Which monsters are the most effective / fun in game?

[Lord Zardoz]

This is not meant to have someone post about Ancient Red Dragons and the like. The intent is more of a 'best bang for buck' kind of monster.

So far the most effective monsters in my game have been Manticores. The spike volley and being able to fly keeps the monster competitive. I can spread the attacks between a few of the players, allowing it to work great as a solo monster for lower level PC's. +8 to hit and 1d8+2 damage is not obviously overwhelming, but I can choose to throw 6 such attacks at one target, which gets very dangerous very fast. I can also put all attacks on a single target to get past low 20's AC, since with 6 attacks, I am probably going to get at least one and maybe 2 hits. At 53 HP it will probably survive a while unless the party can put all their attacks on the one target. And because it can fly, it is not that vulnerable to being dog piled.

So what monsters work out great for you? Try to stick to Monsters and not classed humanoid types...

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[Cyronax]

So what monsters work out great for you? Try to stick to Monsters and not classed humanoid types...

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Aside from dragons and beholders?

Manticores are very effective, yes. A monster that fits your your model would be a hydra (of any variety). The seem to be the quintessential solo monster.

I also think that the kolyarut inevitable would make an extremely effective solo monster. I've yet to playtest this, and its probably one of my favorite 3.x monsters.

C.I.D.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

A lot of the critters with enormous grapple modifiers and constrict are routinely capable of taking down a PC, particuarly the squishy wizards.

I've always been a fan of headed pyro or cyro hydras, the twelve headed ones are CR 13, 36d6 breathweapon (average damage 126). The typical 13th level wizard might have 70-80 HP, fighter might have 130-160 or so. Point being its possible to take out a lot of PCs on a failed saves.
Not a big area of effect though so you have to hope two or three PCs are clumped together. And 12 powerful bite attacks to follow it up with.

Most fun monsters is a bit different in my oppinion than effective, I'll have to think back on it before I post what I think are the most fun.

 

[Lord Zardoz]

Whoops...

I kind of meant for this to end up in the General board.

Ah well. If a moderater feels like moving it, no big deal. If not, also not a big deal, but it does have a bit of a tie in to 4th edition.

Simply put, some monsters are more entertaining than others in play, and it would be interesting to see which ones come to peoples minds given that criteria.

Monsters built around grapple do not work so well, since Grapple feels a bit too much like a screw the player button. A monster whose effectiveness is tied to disabling or countering the ability of the players to use their own abilities does not fit the criteria of a great monster to me. Golems are scary effective, but they basically screw the Wizard and Rogue by being immune to most magic and sneak attack.

To me a good monster is one that has the following criteria:
- Will not drop in 1 shot to one player in normal circumstances
- Will not screw a player by making that player unable to act (most Grapple monsters depend on this).
- Poses a reasonable threat to the players
- Works well as both a primary opponent and as a support opponent.

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[tafkamhokie]

In one game I played in, the DM got a lot of mileage out of Surge Giants. Low AC and middling hit points, but 15 ft of reach and hit like a tank. With proper tactics, they make for challenging foes for 4th-8th level characters with plenty of pucker-factor. With poor party tactics, they will give you a TPK.

I like trolls. If you read the regeneration rules carefully, they are VERY hard to kill for a party that does not have the wall of fire spell yet. Sure, you can tie a tourniquet around their neck to kill them since regeneration does not prevent death from suffocation, but you still have the problem of wrestling with an unconscious 500 lb beast to get a rope around its neck all while it regains 5 hp per round. You average party of 4-5 PC's is going to have a REALLY tough time wrangling 3 trolls at a time without some form of never ending fire source.

I've always had fun with templates, but I don't think that is in the spirit of your question. My gargoyle vampires with 6 levels of monk were quite fear-inspiring and the half-dragon black pudding definitely pegged the party's weird-o-meter.

Agree on the manticores, though. Those flying framing nailers are a very challenging, but not overwhelming encounter for mid-level parties.

 

[Lord Zardoz]

I like trolls. If you read the regeneration rules carefully, they are VERY hard to kill for a party that does not have the wall of fire spell yet.

The staying power of trolls is pretty impressive, but it is not perfect. My only complaint about them is that the damage output can be a bit higher than I like if you score Claw + Claw + Rend, since it is going to be all on the same target. The regeneration is not too hard to deal with though if you can inflict enough damage to keep it in the negatives. If you can manage that, it is merely a matter of building a fire.

Where Trolls do excell though is as 'elite cannon fodder'. My party is at about the right level that if I were to throw 3 Trolls at them as support for a primary threat, it would be a hugely dangerous encounter. They could drop a troll easily enough, but it would just get back up, and with 3 + a Primary threat, they would have their attention split pretty badly.

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[Ghostwind]

Run correctly, stirges can give your players nightmares. I have a group that literally hates/fears them with a passion because of their experiences with stirges inside the World's Largest Dungeon.

 

[blargney the second]

Chain devils - they've got a lot of the same goodies as trolls, and can make good big baddies for low levels as well as good mooks at higher levels.

 

[Derro]

I like the dragonne. With his roar every d4 rounds, flight, and pounce it can serve as an excellent harrier. CR 7 with avg. 74 hp makes it a challenge even on par encounters.

Displacer beasts can be fun but they generally work best as a pack.

I advanced and ettercap to large and gave him a retinue of monstrous spiders. That was pretty horrifying for my players. That may rely a bit too much on traps and webs though which is counter to your no grappling caveat.

Slaad are pretty tough too. They have weird immunities, spell like abilities, and a pretty impressive full attack.

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

3 Words: Blink Dog Sorcerers


Nuff Said