Does anyone have a good description to read to players when they first encounter these guys (assuming their character does not have knowledge of them). Thanks so much!

Quote from Naroas >>

Does anyone have a good description to read to players when they first encounter these guys (assuming their character does not have knowledge of them). Thanks so much!

 

 

Beyond 20

 

 

 

 

 

 This is an interesting subject.  Sea devils vary significantly in appearance, aside from just being shark-men, so this might not be applicable to your setting, but I’ll try my hand at it.

“The fish skinned figures rise from the surface of water.  A thin layer of slime shimmers on their scaly flesh, and leaves a trail of wet footprints as they step onto dry land.  Fins across their vaguely humanoid bodies twitch and flap uselessly in the air, and a large shark tail lashes menacingly behind each of them.  Hundreds of needle-sharp teeth glimmer in rows within their ajar maws, just below black eyes glimmering with alien cunning.”

And, if they get one talking:  “a deep breathy voice gurgles forth from the creature’s monstrous jaws.  It’s tone is a little strained, clearly unused to forcing breath from whatever waterlogged air-sack passes for its lungs.  Nevertheless, it speaks with perfect grammar and refined, if somewhat archaic, diction.”

The average Sahuagin has a higher intelligence scores than most humanoids, so the minority that know common, know it very well.

What Loot does a Sahuagin drop?

Nets already have the thrown property, which means you can choose to use STR or Dex, it doesn't limit you to STR interestingly enough. 

Quote from Dr_Frederick >>

Good old sea devils.  A relatively simple, but very memorable lawful evil race.

 

 Yes, it's nice to see something that isn't Chaotic Evil once in a while. In general, Lawful Evil creatures are the most fun to run, though orcs, trolls, and (oddly enough) umber hulks are some of my favorite monsters as well, even though they are Chaotic Evil. In addition, Lawful Evil creatures have a strange tendency to use the best stuff (mind flayers, hobgoblins, fire giants, and githyanki are generally good examples).

However, considering that sahuagin have "Blood Frenzy", it is admittedly strange that they aren't chaotic evil. Maybe they are lawful evil because they are smarter than the average humanoid?

The advantage is on melee attacks specifically.

I want to invoke some Castilian Spanish and pronounce it tha-WAH-heen.

What's the origin of this creature's name? My fan theory is that some worldbuilding was going on back in the day, and while researching the Aztecs, someone came across Spanish historian and missionary Bernardino de Sahagún, and then riffed on the name.

Sure is

they really did the ole sea devils dirty with these face redesigns

Quote from WildCat2020 >>

they really did the ole sea devils dirty with these face redesigns

 I hate it's nose so so much. I mentally picture them with a more streamlined vaguely shark like face.

I pronounce it Suh-Ū-Garn

Would be great to have this as a race, and a monster. The Aarakrocra have proven it can be done. Maybe make them also speak common.

The last two paragraphs are interesting. 
Especially since in saltmarsh,  The bridge makes Elves slightly sick when they are on it due to an old curse. 
A situation where a malenti can blow their cover when acting as a spy if you can pull off a subtle clue like that. 

Since I use a system where characters receive wounds and have to them, I change blood frenzy so that it only works if the target is bleeding. Magical healing can stop it, so can doing first aid and taking a short rest. But obviously once they hit you you're bleeding again. 

I was taking cues from Final Fantasy XIV and just calling them sa-HA-gin

I thought it was Sa-who-gin

So who again attacked you?

Is that really pronounced "Sa-who-agin"? I always said it as "Sa-hwa-gin"

why does this sound so much like the merk?