What Monsters Do you Use?

[Wombat]

Odd choices on the poll.

I use a lot of what you refer to as "classic monsters", but I also use a lot of humans & humanoids. I restrict the books I pull monsters from (most of them seem either vastly inappropriate to the region or just downright silly), but at that point I do use a fair few. Undead are pretty common enemies (skeletons & zombies and cannonfodder and vampires, wraiths, ghosts and the like as the heavier models, depending on the situation).

So I'm not sure I can answer your poll as written...

 

[Turanil]

I use those monsters that fit in the campaign's ambiance. That is: don't expect me to throw beholders mimics or mind flayers into a Viking or LotR type of campaign; not even in Dragonlance. On the other hand, Mind-Flayers are cool in a Cthulhu ridden setting, and I would gladly use Beholders, Mimics, and the like in a world clearly inspired from Jack Vance (Cugel and Rialtho series).

 

[Tonguez]

Non of the above ie Specific to my setting (Mythic Polynesia)

That is other than Rats, Dog, Boar and Bat I have made a deliberate choice to not use land based mammal-like creatures (animals or monsters) in the setting. Lots of DnD monsters have a mammalian base so it cuts the choices down somewhat however I can still use Reptilies, Insects, Crustaceans, Things with Tentacles (eg Otyugh), Birds (including Velociraptors), Fish (lots of fiendish dire eels), Dire Boars, and any kind of sea creature (including Sea Lions (Sea cats?) because they're kewl).
Humanoids include humans(PC) , gnomes(PC), Half-elfs(PC), Half-orcs(PC), goblins(PC), giants (ogre stats), gnolls (Dog-Men), sahuagin (the main antagonist race), Lizardmen, Hobgoblins and modified Bugbears (now neutral beastmen of the mountains). Elfs are now Sidhe (Fey) and not a PC race, fey and spirits (half-celestial/half-fiend templates) abound. Lycanthorps are limited to Wereboars, WereSharks and WereCrocodiles, and undead (other than ghosts and very rarely a ghoul) don't exist

 

[Arnwyn]

Viva diversity. Both my players and myself value variety, so we use a lot of monsters from a lot of sources. They are always tied to their specific climate and terrain, but we do use a lot of monsters.

 

[Evilhalfling]

I tend to pick a few types for each area, setting up the prameters of what is normally encountered in an area, frequently homemade monsters or 3rd party sources are part of the mix . Animals are found wherever appropriate and humanoids have thier own homelands and I always ditch at least half the humanoids in each world. Really there are just two many types.

 

[Ibram]

90% of those found IMC are humanoids (humans, dwarves, elves, goblinoids, and occasionaly an oger). stranger creatures (daemons, undead, magical beasts) are rarely seen or heard of, and encounters with them are always for a plot purpose (and are very very dangerous).

 

[EricNoah]

I use a great variety of monsters, but I try to pick a "pallatte" of monsters that seems right for the given setting or adventure ahead of time. I also adjust/tweak monsters to make them unique or interesting (add wings, or change type of breath weapon or poison type, or add a ranged attack if possible). I do avoid dragons because I want them to be reserved for special encounters, and I avoid lycanthropes because I never took the time to figure out how they work rules-wise. And I do avoid energy draining monsters because that's a hassle (sometimes switch in a different ability instead). I also avoid "buckets o' humanoids" -- I like just a handful of "major" humanoid races at a time to be active/available as encounters.

 

[Panthanas]

Whatever they list in the published adventure I am using at the time...
I am L A Z Y.

 

[pdkoning]

I truly prefer 'classic monsters' They do not make my weapons vaporize, like last session when a rust monster turned my Masterwork Screaming Rapier into dust.

In fact I really love the classic fantasy monsters. If I run or think of a campaign the way I like it, it contains Orcs, Goblins, Kobolds, wild Animals, and al lot of NPC's (Elves, dwarves, Faun etc.).

 

[Andre]

I do avoid dragons because I want them to be reserved for special encounters, and I avoid lycanthropes because I never took the time to figure out how they work rules-wise. And I do avoid energy draining monsters because that's a hassle (sometimes switch in a different ability instead).

I also avoid those for the same reasons, plus one other: ghosts. I love the flavor of ghostly creatures, but I really don't like their mechanics in 3E. "Manifesting" means what exactly? I can see it when? It's affected by what exactly? Etc., etc. I know I could figure it out if I put in the effort, but why bother?

As for the poll, many of the options are not really exclusive of each other. I use a lot of the MM, but certainly not all. I use other creatures if I like the flavor and they fit the current adventure (my players will never forget the kurge). And I use a quite a few humanoids - it's not fantasy without hordes of orcs (or whatever).