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<blockquote data-quote="Dausuul" data-source="post: 8283601" data-attributes="member: 58197">This all really goes back to the &quot;kitchen sink&quot; vs. &quot;curated world&quot; question. Being firmly on the &quot;curated world&quot; side, I don't assume that all monsters are present in the setting, but I also don't make an exhaustive list of which monsters are in and which are out. Rather, I choose monsters to evoke a particular theme for a given adventure/dungeon, and pick my themes to line up with the broader world.For example, if I wanted a dungeon with a Norse theme, I'd pick monsters to evoke that feel: Winter wolves, flocks of ravens, dire bears, wights (draugr), maybe some trolls or giants. I wouldn't put in a hydra or a gorgon.Some monsters do come with more baggage than others. A dire bear can be dropped in whenever it seems appropriate; it doesn't change the world to know that there are dire bears in one corner of it. Mind flayers, on the other hand, require some heavy thinking. Mind flayers plot and manipulate on a grand scale, so if my world has them in it anywhere, I have to consider what they are up to.In general, I am much more cautious about adding intelligent, organized monsters than &quot;beast in a dungeon&quot; monsters.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Dausuul, post: 8283601, member: 58197"] This all really goes back to the "kitchen sink" vs. "curated world" question. Being firmly on the "curated world" side, I don't assume that all monsters are present in the setting, but I also don't make an exhaustive list of which monsters are in and which are out. Rather, I choose monsters to evoke a particular theme for a given adventure/dungeon, and pick my themes to line up with the broader world. For example, if I wanted a dungeon with a Norse theme, I'd pick monsters to evoke that feel: Winter wolves, flocks of ravens, dire bears, wights (draugr), maybe some trolls or giants. I wouldn't put in a hydra or a gorgon. Some monsters do come with more baggage than others. A dire bear can be dropped in whenever it seems appropriate; it doesn't change the world to know that there are dire bears in one corner of it. Mind flayers, on the other hand, require some heavy thinking. Mind flayers plot and manipulate on a grand scale, so if my world has them in it anywhere, I have to consider what they are up to. In general, I am much more cautious about adding intelligent, organized monsters than "beast in a dungeon" monsters. [/QUOTE]

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