your favourite monster - and why

[xPANCAKEx]

so many threads yammer on about "this spell is brilliant" or "that class is underpowered"

but lets be honest - DnD wouldn't be the game it is without a series of monsters to whack. So whats your favourite monster - and why?

[lisiecki]

so many threads yammer on about "this spell is brilliant" or "that class is underpowered"

but lets be honest - DnD wouldn't be the game it is without a series of monsters to whack. So whats your favourite monster - and why?

bulette's
they may be the best thing ever

[JMobius]

Probably the Caller in the Darkness.

As far as why... I prefer the more supernatural sort of undead to the body horror types, and I think one would make for a fantastic encounter in a dark misty forest.

[Stupendous_Man]

Gnomes, of course.

[Tempest Fennac]

I tend to think Gnolls are cute because I like hyenas, so I'd say those along with Dire Wolves. (Lupins and Phanatons aren't really monsters, are they?)

[overduegalaxy]

Kobolds will always hold a special place in my heart. The first adventure I ever played, all PCs were kobolds. It was fantastic.

Although I am fond of modrons, too, just because they're so damn cool.

And, of course, gnomes.

[Texas Jedi]

I like the displacer beast. The 2E one not the horridly drawn 3E one. They have all of the grace of a tiger or leopard (which I like) with the nastiness of the tentacles.

I liked them so much I never had any of the PC's fight them. They were the reserved monsters which I thought were to cool for just a random encounter roll.

I also never had any of the parties I DM'ed fight a dragon because if I couldn't do it right I wouldn't do it at all.

I also like any of the Chromatic, Metallic, and Song dragons. I created whole scenes in my head where some hapless PC goes into a Red Great Wyrm's lair. I just know that PC wouldn't be coming out alive so I never tried any of them.

Death Knights as well hold a special place in my heart. I have always been drawn to the fallen hero type of character. I guess I just romantacize them so I always think of them like Darth Vader in that they can be brought back from the dark side if given a chance.

[monty]

Kobolds will always hold a special place in my heart. The first adventure I ever played, all PCs were kobolds. It was fantastic.

Although I am fond of modrons, too, just because they're so damn cool.

And, of course, gnomes.

Kobolds aren't monsters, though.

Agreed about gnomes. I like the sound they make when you crush them.

[Gao]

Nightwalkers. Enjoy your destroyed weapons.

[NEO|Phyte]

I'm a fan of the barghest. Everyone loves goblin/wolf things that get stronger by EATING SOULS. Plus, if they play their cards right, the adventurers coming to get them might be expecting a lycanthrope, which leads to lulz when they notice their (likely nonmagical) silver weapons aren't working, and EXTRA lulz if it gets a chance to use its Feed ability.
"What do you mean it ATE the cleric?!"

[Fax Celestis]

I like Rukanyr for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is having the players go, "Just what on earth is that?"

[ken-do-nim]

Behir. Should I rake you or swallow you or both? Then the fact that it can swallow and bite someone else in the same round thanks to cleave is just icing on the cake.

[Draken]

I quite like Aboleths. Such interesting creatures they are, with a nice story behind them, cool non-mechanical powers (questions? Who needs to ask questions? *eats guy and learns all he knows*).

And if you think of the Aboleths as the boss from the Submarine temple in Zelda: Twilight Princess (the thing is actually quite similar) it gets all the cooler.

Spoiler

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[hamishspence]

Obyriths- very Cthulhu-esque without needing a SAN mechanic. You look at them and go a little mad.

Dagon looks a little like that boss- more fishlike though.

[Hal]

I love goblins. They're a great generic evil force, but you can still weave complicated plots with them if you need to. You can make simple enemies who die by the dozens against PCs, or you can make them strong, clever, formidable foes.

[StoryKeeper]

Goblins and kobolds. I love the swarmy little guys that I can throw at players to die in droves (thus making the players feel they are doing well) and come up with all kinds of cool traps.

[Pie Guy]

Gelatinous cubes. Gotta love being attacked by snack food.

[Fostire]

My favorites:
-Gelatinous Cube
-Mindflayer
-Mimic

[Maerok]

Slaad!!!

You don't need a reason to like them. Reason is for squares.

Also: Lich/Demilich. Not once have I actually managed to play a Lich or Dry Lich yet. Suel Liches are cool too.

[OverdrivePrime]

Giants. There's nothing I enjoy fighting more than giants. The fun of making your tumble check, rocking your jump check, hitting a 15' tall monstrosity in the face with four feet of steel, and then riding the crashing hulk down to the ground is just such a rush. I just wish giants weren't hunted to extinction so that my friends and I could go out and fight them up north or something. Man, I bet a giant hunting license would be pretty costly. Luckily, they're easy to track.

[KKL]

I like beholders.

[Inyssius Tor]

Out of the 4e MM, I really love the Blackspawn Gloomweb--the fluff and crunch just synergise very nicely--and the Deathjump Spider, because it's so, I don't know, cinematic.

[Blackfang108]

Everything that has its own chapter in Lords of Madness.

Except maybe the Neogi.

They don't really seem all that abberant to me.

[Vexxation]

I love the Daelkyr and all their creations. Especially Dolgrims. I like the idea of a Dolgrim bickering with himself.

[SoD]

Beholders. They're just so damn brilliant! And very touchy about their appearances...that one comment...oh well, TPK's can be fun sometimes. My guy is still a statue we come across occasionally.

[mostlyharmful]

Gnomes and Kobolds, Kobolds and Gnomes..... swapping between playable and killable and huggable. I love the small guy with a sneaky streak and a vicious streak all beautifully mingled together in trapunatory goodness

[bosssmiley]

.
.

Darkmantles

How can you not love headmongling cavesquids?

[mostlyharmful]

[B]
How can you not love headmongling cavesquids?

I can manage just fine thank you, facehugging should be left to the bedroom or certain Soho nightclubs....

[Jølly]

Tough choice...

I love all kinds of undead. Not really sure if that's the answer you're looking for though. Goblins are a close second just because they make me smile when I make them whether for cannon fodder or for that "why is this goblin a challenge!?!" variety. Then there are lycanthropes particularly werewolves...nothing like finding out that the meager farmer and his family who let you stay in the barn for the night really was just looking for dinner.

It gets even better when you combine them. Werewolf goblins, zombie and skeleton goblins, goblin ghouls, vampire goblins... I think I need to get all my books out of my closet.

[hamishspence]

it seems generally weird, unusual, and tentacley monsters seem to be a favorite here.