What kind of monster do you like best?

[Kanegrundar]

I went with all of the above. There are times that I go for an old style "classic" play with the players going up against rust monsters, carrion crawlers, etc. However I there are the nights that I pull out Denizens of Avadnu or the Monsternomicon for something different to throw at the group. No sense tying myself down to one certain "feel" of monsters.

Adios,
Kane

 

[qstor]

I voted for the classic fantasy monsters like orcs, giants and dragons.

Mike

 

[The Great Bear King]

I pretty much like all types, but I'm trying to get a bit more interest and mileage out of humaniod types, either using them less or doing something a bit different (LG goblins, communist Orcs).

How about Lawful Good goblins with World War I to World War II style machine guns, gatling fun walkers, atoumatic pistols, shotguns, and a kinship with elves. I also like the idea of Chaotic Good ogres running in to battle with Civil war guns and riding motorcycles singing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic".

 

[lukelightning]

When I DM I like to take a classic D&D monster, e.g. Mind Flayer, and then change its description/appearance so the players don't know what it is. So instead of a purple octopus-headed humanoid, it is insectoid with four mantis-like grabbers for its mouth. This way the players don't say "oh, look, a mind flayer, make sure it doesn't grab you, remember they have spell resistance..." etc.

 

[diaglo]

When I DM I like to take a classic D&D monster, e.g. Mind Flayer, and then change its description/appearance so the players don't know what it is. So instead of a purple octopus-headed humanoid, it is insectoid with four mantis-like grabbers for its mouth. This way the players don't say "oh, look, a mind flayer, make sure it doesn't grab you, remember they have spell resistance..." etc.

ditto

 

[JeffB]

I’m pretty conservative as far as monsters go. I prefer using the classic Humanoids as the general antagonists (orcs, bugbears, goblins, gnolls, etc), along with trolls, ogres, giants, classic undead (skeletons, zombies, wights, spectres, ghouls, Liches) and demons. I’ll throw in some of the more mythological creatures from time to time (perytons, chimera, cyclops’, & griffons for example), as well as some of the classic D&D monsters that appeared in the 1E MM or OD&D like rot grubs, mind flayers, ropers, beholders, etc…

But I just don’t get in to many of the D&D monsters that started to come out as the game really grew in popularity. In fact, I find most D&D monsters absolutely silly..things like the Githyanki, Yuan-Ti, Phaerimm; Cloakers, plane-touched, tieflings, genesai, celestials, etc...and then 3E has gone even farther off the silliness scale AFAIC: Half this/half that, templated this/ templated that, ethereal filchers, Warforged, pseudo-mechs in Chainmail and Eberron, etc., etc..

This is why I don’t buy 3E/D20 monster books. I have 2 monster books besides the MM, and thats just 'cos at the time I bought them I supported both companies products as much as I could..I didn't really need them, and only liked a handful of creatures in each.

However, I really, really like the Lejendary Adventures “Beasts of Lejend” book…lots of cool mythological and classic fantasy-like monsters, and some interesting spins on the D&D clichés. That book is definitely “my style” and I would pay good money for it in a d20 version.

 

[doghead]

None of the above. I like simple monsters like goblinoids, kobalds and the most deadly of all...humans.

Yep. Exactly.

 

[Zepherus Bane]

Personally, I like to use NPC's more than monsters. It's much more interesting to have the group go up against them than say, some orcs. When I use monsters, I like to pull something many of the players have no experience with to help alleviate the use of "out of game" knowledge.

 

[sckeener]

just good stories

I'd prefer to stick to classic fantasy and mythical monsters, but it is the story that is going to make it work no matter what monster is used.

I'm not going to remember killing the monster with a natural 20 in ten years, but I will remember foiling the plot of some villian that arc'd over several adventures.

 

[RFisher]

Historically, D&D icons & unique monsters have been rare when I'm behind the screen.