What's the lamest monster you've seen made cool, and how?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

When I flip through any book of monsters, no matter how highly praised (sorry, Monsternomicon), I'm struck with the realization that I'm not going to use most of this stuff. Sometimes, it simply doesn't appeal to me (WotC's seeming obsession with bat humanoids, for instance), but other times, well, other times, a lot of the monsters just seem lame.

But when I express this opinion about a given monster here, there's invariably someone who pipes up with HOW COOL that monster is, or at least now that their DM put some particular spin on it.

So, in the interest of rehabilitating the also-rans of the monster world, what are some formerly lame monsters that you've seen made cool, and what was done to add that crucial amount of coolness?

 

[Klaus]

Piercer -> Darkmantle

 

[Andre]

Not quite lame, but orcs are generally taken for granted. Then came the 3.0 greataxe-wielding orc that could drop a raging barbarian with one lucky hit. You quickly learned to respect those guys.

Then, when we gained several levels, a GM threw more orcs at us. Orcs! No problem...up to the point where the barbarian nails one for almost max damage and immediately takes half that amount in return. Ouch! Our first encounter with "black orcs", also known as Ebon Servitor orcs.

 

[Zzyzx]

For me it was the aboleth -- when I read the 3.0 MM the first time, I got scared that all the monsters might be this difficult to place in the campaign. But a visiting DM showed me a way to play one in a way that was interesting. At least now I know I could throw it in if I had a good place for it. Still see it as a niche monster though.

 

[stonegod]

For me it was the aboleth -- when I read the 3.0 MM the first time, I got scared that all the monsters might be this difficult to place in the campaign. But a visiting DM showed me a way to play one in a way that was interesting. At least now I know I could throw it in if I had a good place for it. Still see it as a niche monster though.

My wife's 3 year 3.0 campaign was entirely based upon an aboleth---not that I knew that until three years into it. Monster's w/ minions rule.

Grimlocks with obscuring mist and mw scythes or reach weapons can be pretty nasty (e.g., Three Faces of Evil in the AoW AP).

 

[thedungeondelver]

This one's easy: Gary's "Old Guard" kobolds in the dungeons beneath Castle Greyhawk.

 

[Nightfall]

Zombie Minotaur. Mostly because until I fought one, I thought "Hey I'm 5th level! I can take it!"

Boy was I wrong!

 

[Celebrim]

So far no one has mentioned an actual lame monster. Orcs? Kobolds??? Minotaurs? Zombies? Zombie Minotaurs?

Aboleth aren't lame. Aboleth are cool in the way few invented monsters are, and kobolds are practically the definition of cool. There is hardly a monster out there with more of a coolness factor than kobolds.

The fact of the matter is that 99% of the monsters that are ever used come from a pretty narrow range. Grimlocks are the closest anyone here has come to getting outside of it.

The closest I've come were Basidirond's, which I can't make cool but at least I managed to not make lame and Gloomwings, which I think can possibly even be cool. But, even that isn't that far out into the land of pointless monsters.

 

[JVisgaitis]

We can always take this thread in another direction... I think the Tendriculos is the lamest monster ever! How could I make it cool in my game?

 

[Fishbone]

Make a max diced one the object of worship of an evil Ranger/Druid sect.
They are seriously badass. Regeneration 10, grapples near 50 with Improved Grapple, 20 foot reach, a paralysis attack with a DC in the 30s, over 300 HP all at CR 11.
I love 'em, they're baby tarrasques.
Quick, somebody make the Delver more than an acid coated rust monster.