Familiar Foes

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Having written several of the monsters for Bestiary 3 during my long-ago days as a freelancer (I can’t believe it’s almost been 6 months since I started work as a developer!), I have a lot of reasons to be excited for its upcoming debut. While it was fun working on the beasties from various mythologies, I would be lying if I said all of my favorites came from that background, because this book is simply so packed with monsters both new and old. For example, check out these four creatures, some sinister beings hinted at in the Pathfinder campaign setting, others beasts of RPG legend finally updated for the Pathfinder RPG. Recognize any favorites? Discover or rediscover more than 300 legendary monsters when Bestiary 3 releases later this month!


Illustrations by Jean-Baptiste Reynaud, Tyler Walpole, Carolina Eade, and Dmitry Burmak

Patrick Renie
Developer

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Tags: Carolina Eade Dmitry Burmak Jean-Baptiste Reynaud Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Tyler Walpole
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Dark Archive

As my ipad was slowly loading the blog I saw the images and said 'whoa! Awesome minis!' then relized it was not Friday yet and aww shucks those were not minis.

Hot images though, thanks Patrick.


I would say the spider is a sword spider.

The batwinged guy is a Demodand.

The first one is a Linnorm of some kind.

and shadow girl I am not sure of.


Awesome art!

I'm "guessing" that the first two are the Tor Linnorm and Tarry Demodand.

By which I mean I looked at the URLs. "Shadow Race" and "Spider" aren't as enlightening.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

The Linnorm is a Tor Linnorm, the demondand is a Tarry, the humanoid is a member of a 'shadow race' and the spider is a spider according to the image names...

Dark Archive

The Tarry Demodand has come a long way from 1st Ed MM II, he looks all grown up now.

Though he still looks like he won't play well with others.

Shadow Lodge

Pathfinder demondands, I weep for my Cauldron group.

Silver Crusade

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Go Spider, eat Alain! And make it hurt! Bite his **** off first, then the legs! Make sure he feels it!


2 people marked this as a favorite.

* crosses fingers to hope that this "shadow race" is PC-usable without significant balance issues *


Isn't there a shadow race coming up in the Dragon Empires stuff?? Could that be what the shadowy chick is??

RPG Superstar 2013 Top 8

Dragon78 wrote:

I would say the spider is a sword spider.

Unlikely, at least not under that name. Sword spiders are IP of Wizards, so they're off the table. Judging by the size (Huge), the table in Bestiary 1 and the resemblance to its real world namesake... it's an ogre spider. One of the few spiders in the real world that actually throws its webs.

The tarry demodand looks pretty cool, but I'm torn. One of the things that appealed to me about demodands was their goofy, slightly pathetic appearance.


Iziak wrote:
* crosses fingers to hope that this "shadow race" is PC-usable without significant balance issues *

Could be the shadow-plays-inspired PC race (Samsarans?) from the Dragon Empires books.


more linnorms YES!!

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook Subscriber

Just googled it, Ogre Spiders IRL are scary... Now their huge and eating PCs, I love it!


Yay! Demodans, Linnorms, and more shadow races!

I'm so happy :)

Also, there is a shadow PC race, the fetchling in B2. It's probably my favorite Pathfinder created race so far. Simple but elegant mechanics that actually improve with leveling. The way all PF races should be. Can't wait to see more on them in Advanced Races.


There are 4 new Linnorms in the Beastairy 3 hellharlequin and they are Tor, Fyord, Cairn, and Tiaga.

None of the new races in the Dragon empire Gazeteer/Primer are in the Beastairy 3.

Ogre Spider I forggot about that one.

What are the names of the three types of Demodands?

The Exchange

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber

The Farastu (tarry) demodand, the Kelubar (slime) demodand, and the Shator (shaggy) demodand.

RPG Superstar 2013 Top 8

I wonder if we'll only get the three established demodands, or if Paizo's invented a few for B3. Also, I'm pretty sure the farastu/kelubar/shator names aren't open, even though the demodands themselves are, so I wonder if they'll have new names for themselves, or if it will be description-only.

Silver Crusade

Really, really hoping "ShadowRace" is an azata, but if it's meant to be a familiar creature I can't quite place it like the others.

Awesome to see demodands, curious about how this new makeover(I think it's the first they've ever had!) will go with the other two types.


Shame Paizo can't keep the Demodands' old background, but I'm really curious to see how they take the fiend race that broke the "three evil alignments, three races of fiends" mold. I do wish they could use the old names, which were awesome, but considering they're not even used in the ToH, I doubt they will.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Dragon78 wrote:

I would say the spider is a sword spider.

The batwinged guy is a Demodand.

The first one is a Linnorm of some kind.

and shadow girl I am not sure of.

She is one of mine... I call her Abby.


I see Patrick has finally worked his way up to where he can give me images. I am pleased.

Sovereign Court

I think my favorite Planescape moment was when the party's Minotaur fighter found a huge cache of opaque bottles and decided to open and drink one!!! Needless to say a farastu gehreleth started clawing his way out of his mouth. Hilarious! I doubt "Tarry" Demodands still bottle themselves though.

--Bourbon on the Vrocks


1 person marked this as a favorite.

A particularly rustic Cabernet Sauvignon once clawed its way out of my mouth. Not pretty.

The Exchange

Dark_Mistress wrote:
Dragon78 wrote:

I would say the spider is a sword spider.

The batwinged guy is a Demodand.

The first one is a Linnorm of some kind.

and shadow girl I am not sure of.

She is one of mine... I call her Abby.

Abby Nor Mall?


I am curious. There's only been 3 demodands in D&D. I assume Paizo is doing more than 3 for Bestiary 3? Or is that number staying the same?


They said there only three types of Demodands in the Beastairy 3.

Contributor

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Contributor

Azazyll wrote:
Shame Paizo can't keep the Demodands' old background, but I'm really curious to see how they take the fiend race that broke the "three evil alignments, three races of fiends" mold.

I think we found a REALLY cool niche for them that makes them more than "Me Too!" fiends. Of course, we'll be eager to hear what everyone thinks.

Dark Archive

Azazyll wrote:

Also, there is a shadow PC race, the fetchling in B2. It's probably my favorite Pathfinder created race so far. Simple but elegant mechanics that actually improve with leveling. The way all PF races should be. Can't wait to see more on them in Advanced Races.

While the fetchling is certainly creepy and nice mechanically, I am looking for something more from a shadow race. The shadow girl seems to at least be wrapped in shadow stuff, if not actually made of it. That is more what I want; I want something that is tied to the Plane of Shadow heart and soul, but is still playable at 1st level.

Edit: I know what I want it to be, but that seems unlikely.


Awww...

With that title I thought they were going to be more options for familiars. T_T

Of course, a linnorm familiar would be pretty awesome...


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

I have to say that looking at that Spider it looks a lot like a Corpse Spinner to me.

Silver Crusade

David Fryer wrote:
Azazyll wrote:

Also, there is a shadow PC race, the fetchling in B2. It's probably my favorite Pathfinder created race so far. Simple but elegant mechanics that actually improve with leveling. The way all PF races should be. Can't wait to see more on them in Advanced Races.

While the fetchling is certainly creepy and nice mechanically, I am looking for something more from a shadow race. The shadow girl seems to at least be wrapped in shadow stuff, if not actually made of it. That is more what I want; I want something that is tied to the Plane of Shadow heart and soul, but is still playable at 1st level.

Edit: I know what I want it to be, but that seems unlikely.

Thinking about it some more, I'm suspecting it's either a Psychopomp(because of the mask) or possibly a tiefling/aasimar analogue for psychopomps, which could be really cool.

(still think that would make for an awesome design for a darkness-themed azata though!)


More Linnorms sounds delicious. Glad to see demodands, as I've wanted to run Shackled City at sometime during my life, and thier inclusion would be welcome!

Though I may still run with the idea of them being from Carceri (in my home game) and have it be as a demi-plane, rather than its own plane.

Dark Archive

Nice look on the linnorm, great to see the demodands are back (fond memories of them in Cauldron, yes, DMs can feel affection), good looking big spider critter.
The shadow gal featuress nice art, but I won't be using it/allowing it as a playable race. FR has burned me out on really overdone shadow stuff.

Dark Archive

Tarry is just a name that doesn't insipre fear, at all...

now the shadow race looks awsome!


Why did that shadow being remind me of the Shadar-Kai in their 3.5e incarnation? Also, Mikaze's idea for a shadow celestial sounds pretty cool (and sort of appropriate if you ask me). And now I wonder if I should make a "Dark is not always evil" thread, since the Shining Child and a few other beings (Nurgal with his Sun domain) have shown that "Light is not always good" when it comes to the denizens in and around Golarion.

Dark Archive

Mikaze wrote:

Thinking about it some more, I'm suspecting it's either a Psychopomp(because of the mask) or possibly a tiefling/aasimar analogue for psychopomps, which could be really cool.

(still think that would make for an awesome design for a darkness-themed azata though!)

From what I have read, which is admittedly not much, psycopomps are usually either animals or unique beings. If this is that trail that Paizo takes then eith the label "shadow race" is either intentionally misleading or indicates that it is not a psychopomp. Now a psychopomp heritage planetouched race would be awesome and there are modern stories of psychopomps falling in love with mortals. My favorites are the movies Death Takes A Holiday and Meet Joe Black.

Dark Archive

Icyshadow wrote:
Why did that shadow being remind me of the Shadar-Kai in their 3.5e incarnation?

I made a homebrew race called the Svartalfar that was inspired by the Shadar-Kai and was published in Wayfinder #2. I would love to have had them make it into Bestiary 3, although I am not holding my breath.

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
David Fryer wrote:
Mikaze wrote:

Thinking about it some more, I'm suspecting it's either a Psychopomp(because of the mask) or possibly a tiefling/aasimar analogue for psychopomps, which could be really cool.

(still think that would make for an awesome design for a darkness-themed azata though!)

From what I have read, which is admittedly not much, psycopomps are usually either animals or unique beings. If this is that trail that Paizo takes then eith the label "shadow race" is either intentionally misleading or indicates that it is not a psychopomp. Now a psychopomp heritage planetouched race would be awesome and there are modern stories of psychopomps falling in love with mortals. My favorites are the movies Death Takes A Holiday and Meet Joe Black.

David,

Psychopomp in Pathfinder also refers to a neutral set of Outsiders who serve Pharasma. All of them wear masks of some kind. So far, four have been detailed in Pathfinder 47: Ashes at dawn and PAthfinder 48: Shadows of Gallowspire.

Dark Archive

Paul Watson wrote:
David Fryer wrote:
Mikaze wrote:

Thinking about it some more, I'm suspecting it's either a Psychopomp(because of the mask) or possibly a tiefling/aasimar analogue for psychopomps, which could be really cool.

(still think that would make for an awesome design for a darkness-themed azata though!)

From what I have read, which is admittedly not much, psycopomps are usually either animals or unique beings. If this is that trail that Paizo takes then eith the label "shadow race" is either intentionally misleading or indicates that it is not a psychopomp. Now a psychopomp heritage planetouched race would be awesome and there are modern stories of psychopomps falling in love with mortals. My favorites are the movies Death Takes A Holiday and Meet Joe Black.

David,

Psychopomp in Pathfinder also refers to a neutral set of Outsiders who serve Pharasma. All of them wear masks of some kind. So far, four have been detailed in Pathfinder 47: Ashes at dawn and PAthfinder 48: Shadows of Gallowspire.

Like I said, I have just read a bit about the mythology of them. I did not know that they were used differently in the APs.


Psychpomp planetouched race would be interesting but so would a Law, Chaos, Aeon, and positive energy planetouched races as well.


Balodek wrote:
Pathfinder demondands, I weep for my Cauldron group.

I was thinking the same thing. I plan to update SC to PF over the next 6 months.


Mmm. Shackled City. I once created a glabrezu-possessed phthisic statblock for that AP that I never got to use...


I only somewhat remember Demodands, so I do not remember there abilities or niche in the evil fiend market.

I like the pic of the Tor Linnorm, so that leaves the Tiaga Linnorm as being the only one of the four new ones that I haven't seen a pic for yet.


Dragon78 wrote:
I only somewhat remember Demodands, so I do not remember there abilities or niche in the evil fiend market.

Planescape did some interesting things with them, when they were renamed "gehreleths" (like "tanar'ri" and "baatezu" during the Satanic panic). Of course, Pathfinder can't use non-OGL material, but I'm sure they've come up with something awesome.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

golem101 wrote:
The shadow gal featuress nice art, but I won't be using it/allowing it as a playable race.

Cool... because neither does Bestiary 3. She's a CR 4 creature with racial Hit Dice.


Shaodw race,so this is what the shadow girl's race is called?

I hope the Tiaga Linnorm has multiple heads like the Tarn.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Dragon78 wrote:

Shaodw race,so this is what the shadow girl's race is called?

I hope the Tiaga Linnorm has multiple heads like the Tarn.

Nope; "shadow race" is not the name of that monster. It's just the name of that particular version of that particular image.

Tarn linnorm's the only two headed linnorm. On purpose. That's his thing. He's very possessive of it.

Dark Archive

James Jacobs wrote:
golem101 wrote:
The shadow gal featuress nice art, but I won't be using it/allowing it as a playable race.
Cool... because neither does Bestiary 3. She's a CR 4 creature with racial Hit Dice.

Good thing.

Silver Crusade

"ShadowRace" would have made for a really cool, alien looking playable race. Hope we get something like it, someday.

Still hoping it's good-aligned at least.

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