Post/Author/DateTime	Post
unundindur 07-19-06, 02:02 PM	Greetings. I am about to launch a DnD setting for a couple of friends and co-workers who have never done DnD, or much of fantasy for that matter. I was wondering what monsters you would suggest for such an audience (so to speak...)? The questline is quite adaptable, currently focusing on a moonblade and an infested mine. Currently i have the following monsters on my notebook: Kobold Ogre Elf (wizard3 /rogue1) Brigands (human warrior 1) Pixie Dark-elves (mostly warrior 2s) Human (cleric of nerull 2) Minotaur Pit-trap Poison-needle trap Ghoul Human zombie Shadow Lizardfolk (inc one half-dragon) Griffin (short time ally) I think I want to run semi-typical monsters, but avoid the orc, because..well, people tend to get a hickup by them... Any imput will be appreciated.
Kenzuki 07-19-06, 02:13 PM	An infested mine needs goblins! Tell them to think Lord of the Rings when they play it.
cwslyclgh 07-19-06, 02:33 PM	I actually prefer to use kobolds to goblins in infested mines... what you need is an Owlbear, because all good intorductory adventures should have an owlbear :P
The Ubbergeek 07-19-06, 02:33 PM	Orcs. You can never go wrong with the greenskins. (Hobgoblins in Dragonlance for the same effect) Low grade undeads like skeletons and zombies are always sellers. How about some predators? A pack of wolves roaming in the exteriior range fo the mine, and bats down under.
BladefellMaster 07-19-06, 06:29 PM	try hobgoblin or goblin raiders, 2-3 of them, mounted on worgs. cave-in or pit traps otyugh ( the thing under the pile of rubble in a verticle shaft or pit trap) unicorns (always a hit with the ladies) by the way, kuos for introducing new player to the game
Fangthane 07-19-06, 07:08 PM	At least one rust monster :eek:
The Ubbergeek 07-19-06, 07:18 PM	At least one rust monster :eek: Well, but with warryness - they can ruin things in group for a low-level group in a low-magic setting, I say. There GOT to be a dwarf NPC at least. :D
Shoyu 07-19-06, 08:13 PM	well, as the name implies, I'd suggest you have them fight a dragon. it isn't Dungeons and Dragons without dragons.
kodarr 07-19-06, 09:29 PM	steer clear of kobold for a low level adventure I wouldn't put anyone under 7th level up against them. They are known for thier deadly traps and cunning tactics. Not to meantion tons of tunnels just big enough for them so they can move about easy while those in persuit have troubles.
dok 07-19-06, 11:09 PM	A good dungeon crawl will let you use a lot of classic monsters & hazards. The old "explore the sewers beneath the city" lets you hit a lot of the classics: *Dire Rats *Gelatenous cubes *Otyeog *Green Slime *Fire Beetles *Stirges *Rat or Spider Swarm I would suggest Orcs, Goblins, Kobolds, Hobgoblins, or Gnolls above "Dark Elves", at least to start. Dark Elves have a place in standard fantasy, but its a narrower niche than that of the "evil humanoids". Giant Vermin offer a certain classic feel: giant centipedes and spiders are very old school. Yes, they need to face a dragon at some point. It could, however, be a good-aligned dragon that they'd need to negotiate (read: roleplay) with. Don't forget to have monster lair entrances planted with Shriekers for more old-school style.
unundindur 07-20-06, 09:00 AM	Thanks to all of you! And the sewer-part in particular. I guess I will add a short hunt for a missing boy in the sewers. Please, come with more suggestions if you feel like it, I will keep an eye on this thread for some time :)
synapse 07-20-06, 10:40 AM	what level is adventure? 1st im assuming... a were-rat, especially in a sewer adventure. imp/quasit/mephit - always fun, especially in a roleplaying encounter my fave horde creatures are kobolds, goblins and gnolls. though to many gnolls (especially classed ones can be a bit good)...
babysamurai 07-20-06, 10:55 AM	what you need is an Owlbear, because all good intorductory adventures should have an owlbear :P Funny you should mention that. I have been DMing for eighteen years, and finally, for the first time, put an Owlbear up against my players.
cwslyclgh 07-20-06, 02:25 PM	steer clear of kobold for a low level adventure I wouldn't put anyone under 7th level up against them.the standard kobold warriors have a CR of 1/4, by 7th level the PCs will not get any XP for them... They are known for thier deadly traps and cunning tactics.with an average craft (trapmaking) skill of +2, and an average intelligence of 10 it seems likley that this reputation is inflated, thier traps, while no doubt dangerous are probably not all that deadly, and thier tactics should be no more cunning then any other typical humanoids with average intelligence. Not to meantion tons of tunnels just big enough for them so they can move about easy while those in persuit have troubles.while this may be true if the Kobolds built thier own mine/lair... if they took over a preexisting one then the tunnels will still probably be sized for creatures of what ever size made it. They might have a few narrow bolt holes for emergencies that they built themselves and such, but being small sized creatures by the rules any place that a kobold can fit through with out squeezing so can any other small sized creature (or even a medium sized creature if the PHB is read with out an eye to common sense in mind). all in all Kobolds are a great introductory monster if they are not lead by too many leader types with character classes, a couple of dozen standard kobolds spread between 6-9 rooms/encounter areas with a level 2 sorcerer leader, and a couple of level 1 fighter bodyguards can make a great area in a low level dungeon.
Tembo 07-20-06, 08:51 PM	My personal all-time favorite and classic DnD monster, a carrion crawler (at least 3rd level characters)! Could be deadly for newbs (no degredation intended) though.
savant_warlord13 07-20-06, 09:21 PM	darkmantle
Dreamstryder 07-22-06, 11:39 PM	I agree with darkmantles & carrion crawlers. I'm also fond of flooding room traps; in a subterranean setting they could fill a tunnel with water, but at the end it could fill a gaping pit with water, allowing the PCs to swim across what they could not normally traverse, or use it to swim up a shaft that would be harder to climb (maybe if they bent/broke some bars/wooden planks in the way; afterall, wouldn't be much of a trap if you could swim to safety too easily). That's a CR 5, and if you're running a lvl ~4 group (judging from the list), that could be a major scene for them.
Darth Sephiroth 07-22-06, 11:59 PM	If you want Kobolds, make sure you have Races of the Dragon and the web enhansements, the revised Kobolds there are very nice to play with compared to the normal ones.
pita 07-23-06, 03:20 AM	My advice: Stick to Tolkien Lore Creatures. That'll cover from the bases, and you can use mythology creatures too, if you want. The characters will feel secure when they know stuff. But don't be afraid to send them something they don't know of such as gibberlings. But don't overdo that.
The Ubbergeek 07-23-06, 12:28 PM	Well, not just tolkien.... It's also an occasion for them to experiment the flavor the dm's work, and his setting... So, basic, ultracommon D&D monsters, and in the same way, common monsters to his setting.
Mechnomancer 07-23-06, 12:56 PM	A solo grick in a recessed alcove (just cause i love my aberations) ghosts of long dead miners that have to be negotiated with to find the lay out of the mine turns out that the little boy who is the object of the recue mission is a were-rat who is just starting to manifest his powers. the pcs exit the mine just as the full moon comes out from behind a dark cloud. the necromancer who was hired to keep the mine haunted so that an outside interest group that has recently detected a large vein of gold can buy it on the cheap.
pita 07-23-06, 02:29 PM	I was just under the assumption that, as a beginning game, you'd show them things they either know or are common in most D&D, to prepare them for the future games. A DM describes a two headed giant and I say ettin, because I know what it is. Short, yellow-greenish fanged humanoids carrying morningstars are goblins, and in future, the characters will start knowing of goblins, allowing them to my . Tolkien's works are what you see in the first levels, so i was thinking of a normal game.
Piggyfreak6 07-23-06, 02:40 PM	Skeletons and Zombies. You can never go wrong with those. Anyone with a half eaten brain will know what a zombie is!
unundindur 07-27-06, 10:39 AM	Thanks to everyone! The game is still a week or so into the future so more suggestions are welcome. I might just steal that water trap and ghost-miner encounter. Sounded like a brilliant non-combat break and a good way of handing out a map respectively. Thanks again (to everyone) :)
unundindur 01-10-07, 05:40 PM	Bump. This is an old thread, but I found it quite valuable and interesting.