What monster types would you like to see more of?

[Agback]

With the sheer number of huge carnivores, it's a wonder DnD worlds aren't all like Darksun - barren wastelands.

Isn't it the other way about? Herbivores (such as rabbits and goats) destroy vegetation and produce barren wastelands. Carnivores suppress herbivore population, and thus promote vegetation.

The only exception I can think of off-hand is the destruction of the megafauna in Australia, where the disappearance of the browsing herbivores c. 56,000 year ago allowed the plants to accumulate larger fuel loads (10-20 tonnes per hectare instead of 1-2 tonnes per hectare). The result was hot forest fires instead of (comparatively) cool grass fires, and these exterminated the non-fire-tolerant plant species, leading to desertification. But it doesn't happen that way unless the climate is unusually dry.

 

[Agback]

I voted none. There are still monsters from the first edition monster manual I have not encountered in 25 years of gaming.

I don't think I am in danger of running out any time soon.

Hear! Hear!

the profusion of different monsters, spells, feats, class abilities etc. in D&D is in my opinion its most significant weak point. If DMs and other players didn't have to devote so much attention to mastering game detail they would have more cognitive effort available for interesting situations and characters.

 

[Tonguez]

Just say yes to

Abberations - I just love my things with tentacles
Animals - yes lots more animals. And fantastic animals like Thoat too (but most would make them magical beasts)
Fey - unique fey with cool personalities and funky abilities like they do in folklore
Plants - lets get more deadly jungles

 

[TroyXavier]

More fey would be good. I also like Vermin and would like to see more types.

 

[Altalazar]

I want more giants, humanoids, monstrous humanoids - with interesting societal charactersitics. Stuff you can build monster nations out of, or at least monster villages. Not all evil, either, so therre are possibilities for trade and other intrigue.

 

[Conaill]

I'm definitely smelling a "magical forest" theme from the polls so far.

Everybody seems to want Fey, plus a good helping of magical beasts, animals, plants and vermin. Add in perhaps one or two aberration, provided they're original enough.

 

[Shade]

I was hoping someone would start just such a companion poll, as I didn't want to be a "poll spammer."

Outsiders: More than anything, I want to see more outsiders. I never tire of 'em. They are the best critter type to advance (fighter BAB, all good saves, 8 skill points per level, 2 HD/+1 CR), are usually loaded with flavor, and generally have enough combat options to keep 'em interesting and challenging. Plus, I'm a huge planar adventure fan.

Dragons: I know I'm in the minority, but I can't get enough variants of true dragons. I'd also love to see more linnorms, drakes, and things like the old elder wyrm from Dragon Magazine.

Giants: I think this category has much more potential if people would start making them truly gigantic (Gargantuan or Colossal) or bizarre (Geriviar, for example).

Fey: This is definitely the most underrepresented creature type. Personally, I'd like to see more violent, threatening fey like the ragewalker, redcap, and siabrie than more pixies, satyrs, and the like.

Animals: Although many real-world animals can be represented by existing 3E animals, many cannot. That's what I'd like to see.

Vermin: More giant and monstrous vermin would be great, especially the weird ones like walking sticks and stinkbugs.

 

[Hussar]

Isn't it the other way about? Herbivores (such as rabbits and goats) destroy vegetation and produce barren wastelands. Carnivores suppress herbivore population, and thus promote vegetation.

The only exception I can think of off-hand is the destruction of the megafauna in Australia, where the disappearance of the browsing herbivores c. 56,000 year ago allowed the plants to accumulate larger fuel loads (10-20 tonnes per hectare instead of 1-2 tonnes per hectare). The result was hot forest fires instead of (comparatively) cool grass fires, and these exterminated the non-fire-tolerant plant species, leading to desertification. But it doesn't happen that way unless the climate is unusually dry.

That's true except for the fact that real world carnivores don't breathe fire or have destructive magical abilities. A world populated with just the beasties in the Monster Manual would be an insanely dangerous place to live. But, I do take your point about desertification. My point was that there are entirely too many very large dangerous critters out there and nowhere near enough food sources.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I would love to see more animals, fey, monstrous humanoids, plants and vermin.

 

[MummyKitty]

I voted for fey, as I think there are many mythological creatures that can still be done, both lower level spirits and big, powerful avatars of the Celtic gods and the like. I think there are also some good almost fey-like animals or creatures from native American mythology that would be neat.