One type of monster that I like, but only found a few examples of is the social parasite of humanity. The doppelganger, phasm, seeder from Minions and cuckoo from Fantasy Bestiary live among humans and yet are unseen by the populace. Is there any others (no undead or constructs please)? Are there are others that are not shapechangers?
What is your favorite D&D monster?
- Thread starter eris404
- Start date
MoogleEmpMog
First Post
Witchlight marauders. Remember these guys? Giant, unholy ooze-things created as the goblinoid 'nukes' in the Unhuman War? I love organic planet-buster monsters. And the Unhuman War.
The Xixical (sp?) from the ELH also deserves some love, as a planet-busterish titan of terror. Anything that routinely has adult white dragons roosting on its shoulders just screams awesome. Pity its vaguely Aztec-sounding name makes it about impossible to pronounce.
Fire giants. Giants of all stripes are very cool, but I've always been partial to the militaristic pseudo-fascist humanoid races. Fire giants look like giant dwarves and behave like giant hobgoblins! It's perfect!
And mind flayers are always spiffy.
The Xixical (sp?) from the ELH also deserves some love, as a planet-busterish titan of terror. Anything that routinely has adult white dragons roosting on its shoulders just screams awesome. Pity its vaguely Aztec-sounding name makes it about impossible to pronounce.
Fire giants. Giants of all stripes are very cool, but I've always been partial to the militaristic pseudo-fascist humanoid races. Fire giants look like giant dwarves and behave like giant hobgoblins! It's perfect!
And mind flayers are always spiffy.
My answer to the question in the thread title is different from my answer to the question in the first post. Actually I have three answers:
1. RPG Monsters: Gloranthan Runequest trolls are the best RPG monsters I've encountered. Like many Runequest monsters, they give off a real sense of "otherness" -- they're a developed three dimensional culture that thinks and acts totally differently. They are the closest thing I have seen to an evil noble race; they are what Lawful Evil should be like in D&D. They are irredeemably evil but because they are allies against chaos, they are not totally dehumanized; so they're treated much like an enemy nation of humans. RQ Dragonewts come a close second.
2. Monsters Appearing in D&D: Sorry but dragons are still the best RPG monster. They're not to be used all the time but there's a pretty basic reason the first most popular RPG is named after them.
3. Monsters Unique to D&D: I like feral humanoid races and therefore gnolls; I think the hyena is the perfect beast on which to model one. The fact that they're the closest thing to the most commonly believed-in humanoid races in medieval Europe, the cynocephali, doesn't hurt either. The xorn comes a close second -- fabulously weird.
1. RPG Monsters: Gloranthan Runequest trolls are the best RPG monsters I've encountered. Like many Runequest monsters, they give off a real sense of "otherness" -- they're a developed three dimensional culture that thinks and acts totally differently. They are the closest thing I have seen to an evil noble race; they are what Lawful Evil should be like in D&D. They are irredeemably evil but because they are allies against chaos, they are not totally dehumanized; so they're treated much like an enemy nation of humans. RQ Dragonewts come a close second.
2. Monsters Appearing in D&D: Sorry but dragons are still the best RPG monster. They're not to be used all the time but there's a pretty basic reason the first most popular RPG is named after them.
3. Monsters Unique to D&D: I like feral humanoid races and therefore gnolls; I think the hyena is the perfect beast on which to model one. The fact that they're the closest thing to the most commonly believed-in humanoid races in medieval Europe, the cynocephali, doesn't hurt either. The xorn comes a close second -- fabulously weird.
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Dread October
First Post
Well Eris, I have reason to believe I am not involved in this upcoming campaign soooo, I'll toss out all sort of monster favorites for those who will be.
1. Any monsters with Cleric levels. Ain't nothing worse than gettin stomped by a critter that heals itself and casts Flamestrike.
2. Kou Toa - Yeah the little fish dudes. They rock in groups. Didn't see them in the SRD though and I'm not in enough of work avoidance mode to bring my Monster Manual.
3. Golems don't get nearly enough love. That web golem with some other sorts of spider creatures thrown in for good measure. That's good stuff.
I am also all about the doppleganger too.
Have fun.
Dread October
1. Any monsters with Cleric levels. Ain't nothing worse than gettin stomped by a critter that heals itself and casts Flamestrike.
2. Kou Toa - Yeah the little fish dudes. They rock in groups. Didn't see them in the SRD though and I'm not in enough of work avoidance mode to bring my Monster Manual.
3. Golems don't get nearly enough love. That web golem with some other sorts of spider creatures thrown in for good measure. That's good stuff.
I am also all about the doppleganger too.
Have fun.
Dread October
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Gez
First Post
Oh yeah, grells. Chokers, dragonnes, kobolds, sphinxes and savant hydraes were my first love, but as I read more stuff on D&D's unique monsters, beholders, illithids, grells, and other aberrations. I liked the new Fiend Folio a lot, because it had kaorti and ethergaunts, both of which are very nifty.
In fact, the only monster category I don't especially like is undead. Then comes vermins, plants, animals, etc. They're useful and needed, but not especially interesting. All nutrient, no flavor, if you catch my drift. You can't not use them, but you need extra spice otherwise it'll be bland.
My favorite D&D spices are aberrations and magical beasts, followed by dragons and outsiders.
In fact, the only monster category I don't especially like is undead. Then comes vermins, plants, animals, etc. They're useful and needed, but not especially interesting. All nutrient, no flavor, if you catch my drift. You can't not use them, but you need extra spice otherwise it'll be bland.
My favorite D&D spices are aberrations and magical beasts, followed by dragons and outsiders.
MetalBard
First Post
DM_Fiery_Fist said:
I remember running that one a few times. The aballin was always a very weird encounter. It posed as a small pool with shiny treasure sitting at the bottom. I used them a few times after that, but they're really limited in their applicability. Sometimes they seem more like a trap than a monster, kind of like the mimic.
Ralif Redhammer
Legend
Carrion Crawler. I don't use them very often on account of how easy a small adventuring group can be taken out by them, but I've had a fondness for them ever since I had the carrion crawler toy as a kid.
I also like the devious monsters like the wolf-in-sheeps-clothing, executioner's hood, mimics, trappers, the above-mentioned aballin. Ones that rely on trickery and a modicum of PC stupidity.
But for iconic value, I have to mention dragons, orcs, goblins, and kobolds.
I also like the devious monsters like the wolf-in-sheeps-clothing, executioner's hood, mimics, trappers, the above-mentioned aballin. Ones that rely on trickery and a modicum of PC stupidity.
But for iconic value, I have to mention dragons, orcs, goblins, and kobolds.
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