Todd Kenreck: Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes introduces the Oblex. It is a terrifying monster that is now one of my favorites in the D&D multiverse and is the brainchild of one very imaginative boy. There's a new type of creature in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, the Oblex. How did they come about and what different types are there?
Jeremy Crawford: While we were working on Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, we had a special visitor. Nolan Whale, a boy who's a part of the Make-A-Wish program, his wish was to spend the day with us working on D&D. We were delighted and honored to say yes to that and to have him spend the day with members of our team, working on various things, concepting various things. One of the bits that arose from that day with Nolan was this monster, the Oblex. Nolan had this idea of this creature that was the result of Mind Flayer experiments on oozes. Mind Flayers of course are responsible for many sins in the D&D multiverse. I mean, they are in some ways one of our worst villain groups because of all of the harm they have done to other peoples, to various species in the different worlds. D&D history is littered with the evil of Mind Flayers. Now, we get to add something to their list, the Oblex.
They manipulate oozes to create these creatures, the Oblex, that can absorb the memories of other beings and not just the thoughts. Once they've absorbed those memories from someone, they can then create a duplicate of that person tethered to a essentially this umbilical cord of ooze behind them. An adult or Elder Oblex can actually carry within itself basically the memories of a host of people and cause versions of those people to pop up. I'm imagining once a group encounters several of these people formed by an Oblex, they're going to start having paranoia in future campaigns and often want to look behind NPCs they're talking to to see is there sort of a slimy umbilical cord attached to them in back to see if they're actually a Oblex.
We also in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes talk about the younger Oblex Spawn. They are the result of actually an older Oblex being so filled up with people that essentially the memories sort of blorp out of the larger ooze and then start creating these smaller ones. It's really some fabulous horror movie kind of stuff, of these oozes that go around and steal people. It's very kind of invasion of the body snatchers-esque, and then can haunt communities with memories of these people in physical form. I think they're going to be some really dark tales that people will be able to tell in their adventures using this Oblex, thanks to Nolan.
My players then proceed to murder every NPC and completely ignore the ones they can't..... On paper this sounds really cool and interesting, but I'm a bit sceptical of using it as I know players usually barely trust NPCs as it is and if they knew this thing existed they'd probably not take any quests or talk to any NPCs. And after you use it once you probably won't be able to use it again on the same players.
That's one of the moments I wish to have my players have, the shrill shiver up the spine as they see a thin line of slime trail off into the pitch black. I'm glad you really like the monster and hope you have a great time with it in your future campaigns!
I love the idea that this monster spawns, it makes pretty much nowhere safe. I can imagine returning to a location and meeting previous NPCs that the group had built good relationships with and just toying with them until they find out the truth, fantastic concept Nolan thankyou. I also kinda wanna see a player character that is based on this concept of body snatching, I think it would be a unique way to make a pc.
Or The Duck?
Now, I'm thinking of something really creepy with the Oblex.
A town vanishes from the world, giving no more news or caravans for a while. People going toward the region disappear. When Adventurer goes there, everything seems normal, everyone seems there. But actually, the whole town is now driven by an oblex. Why? When did it start? What goal does he have? So close to the Body Snatcher movie but yeah. Fun for everyone.
terrifying.
Years from now? I think you missed the point
Can't wait to fill a town with these and mimics. Lol
My DM is already considering putting one of those in our game. It worries me.
But, aside from that? It sounds awesome!
The Oblex solved a problem I was having in my game, settling on a horror to put sealed away under a town that was unintentionally released. As soon as I read this thing, I new I’d found the perfect creature(s) for what I am planning. My players are going to be horrified. I’m so happy this thing exists now.
Thanks, Nolan!
Doppelgangers: *silently crying in the corner*
I'm gonna make my players fear my new monster thanks can't wait for the next one
Wow! That is amazing, and one of the coolest monsters ever devised for D&D in my opinion. I'm a sucker for Gothic horror type monsters, and as a DM this couldn't be more perfect to scare the bejeezes out of my players. lol Thanks Nolan! :)
I love this concept with all my heart. I'm proud of Nolan for creating such an amazing monster.