold and fire resistance (see the table below).
Damage reduction (see the table below).
SR equal to double the creature’s HD (maximum 25).
Cold, Fire
Hit Dice Resistance Damage Reduction
-------- ---------- ----------------
1-3 5 -
4-7 10 5/+1
8-11 15 5/+2
12+ 20 10/+3
If the base creature already has one or more of these special qualities, use the better value.

Saves: Same as the base creature
Abilities: Same as the base creature, but Intelligence is at least 3.
Skills: Same as the base creature
Feats: Same as the base creature
Climate/Terrain: Any land and underground
Organization: Same as the base creature

Challenge Rating:
Up to 3 HD, as base creature
4 HD to 7 HD, as base creature +1
8+ HD, as base creature +2

Treasure: Same as the base creature
Alignment: Always evil (any)
Advancement: Same as the base creature

 

[Mr Fidgit]

if we're just talking about goblins, fiendish is a better choice. they wouldn't have any DR (unless they had class levels 4+)

half-fiend goblins would be alot tougher (+4 Str, Dex, Int; +2 Con, Cha; plus other abilities...)

 

[Dave G]

Do you think that the PC's would make a demonic connection with a fiendish goblin or hobgoblin fighting them as opposed to normal ones?

Are they alien enough, without being too alien?

 

[hellbender]

I have used this creature for similar purposes with success:
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/fc/fc20000101d

It is a half-fiend/half-ogre blackguard, from the Fight Club on the Wizard's site.

Hope it helps,
hellbender

 

[Balgus]

how about tieflings (from MoF)- Tannurk and theother guy... with the batwings (excuse my information- i am at work- which i bet a lot of you are too...)

 

[Tuerny]

Well if you have the Monster Manual 2 it has three demons of relatively low CR in it tht you could easily use in this case. All of them lack damage resistance. A fourth has a DR of 5/silver.

They have CRs of 2, 2, 5, and 5 (for the DR 5/silver one)

Would you like more info?