If Paizo tackles Classic Monsters 2, what critters would you like to see in it?

My top three:

I thought Paizo was already doing that. I mean they've got Dragons Revisited and Dungeon Denzians Revisited on the lineup.

We'll be releasing Dungeon Denizens Revisited in a few months, and Dragons Revisited should be on shelves in a few weeks. So yeah; we'll certainly be keeping this line going.

What other monsters are folks interested in?

As for the medusa, if we do a book that has a medusa chapter, I guarentee that we'll go the opposite direction; we'll embrace her mythological roots and develop her using those myths as inspiration. That's what she is, after all... it makes no sense to keep the name "Medusa" and then ignore thousands of years of tradition.

Maybe I misspoke, James,

I meant she's unique. With multiple medusae, how do you explain them? That's what I want to see. kind of like the multitude of minotaurs vs the one big guy on Minos.

Morbid thought. If a medusae can't turn its gaze off, childbirth must be a bear.

I'd like to see the Outer Planes Revisited, personally. Let's see Paizo's take on the infernal societies of demons and devils as well as their re-envisioning of the Upper Planes and their heirarchies!

Other than that, I'd really like to see some love for displacer beasts. Still probably my favorite "monster" type critter.

Maybe I misspoke, James,

I meant she's unique. With multiple medusae, how do you explain them? That's what I want to see. kind of like the multitude of minotaurs vs the one big guy on Minos.

Morbid thought. If a medusae can't turn its gaze off, childbirth must be a bear.

Morbid thought. If a medusae can't turn its gaze off, childbirth must be a bear.

That brings something else to mind... if they're all female, do they reproduce asexually? Or are they the product of normal humanoids who are cursed to become medusae?

That's actually a cool idea Matt. It reminds me of some of the monsters in the Birthright campaign setting. There was THE Gorgon or THE Medusa which made them terrifying and great threats for the players. I'd like to see how Paizo would reimagine some classic monsters as unique creatures.

In addition, I'd love to see yugoloths done by Paizo. I was so disappointed that WotC didn't offer us a Fiendish Codex III for them. I'm not sure how Paizo plans to fit them into their cosmology though. Also, please provide a reworking of elementals. I have never liked the "lump of element" idea, as fighting it with weapons seems silly.

Although they've certainly been covered heavily in other books by other companies, I'd like to see the Paizo treatment of undead in Classic Undead Revisited. Off the top of my head, I'm thinking the mummy, vampire, lich, ghoul, wraith, wight, ghost, shadow, etc. You could also do lycanthropes in the same book, which would be consistent with theme if not type.

CR

I'd like to see the Outer Planes Revisited, personally. Let's see Paizo's take on the infernal societies of demons and devils as well as their re-envisioning of the Upper Planes and their heirarchies!

Other than that, I'd really like to see some love for displacer beasts. Still probably my favorite "monster" type critter.

Although they've certainly been covered heavily in other books by other companies, I'd like to see the Paizo treatment of undead in Classic Undead Revisited. Off the top of my head, I'm thinking the mummy, vampire, lich, ghoul, wraith, wight, ghost, shadow, etc. You could also do lycanthropes in the same book, which would be consistent with theme if not type.

CR

Stuff I would like to see 'jazzed up' goes into two categories, although I would strongly prefer that they not be just handed off as writing assignments to writers who don't already chomp at the bit to make them special. The Pathfinder Goblin was amazing, and, IMO, not only did none of the other CMR write-ups reach that level of amazing, but some of them felt (to me) like 'filler' that added little to previous incarnations of Hobgoblin, Lizardfolk, Gnoll, etc. I'd rather wait for inspiration to strike, than have yet another book with a five page section that tells me that Troglodytes live a primitive existence underground and smell real bad...

1) Critters that just scream 'iconic' (and remain in the SRD);

Bulette, Chimera, Gorgon, Griffon, Hydra, Manticore, Otyugh, Owlbear, Pseudodragon, Roper, Shambling Mound, Treant, Will O Wisp, Wyvern

2) Critters that have always interested me;

Aranea, Azer, Derro, Doppleganger, Giant Eagles (I would *also* like to see species of Dire Eagle and Owl, who aren't intelligent and friendly, although they could even be the same species, with one chick in a dozen having human level intelligence and generally ending up in charge of it's animal intelligence brethren), Aquatic Elves, Gargoyles (which might be quite different in flavor, for Golarion, with their own Demon Lord patron), Giberring Mouther (always seemed to have a grab-bag of strange abilities, I'd love to see a writeup that somehow made sense of this hodgepodge creature! I believe that Wolfgang Bauer hinted in Scimitars Against the Dark that Gibbering Mouthers are the remains of wizards who studied into forbidden magics and were warped into their current form, which is an awesome hook, IMO.), Annis, Green Hag, Rakshasa, Sprites (no, not Nixies, Pixies or Grigs, the actual 'Sprites' that started it all, without irresistable dance and stuff!)

Between Aranea, Dopplegangers, Hags and Rakshasa, it's probably no surprise that I have a special place in my heart for critters that can appear to be human, but aren't.

I flat-out excluded critters that would get their own books anyway, like Giants, Dragons and Undead. (I would have excluded Aquatic Elves as well, as they would have most likely been detailed in Elves of Golarion, but it appears they got passed over.)

I second gargoyles, but I would like for them to be broadened out beyond evil earth spirits trapped in stone, in light of their historic meanings and uses.

I second gargoyles, but I would like for them to be broadened out beyond evil earth spirits trapped in stone, in light of their historic meanings and uses.

Another theme that I'd love to see done is giants. Again, they've been covered in other works, but usually depicted as "Rawr! Smash!" brutes, or examined as separate species with no indication as to how they interact or how their cultures mesh or differ. Basically I want Paizo to give me a punch line for "A fire giant, a frost giant, and a stone giant walk into a bar and ..."

If it was a book of relatively unrelated monsters, I'd definitely like to see gargoyles, treants, manticores, hags, hydras, and chimeras done up. That said, there are only a few OGL creatures that I wouldn't be interested in seeing written up, so regardless of what is in future installments, I'll be purchasing them.

CR

Another theme that I'd love to see done is giants. Again, they've been covered in other works, but usually depicted as "Rawr! Smash!" brutes, or examined as separate species with no indication as to how they interact or how their cultures mesh or differ.

Did you check out the article in PF #4? Its been a while since i read it, and I think it was mostly on Stone giants, but I know it mentioned how they interact with some other types of giants

Fatespinner wrote:

Other than that, I'd really like to see some love for displacer beasts. Still probably my favorite "monster" type critter.

Not on the schedule. Displacer beasts are one of the dozen or so monsters WotC identified as product identity with the OGL, and they retain all rights to the displacer beast: They're not open content.

Fey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the fey need their own book.

Here are my suggestions:

1. Gargoyles
2. Worgs
3. Griffons
4. Treants
5. Manticores
6. Sphinx
7. Umber hulk
8. Salamanders
9. Bulette
10. Naga
11. Basilisk
12. Medusa
13. Barghests

I will second undead. There is a lot I would like to see though.

Another though not sure if would be a classics in the DnD sense but more of classic monsters from Grimm Tales and other old legends.

7. Umber hulk

That brings something else to mind... if they're all female, do they reproduce asexually? Or are they the product of normal humanoids who are cursed to become medusae?

Fatespinner wrote:

That brings something else to mind... if they're all female, do they reproduce asexually? Or are they the product of normal humanoids who are cursed to become medusae?

IIRC, the male version is a maedar...

Though how Medeusae and Greater Medeusae (ToH Rev) are connected would be a nice point to develop

Okay, I would like to see eladrian, centaurs, and dopplegangers given the Pathfinder treatment. Maybe an Undead Revisited book as well.

Okay, I would like to see eladrian, centaurs, and dopplegangers given the Pathfinder treatment.

Dopplegangers (and perhaps some less uber changeling folk, if that wouldn't be treading on Eberron IP too much) would be cool. Perhaps some sort of 'cuckoo in the nest' origin like that of Supernatural's shapeshifters, would be neat, born apparently human and only discovering their true nature upon the development of their powers around puberty / late teens.

And I've always liked Centaurs, although they've gone back and forth from burly man-horses to sylvan elf-stags, depending on the edition, and I wouldn't mind seeing both options, for that matter. For all the myriad of interesting adaptations of Kobolds, Hobgoblins, etc. the Centaur has gone pretty much untouched.

Mr Baron wrote:

7. Umber hulk

WotC IP :-(

ok, replace umber hulk with centaurs.

I really don't have a list. But I would really like to see the basic; Angels, Celestials, Demons, Devils, and Elementals covered in ONE book Classic Monsters style.

I really don't have a list. But I would really like to see the basic; Angels, Celestials, Demons, Devils, and Elementals covered in ONE book Classic Monsters style.

That having been said, a book specifically on elementals and outsiders of the elemental planes (genies and mephits come immediately to mind) might work.

yoda8myhead wrote:

Mr Baron wrote:

7. Umber hulk

WotC IP :-(

Crap!

ok, replace umber hulk with centaurs.

That's a great list I'd be on board with, although I am less excited about the worg than the others.

Celestials need a reboot. I always felt like they were total weaksauce in regards to flavor when compared to all of the evil outsiders. Celestials are largely pretty boring, and monotonous. How many different kinds of angel can you create until they all start seeming the same?

I would love to see Undead book.

I would like to see a Giant and/or Giantkin book and a Lycanthrope book.

My list of beasties I'd like to see covered would include worgs, winter wolves, lycanthropes (of all breeds), barghests, and hags, though they might go better in a book devoted to the Fey.

I don't know, I'm curious about the worg after reading how the worg in Hollow's Last Hope had a harem of female wolves. (Well two anyway.) That's not natural. Damn unnatural worgs.

I would love to see Undead book.

As for lycanthropes, we had to make some hard choices. While we weren't especially interested in doing a lycanthrope book - which would end up being more than 50% wereboar, wereshark, werecapybara, weresnail - we cherry picked the werewolf and included him in the upcoming Classic Horrors Revisted. This does not mean that another book on lycanthropes is impossible down the line, but it's just not something that rose to the top of the pile. Fortunately, you get the iconic lycanthrope in just a month or so here, so... yay!

My list of beasties I'd like to see covered would include worgs, winter wolves, lycanthropes (of all breeds), barghests,

1) Worg
2) Winter Wolves
3) Blink Dogs
4) Barghests
5) Hound Archon
6) Hell Hound
7) Yeth Hound
8) Shadow Mastiff
9) Jackalwere
10) Cooshee

I really don't have a list. But I would really like to see the basic; Angels, Celestials, Demons, Devils, and Elementals covered in ONE book Classic Monsters style.

But I have no interest in Celestials and Angels. Especially Angels (OK, I HATE Angels). I never use either in any of my games.

Elementals would be cool though...

Giants. Giants would be nice...

SirUrza wrote:

I really don't have a list. But I would really like to see the basic; Angels, Celestials, Demons, Devils, and Elementals covered in ONE book Classic Monsters style.

I could see a book for Devils and one for Daemons/Demons.

But I have no interest in Celestials and Angels. Especially Angels (OK, I HATE Angels). I never use either in any of my games.

gigglestick wrote:

SirUrza wrote:

I really don't have a list. But I would really like to see the basic; Angels, Celestials, Demons, Devils, and Elementals covered in ONE book Classic Monsters style.

I could see a book for Devils and one for Daemons/Demons.

But I have no interest in Celestials and Angels. Especially Angels (OK, I HATE Angels). I never use either in any of my games.

But you might use them in your game were you to realize how freakin' awesome they are!

Sannos wrote:

I would love to see Undead book.

Might get your wish, I think this would be awesome too.

As for lycanthropes, we had to make some hard choices. While we weren't especially interested in doing a lycanthrope book - which would end up being more than 50% wereboar, wereshark, werecapybara, weresnail - we cherry picked the werewolf and included him in the upcoming Classic Horrors Revisted. This does not mean that another book on lycanthropes is impossible down the line, but it's just not something that rose to the top of the pile. Fortunately, you get the iconic lycanthrope in just a month or so here, so... yay!

How about simply a lycanthrope article in the back of an AP issue?

1. Werebear (first appearance 1974)
2. Wereboar (first appearance 1974)
3. Weretiger (first appearance 1974)
4. Wererat (first appearance 1975)
5. Foxwoman (first appearance 1983)
6. Devil Swine (first appearance 1981)
7. Werebadger (first appearance 1980)
8. Werejaguar (first appearance 1980)
9. Weredire (first appearance 1980)
10. Wereshark (first appearance 1983)

IIRC, the male version (EDIT: of a Medusa) is a maedar...

But a different approach was taken in the first Eberron novel, The City of Towers, by Keith Baker, in which the party meets a male medusa. Though he wore a mask to block his gaze, it seemed conclusive that his head looked much the same as that of a female Medusa.