:D
Seriously, my concern is that they'll add on too many more playable races. IMO, the first one had too many (although it had the ones I wanted). If they're going to do that, I think they should include a block listing the playable info with any race that has a civilization or culture of any sort and get it over with.
I imagine they'll add in monsters that appeared only in the 4e modules, such as Norkers.
Also, Rustmonsters who permanently rust magic items.
However, allow me to take this opportunity to speculate baselessly. Due to the designers' fondness for unique traits for each monster, it's likely that we'll see the return of old monsters that "broke the rules" a bit in their native editions. A perfect example would be Spellweavers, with their ability to cast multiple spells at once. They'd make wonderful controllers/artillery. Can anyone else think of old "rule-breakers" that could make a comeback?
Orcus was the 'Boss' of MM one. Anyone know who it'll be this time?
Other demon lords seem likely. Demogorgon or Graz'zt, perhaps? Alternately, one of the evil gods, like Asmodeus.
Other demon lords seem likely. Demogorgon or Graz'zt, perhaps? Alternately, one of the evil gods, like Asmodeus.
Graz'zt is in Manual of the Planes, so I seriously doubt they will reprint him.
Based on the cover art, I would have to go with Demogorgon.
Also, Rustmonsters who permanently rust magic items.
I thought the point of 4e was to avoid crap like that?
Take a look at the cover. - Demogorgon!
Why didn't I think of that-- before blowing a post ;)?
===
As far as what I'd like to see in MM 2, I'm really hoping for centaurs. Not really a new monster but for some reason, I miss 'em.
I thought the point of 4e was to avoid crap like that?
It is. We've seen the new rust monster and you get residuum equal to the ganked item out of it's gullet when you kill it.
And please, dear devs, check the D&D miniatures back catalog and give us stats for all the monsters waiting in my minis drawer.
Something I'd also like to see are more "down to earth" monsters, foes you'll normally encounter in a city environment. It would be very handy to have town guards, soldiers, drunken brawlers, thieves, spies, fencing masters, wizard apprentices, archmages, town priests, bishops, beggars, cultists, gladiators, bar wenches, ninjas, knights, nobles, courtiers, kings (yes, a sample king would be awesome...) Not every encounter plays in a dungeon, and it would cut down my adventure preparation time a lot to have these ready with all the exotic oozes and stuff. If they're not in MM2, dear devs please take notes for MM3 right now!
In previous editions, I often had the problem that many of the monsters were just too strange to ever use them. A 20 meter giant is great, but if he's born somewhere and comes from a giant village, that giant village is a pretty important landmark on the map. So why does it suddenly show up, now that the PCs are strong enough to fight a giant? It gets worse with things like 20 m (<- metric meters, get used to it) giant fish with psionic abilities. Isn't that a major hazard to shipping routes?
I just checked amazon today and they have the MM2 on preorder so I will probably order it so that I can get it when it comes out!
Why didn't I think of that-- before blowing a post ;)?
Fortunately you have Write Forum Post as an at-will!
We've seen the new rust monster and you get residuum equal to the ganked item out of it's gullet when you kill it.
Huh? But... but...
doesn't that break the whole magic item price structure?If they give you residuum equal to the sale price (20% of its value) then the rust monster has effectively stolen 80% the value of your item.
If they give you residuum equal to the purchase price (100% of its value) then rust monsters become the preferred method for disposing of old magic items! You get five times more money from a rust monster than you would for selling or disenchanting it.
Am I missing something?
- Alane -
("That's Snerdly, our party's rust monster. We keep him around to dispose of old items for us.")
-
Am I missing something?
There is a level limit on what they can eat.
Also, try keeping one as a pet....
and bindings made of metal, it will eat, and if not metal, it can proabilly break it. Then you have to keep it fed, and train it to not attack you.
Also as someone mentioned, the basic golems would be nice. Iron, clay, and flesh at least. I'm looking forward to the return of the metallic dragons. Would also like to see more of the basic elementals rather than the mixed ones they have in the MM1, and some of the other genie types as well.
Well, you'll just have to wait. Nyah!:P
Seriously, my concern is that they'll add on too many more playable races. IMO, the first one had too many (although it had the ones I wanted). If they're going to do that, I think they should include a block listing the playable info with any race that has a civilization or culture of any sort and get it over with.
I imagine they'll add in monsters that appeared only in the 4e modules, such as Norkers.
the races in the back of MM1 are -not- intended for Player use at all.
But players being what they are assumed that they were, and many dms went with it.
Also as someone mentioned, the basic golems would be nice. Iron, clay, and flesh at least.
Flesh golems are in the MM1. But at least iron golems should be in.
It is. We've seen the new rust monster and you get residuum equal to the ganked item out of it's gullet when you kill it.
So everyone will be hunting high and low for rust monsters to feed their spare equipment to it. :D
And didn't we already get a partial art gallery for the MM2? I know I saw centaurs in there at least.
the races in the back of MM1 are -not- intended for Player use at all.
But players being what they are assumed that they were, and many dms went with it.
This right here.
Player character races out of a monster manual...madness.
So everyone will be hunting high and low for rust monsters to feed their spare equipment to it. :D
Only the dumb ones. The Smart ones will actually be out looking for real treasure instead of trying to refund their existing treasure.
Only the dumb ones. The Smart ones will actually be out looking for real treasure instead of trying to refund their existing treasure.
I can see anyone who deals in magic for a living (hedge wizards, royal enchanters, etc) keeping one around, though. Maybe sending the adventurers on a quest to capture one "alive and intact."
I can see anyone who deals in magic for a living (hedge wizards, royal enchanters, etc) keeping one around, though. Maybe sending the adventurers on a quest to capture one "alive and intact."
Thing is that you have to kill it to get the residuum out, so you don't just need a rust monster, you need a steady supply of rust monsters.
Thing is that you have to kill it to get the residuum out, so you don't just need a rust monster, you need a steady supply of rust monsters.
Gut it then ressurect it...
It would be very handy to have town guards, soldiers, drunken brawlers, thieves, spies, fencing masters, wizard apprentices, archmages, town priests, bishops, beggars, cultists, gladiators, bar wenches, ninjas, knights, nobles, courtiers, kings (yes, a sample king would be awesome...)
While you could slip some of those in the Human entry, they depend more on setting than any one race. I could see a Folk Folio of sorts (like Draconomicon & Open Grave) akin to what we have here.
A 20 meter giant is great, but if he's born somewhere and comes from a giant village, that giant village is a pretty important landmark on the map. So why does it suddenly show up, now that the PCs are strong enough to fight a giant? It gets worse with things like 20 m (<- metric meters, get used to it) giant fish with psionic abilities. Isn't that a major hazard to shipping routes?
Not if it's always there blocking the way until the PCs get strong enough to risk interacting to it. Not if your "starting town" is a big city where the big frontier critters have been cleared away. Most other Fantasy RPGs deal with that question in some way or another, but you don't have to keep the "level safety" on in your campaign; if you don't always know you can whack anything before you, things might be more entertaining.
Gut it then ressurect it...
You can't force it back to life. It can just not come back, particularly if it's coming back to a life of being force-fed magic items then being slaughtered.
You can't force it back to life. It can just not come back, particularly if it's coming back to a life of being force-fed magic items then being slaughtered.
I guess you could breed them. Like people breeding animals for fur/leather.
Disclaimer: I have no intention to actually include one of these in a game. I just think it's an interesting mental exercise.
I would love to see more mindflayers. I want to make them the main bad guys in my drow campaign (new and improved for 4e!), but haven't had time to expand on what's listed in the MM.
I would like to see some normal Mind Flayers.
I guess you could breed them. Like people breeding animals for fur/leather.
Disclaimer: I have no intention to actually include one of these in a game. I just think it's an interesting mental exercise.
How does a rust monster even mate!
Course I'm still annoyed at the fact that these rust monster eat items still, I mean I remember how bad it was when my 3.5 dm had an encounter full of the things and we wern't high level and they turned EVERYTHING to rust, that was worth using as a weapon, armor or shield. Then they killed us.
I guess you could breed them. Like people breeding animals for fur/leather.
Disclaimer: I have no intention to actually include one of these in a game. I just think it's an interesting mental exercise.
It is interesting, though I think the scale of the operation would mean that a sustainable business would be rare and difficult.
It'd probably play out far more often as vendors stockpiling what they can until they have enough that the windfall would pay for them to hire adventurers to bring one back alive.
Cockatrice please.
There is basic stats for one already if you look;
Against the Giants RPG stat cards, which, by the way, work great as quick monster cards for sudden encounters...
I'd like to see some of the Fey creatures make a comeback, especially since we have access to an entire plane that has nothing but fey in it. So Nymphs (with non-watered down artwork would be nice), Pixies, Brownies, Centaurs (usually depicted as co-existing with fey), and such would be cool.
Also as someone mentioned, the basic golems would be nice. Iron, clay, and flesh at least. I'm looking forward to the return of the metallic dragons. Would also like to see more of the basic elementals rather than the mixed ones they have in the MM1, and some of the other genie types as well.
Oh Yeah! I agree 100% I love the fey creatures! I even based much of my world on those, so that would be cool. I can't wait!
"A coin for your troubles"
Am I missing something?-
You need a steady supply of Rust Monsters to be able to recover the magic items. If the DM doesn't make them ultra rare, then they deserve to break the balance :P
the races in the back of MM1 are -not- intended for Player use at all.
But players being what they are assumed that they were, and many dms went with it.
What I heard was WotC said they COULD be used by players if the DM was willing. I definitely recall WotC encouraging them to be used by players who had sympathetic DMs.
How does a rust monster even mate!
Course I'm still annoyed at the fact that these rust monster eat items still, I mean I remember how bad it was when my 3.5 dm had an encounter full of the things and we wern't high level and they turned EVERYTHING to rust, that was worth using as a weapon, armor or shield. Then they killed us.
Sounds like your problem is with the DM. Give that DM a Monster Manual and he can kill you regardless of whether or not it has a rust monster.
Please, no "watered-down" fey. What they did to the dryad's artwork was disappointingly treantish & undryadlike (& I assume not entirely the artist's fault).
If you want a naked elf in the forest who calls itself a 'dryad', just put a naked elf in the forest.
Or choose to portray the Dryad as a naked tree chick. Just because it's the art they give doesn't mean it's the art you have to use.
Also, in the 4th Ed System Reference Document (found here) they list monsters, starting on page 58 of said PDF. Some are from the first MM, but some aren't. :D
Demogorgon
Metallic Dragons (including adamantine, don't expect brass or bronze until Draconomicon 2)
Frost Giants
Green Slime
Centaurs
Rust Monster
Star Spawn (abberrant avatars of the stars of the warlock star pact, not stars like in our world but portals into the Far Realm).
We'll likely see new variants on some monster types in the MM (more golems, more dragon and drakes, etc.) that aren't fully fleshed out groups yet. We'll also see the return of other 'classics' plus a host of new monsters (like the Star Spawn) that fit the theme of 4e.
As for the MM race write-ups. These aren't 'encouraged' PC races, actually they're discouraged races. Though not explicitly stated in the books they're meant for NPCs which is why they have no racial feats. It allows the more 'diverse' monsters in the MM to be fully fleshed out with levels characters for the DM to use as BBEG and other RP elements. The key races will get PC writeups in either a future PH (like gnome and shifter) or in Dragon Magazine (Gnoll and Minotaur so far).
Note that the PH/Dragon PC writeups don't always match the MM entries (Minotaurs lose the oversized racial ability for example). The races are included in the CB and it's up to a DM if he wants to allow his players to use them (or any race from any book). The presence of the races in the MM are like the presence of Evil gods in the DMG, they're for DM use primarily but the DM may choose to allow them for players though WotC's official stance is they're discouraged, often by not permitting them in the RPGA games.
Please, no "watered-down" fey. What they did to the dryad's artwork was disappointingly treantish & undryadlike (& I assume not entirely the artist's fault).
Actually many actual folklore/mythology renditions of dryads fit the 4e art of them. Water Nymphs were the naked cavorting women, dryads (aka wood nymphs) were not only tied to their trees but looked like their trees and weren't 'attractive' when seen for what they are. The key is that they could use illusions to make themselves attractive and lure in men (as prey or to end a threat to their tree/wooded area) but that was just a glamour and not their true form.
On the issue of breeding rust monsters: love it, and anybody who has played through Resident Evil 5 will understand why. Well, for the rest of you all, imagine an underground breeding of rust monsters beneath the wizard's abode, under a castle, or similar place. Such monsters, when contained and controlled, act in accord to the wizard's will... but an outbreak of so many crawly, magic-eating things could get very dangerous... especially they grew bigger as they consumed magic!
On the issue of MM2 contents: I am all about centaurs, metallic dragons, and frost giants! I hope to see additional entries for most of the essential monster entries (Mind Flayer, Eladrin, Human, Kobold, Orc), but would certainly not mind if new, interesting monster additions were made to the MM in their place. Mind, I don't really like those new star monsters from today's preview, but think that they are a lot better than some monsters (like the roper!) While I personally would love a lot more heroic-tier monsters that were a bit more "NPC-like," don't really foresee it happening.
I wouldn't be surprised then if other PHB2 races get some monsters in the MM2 as well.
What I personally want:
Aberrations: More and more aberrations, both mundane and completely mind-boggling.
Parasites: Sorta fitting in with aberrations, but stuff like Elan parasites, the stuff you see in RE4-5, etc.
Fey: Especially Fey that aren't specifically season or nature oriented. Let us see how Fey would react in a urban environment for example. Or how they view time, destiny, and other such things.
Spirits: I love spirits and would like to see both more ghost types. As well as Primal Spirit kinds.
Starspawn: Not just Starspawn but things of that nature.
Humanoids: Just more regular old humanoids.
Fey: Especially Fey that aren't specifically season or nature oriented. Let us see how Fey would react in a urban environment for example. Or how they view time, destiny, and other such things.
I want Zeitgeists back! But really, I'd be happy with any of the following;
Fey. Of any kind. Seriously.
Heroic-tier aberrations.
More golems (or just constructs in general).
Yrthraks. I loved those crazy blind sonic lance wyvern monstrosity... things.
More reincarnations of 3.5 Inevitables and Nightstalkers. We've already had the marut and nightwalker, I'd love to see the zelekhut, nightcrawler, and others return.
But more fey and aberrations!!!
On the issue of breeding rust monsters: love it, and anybody who has played through Resident Evil 5 will understand why.
Ive beat that game more times than i care to remember...but i dont recall any rust monsters. lol
Here are monsters mentioned in the SRD that aren't in the first Monster Manual.
It should be mentioned that any Beholders, Mind Flayers, etc (i.e. anything "D&D Copyrighted") are not included in the SRD, and thus even if they are in the new MM, the SRD wouldn't list them. Also, the SRD only covers "core" books, defined as the PHB, PHB II, MM, MMII, DMG, and AV; it hasn't been updated since the beginning of March, so this list is very possibly incorrect.
Abomination
[INDENT]Retriever[/INDENT]
Angel
[INDENT]Archangel (Functional Template)[/INDENT]
Ankheg
[INDENT]Ankheg
Ankheg Broodling[/INDENT]
Ant, Giant
[INDENT]
Hive Worker
Hive Warrior
Hive Soldier
Winged Drone
Hive Queen[/INDENT]
Barghest
[INDENT]Barghest Savager
Barghest Battle Lord[/INDENT]
Behir
[INDENT]Behir
Behir Bolter Whelp[/INDENT]
Centaur
[INDENT]Centaur Hunter
Centaur Ravager
Centaur Mystic
Centaur Fey Charger
Centaur Campaigner[/INDENT]
Centipede
[INDENT]Centipede Swarm
Centipede Scuttler
[/INDENT]
Cockatrice
Couatl
[INDENT]Couatl Star Serpent
Couatl Cloud Serpent[/INDENT]
Demon
[INDENT]Beblith
Dretch[/INDENT]
Devil
[INDENT]Erinyes[/INDENT]
Darkmantle
[INDENT]Darkmantle Enveloper
Darkmantle Piercer[/INDENT]
Djinn
[INDENT]Djinn Thunderer
Djinn Windbow
Djinn Stormsword
Djinn Skylord[/INDENT]
Dragon
[INDENT]Copper Dragon[/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT]Young Copper Dragon
Adult Copper Dragon
Elder Copper Dragon
Ancient Copper Dragon[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT]Gold Dragon[/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT]Young Gold Dragon
Adult Gold Dragon
Elder Gold Dragon
Ancient Gold Dragon[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT]Silver Dragon[/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT]Young Silver Dragon
Adult Silver Dragon
Elder Silver Dragon
Ancient Silver Dragon[/INDENT][/INDENT]
Duergar
[INDENT]Duergar Guard
Duergar Scout
Duergar Theurge
Duergar Shock Trooper
Duergar Fleshtearer
Duergar Hellcaller
Duergar Blackguard
Duergar Blasphemer[/INDENT]
Giant
[INDENT]Frost Giant
Frost Giant Ice Shaper
Frost Titan
Stone Giant
Stone Giant Runecarver
Stone Titan[/INDENT]
Golem
[INDENT]Clay Golem
Iron Golem[/INDENT]
Gray Render
Hawk
[INDENT]Blood Hawk
Frost Hawk[/INDENT]
Krenshar
[INDENT]Krenshar
Krenshar Blood Slayer[/INDENT]
Lycanthrope
[INDENT]Wereboar
Weretiger
Werewolf Lord[/INDENT]
Ooze
[INDENT]Abolethic Skum
Black Pudding
Black Pudding Spawn
Gray Ooze
Green Slime[/INDENT]
Remorhaz
Rust Monster
[INDENT]Rust Monster
Young Rust Monster Swarm
Dweomer Eater[/INDENT]
Shark
[INDENT]Fleshtearer Shark[/INDENT]
Tiger
[INDENT]Tiger
Dire Tiger[/INDENT]
Vampire
[INDENT]Pennaggolan
Vargouille
Vargouille Husk[/INDENT]
Will-o’-Wisp
Winter Wolf
[INDENT]Winter Wolf
Winter Wolf Snowfang
Rime Hound[/INDENT]
Xorn
[INDENT]Xorn
Diamondhide Xorn[/INDENT]
Aarakocra, Alaghi, Aurumvorax, Avariel, Behir, Beholder (more of them), Brownie, Centaur, Cockatrice, Deepspawn, Dinosaurs (more of them), Dragonne, Elementals (more of them), Fey'ri, Giants (more of them), Gith, Golems (more of them), Gorynych, Gremlins, Intellect Devourer, Kenku, Leucrotta, Living Wall, Lycanthropes (more of them), Manscorpian, Marl, Mudman, Nymph, Omryrr, Osquip, Rust Monster, Tanarukk, Thessalmonster, and Wemic.
Just to name a few. But the one I want most is the 6 legged dragon on pg 5 of Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons, that dragon is awesome!
Fine, you lazy people. ;)
Here are monsters mentioned in the SRD that aren't in the first Monster Manual.
It should be mentioned that any Beholders, Mind Flayers, etc (i.e. anything "D&D Copyrighted") are not included in the SRD, and thus even if they are in the new MM, the SRD wouldn't list them. Also, the SRD only covers "core" books, defined as the PHB, PHB II, MM, MMII, DMG, and AV; it hasn't been updated since the beginning of March, so this list is very possibly incorrect.Show
Abomination
[INDENT]Retriever[/INDENT]
Angel
[INDENT]Archangel (Functional Template)[/INDENT]
Ankheg
[INDENT]Ankheg
Ankheg Broodling[/INDENT]
Ant, Giant
[INDENT]
Hive Worker
Hive Warrior
Hive Soldier
Winged Drone
Hive Queen[/INDENT]
Barghest
[INDENT]Barghest Savager
Barghest Battle Lord[/INDENT]
Behir
[INDENT]Behir
Behir Bolter Whelp[/INDENT]
Centaur
[INDENT]Centaur Hunter
Centaur Ravager
Centaur Mystic
Centaur Fey Charger
Centaur Campaigner[/INDENT]
Centipede
[INDENT]Centipede Swarm
Centipede Scuttler
[/INDENT]
Cockatrice
Couatl
[INDENT]Couatl Star Serpent
Couatl Cloud Serpent[/INDENT]
Demon
[INDENT]Beblith
Dretch[/INDENT]
Devil
[INDENT]Erinyes[/INDENT]
Darkmantle
[INDENT]Darkmantle Enveloper
Darkmantle Piercer[/INDENT]
Djinn
[INDENT]Djinn Thunderer
Djinn Windbow
Djinn Stormsword
Djinn Skylord[/INDENT]
Dragon
[INDENT]Copper Dragon[/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT]Young Copper Dragon
Adult Copper Dragon
Elder Copper Dragon
Ancient Copper Dragon[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT]Gold Dragon[/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT]Young Gold Dragon
Adult Gold Dragon
Elder Gold Dragon
Ancient Gold Dragon[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT]Silver Dragon[/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT]Young Silver Dragon
Adult Silver Dragon
Elder Silver Dragon
Ancient Silver Dragon[/INDENT][/INDENT]
Duergar
[INDENT]Duergar Guard
Duergar Scout
Duergar Theurge
Duergar Shock Trooper
Duergar Fleshtearer
Duergar Hellcaller
Duergar Blackguard
Duergar Blasphemer[/INDENT]
Giant
[INDENT]Frost Giant
Frost Giant Ice Shaper
Frost Titan
Stone Giant
Stone Giant Runecarver
Stone Titan[/INDENT]
Golem
[INDENT]Clay Golem
Iron Golem[/INDENT]
Gray Render
Hawk
[INDENT]Blood Hawk
Frost Hawk[/INDENT]
Krenshar
[INDENT]Krenshar
Krenshar Blood Slayer[/INDENT]
Lycanthrope
[INDENT]Wereboar
Weretiger
Werewolf Lord[/INDENT]
Ooze
[INDENT]Abolethic Skum
Black Pudding
Black Pudding Spawn
Gray Ooze
Green Slime[/INDENT]
Remorhaz
Rust Monster
[INDENT]Rust Monster
Young Rust Monster Swarm
Dweomer Eater[/INDENT]
Shark
[INDENT]Fleshtearer Shark[/INDENT]
Tiger
[INDENT]Tiger
Dire Tiger[/INDENT]
Vampire
[INDENT]Pennaggolan
Vargouille
Vargouille Husk[/INDENT]
Will-o’-Wisp
Winter Wolf
[INDENT]Winter Wolf
Winter Wolf Snowfang
Rime Hound[/INDENT]
Xorn
[INDENT]Xorn
Diamondhide Xorn[/INDENT]
It amuses me Vargouilles are listed under Vampire. That's very...Castlevania, but what next, zombies are vampires? Mud men are vampire? Fish men are vampires?
They'll probably be small immortal magical beast (undead).
Or simply beasts.
. . . Do you have a problem with Castlevania? Or vampiric sahaugin?
Of course we also need more golems, Dragonspawn, fey, and elementals. So, uh-mm, yeah...
There were some golems listed there, there are some in one of the free early 4th ed Dragon issues (#367, page 42) and as for the rest, dragonspawn will probably show up in Draconomicons like they did in the first of those. Major elementals will probably be dealt with in The Plane Below: Secrets of the Elemental Chaos. Ditto with whatever handbook they put out specific to the fey realm. Not only that, but fey creatures (such as the Faerie Dragon) showed up in the Draconomicon. So some of the beings you want to see might show up in a supplement instead of what they think of as "Core" books.
I believe Wizards only listed previously published monsters in the SRD and none of the never before published or new IP ones. So, there should be plenty of suprises (nice or otherwise) in MM2. Possibly some Primordials, Archfey and whatever takes their place in the Shadowfell.
Bel
They'll probably be small immortal magical beast (undead).
Or simply beasts.
. . . Do you have a problem with Castlevania? Or vampiric sahaugin?
I'm quite fond of Castlevania, merely amused at the classification of something that isn't really related to vampires (normally, 4e fluff may change things).
WotC's official stance is they're discouraged
I definitely remember WotC employees specifically saying that they could be used until the "missing races" were brought out in a PHB. It was said to help appease those angry about gnomes not being in the PHB. Are these writeups unbalanced? Of course they are. But they're not so terribly broken that a DM can't let his players use them.
And after some careful and long searching (dang forum's search function is broken) I found this post. It was not an isolated comment. Yes, the NPC write-ups are meant for NPCs, but WotC was saying that as a secondary function you can use them for PCs.
Just a thought: They may have kept Half-Elves until MM2 because they wanted to use some Bard-like powers for the Half-Elf monsters, and didn't want to reveal these things until after PH2. Still, I really hope they have Half-Elves in MM2.
Something that would be helpful if they intend to make PC options for various monsters is some kind of rule-of-thumb formula for cross-breeding them
my best method would be :
If it has stats, their genetically compatable. If it does not, they races are not
Wait a minute, Tarrasque has stats, gnomes have stats...
I meant if the hybrids have stats, but sure, that is just amusing ;)
I meant if the hybrids have stats, but sure, that is just amusing ;)
With 3.5 rules, the OGL Advanced Bestiary 2 and the Amalgam template, you could indeed have tarragnomes.
It amuses me Vargouilles are listed under Vampire. That's very...Castlevania, but what next, zombies are vampires? Mud men are vampire? Fish men are vampires?
You forgot Rust Monsters are Vampires.
Also, I hear that the MM3 has Fluffy Pink Kittens under the Gargoyle entry:P
I guess you could breed them. Like people breeding animals for fur/leather.
Disclaimer: I have no intention to actually include one of these in a game. I just think it's an interesting mental exercise.
Problem there is you get the local members of PETME (People for the Ethical Treatment of Monsters Everywhere) breathing down your neck to make sure you're treating them "demi-humanely".
Problem there is you get the local members of PETME (People for the Ethical Treatment of Monsters Everywhere) breathing down your neck to make sure you're treating them "demi-humanely".
I think the monsters have there own verion of that. EATU (Ethics Are Totally Unnecessary).:D
Actually many actual folklore/mythology renditions of dryads fit the 4e art of them. Water Nymphs were the naked cavorting women, dryads (aka wood nymphs) were not only tied to their trees but looked like their trees and weren't 'attractive' when seen for what they are. The key is that they could use illusions to make themselves attractive and lure in men (as prey or to end a threat to their tree/wooded area) but that was just a glamour and not their true form.
There are many types of nymphs: naiads, dryads, oceanids, ...
Mosaic found in Pompeii. This is my idea of a dryad. I've also heard of nymphs turning themselves into trees to protect themselves from the attentions of gods & satyrs, but the vice-versa you've described (intriguing tho' it may be) I've never heard describe a nymph!
I'd like to know whence that came; sounds rather German or North European to me...(elfish glamour & all) My main complaint is that it looks like a treant, something more indicative of its dual nature would have been appreciated. (Similarly, a naked woman without any tree imagery wouldn't fit well.)
Thank you, Kalnaur, for the list! I suppose it's all subject to change but at least we can daydream.
Vargouilles are based on a real-myth vampire as far as I recall. There are many shapes & shades of vampires in the world. Take, for example...
Ankheg
Hive Queen Ant
Iron Golem
Rust Monster
Behir
Remorhaz
Retriever
Bebilith Demon
Weretiger
Sphinx Mystery
Heroslayer Hydra
Adamantine Dragon
Bullywug
Neogi
Frost Giant
Stone Giant
Some of these were confirmed in other locations as well but it's nice to see the return of the Bullywug and the Neogi, as well as the Behir and Remorhaz. The Sphinx Mystery and Heroslayer Hydra look to be new, or at least reimagined versions of older monsters.
I would like to see some normal animals as well, the lack of normal bears etc has been a thorn in my DM's side. It is nice to have all knids of fantastic creatures but some normal ones would be great to.
There is a bear in MM1 ;)
If you're DM isn't averse to 3rd party products, he might want to check out Critter Cache from Goodman Games. I haven't bought any of their Critter Caches myself because I'm not particularly interested in normal animals, but it seems to have what he wants. Not exactly a large variety, but better then nothing. I might have to actually buy 1 or 2 because it each one does in fact have fantastical creatures (similar to the MM1. For each normal creature, there's 1 or 2 non-normal variants).
Bel
So, what's the deal, were they cut at the last minute from the book or were the illustrations just too good to not include in the art gallery?
Bel
Included were:
a 4-armed white ape believed to be a Gorillin
the three undead looking like Vargouilles and Penggalans
a second Centaurs piece
a chained demonic felid/leonine creature
3 wood giant type creatures
a giant bat
a second Remorhaz picture
a blind (maybe undead) beholder
a quilled canid believed to be a Howler
a human gravedigger
a collection of fungal creatures looking like more myconids
All the other images were in the book and I believe covered every piece of art in the book (I don't recall any in the book that weren't in the gallery).
There were a total of 3 race stat blocks, 2 templates, 4 diseases, and 322 monster stat blocks in the MM2 (with 14 being reprints from Dragon, Dungeon and adventures)
I GOTS MORE FOMORIANS!!!
I have a lot of fun with these guys. Used wisely, they've put the one uber-epic-overly-powerful-master-of-all-he-surveys wizard to the panic! Heh-heh... "Sit down, puny human. We comes to k'llekt our pets, dirty little gnomsies..."
There was 11 images in the Art zip file that weren't in the MM2.
Included were:
a 4-armed white ape believed to be a Gorillin
the three undead looking like Vargouilles and Penggalans
a second Centaurs piece
a chained demonic felid/leonine creature
3 wood giant type creatures
a giant bat
a second Remorhaz picture
a blind (maybe undead) beholder
a quilled canid believed to be a Howler
a human gravedigger
a collection of fungal creatures looking like more myconids
All the other images were in the book and I believe covered every piece of art in the book (I don't recall any in the book that weren't in the gallery).
There were a total of 3 race stat blocks, 2 templates, 4 diseases, and 322 monster stat blocks in the MM2 (with 14 being reprints from Dragon, Dungeon and adventures)
Of the fungal creatures I'm sure the big round one is a Gas Spore.
Bel
Of the fungal creatures I'm sure the big round one is a Gas Spore.
Bel
That's what I thought at first but I seem to recall a myconid of some kind in 1/2e that was round, sort of an overlord version, almost godlike.
Bel