Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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Well, what do you think about the idea of the Alien Invasion concept?
I have no problem with the concept, as long as you keep in mind what other people such as Rod Serling, H.G. Wells and others have done with the concept. If the invasion force swooped into the French Quarter in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, probably no one would notice (the aliens would be seen as just one more weird costume). If the invaders came into a Chicago neighborhood during Halloween, it would probably be the same thing: just one more weird costume.
Well, I was thinking of the Mind Flayers starting with a silent takeover involving Intellect Devourers using the Body Thief ability on multiple individuals or turning people into thralls. They keep their existence secret and try to strengthen the Elder Brain's power to affect the entire area. Once the Mind Flayers get an understanding that there is no belief in magic on Earth they might try to foster an increase in colleges to find more smart people to prey on, since there's no Githyanki to oppose them it makes the Mind Flayers more confident that they can take over. They'd also try to rebuild their Nautiloid.
The first warning the locals get is encountering the Adventurer Party who they might not believe.
Hold it right there!
There is a belief in magic on Earth. It is called the Wiccan faith. Various ethnic groups also believe in mystical and magical powers. Whether that is a suitable substitute is for you to decide, and as far as colleges being a region where smart people are found, well, when you look at some of the fraternity parties that are frequently held, you do have to wonder about the IQ of those attending.
What I mean is that outside of certain groups, belief in Magic is uncommon on Earth.
True, in one sense, magic is unknown on Earth. In another sense, though, magic (in the form of technology, such as smart phones and tablet PCs) is very common. Again, it depends on WHEN the invaders swoop in. Before 1700 A.D., the invasion force would probably be unstoppable. After 2000 A.D., the invasion force might have problems
But post-2022, the AI art invasion will make photos and videos of the mindflayers seem like an AI hoax, making their arrival easy to cover.
They could even be framed as the perpetrators of the AI invasion - turns out that they have human brains wired up to generate artwork. Have some creepy images with recurring "help" themes as props for the game!
I'm currently throwing together an idea for something based off of this idea - making an adventure module where the party are on a crashed nautilus which lands in Victorian England. They have to work out how to repair the ship, and use it to get home. Meanwhile, magic has been unleashed on Victorian London, twisting up history. I'm loosely basing the theme of twisted history on the most excellent Burton and Swinburne books, which are an absolutely amazing read, but I'm making my own plot lines for it!
Check my stuff on DMs Guild!!
DrivethruRPG Releases on This Thread - latest release: My Character is a Dragon - balanced rules for 5e and 5.5e!
I have started discussing/reviewing D&D content on Substack - stay tuned for semi-regular posts!
Digitally faked photos were a thing well before AI was added to the equation.
Honestly, this is starting to sound like a really cool Dr Who episode.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Maybe the Mind Flayers have in regard to slaves and servitors 2 or 3 intellect devourers, 1 mind witness, 1 drow, 2 bugbears, 3 goblins, 2 Quaggoths, 2 Uchuulons and 2 Kuo-toa.
Another idea I had is what if Sahuagin or Gnolls appear on Earth?
They'd be considerably less of a threat than mind flayers.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
A Gnoll Warband or Sahuagin Tribe would still be a threat to a rural town.
Somewhate of a threat. But it requires a few things: lack of communication and travel to the outside world, and a lack of firearms in the town. If the townsfolk can communicate with each other, they can organize defenses. If they're not cut off from the outside world they can either flee or summon help. If they have guns, well, there's a reason that modern armies don't use swords anymore.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Well, Gnolls use arrows and ambush tactics, while Sahuagin can throw spears from a distance and retreat into the sea if things get dicey.
Which are things that work okay against small groups of isolated people with limited resources but fall apart quickly when up against organized people who have things like assault rifles, helicopters with thermal imaging scopes, and access to explosives. You ever seen what dynamite fishing does?
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Ok, i can work with this. ( No it is not because i am a gnoll )
Small group in a weekend cabin on the beach. Sahagin suddenly come from the waves. Party goers unprepared for combat have to make their way to town and saftey. It is 5 miles along the coastal cliff roads, and the cars are out of commission. Party has to make their way through tunnels, thick fog and ambushes to get to the nearest population center.
Only place to stock up is a truckstop snack shop and the tools that they carry are the only weapons.
want to lean further into fantasy, suddenly the chemistry Student and the Theatre kid suddenly find that they can use magic.
He/Him. Loooooooooong time Player.
The Dark days of the THAC0 system are behind us.
"Hope is a fire that burns in us all If only an ember, awaiting your call
To rise up in triumph should we all unite
The spark for change is yours to ignite."
Kalandra - The State of the World
Well, I have reason to believe that the semi-automatic rifle would do 2d8 piercing damage much like the automatic rifle although civilians who own firearms would be more likely to have pistols (1d10 Piercing), revolvers (2d8 piercing), shotguns (2d8 piercing) or hunting rifles (2d10 piercing). And since they're civilians we have reason to assume they at least have commoner stats. A police officer I assume would have the stats of a guard while if they have a kevlar vest that would be equivalent to leather armor I guess. Police officers would likely use semi-automatic pistols (2d6), revolvers, rifles and shotguns.
Notice how those weapons considerably outclass bows, spears, and swords.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
To go even further, many of the weapons in the PHB can be found or made with things you can get at the Hardware store.
We have cleaning supplies in most of our homes that can be turned into chemical weapons.
Our Vehicles run off of things that make Alchemist fire look like chump change.
And with things like Cellphones and the road system, help isn't far away.
with all that said, it could still be a fun little romp.
He/Him. Loooooooooong time Player.
The Dark days of the THAC0 system are behind us.
"Hope is a fire that burns in us all If only an ember, awaiting your call
To rise up in triumph should we all unite
The spark for change is yours to ignite."
Kalandra - The State of the World
Well I remember a while back I came up with a concept for a Gnoll warband that consisted of a Flind, 2 fangs of Yeenoghu, 3 Gnoll hunters, 6 Gnoll flesh gnawers, 13 Gnoll warriors (common gnolls), 10 Hyenas, 1 Barlgura, 1 Shoosuva, 2 Maw demons, 4 Gnoll witherlings, 10 Manes, 1 Leucrotta, 3 Hill Giant cultists, 1 Maw of Yeenoghu and maybe some Giant Hyenas or Ghouls or Quasits. I was thinking that the Sahuagin force would be maybe around 50 Sahuagin with a Sahuagin Baron and Sahuagin Priestess.