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I'm just kinda curious what everybody else likes the most out of the new monsters in Pathfinder, now that there's 7 volumes out and there's something to pick from.
My personal favorites would have to be:
Shining Child of Thassilon: A really innovative, flavorful, and creepy monster. I have plans for these. Oh yes. The mid-range CR of 12 means it'll be useful across a fairly broad spectrum of levels of play, too.
Hound of Tindalos: Lovecraftian monsters are always neat, but it's the cool suite of abilities that'll keep PC off-balance that I liked.
Scanderig: Fortress of the stone giants was a good monster issue for me, I guess. I'm always on the lookout for more steam-fantasy adaptable creatures and this fit the bill nicely.
Reefclaw: Simply for being the most terrifying-looking CR 1 creature ever. That's probably the only time I've ever gone "What the hell is THAT thing?!" and then laughed at myself because it was CR1.
Carrionswarm: This started a creative cascade in my mind that eventually produced the lord of the Flock, a nasty vampiric raptoran famine horseman necromancer.
Night Monarch: Giant celestial butterflies are awesome.
Attic Whisperer: One of the creepiest CR 4 undead I've ever seen.
Soulbound Doll: Neat idea. One of my players is all psyched to make some now.
I enjoyed (in no particular order):
# The skull ripper (it's just so fearsome!)
# Boggards (degenerate, tribal frogmen make visits to the swamp much more colorful)
# Goblin snake (it has goblin breath. Need I say more?)
# Shemhazian demon (this thing is just bad-ass)
# Yethazmari (it has some pretty sweet abilities and... no eyes!)
# Rune giants (really big samurai/Japanese demon dudes are awesome in my book)
Two favorites (though I like many, many more) are:
The Hounds of Tindalos
The Denizen of Leng.
Love the Lovecraftian monsters. I'm actually planning on utilizing them in future Iron Kingdoms games I run as a different order of Infernals.
Also really like the Arcanaton, and Redcaps.
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My personal favorites would have to be:
Carrionswarm: This started a creative cascade in my mind that eventually produced the lord of the Flock, a nasty vampiric raptoran famine horseman necromancer.
Attic Whisperer: One of the creepiest CR 4 undead I've ever seen.
There are several I have liked but the two above are my very favorites. The Attic Whisperere is the creepiest little thing.
The Carrionsswarm were so fun in the game. It was a scene from the birds with the PCs horses picked clean and they would not go outside after that. I loved that whole feel.
After those I would say:
Denizen of Leng - Love the Lovecraft...
Harridan
Rune Giant
Soulbound Doll - Another just creepy one.
Raktavarna (this will be fun)
The Original Poster pretty much listed all of my favorites...
On a side note, I've really been impressed with the Monsters. When I first learned that Beholders and Mind Flayers were not in the SRD, I was really bummed out. It felt like something special had been yanked out of 3rd Edition.
(I'm a late 3.5 bloomer)
The Pathfinder monsters have since demonstrated that there is definitely life after the Mind Flayer, and what wonderously hideous life it is..
My personal favorites would have to be:
Carrionswarm: This started a creative cascade in my mind that eventually produced the lord of the Flock, a nasty vampiric raptoran famine horseman necromancer.
Attic Whisperer: One of the creepiest CR 4 undead I've ever seen.
There are several I have liked but the two above are my very favorites. The Attic Whisperere is the creepiest little thing.
The Carrionsswarm were so fun in the game. It was a scene from the birds with the PCs horses picked clean and they would not go outside after that. I loved that whole feel.
After those I would say:
Denizen of Leng - Love the Lovecraft...
Harridan
Rune Giant
Soulbound Doll - Another just creepy one.
Raktavarna (this will be fun)
Huzzah! raktavarna will be fun, oh yes...(of course, louge will tell you it was his idea, it was all mine actually)
I'll go by the stuff I have had chance to use so far:
Goblins. They're not new, but they're new. Wee bastards.
Faceless stalkers. It might be because they dropped a big bell onto the players and had a nice laugh when they lay down there, bleeding. Or because of the funny incident in the townhouse:
Our players had the idea of disguising as Aldern when they got there, so one of the stalkers had a rather inappropriate disguise all of a sudden. So he changed a bit so he looked like he could be his brother or cousin (I know, usually they can't do that, but they got a DM-finds-this-too-cool-to-pass-up bonus).
He greeted "Aldern" with "Dear Brother!", which should have been a dead giveaway, since they knew that he didn't have a brother (in fact, I told them 5 minutes before!) So they made snide remarks about his poor taste of bodyguards (the other characters), told him to send his lackeys outside so they can talk family, and started stabbing the hell out of the guy.
Arrogance with violence - that's what I'm looking for when I shop for critters.
Goblin dogs are great, too. The way they make people sick - literally.
Haven't progressed past #2 so far, so I can't say too much about the rest.
Except that I really like gargantuan giants and demons. Especially the giants. That's the way a giant is supposed to be: frikkin' big.
Faceless stalkers. It might be because they dropped a big bell onto the players and had a nice laugh when they lay down there, bleeding. Or because of the funny incident in the townhouse:
Our players had the idea of disguising as Aldern when they got there, so one of the stalkers had a rather inappropriate disguise all of a sudden. So he changed a bit so he looked like he could be his brother or cousin (I know, usually they can't do that, but they got a DM-finds-this-too-cool-to-pass-up bonus).
That happened in my group too!
My players were quick to react though.. didn't matter much because they Stalkers beat 'em pretty good.
This was the encounter where I learned that in 3.5, having a 10' reach and Combat Reflexes is not to be underestimated.
Faceless stalkers. It might be because they dropped a big bell onto the players and had a nice laugh when they lay down there, bleeding. Or because of the funny incident in the townhouse:
Our players had the idea of disguising as Aldern when they got there, so one of the stalkers had a rather inappropriate disguise all of a sudden. So he changed a bit so he looked like he could be his brother or cousin (I know, usually they can't do that, but they got a DM-finds-this-too-cool-to-pass-up bonus).
One of my players disguised himself as Aldren too! And ran into a Faceless Stalker disguised as Aldren.
I wasn't as fleet on my feet as you were, but there was a fun moment when they just stared at each other, and I finally had the Stalker say, "Well. This is awkward isn't it?"
It was still a great fight. This was the encounter that taught me that in 3.5- 10' Reach and Combat Reflexes are a potent combination.
Lamia Matriarch: they're so cool, and fun villains. I can't keep track of lamias from other editions/sources (lion-centaurs? since when?), but these ones are pretty cool. They're what I would do with Meriliths if they weren't so danged high level!
I've been enjoying pathfinder for some time, actually, a lot of it the result of these characters.
Monster re-imaginings: like the goblins, stone giants, ogres... I really like how they feel less like cartoon goons and more viceral. Also the re-do of dragons so far, like the white and blue. much appreciated.
And yes, this counts as new for me! ;)
faceless stalker Though for the picture more than anything else. I think the shapechanging can be done by a doppleganger/changeling easily enough; the cool part would be the encounter where the PCs find an inn full of strangers, one of whom is suddenly unmasked into this creature (but the whole town is made of faceless stalkers). The PCs are suddenly hounded by globby monsters who, later on, follow them.
sinspawn seem like a good idea; but basing scent on who's wrathful, and giving them relatively few hp, means the PC barbarian is going to go to town. granted, fast healing and SR for low level PCs is good; and character levels means use later on vs. higher level PCs (though how they'd gain anything but barbarian and maybe sorcerer I don't get, but okay).
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 16, 2010 Top 4
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My personal favorites would have to be:
Reefclaw: Simply for being the most terrifying-looking CR 1 creature ever. That's probably the only time I've ever gone "What the hell is THAT thing?!" and then laughed at myself because it was CR1.
Night Monarch: Giant celestial butterflies are awesome.
Why, the game I ran Sunday had both of these show up! My players like the fact that they could wipe out loads of the ferocious reefclaws since they were all 5th level, but they were really wowed by the giant peacock-tailed butterfly that dropped off a celestial badger in answer to the Desna-worshiping druid's call for help while hunting down Jubrayl Vhiski.
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Cool thread...
I haven't run all of the following creatures yet, but I definitly will at some point. So, here are my favorites:
Boggard - Really cool monsters. Humanoids are among my favorites and I like the background Jason came up with. I like them more than bullywugs and I also like that they get bigger and bigger with age. I once toyed with the idea to change the Grauls into degenerated boggards and having Mammy Graul be a huge, fat, mean toad. :)
Lamia Matriarch - I like beautiful women with serpent tails. You can't go wrong with that! :) No, serious, these creatures have cool abilities and I like the background as well.
Shemhazian Demon - The picture alone sold me on these. They're just big, mean and deadly. One of these guys wiped the floor with my group and I loved the look of sheer terror in the eyes of my players. True seeing and Paralyzing gaze is just a mean combo.
all the creatures from PF #6 - No kidding, this was the best bestiary (d'oh!) I ever saw in a gaming book. The illustrations are awesome (I started a thread on these a while ago...) and the creatures are great. They're truely unique and imaginative. The Denizenz of Leng are sooo cool, I can even imagine a whole module focussing on these guys. Well done. The Wendigo is just like I always imagined a wendigo to be. The Rune Giant is awesome too! Like a previous poster mentioned; a big mean giant with a huge sword an japanese styled look. You can't go wrong with that! And the Spark Shower is murderous...
The only monster of the seven included that I don't like that much is the Hungerer. I don't know, it's a little over the top. Vorpal bite? Yeah, sure...:)
I don't have my PF #3 with me at the moment, but I remember cool critters in there as well and #7 hasn't arrived yet, so I won't comment on these (sorry Nick! :) ).
Let me just say that you're doing an awesome job with the bestiary every month. And I thought nearly everything has been done in 3.5 and there wouldn't be many more interesting monsters. Boy was I wrong...
Oh, yes, the lamias!
Well, I had to shift down a couple of gears with Xanesha, and still she gave them a good run for their money.
I really like the concept of different kinds of lamias, both the alluring type and the really ugly critters.
One of my players disguised himself as Aldren too! And ran into a Faceless Stalker disguised as Aldren.
That conjures up a very funny image:)
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I loved the (extra-smokey) flavor of the Forgespurned from Crown of the Kobold King.
And the Slurks were just nasty! Have a cup of belly grease, man!
(I figure the modules can be included in the Monster fave round-up)
That said, having the Hounds of Tindalos and the Denezins of Leng statted up nicely made me a very happy boy, and, based on hints James dropped in the chat, I will be made very happy with another Lovecraftian naughty in this AP.
That conjures up a very funny image:)
One of my players disguised himself as Aldren too! And ran into a Faceless Stalker disguised as Aldren.
Was quickly resolved, though. For some reason, the stalker's Aldern had a goatee, the player's didn't.
My 2 favorites:
The Shoggoth
the Slurk
My favorites are (in order):
1.- Hound of Tindalos (Pathfinder #4)
2.- Shemhazian (Pathfinder #5)
3.- Ugothol (Pathfinder #2)
4.- Denizens of Leng (Pathfinder #6)
5.- Shining Child of Thassilon (Pathfinder #4)
6.- Wendigo (Pathfinder #6)
7.- Reefclaw (Pathfider #7)
And my top three in Gamemastery Modules:
1.- Shoggoth (J-3)
2.- Croaker (U-2)
3.- Flamedrake (W-1)
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I have really been impressed with the monsters in the Pathfinder series. All have been excellent. My top 3 as follows:
1. Tatzlwyrm - I love this beastie.
2. Rune Gaint - Massive, just massive...
3. Raktavarna - After reading about this beastie, I now lock up my steak knives ;)
Other favorites:
4. Harridan - I just like this one. She's a brute!
5. Reefclaw - I am thinking about boiling up a bunch for my next session! Nothing says spicy like a bunch of these guys.
Does nobody remember SLURKS?!
the Slurk
Nevermind.
Right now I'm obsessing over rune giants.
Does nobody remember SLURKS?!
I was travelling with a broken character at the time. I know that when a large size person has a spiked chain, they die on the walls and ceiling. I also know that being told 'Don't worry, we'll find something to unstick you from the wall...' Doesn't comfort me being left alone wondering if there's ANOTHER gellatinous cube around somewhere.
But my favorites were the sinspawn (though I think they needed a base template, rather than everything else being more powerful than the wrathspawn) and goblins.
Attic whisperer is a neat concept, but is more creepy than dangerous.
I like the way that the Sandpoint Devil covers its tracks, even though that is NEVER specifically stated in the flavor text.
Faceless stalkers are just cool. Anything that screams out 'Pretty face!' and targets PCs on the basis of charisma is just un-nerving. That, and I stole the 'beneath your flesh' strike from the Centobites to make them creepier.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
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Rise of the Runelords
Pathfinder 1: Burnt Offerings
Goblin Snake
Attic Whisperer
Sandpoint Devil
Pathfinder 2: The Skinsaw Murders
Lyrakien
Lamia Matriarch
Pathfinder 5: Sins of the Saviours
Shemhazian Demon
Night Monarch
Pathfinder 6: The Spires of Xin-Shalast
Harridan
Curse of the Crimson Throne
Pathfinder 7: Edge of Anarchy
Reefclaw
Pathfinder 8: Seven Days to the Grave
Daughter of Urgathoa
Nosferatu
Pathfinder (Gamemastery) Modules
J1 Entombed with the Pharaohs
Osiron Mummy
J3 Crucible of Chaos
Derhii
U2 Hangman's Noose
Gutdragging Lurcher
Paizo Blog
Korvosan Pseudodragons
Out of all of the new monsters presented, my absolute favourite would have to be the Derhii. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I sooooo wish Wolfgang had done the "Derhii as PCs" Stat Block write up at the end of the monster entry.
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Contributor
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5. Reefclaw - I am thinking about boiling up a bunch for my next session! Nothing says spicy like a bunch of these guys.
Woot! They're a delicacy in Korvosa, you know. :)
From Pathfinder:
- Soulbound Doll
Glad you like 'em! :D
I'm actually glad now that Dragon rejected those the first time I proposed them, because now we get to use them forever. Forever!!! Muahahaha!
Curse of the Crimson Throne
Pathfinder 7: Edge of Anarchy
Reefclaw
Woot again! My original turnover had those guys as the most complicated CR 1 monsters ever, but Jason was able to tweak them down to their present level of complexity without losing out on its coolness. :)
Creative Director
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But my favorites were the sinspawn (though I think they needed a base template, rather than everything else being more powerful than the wrathspawn)...
Actually, the wrathspawn ARE as powerful as the other six variants... at least as far as their total modifiers to their ability scores go. The Wrathspawn's ability modifiers are given in the paragraph just before the "Variant Sinspawn" section: +2 STR, +2 DEX, +4 CON, +2 WIS, and +2 CHA, for a total of +12 across their ability scores. (The sinspawn statted up in the book reflects these adjustments, which were applied over the generic stat array of 11s and 10s.) All six of the other sinspawn have a total of +12 to their ability scores as well. Probably would have been a good idea, in hindsight, to simply list their base stats AND their mods, though.
This was the encounter where I learned that in 3.5, having a 10' reach and Combat Reflexes is not to be underestimated.
I learned that lesson from the battle dancer player in my AOW game. She has Combat Reflexes combined with a long spear for reach and unarmed strike for close combat.
The Faceless stalkers created memorables moments in chapter 2 posing as Aldern and his wife, then as Goralions throwing barrels of oil in the clockwork stairs (à la donkey kong), finally as hostages (half-naked) damsels in distress when the PCs finally confronted Xenasha in its lair. Each time the surprise was great when they revealed themselves!
Two favorites (though I like many, many more) are:
The Hounds of Tindalos
The Denizen of Leng.Love the Lovecraftian monsters. I'm actually planning on utilizing them in future Iron Kingdoms games I run as a different order of Infernals.
Also really like the Arcanaton, and Redcaps.
The hounds and redcaps will eventually be showing up in my D20 Modern game. I also thinking about using the reefclaws as mutated crawfish the next time I send the group into the Louisiana bayou.
The sandpoint devil also created a Run for your lives interlude at some point...
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I'm actually glad now that Dragon rejected those the first time I proposed them, because now we get to use them forever. Forever!!! Muahahaha!
Good thing indeed. I find them extremely flavourful and rich of different possibilities.
Moreover the primitive looking one seems like the animated idol from an old horror flick I just can't pinpoint...|
Contributor
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I'm actually glad now that Dragon rejected those the first time I proposed them, because now we get to use them forever. Forever!!! Muahahaha!Good thing indeed. I find them extremely flavourful and rich of different possibilities.
Moreover the primitive looking one seems like the animated idol from an old horror flick I just can't pinpoint...
That was by design! Wes sent in a movie poster featuring that doll as art reference. :D
The goblins - Their Pathfinder redesign is made of awesome.
Hounds of Tindalos - because they "are lean and athirst". A great job on a classic. F.B. Long was the man with that story.
Leukodaemons - I'm a sucker for fiends, and when you manage to create a fiend that makes me ignore my previous dislike of daemon (over 'loth) as a name for an NE fiend, you've done a damn fine job.
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Heck yes, Leukodaemons. One good look at the beast made me glad I wasn't fighting it (too bad for the players that will have to meet it, though...). That illustration of one in a glass tube is awesome, btw.
I also liked the Nosferatu variant of vampires, and the whole goblin mess just had me grinning. They're always good for a laugh. ;)