Post/Author/DateTime	Post
High Plains Elf 01-26-05, 01:41 PM	I have just begun playing e3.5 and am about to begin running an alternative game in the Reaches. I look at the Monster Manual and I see lots of low level monsters, but I really don't want to keep throwing monstrous insects and skeletons at the people. I've have years of experience running other Role-playing based games (Pendragon, Werewolf and HERO), where the story and character interactions hold the greatest importance and I can judge power level in those games with ease. But D&D is greek to me. (You can tell that I perfer systems to get out of my way when I GM.) Can some of you folk recommend moster types that fit well into a crafted story and does not become a "Bug Hunt"? The story that I am designing is an escort of an explorier into the woods looking for a lost village. In the village is a shrine which actually turns out to belong to some of the spies placed in the Reaches by Karrnath during the period of the Bandit Lords. The main theme that I am working with is "The Rotting from Within." Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Isran_Imrador 01-26-05, 01:51 PM	Goblin Kobold Orc Small elementals.... Wolf Hobgoblin Bugbear Gnoll Crocodile Leopard Cheetah Hippogriff Satyr Any fey at low CR...
drogg 01-26-05, 02:12 PM	What about dolgrims? "Rotting from within" sounds like corruption plays a big part in your game, and any minion of the daelkyr certainly fit. Or in sticking with the Karrnath theme of undead, a well placed ghoul or two?
Sarlax 01-26-05, 02:23 PM	I'd use low-level NPCs such as first-level warriors. The cool thing about humanoids with class levels is that the threat is always somewhat unknown. If a PC sees a 8 foot floating rock sphere with eyes all over it, he knows to run away. A human in a chain shirt with a masterwork longsword, however, is a different story. If he a 1st level warrior or a 10th level ranger? Is the sword just masterwork or is it +1 Keen? Groups of classed creatures also make for more exciting threats. Second levels warriors can be a big threat even for high level PCs when they use smart tactics. Maybe the Eldeen Reaches suffers from bandits who use the wild creatures in their attacks. When the PCs travel off the major roads, a pair of trained wolves leap out of the night to strike. Once the PCs engage them, first-level human warriors with Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot open fire on them with bows or even slings.
Gurv 01-26-05, 02:31 PM	Something that most new DMs overlook: humans, halflings, elves, half-elves, etc. Give them NPC levels like warrior, and they are a bit weaker than the heroes, allowing you to attack them with a couple at a time. Don't forget animals. I don't know what kind of Karrnathi shrine you have in mind, but adding the fiendish template to animals and vermin produces some encounters that can have more reason than 'just random'. If your shrine is corrupting the natural wildlife this way, it fits your "Rotting from Within Theme". So does undead, which the Karrns are best known for. The Eldeen Reaches also has an aberration problem. Dolgaunts and dolgrim from the ECS, and chokers or grick from the MM are low CR. Then there are fey. Remember how red dragons can be good in Eberron? Evil fey are very evil indeed. Traps are another thing that can really slow low level characters down. A simple 10foot deep pit can cause issues. Especially if you're being harassed by sprites while you try to get out of it. One thing about an Eberron game is that nothing should be as it seems. Don't feel pressured to stick with what the manual says something can and cannot do. As long as you are consistant with any changes made, make Eberron your own.
Golbez57 01-26-05, 02:32 PM	"Rotting", you say? If your adventure sites are anywhere near The Gloaming in the Eldeen Reaches, you can and should include some UNDOODS! I haven't met a player yet who doesn't like to smash up undead from time to time. Aside from that, let me refer you to one of the most powerful tools available to time-conscious/lazy DMs: Dial-A-Monster! (http://www.d20srd.org/filters/monster.php) You won't want to throw anything above CR 3 at a Level 1 party, and even then such a creature would almost certainly wipe them out. And yes, all of those monsters you get as Results are linked to their statistics and descriptions. Jans Carton has a special spot in RPG heaven waiting for him. You can also use a group of lesser creatures (CR 1/8, 1/4, or 1/2) to allow for some more exciting tactical combat. For instance, let's say you do a "Maximum Challenge Rating=1" search using the tool linked above, and want to include some Skeleton, Human Warrior foes. You can then plug in their individual Challenge Rating of 1/3 into Jan's Encounter Calculator (http://www.d20srd.org/encounterCalculator.htm) and play around with the number appearing. You'll find that a group of 4 of them is Challenge Rating (CR) 1 and deemed as "very difficult", since everything equal to a party's average level when they are that fresh to adventuring and lacking many class abilities will be tough. Don't be afraid of including some "bug hunt" elements, too. You can always have some crazy druid who's part of the druid sect that's all into vermin (and with the appropriate feat), and likes the company of big spiders and centipedes. Such an encounter would be perfectly suited to the forests of the Eldeen Reaches, actually. Since I went against your specific wishes to not include skeletons or vermin with my examples above, here's a handful of critters using "Max CR=2" and some thoughts on how they might fit with your theme: Choker, CR 2: A good, very challenging creature that could lurk in the ruins of the village, especially they do any hunting underground Devil, Imp, CR 2: I played a wonderful adventure to being my 3rd Edition D & D career in which a mischeivous imp had manipulated a group of goblins to doing its bidding; maybe he could have come to Eberron through some sort of dark magics (going off of your "rotting" theme) Elementals, Small, CR 1: If the "rotting" has anything to do with corruption of the lands surrounding the shrine, evil varieties of some of these might work well Ghoul, CR 1: A little more flavor than skeletons, and certainly more challenging Stirge, CR 1/2: Classic low-level beasties, they can be surprisingly challenging if the characters don't focus on bringing them down quickly one-at-a-time Any of the other animals mentioned by Isran could work, too. Above all, though, I find that humanoid NPCs make some of the best low-level opponents. Whether a tribe of hobgoblins in the area, followers of druid traditions who would rather not have adventurers poking around their woods, or Karrnathi spies still in the area, those who escape from the fray can return in adventrues to come, suitably advanced with class levels to challenge the PCs. This also fits your preference for games that have lots of role-playing opportunities. Stirge and non-intelligent undead really can't provide that! Here's hoping you find the 3.5 D & D system conducive to the sorts of stories you and your players enjoy... and that they don't get sucked dry by Stirge.
Streamweaver 01-26-05, 03:07 PM	My personal take is that monsters are nice for the occassional encounter but primarily I use intelligent NPCs as the primary challenges.
Firiel Tindomerel 01-27-05, 02:22 AM	I usually go for a CR1 race, and give their leaders Class levels, that adds much to the depth of the game. It all depends on the story you are building, but, say, with Gnolls, Gnoll Rangers, Gnoll Clerics and so on you are well set :D If you are planning on using psionics, the Thri-Kreen are also a possibility.