Koeh
2020-12-01, 01:17 PM
I'm almost done with a Monster Manual I've been working on in my limited free time over the last few years. It's for Rule of Cool's Legend system, for anyone that remembers that. (sunk cost fallacy... never heard of it....) But the system shouldn't be important for my questions.
I wanted to know if anyone might have suggestions for what they would consider "essential" in a monster manual for a generic fantasy setting. Feel free to comment on anything, but specifically:
1)Are there any specific types of monsters you would want to always see in a 1st Monster guide?
2)Any sort of elements in the descriptions or mechanics you like to see in monster guides? (such as living environment, social and eating habits, uses x ability against lightly armored foes, etc.). Or perhaps are such things just clutter and only the mechanics and stats of the monster are important? Currently I have a brief description of story about the monster Usually 3-4 sentences long, and the rest is mainly focused on mechanics.
3)Is there anything that you've always wanted to see in a Monster guide or perhaps is rare to see?
4) Do you think I should add a "How to run this monster" for every entry, or in general would it be best to let DM's figure out how they like to run the monsters? Right now I only have a seperate section for that on the higher level or mechanically complex entries.
Here's the list of the names for what is already included for anyone maybe see if I'm missing something specific. It's mostly inspired from my time with D&D 3.5 edition. Some names have been changed though, Such as Eye Tyrant for a Beholder, or All the Nyarlath stuff being a mix of multiple Aberrations.
CR1
Automaton ....................................17
Dire Rat .........................................94
Giant Spider ..................................139
Living Vortex ................................174
Ogre ...............................................203
Small Elemental, Air ....................7
Small Elemental, Earth ...............118
Small Elemental, Fire ..................129
Small Elemental, Water ...............246
Will-O-Wisp ..................................251
Wolf, Pack Leader ........................254
Zombie ..........................................260
CR2
Archon, Lantern ...........................42
Arrowhawk ....................................14
Bulezau Demon ............................66
Gelatinous Cube ...........................135
Ghost Blade ..................................136
Minor Devil, Imp .........................84
Nyarlath Spawn ............................56
Restless Spirit ................................212
Saguaro Sentinel ...........................215
Salamander ....................................217
Viper ...............................................245
CR3
Assassin Vine ................................15
Centaur ..........................................44
Dire Hawk .....................................94
Drider .............................................110
Dryad .............................................112
Invisible Stalker ............................170
Mantis Warrior, Hive Leader .....177
Mantis Warrior, Drone ................178
Minor Demon, Babau .................72
Monstrous Crab ...........................187
Wererat ..........................................231
CR4
Astral Deva Angel ........................34
Elemental, Air ...............................7
Elemental, Earth ..........................118
Elemental, Fire .............................129
Elemental, Water ..........................246
Fungal Horror...............................133
Gargoyle ........................................134
Griffin ............................................160
Hill Giant .......................................148
Hooked Horror ............................162
Lesser Vampire Spawn ................244
Minotaur ........................................184
Sahuagin .........................................216
Worg.............................................. .255
CR5
Clay Golem ...................................151
Cultist Initiate ...............................50
Digester Beetle, Drone ................178
Doppelganger ...............................96
Gorgon ..........................................158
Harpy .............................................161
Minor Devil, Hellhound .............84
Nightshade ....................................192
Pegasus........................................... 204
Werecanid ......................................226
Wyrmling Dragon ........................98
CR6
Archon, Hound ............................42
Basilisk ...........................................22
Bearded Devil ...............................74
Boneclaw .......................................25
Dire Bear .......................................94
Fire Giant ......................................144
Frost Giant ....................................146
Remorhaz ......................................211
Siren............................................. ...218
Taunting Haunt ............................222
Troll ................................................23 9
CR7
Arisen Demon ..............................32
Caller in Darkness ........................29
Mimic .............................................185
Minor Demon, Spiculum ............73
Night Mare ....................................201
Unicorn ..........................................240
Velociraptor ..................................93
Werecheetah..................................228
Werefox .........................................229
CR8
Blight ..............................................23
Cadaver Collector ........................27
Dullahan ........................................113
Minor Devil, Fallen Angel ..........84
Nightspector .................................194
Ocean Giant ..................................149
Pixie ................................................20 7
Pterosaur........................................8 7
Wyvern ...........................................256
CR9
Chimera .........................................45
Dire Elephant ...............................94
Hell Lion Devil .............................78
Land Shark ....................................173
Redcap ...........................................209
Seraphim Angel ............................38
Succubus Demon .........................71
Vampire Spawn ............................244
Weretiger .......................................233
Werewolf .......................................235
Yrthak ............................................258
CR 10
Archon, Trumpet .........................43
Death Knight ................................59
Dragon, Adult ...............................99
Flesh Golem .................................152
Hound of Ulster ...........................21
Large Elemental, Air ....................7
Large Elemental, Earth ...............118
Large Elemental, Fire ..................129
Large Elemental, Water ...............246
Nyarlath Mage ..............................54
Nyarlath Stalker ............................57
Treant .............................................237
CR11
Cultist Devotee .............................50
Giant Corpse .................................137
Hydra .............................................166
Pharaoh ..........................................205
Plesiosaur .......................................85
Stone Golem .................................156
Werebear .......................................224
Winged Serpent ............................252
CR12
Chain Devil ...................................76
Effrit ...............................................124
Honey Badger ...............................95
Kracken .........................................171
Manticore ......................................175
Minor Demon, Nalfeshnee ........73
Triceratops ....................................89
CR13
Amoebic Creeper .........................10
Cerebelith Demon .......................67
Elder Elemental, Air ....................7
Elder Elemental, Earth ...............118
Elder Elemental, Fire ..................129
Elder Elemental, Water ...............246
Greater Vampire Spawn..............244
Marilith Demon ............................69
Sphinx ............................................220
Windigo .........................................249
CR14
Banshee ..........................................21
Cloud Giant ..................................142
Draugwood ...................................106
Giant Worm ..................................140
Nightterror ....................................196
Lionel Angel ..................................36
Tyrannosaurus Rex ......................91
CR15
Abyssilisk .......................................5
Cultist Priest ..................................51
Demi-Lich .....................................61
Dragon, Ancient ...........................100
Ice Devil ........................................80
Vampire Lord ...............................242
CR16
Dracolich .......................................104
Dread Wraith ................................108
Horrornet ......................................164
Iron Golem ...................................154
Master of Masks ...........................179
Nyarlath Herald ............................52
CR17
Dullahammer ................................115
Eye Tyrant .....................................126
Nightwalker ...................................198
Primal Elemental, Air ..................8
Primal Elemental, Earth ..............119
Primal Elemental, Fire .................130
Primal Elemental, Water .............247
CR18
Angel of Decay .............................12
Balor Demon ................................63
Eldritch Titan ...............................121
Pit Fiend Devil .............................82
Roc .................................................2 13
CR19
Banshee Queen .............................18
Inevitable .......................................168
Master of the Hunt ......................181
CR20
Avatar of Nyarlath .......................47
Dragon, Great Wyrm ..................102
Nevermore ....................................188
Solar Angel ....................................40
Alternative Rules ..........................261
Errata (Legend 1.1) ......................267
Monstrous Feats ...........................268
[Legendary] Tracks.......................270
Thanks!
I wanted to know if anyone might have suggestions for what they would consider "essential" in a monster manual for a generic fantasy setting. Feel free to comment on anything, but specifically:
1)Are there any specific types of monsters you would want to always see in a 1st Monster guide?
2)Any sort of elements in the descriptions or mechanics you like to see in monster guides? (such as living environment, social and eating habits, uses x ability against lightly armored foes, etc.). Or perhaps are such things just clutter and only the mechanics and stats of the monster are important? Currently I have a brief description of story about the monster Usually 3-4 sentences long, and the rest is mainly focused on mechanics.
3)Is there anything that you've always wanted to see in a Monster guide or perhaps is rare to see?
4) Do you think I should add a "How to run this monster" for every entry, or in general would it be best to let DM's figure out how they like to run the monsters? Right now I only have a seperate section for that on the higher level or mechanically complex entries.
Here's the list of the names for what is already included for anyone maybe see if I'm missing something specific. It's mostly inspired from my time with D&D 3.5 edition. Some names have been changed though, Such as Eye Tyrant for a Beholder, or All the Nyarlath stuff being a mix of multiple Aberrations.
CR1
Automaton ....................................17
Dire Rat .........................................94
Giant Spider ..................................139
Living Vortex ................................174
Ogre ...............................................203
Small Elemental, Air ....................7
Small Elemental, Earth ...............118
Small Elemental, Fire ..................129
Small Elemental, Water ...............246
Will-O-Wisp ..................................251
Wolf, Pack Leader ........................254
Zombie ..........................................260
CR2
Archon, Lantern ...........................42
Arrowhawk ....................................14
Bulezau Demon ............................66
Gelatinous Cube ...........................135
Ghost Blade ..................................136
Minor Devil, Imp .........................84
Nyarlath Spawn ............................56
Restless Spirit ................................212
Saguaro Sentinel ...........................215
Salamander ....................................217
Viper ...............................................245
CR3
Assassin Vine ................................15
Centaur ..........................................44
Dire Hawk .....................................94
Drider .............................................110
Dryad .............................................112
Invisible Stalker ............................170
Mantis Warrior, Hive Leader .....177
Mantis Warrior, Drone ................178
Minor Demon, Babau .................72
Monstrous Crab ...........................187
Wererat ..........................................231
CR4
Astral Deva Angel ........................34
Elemental, Air ...............................7
Elemental, Earth ..........................118
Elemental, Fire .............................129
Elemental, Water ..........................246
Fungal Horror...............................133
Gargoyle ........................................134
Griffin ............................................160
Hill Giant .......................................148
Hooked Horror ............................162
Lesser Vampire Spawn ................244
Minotaur ........................................184
Sahuagin .........................................216
Worg.............................................. .255
CR5
Clay Golem ...................................151
Cultist Initiate ...............................50
Digester Beetle, Drone ................178
Doppelganger ...............................96
Gorgon ..........................................158
Harpy .............................................161
Minor Devil, Hellhound .............84
Nightshade ....................................192
Pegasus........................................... 204
Werecanid ......................................226
Wyrmling Dragon ........................98
CR6
Archon, Hound ............................42
Basilisk ...........................................22
Bearded Devil ...............................74
Boneclaw .......................................25
Dire Bear .......................................94
Fire Giant ......................................144
Frost Giant ....................................146
Remorhaz ......................................211
Siren............................................. ...218
Taunting Haunt ............................222
Troll ................................................23 9
CR7
Arisen Demon ..............................32
Caller in Darkness ........................29
Mimic .............................................185
Minor Demon, Spiculum ............73
Night Mare ....................................201
Unicorn ..........................................240
Velociraptor ..................................93
Werecheetah..................................228
Werefox .........................................229
CR8
Blight ..............................................23
Cadaver Collector ........................27
Dullahan ........................................113
Minor Devil, Fallen Angel ..........84
Nightspector .................................194
Ocean Giant ..................................149
Pixie ................................................20 7
Pterosaur........................................8 7
Wyvern ...........................................256
CR9
Chimera .........................................45
Dire Elephant ...............................94
Hell Lion Devil .............................78
Land Shark ....................................173
Redcap ...........................................209
Seraphim Angel ............................38
Succubus Demon .........................71
Vampire Spawn ............................244
Weretiger .......................................233
Werewolf .......................................235
Yrthak ............................................258
CR 10
Archon, Trumpet .........................43
Death Knight ................................59
Dragon, Adult ...............................99
Flesh Golem .................................152
Hound of Ulster ...........................21
Large Elemental, Air ....................7
Large Elemental, Earth ...............118
Large Elemental, Fire ..................129
Large Elemental, Water ...............246
Nyarlath Mage ..............................54
Nyarlath Stalker ............................57
Treant .............................................237
CR11
Cultist Devotee .............................50
Giant Corpse .................................137
Hydra .............................................166
Pharaoh ..........................................205
Plesiosaur .......................................85
Stone Golem .................................156
Werebear .......................................224
Winged Serpent ............................252
CR12
Chain Devil ...................................76
Effrit ...............................................124
Honey Badger ...............................95
Kracken .........................................171
Manticore ......................................175
Minor Demon, Nalfeshnee ........73
Triceratops ....................................89
CR13
Amoebic Creeper .........................10
Cerebelith Demon .......................67
Elder Elemental, Air ....................7
Elder Elemental, Earth ...............118
Elder Elemental, Fire ..................129
Elder Elemental, Water ...............246
Greater Vampire Spawn..............244
Marilith Demon ............................69
Sphinx ............................................220
Windigo .........................................249
CR14
Banshee ..........................................21
Cloud Giant ..................................142
Draugwood ...................................106
Giant Worm ..................................140
Nightterror ....................................196
Lionel Angel ..................................36
Tyrannosaurus Rex ......................91
CR15
Abyssilisk .......................................5
Cultist Priest ..................................51
Demi-Lich .....................................61
Dragon, Ancient ...........................100
Ice Devil ........................................80
Vampire Lord ...............................242
CR16
Dracolich .......................................104
Dread Wraith ................................108
Horrornet ......................................164
Iron Golem ...................................154
Master of Masks ...........................179
Nyarlath Herald ............................52
CR17
Dullahammer ................................115
Eye Tyrant .....................................126
Nightwalker ...................................198
Primal Elemental, Air ..................8
Primal Elemental, Earth ..............119
Primal Elemental, Fire .................130
Primal Elemental, Water .............247
CR18
Angel of Decay .............................12
Balor Demon ................................63
Eldritch Titan ...............................121
Pit Fiend Devil .............................82
Roc .................................................2 13
CR19
Banshee Queen .............................18
Inevitable .......................................168
Master of the Hunt ......................181
CR20
Avatar of Nyarlath .......................47
Dragon, Great Wyrm ..................102
Nevermore ....................................188
Solar Angel ....................................40
Alternative Rules ..........................261
Errata (Legend 1.1) ......................267
Monstrous Feats ...........................268
[Legendary] Tracks.......................270
Thanks!