I really like running Nothics, and have customized a few variants to work at higher levels. I also like to run Oblexes, since the roleplay aspect is fun even before combat begins. I run a LOT of custom monsters though, particularly in my current campaign, which is heavily construct and elemental focused.
I have what some might call an excessive amount of mimic miniatures
Well, those people don't know what they're talking about
My party has two players in it brand new to D&D -- this is their first ever campaign -- so a few sessions ago I sprung their first mimic on them. They took out an oni and his ogre henchmen, went into the section of the cave that the oni had made his bedroom, and saw a chest up against the wall. It was of course the oni's pet mimic, guarding the actual treasure hidden in a small recess behind it
The groans when they had to roll initiative again were delightful
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
What monsters are you fond of using in your game? In my previous campaign, fiends featured pretty heavily as my BBEG was an archdevil using a robber baron as a puppet, and I particularly liked using Merregon as a staple alongside various humanoids I reworked as gunslingers. In my current game, I've homebrewed a number of changes to the elemental cultists in Princes of the Apocalypse and been using those consistently.
Giant Spiders, Pixies, and my rather pleasing canopy beds in the dungeon. That, of course, is a young gelatinous cube in a mimic frame with a Trapper canopy.
I do love the old reliables: shriekers, Piecers, lukers, mimics, cubes and slimes.
I use a peculiar kind of troll, that is comes in several wilderness varieties, not the book sort. Swamp, Sand, Stone, blah blah. Cross Sasquatch with both Man-Thing and Swamp THing and and then it gets close. THey all have a particular weakness that immobilizes them but does not kill them (stone trolls turn to stone, for example).
As or my absolute favorite, wel...
Dragons, of course.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities .-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-. An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more. Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
I have what some might call an excessive amount of mimic miniatures
Well, those people don't know what they're talking about
My party has two players in it brand new to D&D -- this is their first ever campaign -- so a few sessions ago I sprung their first mimic on them. They took out an oni and his ogre henchmen, went into the section of the cave that the oni had made his bedroom, and saw a chest up against the wall. It was of course the oni's pet mimic, guarding the actual treasure hidden in a small recess behind it
The groans when they had to roll initiative again were delightful
That’s fun! My rogue is presently walking around with a stuffed animal they stole but have not realised was someone’s pet mimic. It’s been three sessions so far since they stole it without a long rest—looking forward to breaking out my teddy bear mimic mini the first time they try to sleep after a truly gruelling adventure day.
Mimics. I have what some might call an excessive amount of mimic miniatures, covering a whole range of items from furniture to doors to food and potions to, of course, your classic chest. All comes with a corresponding innocent mini—and the innocent mini is, more often than not, used not as a mimic, just to lull folks into a false sense of security.
My favourite recent mimic usage: The party entered a dead end room where the sole item within was an open chest filled with gold. Suspicious—perhaps fairly—they spent ten minutes using detect magic, investigation, and perception on the room, finding nothing with what they checked. The fighter put a few arrows into the chest with nothing happening, at which point the party declared the entire thing must have been an elaborate DM troll. The rogue declares “I go pick up the gold.” “The gold bites you. Roll for initiative.”
Someone paid a visit to the village that night. The Evertree was decorated with ribbons and fruit, and there was a table set with steaming platters of meat and fish. The aroma of spiced buns filled the air and best of all, there were brightly wrapped gifts under the tree.
A young girl, curious, with eyes filled with wonder ran to gifts and tried to pick one up. It was heavier than she thought it might be, and she squeaked in surprise as a smiling mouth with rows of razor teeth appeared on the side of the package. Clutching her hands to her chest, she began to take a step backward,
"Nice." The box said and regurgitated a saliva covered doll to the ground.
A boy witnessed this scene and he burst out in laughter! He ran through the snow kicking up puffs of white and grabbed up a different box.
"Naughty."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
I don't know why, I really like Zombies' "not dead yet" undead fortitude feature. I get a little carried away describing how despite sometimes taking a critical narrated by a player as an overkill blow nevertheless seem to get themselves together to press on the attack.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I haven't run anything yet, but I recently learned about the False Hydra and it sent my head spinning with ideas. I'm thinking of combining its concept with a Doppelganger, where the creature is feeding off its victims' memories and folding their identities into its own. I imagine the party going to sleep in a village where they're investigating strange occurrences and waking up with a member missing--but they don't even remember that member was ever there.
Typically, whatever the theme of my game is... but a steady, fun one, where my players shout, "No! Not again!"
The good ol' Stirge. I use them like vampire bats - tons of them - swarming around. And they're not a threat, really. A few hit points of damage here and there. And it's mostly just for fun, because we all get a laugh as I talk about bloating stirges (I treat them like mosquitos filling up on blood).
It's fun, because they all know to look up and look for sleeping stirges in caves - and everyone scowls at people in heavy/medium armor that has disadvantage on stealth. lol
Typically, whatever the theme of my game is... but a steady, fun one, where my players shout, "No! Not again!"
The good ol' Stirge. I use them like vampire bats - tons of them - swarming around. And they're not a threat, really. A few hit points of damage here and there. And it's mostly just for fun, because we all get a laugh as I talk about bloating stirges (I treat them like mosquitos filling up on blood).
It's fun, because they all know to look up and look for sleeping stirges in caves - and everyone scowls at people in heavy/medium armor that has disadvantage on stealth. lol
One of my big shocks was how stirges in 5e seem to be a lot less dangerous than the old 1e days, lol.
Back then, a cave of stirges tucked in among the Piercers and Lurkers was like a 15th level party’s secret nightmare, and they weren’t sure they would wake up in a cold sweat!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities .-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-. An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more. Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
Typically, whatever the theme of my game is... but a steady, fun one, where my players shout, "No! Not again!"
The good ol' Stirge. I use them like vampire bats - tons of them - swarming around. And they're not a threat, really. A few hit points of damage here and there. And it's mostly just for fun, because we all get a laugh as I talk about bloating stirges (I treat them like mosquitos filling up on blood).
It's fun, because they all know to look up and look for sleeping stirges in caves - and everyone scowls at people in heavy/medium armor that has disadvantage on stealth. lol
One of my big shocks was how stirges in 5e seem to be a lot less dangerous than the old 1e days, lol.
Back then, a cave of stirges tucked in among the Piercers and Lurkers was like a 15th level party’s secret nightmare, and they weren’t sure they would wake up in a cold sweat!
Yeah - I use them just for fun combat - they're never a threat, really. Swarm of them will bite (or try to) the players, then fly off.
The wizard in the main game has gotten in the habit of fireballing a roof even if he suspects of Stirges being there. lol
But it does always take me back to that picture...
What monsters are you fond of using in your game? In my previous campaign, fiends featured pretty heavily as my BBEG was an archdevil using a robber baron as a puppet, and I particularly liked using Merregon as a staple alongside various humanoids I reworked as gunslingers. In my current game, I've homebrewed a number of changes to the elemental cultists in Princes of the Apocalypse and been using those consistently.
I love using fey. I like working them into the games that I make because they are a fun, whimsical force to add, and hags are usually the first villain I think of when writing a story. Fey work really well for a lot of creatures from Mythology and folklore so I like using them.
I also keep putting owlbears in my adventures because I have a player who is terrified of them. They foolishly provoked an owlbear that was not attacking the party, and it almost killed their character. Ever since then they think of owlbears as the scariest monster.
Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities .-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-. An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more. Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
I really like running Nothics, and have customized a few variants to work at higher levels. I also like to run Oblexes, since the roleplay aspect is fun even before combat begins. I run a LOT of custom monsters though, particularly in my current campaign, which is heavily construct and elemental focused.
How do you use nothics? I see a lot of people like them but what do you use them for? Give a scenario trailer please =)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
I really like running Nothics, and have customized a few variants to work at higher levels. I also like to run Oblexes, since the roleplay aspect is fun even before combat begins. I run a LOT of custom monsters though, particularly in my current campaign, which is heavily construct and elemental focused.
How do you use nothics? I see a lot of people like them but what do you use them for? Give a scenario trailer please =)
They’re a great denizen for an “abandoned” laboratory.
I really like running Nothics, and have customized a few variants to work at higher levels. I also like to run Oblexes, since the roleplay aspect is fun even before combat begins. I run a LOT of custom monsters though, particularly in my current campaign, which is heavily construct and elemental focused.
How do you use nothics? I see a lot of people like them but what do you use them for? Give a scenario trailer please =)
I use them as creatures that were once humanoid but driven mad and warped by some sort of awful secret or magic. Some sort of knowledge that no mortal should ever know. Something like a demon lord or god’s true name, an encounter with an Eldritch Cthulhu Horror, trying to cast a spell at a higher level than nine, discovering the real ending of the Inception movie, or finding out that they are merely NPCs in a role playing game for nerds. I also would use one as a gollum like character. They were driven to insanity by a magic item and over time they were warped into a twisted form who only cares for their precious artifact.
Gotta say, looking at the stats, I like the nothin as well.
but then, I have yogs, shoggoths, the bastard of the two (yog soggoth) and all my “regular pantheon gods” are chthonic nightmares, so they really fit well with several things.
I thank you for highlighting them, as I am still very stuck in older monsters from before 3rd edition.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities .-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-. An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more. Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
Question for the day: What is the character archetype you want to try, but just have not yet?
An outdoor, woodsman-type character. I just haven't got around to it yet, mostly because the Ranger requires you to work closely with your DM to figure out their favoured enemy and such. Though I guess a Fighter could work.
Question for the day: What is the character archetype you want to try, but just have not yet?
For me, I typically do the Warrior types if I am playing (for ease)... like, Rangers are my other go to. And I am currently playing a Tiefling Paladin.
But the one thing I've - in all my years (we're talking first edition D&D!) - I've never played was a Wizard. Straight up Wizard.
I really like running Nothics, and have customized a few variants to work at higher levels. I also like to run Oblexes, since the roleplay aspect is fun even before combat begins. I run a LOT of custom monsters though, particularly in my current campaign, which is heavily construct and elemental focused.
Well, those people don't know what they're talking about
My party has two players in it brand new to D&D -- this is their first ever campaign -- so a few sessions ago I sprung their first mimic on them. They took out an oni and his ogre henchmen, went into the section of the cave that the oni had made his bedroom, and saw a chest up against the wall. It was of course the oni's pet mimic, guarding the actual treasure hidden in a small recess behind it
The groans when they had to roll initiative again were delightful
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Giant Spiders, Pixies, and my rather pleasing canopy beds in the dungeon. That, of course, is a young gelatinous cube in a mimic frame with a Trapper canopy.
I do love the old reliables: shriekers, Piecers, lukers, mimics, cubes and slimes.
I use a peculiar kind of troll, that is comes in several wilderness varieties, not the book sort. Swamp, Sand, Stone, blah blah. Cross Sasquatch with both Man-Thing and Swamp THing and and then it gets close. THey all have a particular weakness that immobilizes them but does not kill them (stone trolls turn to stone, for example).
As or my absolute favorite, wel...
Dragons, of course.
Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities
.-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-.
An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more.
Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
That’s fun! My rogue is presently walking around with a stuffed animal they stole but have not realised was someone’s pet mimic. It’s been three sessions so far since they stole it without a long rest—looking forward to breaking out my teddy bear mimic mini the first time they try to sleep after a truly gruelling adventure day.
Someone paid a visit to the village that night. The Evertree was decorated with ribbons and fruit, and there was a table set with steaming platters of meat and fish. The aroma of spiced buns filled the air and best of all, there were brightly wrapped gifts under the tree.
A young girl, curious, with eyes filled with wonder ran to gifts and tried to pick one up. It was heavier than she thought it might be, and she squeaked in surprise as a smiling mouth with rows of razor teeth appeared on the side of the package. Clutching her hands to her chest, she began to take a step backward,
"Nice." The box said and regurgitated a saliva covered doll to the ground.
A boy witnessed this scene and he burst out in laughter! He ran through the snow kicking up puffs of white and grabbed up a different box.
"Naughty."
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
I don't know why, I really like Zombies' "not dead yet" undead fortitude feature. I get a little carried away describing how despite sometimes taking a critical narrated by a player as an overkill blow nevertheless seem to get themselves together to press on the attack.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I haven't run anything yet, but I recently learned about the False Hydra and it sent my head spinning with ideas. I'm thinking of combining its concept with a Doppelganger, where the creature is feeding off its victims' memories and folding their identities into its own. I imagine the party going to sleep in a village where they're investigating strange occurrences and waking up with a member missing--but they don't even remember that member was ever there.
Typically, whatever the theme of my game is... but a steady, fun one, where my players shout, "No! Not again!"
The good ol' Stirge. I use them like vampire bats - tons of them - swarming around. And they're not a threat, really. A few hit points of damage here and there. And it's mostly just for fun, because we all get a laugh as I talk about bloating stirges (I treat them like mosquitos filling up on blood).
It's fun, because they all know to look up and look for sleeping stirges in caves - and everyone scowls at people in heavy/medium armor that has disadvantage on stealth. lol
Check out my publication on DMs Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Tawmis%20Logue
Check out my comedy web series - Neverending Nights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wr4-u9-zw0&list=PLbRG7dzFI-u3EJd0usasgDrrFO3mZ1lOZ
Need a character story/background written up? I do it for free (but also take donations!) - https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?591882-Need-a-character-background-written-up
You really need to check out the Hoard Mimic from Fizban's.
BoringBard's long and tedious posts somehow manage to enrapture audiences. How? Because he used Charm Person, the #1 bard spell!
He/him pronouns. Call me Bard. PROUD NERD!
Ever wanted to talk about your parties' worst mistakes? Do so HERE. What's your favorite class, why? Share & explain
HERE.One of my big shocks was how stirges in 5e seem to be a lot less dangerous than the old 1e days, lol.
Back then, a cave of stirges tucked in among the Piercers and Lurkers was like a 15th level party’s secret nightmare, and they weren’t sure they would wake up in a cold sweat!
Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities
.-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-.
An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more.
Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
Yeah - I use them just for fun combat - they're never a threat, really. Swarm of them will bite (or try to) the players, then fly off.
The wizard in the main game has gotten in the habit of fireballing a roof even if he suspects of Stirges being there. lol
But it does always take me back to that picture...
Check out my publication on DMs Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Tawmis%20Logue
Check out my comedy web series - Neverending Nights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wr4-u9-zw0&list=PLbRG7dzFI-u3EJd0usasgDrrFO3mZ1lOZ
Need a character story/background written up? I do it for free (but also take donations!) - https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?591882-Need-a-character-background-written-up
I love using fey. I like working them into the games that I make because they are a fun, whimsical force to add, and hags are usually the first villain I think of when writing a story. Fey work really well for a lot of creatures from Mythology and folklore so I like using them.
I also keep putting owlbears in my adventures because I have a player who is terrified of them. They foolishly provoked an owlbear that was not attacking the party, and it almost killed their character. Ever since then they think of owlbears as the scariest monster.
Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities
.-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-.
An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more.
Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
How do you use nothics? I see a lot of people like them but what do you use them for? Give a scenario trailer please =)
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
They’re a great denizen for an “abandoned” laboratory.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I’m a big fan of goblinoids. They’re fun at lower levels, can easily be leveled up for higher level parties, and all-around make good enemies.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I use them as creatures that were once humanoid but driven mad and warped by some sort of awful secret or magic. Some sort of knowledge that no mortal should ever know. Something like a demon lord or god’s true name, an encounter with an Eldritch Cthulhu Horror, trying to cast a spell at a higher level than nine, discovering the real ending of the Inception movie, or finding out that they are merely NPCs in a role playing game for nerds. I also would use one as a gollum like character. They were driven to insanity by a magic item and over time they were warped into a twisted form who only cares for their precious artifact.
Gotta say, looking at the stats, I like the nothin as well.
but then, I have yogs, shoggoths, the bastard of the two (yog soggoth) and all my “regular pantheon gods” are chthonic nightmares, so they really fit well with several things.
I thank you for highlighting them, as I am still very stuck in older monsters from before 3rd edition.
Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities
.-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-.
An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more.
Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
An outdoor, woodsman-type character. I just haven't got around to it yet, mostly because the Ranger requires you to work closely with your DM to figure out their favoured enemy and such. Though I guess a Fighter could work.
We're practically complete opposites lol
[REDACTED]
Today’s question: Why do you D&D?
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting