So, I've written a handful of oneshots already, and have playtested most of them a couple times with my player group. Everyone's loved them so far, and had lots of fun, and I've found that I've gotten pretty decent at blanacing and timing oneshots to fit into our general playtime - which is, on average, a generous 5 hour slot, mind.
That said, what do you guys think are some under-utilized creatures/monsters/enemies that would make for interesting oneshot encounters? Whether as part of the overarching plot or as the BBEG of the oneshot, whatever you think.
Plants are probably routinely underutilized. Maybe treants get a bit more attention, or other sentient type mega trees. But, what-if there were semi-sentient groves of trees, forests, whtever, that somehow are reaching out psychically for help, to rid itself of some sort of infestation, evil magic, loggers,
Their are several creatures that could make for interesting center pieces.
You have the Behir or the Runed Behir, which are cool lightning lizards. Maybe it’s on it’s own, or under the thrall of a Giant master.
You could also have a Yuan-ti Anathema with various lesser Yuan-ti and snakes serving them.
Hydras are classic and fun to use.
An Ancient Deep Crow and some lesser Deep Crows in a pack could make for an interesting Underdark encounter.
The Elder Tempest is a really cool high CR elemental that could be fun for a one shot about trying to figure out how to stop a devastating storm.
A Warforged Colossus could make for a challenging fight or an epic set of skill challenges for your players to try to enter this massive construct and find a way to stop it’s rampage from the inside (as they are meant to carry people within their structure.)
Want an undead themed one shot, why bother with a plain old necromancer, when you can have a giant flower that crawls around consuming corpses and pooping out zombies, I'm talking about the Corpse Flower.
I love Oni, it's more or less a smarter, shapeshifting ogre that can fly and use magic. It can easily be utilized to torment a party over multiple encounters.
I don't think I've ever seen a Lamia in a campaign before, good BBEG for a party taking down a demon cult in the desert, throw in a couple of Jackalwere for good measure.
Barghest's can spice up a goblinoid themed one shot, watch boblin transform into huge fiendish wolf and start devouring a bug bear. Yugoloth in general don't appear enough.
Alkilith are also pretty cool, they're a living breathing portal to the abyss and can be the cause of a demon invasion on the material plane.
Definitely some interesting ideas so far, thank you all! Still looking for more ideas, because I'm looking to write oneshots based around certain monsters suggested. :)
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So, I've written a handful of oneshots already, and have playtested most of them a couple times with my player group. Everyone's loved them so far, and had lots of fun, and I've found that I've gotten pretty decent at blanacing and timing oneshots to fit into our general playtime - which is, on average, a generous 5 hour slot, mind.
That said, what do you guys think are some under-utilized creatures/monsters/enemies that would make for interesting oneshot encounters? Whether as part of the overarching plot or as the BBEG of the oneshot, whatever you think.
Thank you!
Plants are probably routinely underutilized. Maybe treants get a bit more attention, or other sentient type mega trees. But, what-if there were semi-sentient groves of trees, forests, whtever, that somehow are reaching out psychically for help, to rid itself of some sort of infestation, evil magic, loggers,
Boldly go
Their are several creatures that could make for interesting center pieces.
You have the Behir or the Runed Behir, which are cool lightning lizards. Maybe it’s on it’s own, or under the thrall of a Giant master.
You could also have a Yuan-ti Anathema with various lesser Yuan-ti and snakes serving them.
Hydras are classic and fun to use.
An Ancient Deep Crow and some lesser Deep Crows in a pack could make for an interesting Underdark encounter.
The Elder Tempest is a really cool high CR elemental that could be fun for a one shot about trying to figure out how to stop a devastating storm.
A Warforged Colossus could make for a challenging fight or an epic set of skill challenges for your players to try to enter this massive construct and find a way to stop it’s rampage from the inside (as they are meant to carry people within their structure.)
"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup."
Characters for Tenebris Sine Fine
RoughCoronet's Greater Wills
Want an undead themed one shot, why bother with a plain old necromancer, when you can have a giant flower that crawls around consuming corpses and pooping out zombies, I'm talking about the Corpse Flower.
I love Oni, it's more or less a smarter, shapeshifting ogre that can fly and use magic. It can easily be utilized to torment a party over multiple encounters.
I don't think I've ever seen a Lamia in a campaign before, good BBEG for a party taking down a demon cult in the desert, throw in a couple of Jackalwere for good measure.
Barghest's can spice up a goblinoid themed one shot, watch boblin transform into huge fiendish wolf and start devouring a bug bear. Yugoloth in general don't appear enough.
Alkilith are also pretty cool, they're a living breathing portal to the abyss and can be the cause of a demon invasion on the material plane.
Definitely some interesting ideas so far, thank you all! Still looking for more ideas, because I'm looking to write oneshots based around certain monsters suggested. :)