D&D Bestiary?

[Matthew]

While I'd personally love to see a fantasy full of brand new monsters, I do know how much work that requires.

 

The traditional monsters are fine, but I'd also like to see some new ones mixed in. Whatever they do, I think Obsidian can make it well, so I'm not too concerned.

[Tamerlane]

People have mentioned mindflayers as being WotC property, but...

 

I've seen them in non-WotC games. Or one non-WotC game, at least.

 

 

Now, Fina Fantasy Tactics had the advantage of its translation being so ****ing terrible that "Mindflayer" came out as "Mindflare", but still.

[Jaesun]

I just hope they come up with some new creatures that perhaps are twists and completely different takes on some of the classic "fantasy" creatures.

[rjshae]

Thankfully nobody owns Weresharks.

Don't be so sure

 

On the other hand, I'll bet weresnarks haven't been snatched up yet.

 

I call for a weresnark hunt!

[.Leif.]

People have mentioned mindflayers as being WotC property, but...

 

I've seen them in non-WotC games. Or one non-WotC game, at least.

 

 

Now, Fina Fantasy Tactics had the advantage of its translation being so ****ing terrible that "Mindflayer" came out as "Mindflare", but still.

Simply call them Starspawns to reflect their proper Lovecraftian origin.

[.Leif.]

Thankfully nobody owns Weresharks.

 

Don't be so sure

 

 

I knew it was only a matter of time before someone trudged up some Street-Shark references.

[mokona]

Good grief. "Players are lazy, let's just give them what they're used to." Sounds familiar? Sounds like any publishers we know?

 

Eternity is what they hope will become an entire series of games, set in that world. Let them make something of their own, jesus. It's not a drawback if there's ONE race which is completely alien, which is the case with Eternity.

Good grief? Players are not lazy. They're human.

 

Let's defeat the straw man argument that 'only one new race isn't a problem'. I explicit encourage quality, thoughtful, limited use of completely invented-from-scratch monsters/races:

 

...novel interpretations of existing fantasy creatures can be cool if done carefully.

...

A few new monsters are cool...

[Tamerlane]

People have mentioned mindflayers as being WotC property, but...

 

I've seen them in non-WotC games. Or one non-WotC game, at least.

 

 

Now, Fina Fantasy Tactics had the advantage of its translation being so ****ing terrible that "Mindflayer" came out as "Mindflare", but still.

Simply call them Starspawns to reflect their proper Lovecraftian origin.

Given FFT's translation, that probably would have come out as "sunegg" or something.

[MantisDreaming]

A veil of darkness descends upon the party. You begin to feel a tingle welling up at the base of your skull. Just as the tingling feels as if it is about to boil over, an all too tangible message, as sharp as a blade, seems to force its way into your stream of consciousness.

 

"WE ARE SUNEGG. SURRENDER YOUR DELICIOUS BRAIN THOUGHTS. BY THE WAY. WE ARE SUNEGG."

 

TPW

[JOG]

Most monsters in the D&D books are based on real life myths, and is not the IP of Wizards of the coast. The only ones I can name from memory are: Drow, Illithid (Mind Flayers), Githzerai and Githyanki.

 

And Beholders.

 

Kobolds are "a sprite stemming from Germanic mythology"

Yep, the mischievous mountain spirit that ruined miners by tainting their copper and silver veins with the worthless unsmeltable kobold-ore (cobalt)

[Malkaven]

I'd love to see unique monsters in the game but I think it is more important to have monsters with character. I'd be willing to bet most people that are opposed to having goblins or a typical D & D monster in game is because of the 'been there done that' feeling that they get when fighting those monsters. If goblins make it in the game, then give them something that they are fighting for. Let goblins have different ways of attacking besides the typical swarm attack. A goblin with an idea is always a bad idea, for everyone.

[rjshae]

It's easy enough to come up with non-copyrighted monsters that serve the same ecological roles as the Illithid and the Beholder. They could even combine elements of the two: a single-eyed, pale-fleshed humanoid with waving, tendrillous stalks protruding out of their scalp. Each tendril possesses a unique Cipher-like power, and the number of tendrils increase as the creature gets older. Known as the Vassil, it is normally found in small communities located deep underground...

 

Perhaps give it little suckers along its hands and feet so it can move along the sides of tunnels, plus a puckering mouth orifice so it suck out people's brains once the skull is cracked open.

Edited October 25, 2012 by rjshae

[Radwulf]

D&D has some great monsters in it. Those that immediately come to mind are the Illithid and Beholders. Although I don't expect or want PE to copy these or other D&D monsters, if they can create some that are similarly interesting and distinctive to fight as well as have unique and interesting lore I'll be very happy.

 

2nd Gyor on having a journal bestiary.

Edited October 26, 2012 by Radwulf

[Gyor]

I wouldn't mind journal enteries for each monster like in Planescape Torment.

[cosmin haraga]

great idea !!! and a nice art sketch

to extend to characters and npcs would be better yet.

[Hormalakh]

I think that there are plenty of places for the devs to get inspiration from. Since this game has been partially celtic/gaelic in its introduction, why not delve into celtic mythology for some monsters? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_mythology#Mythology_of_Ireland

 

Hag of the Mist - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hag_of_the_mist

Banshee - an Irish mythological spirit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee

Changeling, Sheeoge, pooka (irish goblins) and other irish fictions - http://www.libraryireland.com/LegendaryFictionsIrishCelts/Contents.php/

 

Other inspirations have been from Italian, so I looked up some ancient italian mythology. Etruscian mythology is quite varied.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Etruscan_mythological_figures

Graeae - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graeae

Iynx - Etruscan bird of love http://books.google.com/books?id=hQtbJyFCd40C&pg=PA50&lpg=PA50&dq=Iynx+etruscan&source=bl&ots=QIts6Hrsog&sig=hrvOBfRjmxCsWonHOnJPonKN2gA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=bGOLUPXaJpTa8wTkiIHIBg&ved=0CDgQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=Iynx%20etruscan&f=false

Lasa - class of goddesses

 

 

Looking at some renaissance (since this is based in 1500's) monsters: we find the werewolf, the vampire, etc - http://books.google.com/books?id=UioYzDnNvecC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=renaissance&f=false

Gargantua and Pantagruel - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gargantua_and_Pantagruel

Dr. Faustus a classic, has our old friends, the demons, devils, etc. Mephistopheles, etc http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Faustus_%28play%29

 

And to not forget the old roots, let's also look at Beowulf.

Grendel

Grendel's mother

The dragon

 

http://ldolphin.org/cooper/ch11.htm

[The Coffee God]

A good book to use as reference material.

I just love this book!

Though I doubt it's still in print these days.