D&D 5E (2014) What would you put in monster manual 2?

[Ranthalan]

I can't really answer. Anything I would put I would just create for myself (or convert from older sources). I want things that I wouldn't think of on my own.

 

[Elderbrain]

Re: The issue with 2e (Planescape/Arborean) Eladrin vs. 4e (Feywild) Eladrin... I came up with this story. A long time ago, a group of elves went to live with the Eladrin of Arborea, out of wonder and respect. For a time, all went well, and the Eladrin tutored the elves in their ways. In time, the elves began to think of themselves as Eladrin, and even to call themselves such. Some of these elves went to the Material Plane and fought against the forces of evil there, and while so doing revealed their borrowed names and powers. When Queen Morwell of the Eladrin learned of this, she was upset, as Eladrin are forbidden to reveal themselves as such or openly use their powers on the Prime Material. When the Eladrin-elves refused to stop doing so, she reluctantly banished them. Even since, the Eladrin-elves have dwelled on the Feywild, still using their stolen name...

 

[MechaTarrasque]

Elderbrain,

Nice story. That would make an interesting issue if PC eladrin ran into celestial eladrin.

I tend toward the notion that the celestial eladrin protected and guided the primordial fey, and some of the fey took the name to honor their protectors, but even by elf standards that was a long time ago, and their culture has (d)evolved. In true Planescape fashion, celestial eladrin figure everyone on the outer planes knows which eladrin is which.

 

[Elderbrain]

Yeah, on the Outer Planes everybody would consider the Arborean Eladrin to be "the" Eladrin, and only on the Feywild or the Prime would folks think of the Feywild Eladrin as "Eladrin". I can imagine some Arborean Eladrin (and some other folks on the Planes) flat out refusing to refer to the Feywild variety as Eladrin, and even using some terms of abuse I've heard for them such as "Blink Elves"! Of course, not EVERY Arborean Eladrin has to take that attitude towards the Feywild Eladrin; after all, in my story, they used to be close allies... and maybe could be again, if one side or the other were to apologize. Problem is, each side is sure it's right; the Arboreans, that they were justified in banishing their admirers, and the Feywilders, that they didn't do anything wrong in openly opposing evil on the Prime... so what if there's a bunch of stuffy rules that say otherwise?

Of course, that's not the only way you could reconcile the matter. Maybe both types of Eladrin are still bosom buddies, and the bunch on the Feywild moved there for other reasons...

 

[Khisanth the Ancient]

I think my choices have all been covered.

Barghests - What, no barghest love? Listen berk, it's a must.

Mohrg - I always loved these guys. They're really messed up. Odd kinds of undead are always good to stick to players. I thought these were inspired.

dinosaur (velociraptor/deinonychus)

Linnorms or sea serpents.

Yes, plus other monsters that are 'draconic' but not true-dragons with age categories. Like the hatori (one I always liked, despite its obscurity).

31. Frost Worm (12)

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This. I would love an "Exploration Manual".

Definitely.

I don't know about WotC, but TSR produced a rules option for playing dragons as PCs. It's actually the original source of half-dragons as PCs, too, if memory serves.

Yeah, 2E Council of Wyrms setting. But there was indeed a 3E set of dragons as 'monster classes' for PCs - in Dragon Magazine. (Issue 320 had the metallics, Issue 332 had the chromatics.)

 

[Elderbrain]

Oh, yes, more dinosaurs and prehistoric beasties, definitely! Spinosaurus, at least one big plant-eater like Apatosaurus, and I'd love to see a mosasaur! Also, more giant insects (ants, beetles, praying mantis, etc.)

 

[Greenstone.Walker]

I'd like to see notes on synergy between monsters. An encounter with some bugbears is OK but an encounter with bugbears and goblin archers and hobgoblin commanders and wolf skirmishers is much more memorable.

What monsters would a demon be accompanied by? What creatures would be found near a mimic?

I'd also like to see more variation on monsters. For example, five or six types of kobold, all having a similar theme but different roles (skirmisher, ranged attacker, scout, commander, priest, etc) and different features.

Also, here's another vote for barghest. I have spent a lot of time in LOTRO dealing with various types. It would be great to have stats for them in D&D.

 

[Azzy]

Personally, everything from 1e and BXCMI that hasn't already been included, then we can move on to critters from the subsequent editions and new stuff.

 

[delericho]

Something I forgot from my previous post: at least 300 pages.

I'd rather pay the appropriately high price tag than pay less for fewer pages (and, therefore, fewer monsters).

 

[BMaC]

Elder Brain would be nice to have.