10-27-2009, 02:01 PM | #11 | |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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Re: [DF] Homebrew Monsters
Oh me wrist. I'm taking a break. After I get back, I'll post the Epics and then get to the bestiary itself.
Quote:
There's also a list of Things From Beyond in the Bestiary. I think you'll like the Star-Voice. EDIT: Also, thank you, everyone, for the kind words. I had an irrational bout of stage fight before I hit that first "post thread" button. I'm glad to see it was unwarranted ^_^ |
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10-27-2009, 02:14 PM | #12 |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Houston
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Re: [DF] Homebrew Monsters
Nice! Keep it up!
Nymdok |
10-27-2009, 02:22 PM | #13 |
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Austin, TX
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Re: [DF] Homebrew Monsters
It's not everyday that I both add a forum thread to my favorites and send a link to it around, but today's that day. Excellent work. Give your wrist some ice for me.
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10-27-2009, 02:24 PM | #14 |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: https://t.me/pump_upp
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Re: [DF] Homebrew Monsters
This is very, very well done. I'm going to cut and paste all of you posts into one document and put it in my "Big book of GM Awesomeness" to use whenever I create Fantasy antagonists.
Thanks for sharing all you hard work. |
10-27-2009, 02:28 PM | #15 |
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Re: [DF] Homebrew Monsters
Awesome posts, thanks! Can't wait to see what's in the bestiary!
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10-27-2009, 02:30 PM | #16 |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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Epic Monsters
Epic Monsters
Some monsters are well and truly beyond the run of the mill horror that stalks the land of Dungeon Fantasy. You can't just run up to them and hit them over and over with your sword until they die. They're beyond that. Space and time are toys in their hands. They are immortal, god-like, unkillable. Facing an Epic Monster is the sort of deed that men record of in their legends and myths. Be warned: These Epic templates are designed to make the monster "unbeatable." They force the players to "think outside the box" and approach the battle in some round-about way. Use these templates sparingly. Orcs and goblins should never be epic, but dragons and elder gods usually are. Epic Templates work best with bosses, but certain amazing worthies might be Epic too. I can't fathom an epic Minion. The very thought terrifies me. Epic Destruction The greatest of monsters kill with as little as a touch or a glance. Often, their foes don't even know what killed them. Whether it's the Gorgon's stony gaze or the Reaper's icy tough, facing a monster with these powers is to face the certainty of death. When using monsters with Epic Destruction powers, understand that you bring to the table the very real possibility that a player character will die. He'll slip up, or he'll fail to kill the monster in time, or he'll do something stupid in a battle with no margin for error. Be prepared to either accept the consequences of that, or have some plans established that will let the players live without diminishing the threat of the epic monster you have so carefully crafted. In addition to being extremely deadly, Epic Destruction powers change the face of the battlefield. They force the players to fight in new ways or under new circumstances. This is the real purpose of the Epic Destruction powers (and really all of the Epic Powers): to force the players to approach the situation in a novel fashion.
The greatest of monsters unleash sweeping disasters that cover a vast area. Dragons call up flames or storms. Serpents summon floods. Demons rewrite space and time so entire villages just vanish. To face these monsters is to have the very ground pulled out from under your feet. Epic Masteries focus on making broad changes to the battlefield. As a result, they are among the “safest” of the Epic Monster Powers to use, as they are suitably flashy to impress the delvers with the severity of the enemy without completely overwhelming them. Still, battling a monster with one of these powers is an exercise in creativity, for they rewrite the rules of the battle in their own favor.
Last edited by Mailanka; 10-27-2009 at 02:33 PM. |
10-27-2009, 02:32 PM | #17 |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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Epic Monsters con't
(Because this post was too darn long!)
Epic Manipulation The greatest of monsters can manipulate the very nature of reality. The rules of the conflict shift around them in their favor, but subtly, sometimes imperceptibly. The Faerie plays with time, and the mad thing from beyond the borders of reality steals people's sanity. To face one of these monsters is to struggle to maintain your grip on reality. Epic Manipulations resemble Epic Masteries in that both are relatively safe, but interesting powers that complete change the nature of the fight. Epic Manipulations tend to be more subtle, internal and direct than Epic Masteries, however. They focus on changing the rules for an individual, rather than for the entire battlefield.
The greatest of monsters cannot die. Hero after hero may try, but their arrows bounce off of unbreakable scales, or the monster merely rises from the grave again and again and again. Not even Hell is strong enough to keep these monsters down. Epic Durability presents a challenge to the players who must determine a way to best kill the monster, because without clever tactics, they can't. To make this sort of encounter work, you must make the defeat of the monster imperative, lest the players choose to fight something altogether more mortal. Further, such an encounter can be exceedingly frustrating as all their efforts go to nothing. Be prepared to reveal the monster's vulnerable point or move the story along before it drags down into endless futility.
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10-27-2009, 03:00 PM | #18 |
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Spain —Europe
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Re: [DF] Homebrew Monsters
Well, Mailanka. You're really forcing me to study this thread!
__________________
"Let's face it: for some people, roleplaying is a serious challenge, a life-or-death struggle." J. M. Caparula/Scott Haring "Physics is basic but inessential." Wolfgang Smith My G+ |
10-27-2009, 03:10 PM | #19 |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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Re: [DF] Homebrew Monsters
Making Monsters
Creating a monster is as simple as taking a racial template and slapping some templates on it. Want an orc worthy? How about giving him the Killer, Swift Killer, and Hardy Brute templates? Want a Dragon? Just add Brute, Armored Brute, Killer, and an Epic Template or two. Making monsters this way is fun. I discovered things I never knew before about how particular templates work, or what a race of monsters might look like. What follows are some example monsters made with the above system. I've included suggestions about their power level (whether they should be treated as minions, worthies or bosses), and further suggestions about roughly how powerful they are (Lesser monsters aren't much of a challenge, greater monsters are certainly a challenge, and Epic monsters either have an Epic template, or are just plain powerful). "Generic" templates are racial templates collated into "monster stat box" form, for easier use with the above system. They're not generally intended to be used "as is," though in some cases, they can be. Oh, and some changes were made between creating these monsters and posting this here. I think I transferred all those changes appropriately, but if there is wonkiness among the stats, that's why. (Now, how to get a monster stat box to work...) (Bah, that's the best I can do, sorry :( ) Demons The servants of hell who want nothing but the dissolution and damnation of mankind. Demons aren't generally inherently destructive. They prefer the conquest and enslavement of mankind. If they face the monstrosities from beyond reality, they often set aside their differences with humanity and fight to protect the world they hope one day to own. Demons are summonable. All demons listed here can be conjured by a necromancer with the Summon Demon spell. Other options for demons include the (un)Holy Servitors from Dungeon Fantasy 5: Allies. Demons are dangerous. Very dangerous. They should not be treated as a “generic threat” until the Delvers have achieved very high power levels. Demon (Generic, Worthy) This demon represents a generic, summonable demon from GURPS Magic. While it isn't the only possible demons heroes might face, it's serviceable as a foe and stands as a good basis for demons. Code:
ST: 17/19* HP: 25 Speed: 6.5 DX: 12 Will: 10 Move: 6/17* IQ: 10 Per: 10 HT: 14 FP: 14 SM: +0 Dodge: 9 Parry: 10 DR: 5 Imps (Generic Fodder) These tiny, black, winged monstrosities with over-sized ears, lashing tails and sharp-toothed grins, spill free of hell whenever they get the chance to wreak havoc on the local area by stealing chickens, pulling on hair and generally making a mess of things. While wildly inept, they can be dangerous if there's enough of them, or they have the right training. This represents the generic imp. They can certainly be improved upon by adding a template. Imps tend to be Stalkers, Tricksters or very minor casters. They tend to resemble their larger cousins, only less viciously cruel and more curious, impulsive and mischief-prone. Code:
ST: 7/8 HP: 5 Speed: 6 DX: 12 Will: 10 Move: 6/12* IQ: 10 Per: 10 HT: 12 FP: 12 SM: -4 Dodge: 9 Parry: NA DR: 0 Claws (14): 1d-3 cuttingSuccubus (Greater Worthy) The haunting, legendary sex demon that tempts men to their doom. This is a Demonic Luscious Trickster, and she'll attempt to use her wiles and her charms to defeat the heroes first (and note her considerable social skills). If that fails, she can certainly fall back on her demon traits for combat skills. She makes a decent boss level monster too, against beginning players. Code:
ST: 17/19* HP: 25 Speed: 6.5 DX: 12 Will: 12 Move: 6/17* IQ: 12 Per: 15 HT: 14 FP: 14 SM: +0 Dodge: 9 Parry: 10 DR: 5 Pit Fiend (Greater Worthy) These fiery demons have flaming skulls and stunningly magnificent wings. They strike with all the fury of hell, disregarding their own safety as they explode their enemies in devastating flames. Pit Fiends frenzy in battle, trying to land one of their burning blows as quickly as possible, and then finish their enemies with their claws. Code:
ST: 18/20* HP: 25 Speed: 6.75 DX: 13 Will: 10 Move: 6/17* IQ: 10 Per: 10 HT: 14 FP: 14 SM: +0 Dodge: 9 Parry: 13 DR: 5 Claws (21): 2d-1 Cutting |
10-27-2009, 03:11 PM | #20 |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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Re: [DF] Homebrew Monsters
(Demons cont'd)
Hell Knight (Lesser Boss) These powerful, armored demons serve as the captains of Hell's legions. While not as intelligent as some of the greater demons, they are more than capable of holding off an entire band of experienced delvers on their own. With sufficient DR to stave off even the most powerful weapons and complete mastery of their blade, a party of Delvers should think twice before taking one on. Hell Knights take to the front-lines, using their considerable defenses to hold off the Delvers while his other demons do the necessary work to take the players down. He's also very capable of killing off players. Code:
ST: 19/21* HP: 30 Speed: 7.5 DX: 15 Will: 12 Move: 7/20* IQ: 10 Per: 10 HT: 15 FP: 16 SM: +0 Dodge: 11 Parry: 14 DR: 25 Asmodai (Epic Boss) Asmodai broods upon his obscene throne of iron, while flesh copulates and undulates all around him. He has violet skin and long, silken black hair, with graceful limbs and powerful muscles. His long, regal features contemplates all around him as he looks at the world through black, sparkling, star-filled eyes. His feet are cloven, and long talons extend from his fingers. He wears a black iron cross on his chest, huge and heavy, and bears a massive axe with a long chain that binds his weapon to his thick, leather belt. Despite his elegant stature, he looms surprisingly tall, standing nearly 8' in height. Asmodai is one of the lords of hell, a minor noble who commands a suitably vast army and owns a sufficient swathe of the inferno to gain the respect of his peers. He rarely ventures to the mortal world, but when he does, he seeks out the love (or just the pleasure) of a mortal woman. The pure and chaste fascinate him, but his impulses inevitably taint her, so he discards his bride and broods, pondering how to acquire a new one. Code:
ST: 28/30* HP: 50 Speed: 7 DX: 12 Will: 17 Move: 7/20* IQ: 12 Per: 102 HT: 16 FP: 18 SM: +0 Dodge: 11 Parry: 12 DR: 10
Last edited by Mailanka; 10-27-2009 at 03:21 PM. |
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