aberration trouble [Archive] - Wizards Community

aberration trouble [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
WalkingGhost
01-19-06, 12:14 PM Hi, I am new not only to this board but also to DMing. I am running an Eberron campaign with four first level characters, all of whom are new to D&D. I want ot use aberrations as our primary badguys but i need a little help. Could anyone suggest a few low level aberration villains. Also is there a "mutation" template that i caould add to a normal creature to make it fit? Thank you in advance.
:help:
bholdr_mage
01-19-06, 12:34 PM You could use the tsochar from "Lords of Madness." These guys make great Rping encounters, and an adult is only CR 4. Other than that, maybe a grick or two, but a tsochar (wearer of flesh) is a heckuvalot smarter than gricks.

Go to your local hobby shop and flip through it.

Another idea is to have a mastermind villan like an aboleth or mind flayer. Have their flunkies do the nasty deeds and drop clues a bit along the way to lure the characters to eventually fighting the mastermind. A great example of this is the trilogy city of towers by, none other than Kieth Baker, Eberron designer. Not only that, it's a good read. Hope that helps.
Silver.Lynx
01-19-06, 12:48 PM 1st level characters die really easy... Set them up against small packs of goblins or orcs to start.

Choker, skum are both CR 2, so they could easily kill one or two of your PC's, unless you give put it in disabled situation where it potentially lowers the CR, or don't care about your PC's lives ;)

other than that, i think you'll have to create your own creatures
CzarGarrett
01-19-06, 01:26 PM As a suggestion- check the Eberron boards. There are quite a few creatures specifically tailored to Eberron posted up there.

Also, there are the Dolgaunts and Dolgrims which are low level abberations in the Eberron Campiagn Setting. There is also the Daelkyr symbiotes which can give a more abberation like feel to normal base creatures.

Check the MM2 and MM3- they have additional abberations in there. They are moreso higher CRs, but you can use them for inspiration for lower level versions.

Some templates- such as the psuedonatural template (in Complete Arcane) can be good for abberations.
WalkingGhost
01-19-06, 02:50 PM Thank you all. My library is'nt very big right now so apparently I'm going to have to by a few more book to make this work. glad to have the help, and thanks again.
Damneon
01-19-06, 04:58 PM Something else you can do is find a monster in the books that you have that is the appropriate challenge rating and just change it's description. Use a goblin and say it looks like an octopus with eye stalks. Or use a grig and call it a floating brain (and the leader, instead of having a fiddle, simply resonates an eerie sound that causes you to dance).
pres_man
01-19-06, 05:34 PM You could also give creatures the fiendish template. You can describe them however you want (eyes hanging out or whatever).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
WalkingGhost 01-19-06, 12:14 PM	Hi, I am new not only to this board but also to DMing. I am running an Eberron campaign with four first level characters, all of whom are new to D&D. I want ot use aberrations as our primary badguys but i need a little help. Could anyone suggest a few low level aberration villains. Also is there a "mutation" template that i caould add to a normal creature to make it fit? Thank you in advance. :help:
bholdr_mage 01-19-06, 12:34 PM	You could use the tsochar from "Lords of Madness." These guys make great Rping encounters, and an adult is only CR 4. Other than that, maybe a grick or two, but a tsochar (wearer of flesh) is a heckuvalot smarter than gricks. Go to your local hobby shop and flip through it. Another idea is to have a mastermind villan like an aboleth or mind flayer. Have their flunkies do the nasty deeds and drop clues a bit along the way to lure the characters to eventually fighting the mastermind. A great example of this is the trilogy city of towers by, none other than Kieth Baker, Eberron designer. Not only that, it's a good read. Hope that helps.
Silver.Lynx 01-19-06, 12:48 PM	1st level characters die really easy... Set them up against small packs of goblins or orcs to start. Choker, skum are both CR 2, so they could easily kill one or two of your PC's, unless you give put it in disabled situation where it potentially lowers the CR, or don't care about your PC's lives ;) other than that, i think you'll have to create your own creatures
CzarGarrett 01-19-06, 01:26 PM	As a suggestion- check the Eberron boards. There are quite a few creatures specifically tailored to Eberron posted up there. Also, there are the Dolgaunts and Dolgrims which are low level abberations in the Eberron Campiagn Setting. There is also the Daelkyr symbiotes which can give a more abberation like feel to normal base creatures. Check the MM2 and MM3- they have additional abberations in there. They are moreso higher CRs, but you can use them for inspiration for lower level versions. Some templates- such as the psuedonatural template (in Complete Arcane) can be good for abberations.
WalkingGhost 01-19-06, 02:50 PM	Thank you all. My library is'nt very big right now so apparently I'm going to have to by a few more book to make this work. glad to have the help, and thanks again.
Damneon 01-19-06, 04:58 PM	Something else you can do is find a monster in the books that you have that is the appropriate challenge rating and just change it's description. Use a goblin and say it looks like an octopus with eye stalks. Or use a grig and call it a floating brain (and the leader, instead of having a fiddle, simply resonates an eerie sound that causes you to dance).
pres_man 01-19-06, 05:34 PM	You could also give creatures the fiendish template. You can describe them however you want (eyes hanging out or whatever).