Unfortunately in the downloaded version, they're all numbered with no names. So I thought I'd like to the pictures on the WotC server and see if anyone can identify what the races/monsters are
Thanks in advance!
2. Pennagolan or Aswang (vampiric monster from Asian myths). Deffo.
3. These look cool/freaky. Maybe feral shadar-kai, half-orcs, or halflings? Something like that....Or either Dhampyrs or an Oni variant.
4. Uh...human grave digger/commoner?
2. The one in the middle is a Vargouille (1e MM2 pg 123), the one to the right a Penanggalan (1e Fiend Folio pg 71), and the one on the left appears to be some sort of cross between the two others.
3. Shadar-kai Barbarians?
4. Human Graverobber or perhaps a Pirate (digging for buried treasure)?
EDIT: Actually, look how small those spirit companions are. Maybe they are giants?
In the first pic they have pointed ears, so they're not human. The one has a beard, so they aren't elves.
EDIT: Actually, look how small those spirit companions are. Maybe they are giants?
That was my thought too - pointy ears tend to indicate feywild races, but the size and build speaks to me of giants. Possibly Firbolg giants?
#2 are definately Vargouilles.
3&4 I have no guess on.
That was my thought too - pointy ears tend to indicate feywild races, but the size and build speaks to me of giants. Possibly Firbolg giants?
I thought Firbolgs too.
#2 is some sort of hideous monstrosity I hope to God I never have the misfortune of meeting IRL.
#3 Appears to be some sort of jungle dwelling evil people, perhaps human or giant
#4 Is just what the game needs - A Human Gravedigger - with the uber powerful encounter power - Dig It Deep - which allows him to dig a grave in less than an hour! How did we ever get along with out the Human Gravedigger?
1) Firbolgs
2) Vargouille and apparently Penanggalan as well (possibly under 1 related header)
3) I'd say shadar-kai except they look like they're in the feywild, possibly some sort of savage gnome
4) a human of some sort most likley
Vargouille is an example of a D&D-created name applied to a real-life monstrosity (or real-folklore). Kenkus are another good example (Karasu Tengus), as are Gorgons (though in that case, they ported the name from the collective sisters that the Medusa was one of, and moved it onto the Catoblepas, which later got stated as well, so that there were two versions of it).
They're scary stuff, Malaysian/Philippine Vampires. They're hopefully not called Vampires in this edition though. I always considered that a misnomer created by Eurocentric classifications.
I was wondering what those feral folk were too - but more Firbolgs would be nice. I'm not too fond of my Firbolgs being just in the snow-wastes.
Vargouilles are essentially the D&D version of the Penaggalan. Just because Penaggalan appeared under their real life name in the 1e Fiend Folio doesn't mean they stayed around in that form.
...
They're scary stuff, Malaysian/Philippine Vampires. They're hopefully not called Vampires in this edition though. I always considered that a misnomer created by Eurocentric classifications.
I'm pretty sure the info was spoiled for everyone on Enworld. If i remember correctly, Vargouilles + Penaggalans are 2 types of the same monster in the MM2 and, yes, they are vampires.
]Damn. I thought the whole point of killing Ki was to eliminate racism and ethnocentrism in 4e.[/b] At least they decided to actually use Penaggalan; though, since Vargouilles are based off Penaggalan, it makes it kind of odd that they have different names instead of being two types of the same thing.
Yeah... I went to go look up "Penaggalan" and still kinda don't really know what the hell they are or how it relates to ethnocentrism.
So... crisis averted? ;)
D&D and modern fantasy have made a singular entity into a whole race more than once: Medusa, the Minotaur, the Sphinx. Sometimes because the unique individual made an interesting concept to not be unique and at other times because the name sounded cool so it got reimagined.
Also at least in D&D many creatures tend to be a blend of multiple different cultures that have similar creatures. The vampires of D&D blend many vastly different European legends and even more modern literary constructs that had no basis in the actual folklore beyond a general archetype (Bram Stoker's Dracula, the Blaspheme based off Shelly's Prometheus Unbound).
After all even the dwarf is cross-cultural taking bits and pieces from Celtic, Irish, Norse, and German at the least which all had a 'dwarf' race at least when talking about generall short, stout, humanoids that tended to live underground and often had some association with metals (as crafters or miners).
4e isn't trying to take the monsters 'back to their roots' but is more concerned with making sure that the monsters are distinctive enough that it's not some console RPG that has '300 unique enemies' which is really just 10 models with different levels, colors, and reflavored attacks. I always loved both teh Penggalan and Vargouille and while they where thematically similiar they were still unique in certain ways. Both were also vampires just not in the Dracula motif. What's interesting is we haven't seen the Roman (bites off noses), African (skinwalkers), or Japanese (as I recall) Gaki (soul stealers) take on vampires. Admittedly the gaki in 4e would probably be closer to a wraith variant.
What's interesting is we haven't seen the Roman (bites off noses), African (skinwalkers), or Japanese (as I recall) Gaki (soul stealers) take on vampires.
However, we do have the hopping vampires of HK movie fame. ;)
At least that's how I read the Corpse Vampire in Open Grave... and on the same page we also have the Spirit Vampire which I believe has some chinese influence as well, though the serial numbers have been filed off.
It depicts various Demogorgon cultists.
Damn. I thought the whole point of killing Ki was to eliminate racism and ethnocentrism in 4e. At least they decided to actually use Penaggalan; though, since Vargouilles are based off Penaggalan, it makes it kind of odd that they have different names instead of being two types of the same thing.
Er...what? How exactly does racism remotely relate to the topic at hand?
What about this guy? What the hell is he?
2. The one in the middle is a Vargouille (1e MM2 pg 123), the one to the right a Penanggalan (1e Fiend Folio pg 71), and the one on the left appears to be some sort of cross between the two others.
Agree, agree, and perhaps a chonchon from Peruvian lore?
In the third pic -- I'm loving the guy with the kris and the faceless mask.
What about this guy? What the hell is he?
And from my understanding, the Phoelarch do not get a race write up in the back of the MM2, though I do understand that the Kenku, Bullywug, and Deuregar all have race write ups, and those three are the only three(though I would like this officially confirmed by someone who has the book right now).
Confirmed.
Picked up the book today and of the above pics only no. 3 is actually in there.
Thanks
There were 11 pictures in the zip of the MM2 art gallery that were not in the book (just finished going through it all).