Making a Monster For a Wicked Campaign (See Also: How to Mindf**k Players) - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Making a Monster For a Wicked Campaign (See Also: How to Mindf**k Players)

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
drake_the_windseeker
Dec 29, 2008 22:26:31 So I've begun devising a game with which to boggle the minds of my local gaming community. Problem is that while I've got a good brain full of ideas, it's getting them out mechanically that's getting to be the pain in the rearend. I'm planning on actually making the game based in our town (help ease them into the game with a sense of familiarity), and get a sense of their characters. Whether they actually play a character based on "themselves" is up to them (I'm fairly certain who will be playing this game, and they're not kids, per se). That's when the fun starts.

Basically, the game will be a psychological horror (hard to pull off, but then, I never aim low... unless I'm kicking a guy... you know... there). I've got a decent plot (somewhat), and hoping to dear God that I won't pull it off like a bad B-movie. Despite it's "franchise", I like the atomosphere of "Hellraiser: Inferno", and am trying to combine that sort of dark "WTF is going on here?!" ambience with a creature out of John Carpenter's "The Thing". Yes, epic, I know. Thing is I'm not sure exactly where to start when it comes to making the monster mechanically. If this were D&D, I might have a better idea (or at least I'm more experienced with that game to have SOME clue), and despite the fact that I want my characters to struggle emotionally, philosophically and strategically, I do want them to eventually slay the beast and have things go back to normal... or will they? *cue the ominous music*

So, now to get to specifics, this is what I'm looking for: an intelligent shapeshifting alien/outsider/thing who has the ability to shapeshift, sprout amorphous, fleshy protrusions (a new head, arm with claws, spear-pointed tail, etc.), and absorb the life-force of others around it. Spellcasting abilities have been considered, but I'm not really sure. This will be the primary evildoer for the campaign, so give it as many levels or hit dice as you think possible. If this could get done by whoever's willing to help ASAP, it would be greatly appreciated.

Also, any ideas/tips/comments to spitball about the campaign are welcome. I'm not just going to be going "Yeah, so you're in a room... and stuff starts coming down the walls. Yeah, blood. Right." I want them to be going home and have trouble sleeping. *insert evil laugh here*
#2
Wolfen_Fenrison
Dec 30, 2008 1:36:02 if you have d20 menace manual or the MSRD, the star doppelganger is almost the very same monster from the thing, if exactness isn't what you're after then i suggest the phasm from the monster manual or the shoggoth from call of cthulhu (prolly the shoggoth lord as the base version is cr 20).
#3
drake_the_windseeker
Dec 30, 2008 9:46:11 Well, I feel a bit like an idiot now after reading the entry for the Star Doppleganger... now that I've found what I wanted. I might still add some HD and give it some spellcasting abilities, just to make it unique and slightly more subtle. Still willing to throw around ideas/tips/comments as to how to really freak out my players, just for kicks.
#4
Wolfen_Fenrison
Dec 30, 2008 15:58:10 well if you want to play up the WTF factor as well as have the stats reflect that there is the pseudonatural creature template (manual of the planes, complete arcane, lords of madness), half-spawn template. and keep in mind you are DM so bend or break the template rules to make the monster you want.
since i mentioned breaking rules try this, unofficially give it levels in warshaper (complete warrior), it keeps its normal hit die, skills, and saves, but gets the neat class features, the chameleon (races of destiny) would work well for this too (in fact mix and match class features from and the spell casting from chameleon). obviously you're gonna have to throw out the preqs for the classes and its gets +1 CR for ever pseudo class level you give it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 drake_the_windseeker Dec 29, 2008 22:26:31	So I've begun devising a game with which to boggle the minds of my local gaming community. Problem is that while I've got a good brain full of ideas, it's getting them out mechanically that's getting to be the pain in the rearend. I'm planning on actually making the game based in our town (help ease them into the game with a sense of familiarity), and get a sense of their characters. Whether they actually play a character based on "themselves" is up to them (I'm fairly certain who will be playing this game, and they're not kids, per se). That's when the fun starts. Basically, the game will be a psychological horror (hard to pull off, but then, I never aim low... unless I'm kicking a guy... you know... there). I've got a decent plot (somewhat), and hoping to dear God that I won't pull it off like a bad B-movie. Despite it's "franchise", I like the atomosphere of "Hellraiser: Inferno", and am trying to combine that sort of dark "WTF is going on here?!" ambience with a creature out of John Carpenter's "The Thing". Yes, epic, I know. Thing is I'm not sure exactly where to start when it comes to making the monster mechanically. If this were D&D, I might have a better idea (or at least I'm more experienced with that game to have SOME clue), and despite the fact that I want my characters to struggle emotionally, philosophically and strategically, I do want them to eventually slay the beast and have things go back to normal... or will they? cue the ominous music So, now to get to specifics, this is what I'm looking for: an intelligent shapeshifting alien/outsider/thing who has the ability to shapeshift, sprout amorphous, fleshy protrusions (a new head, arm with claws, spear-pointed tail, etc.), and absorb the life-force of others around it. Spellcasting abilities have been considered, but I'm not really sure. This will be the primary evildoer for the campaign, so give it as many levels or hit dice as you think possible. If this could get done by whoever's willing to help ASAP, it would be greatly appreciated. Also, any ideas/tips/comments to spitball about the campaign are welcome. I'm not just going to be going "Yeah, so you're in a room... and stuff starts coming down the walls. Yeah, blood. Right." I want them to be going home and have trouble sleeping. insert evil laugh here
#2 Wolfen_Fenrison Dec 30, 2008 1:36:02	if you have d20 menace manual or the MSRD, the star doppelganger is almost the very same monster from the thing, if exactness isn't what you're after then i suggest the phasm from the monster manual or the shoggoth from call of cthulhu (prolly the shoggoth lord as the base version is cr 20).
#3 drake_the_windseeker Dec 30, 2008 9:46:11	Well, I feel a bit like an idiot now after reading the entry for the Star Doppleganger... now that I've found what I wanted. I might still add some HD and give it some spellcasting abilities, just to make it unique and slightly more subtle. Still willing to throw around ideas/tips/comments as to how to really freak out my players, just for kicks.
#4 Wolfen_Fenrison Dec 30, 2008 15:58:10	well if you want to play up the WTF factor as well as have the stats reflect that there is the pseudonatural creature template (manual of the planes, complete arcane, lords of madness), half-spawn template. and keep in mind you are DM so bend or break the template rules to make the monster you want. since i mentioned breaking rules try this, unofficially give it levels in warshaper (complete warrior), it keeps its normal hit die, skills, and saves, but gets the neat class features, the chameleon (races of destiny) would work well for this too (in fact mix and match class features from and the spell casting from chameleon). obviously you're gonna have to throw out the preqs for the classes and its gets +1 CR for ever pseudo class level you give it.