What makes a creature be a certain type?

[tecnowraith]

I have question that I have wondering about. What makes a creature be a certain type? Like what truely makes a creature be a Aberrations (especially), Monstrous Humanoid or an Outsider?

 

[Krishnath]

Aberration: Alien of mind or body. For example, the Elan from the XPH is an aberration even though it looks human, because it's mind is strange and different. Creatures such as Beholders and Illithid-Kin are aberration because they are strange and alien in appearance. Basically Aberration means unnatural. I suggest you get ahold of Lords of Madness as it is very good at explaining what makes aberrations, aberrations. Aberrations are often highly magical (such as beholders) or psionic (such as Illithid's).

Monstrous Humanoid: Humanoids with very bestial features and/or supernatural abilities. such as minotaurs, medusae, and thri-kreen.

Outsiders: Creatures that are either native of other planes or descendant from them. Not all creatures from other planes are outsiders however. Outsiders usually have a very strong connection to an ethical choice (good, evil, chaos, law, or neutrality), or an element. They are not comprised of the element however (that would be elementals). An Azer (dwarf from the plane of fire) is an outsider, a githyanki (humanoid from the astral plane) is not. Basically if the creature is of extraplanar origin and has a very strong connection to an ethical alignment and/or an element, it is an outsider. The same goes for most creatures decendant from extraplanar creatures such as planetouched.

 

[BOZ]

a lot of times, it is a judgment call. some could easily be made into more than one type, and the designer must choose what fits best.

 

[Ferret]

I think some of the grey areas are Fey, Magical beasts - animals, Monstrous humanoids -humanoids...Have I missed any?

 

[demiurge1138]

Magical Beast and Animal isn't really a grey area. If the thing's anatomy isn't remotely natural (blending lions and eagles or owls and bears, more limbs than four on a mammal, etc) or if the thing's intelligent or supernatural, it's a Magical Beast.

Now, Magical Beast and Monstrous Humanoid (I'm looking at youi, grey render) and Magical Beast and Aberration (catoblepas...) are grey areas.

Demiurge out.

 

[Pants]

Now, Magical Beast and Monstrous Humanoid (I'm looking at youi, grey render) and Magical Beast and Aberration (catoblepas...) are grey areas.

Demiurge out.

Don't forget the Roper
I've always thought the Grey Render could work either as an Aberration or a Magical Beast... I mean, they're barely above animal intelligence...