Do you mean water strider? Or the water spiders that use air bubbles?
Why stop at only one? :-]
But, yeah, my original idea had more to do with the water strider than the water spider, but now you've got me imagining an air-bubble lair for "water spider" folk. Yaaay!
--Neil
Exactly!
Hm, I know you can't have vampire grigs, but I guess you could have zombie pixies ;)
& if you can have zombie pixies, you could have undead fey rusalkas...
Perhaps a rusalka is some kind of undead nymph...
And for more watery monsters, there's the knuckers in their knuckerholes.
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The Penanggalan: As a peculiar variation of the vampire myth that apparently began in the Malay Peninsula.
According to the folklore of that region, the Penanggalan is a detached female head that is capable of flying about on its own. As it flies, the stomach and entrails dangle below it, and these organs twinkle like fireflies as the Penanggalan moves through the night.
Abatwa: In Zulu mythology, Abatwa are tiny humans said to be able to hide beneath a blade of grass and to be able to ride ants. They are said to live a nomadic lifestyle and are continually on the hunt for game. They are said to be extremely sensitive about their size, and if one answers by saying that one only saw them right then for the first time, the Abatwa will try to kill them with poison arrows. Stepping on an Abatwa by accident is also said to be a death sentence.
Žiburinis: a forest spirit in Estonia that appears as a phosphorescent skeleton.
Adaro: The Adaro were malevolent merman-like sea spirits found in the mythology of the Solomon Islands. Said to arise from the wicked part of a person's spirit, an adaro is described as a man with gills behind his ears, tail fins for feet, a horn like a shark's dorsal fin, and a swordfish or sawfish-like spear growing out of his head. Adaros live in the sun and travel to and from Earth by sliding along rainbows. Unlike the renowned mermaid, they are dangerous to humans and can kill them by travelling along rainbows and shooting them with poisonous flying fish. They may also travel in waterspouts.
Pyrausta (also called pyrallis, pyragones): is a mythological insect-sized dragon from Cyprus. It resembles a four-legged insect with filmy wings and a dragon's head. It lived in the fire like a salamander and died if it went away from the fire.
Uktena (from Cherokee legends) : The Uktena is a great snake, as large around as a tree trunk, with horns on its head, and a bright blazing crest like a diamond on its forehead, and scales glowing like sparks of fire. It has rings or spots of color along its whole length, and can not be wounded except by shooting in the seventh spot from the head, because under this spot are its heart and its life. The blazing diamond is called Ulun'suti -- "Transparent" -- and he who can win it may become the greatest wonder worker of the tribe. But it is worth a man's life to attempt it, for whoever is seen by the Uktena is so dazed by the bright light that he runs toward the snake instead of trying to escape. As if this were not enough, the breath of the Uktena is so pestilential, that no living creature can survive should they inhale the tiniest bit of the foul air expelled by the Uktena.
Nukekubi are monsters found in Japanese folklore. By day, nukekubi appear to be normal human beings. By night, however, their heads and necks detach smoothly from their bodies and fly about independently in search of human prey. These heads attack by screaming (to increase their victims' fright). then closing in and biting.
While the head and neck are detached, the body of a nukekubi becomes inanimate. In some legends, this serves as one of the creatures few weaknesses; if a nukekubi's head cannot locate and reattach to its body by sunrise, the creature dies. Legends often tell of would-be victims foiling the creatures by destroying or hiding their bodies while the heads are elsewhere.
Alp Luachra: An evil Irish fairy. They are completely invisible except when a person falls asleep by the side of a stream. The Alp Luachra takes the form of a newt and crawl down said person's mouth and feed off the food they eat. Greedy as they are, the person devours astonishing amounts of food, yet become more and more emaciated.
Izulu or impundulu: A mythological creature in the folklore of the tribes of the Southern Africa including the Pondo, the Zulu and the Xhosa.The impundulu, which translates as "lightning bird" takes the form of a black and white bird, the size of a human which is said to summon thunder and lightning with its wings and talons. It is a vampiric creature associated with witchcraft which was often the servant or familiar of a witch or witch doctor, attacking the witch's enemies. It is said to have an insatiable appetite for blood and sometimes take the form of a beautiful young man and seduce women.
Cordyceps fungi must be one of the most terrifying things ever.
Real animals can sometimes be weirder than the weirdest monster manual entry.
HORROR!!!! Awesome. And too too true.
Let's me pile another plus on there for rusalka. And that's just the kind of question I love to have to answer!
Granted.
alkonost and sirin.
The Alkonost got seriously considered back a while ago, but it the end it just ended up being too close to the siren in #14. Every month we get father away from that volume though...
Wes,
Earlier in the thread I tossed out the idea of a poltergiest concept. I'm making a second pitch. I know you're enjoying getting links to specific folklore and real life creatures.. but examples of the poltergiest concept are all over the place.
And don't get me wrong.. I love Haunts, and I look forward to Haunts maybe being in the GameMastery Book.
But I also like the idea of specific entity working against the party that has some mobility and flexibility that Haunts do not have.
I'm imagining something with some ability to animate objects, telekinesis.. maybe low level illusions (visual and audible).
Something that moves around the ouija board pointer, slams and locks doors in your face during a chase, smashes the window down on the rogue crawling through it.. Animates the big wagon and tries to run down the party. Shoves people around the room.
As for inspirations and folkore.. there's tons. The Bell Witch, the Borley Rectory Poltergeist, hell even the original Poltergeist Movie..
Combine such a creature with the Haunt Mechanic, and you could do an even more kick-ass haunted house.
Wes,
Hi!
Words, words, words...Combine such a creature with the Haunt Mechanic, and you could do an even more kick-ass haunted house.
It's a neat idea to be sure. I don't really see it having a place in Kingmaker, but a few other things come to mind. Once we have our haunt rules solidified for PFRPG the poltergeist as the "Haunts Monster" seems pretty appealing.
It's a neat idea to be sure. I don't really see it having a place in Kingmaker, but a few other things come to mind. Once we have our haunt rules solidified for PFRPG the poltergeist as the "Haunts Monster" seems pretty appealing.
Ah.. I hadn't realized this was Kingmaker only.. Sure, file it for future consideration!
You can never have too many dragons.
The most interesting dragon I've put into play as an opponent was a deep dragon from 2nd edition. Not particularly because of what they are, but because they are the only evil dragon to be able to indefinitely assume a human or humanoid form - making them a perfect powerful surprise adversary for the players.
Ah.. I hadn't realized this was Kingmaker only.. Sure, file it for future consideration!
Not at all! Keep 'em coming. I'll find spots if they tickle me... a'just right.
My friend is GMing a game in Brevoy right now.
The primary opposition is a zombie-like plague, but we also have to fight the infected humans for plot reasons. If we kill an infected on the battlefield, we only have a few rounds before the infection brings them back at full HP. Likewise if an ally dies on the battlefield, they "switch sides" as it were.
It's an interesting type of encounter, because as a cleric I have focused on stabilizing enemies as soon as they drop. An amusing juggling act for a series of encounters. Could work well with the above Cordyceps idea, or as it's own thing.
Giant green mathises with Profession: Writter skills?
BTW: "Peluda" is quite the dirty word on nasty spanish lingo :rofl:
Don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but...
I'd like to see Oriental Dragons (Lung and Ryu) who aren't treated as third-best cousins to "real dragons."
It's always kind of weirded me out that the dragons of the East were wise, and elemental, spiritual creatures in their mythology, but they couldn't cast spells in D&D (just use some spell-like abilities,) unlike their Western kin, which were mostly big and scary monsters in their legends but became spellslingers in D&D.
I like the idea of Oriental dragons in Pathfinder casting spells as Druids or Clerics (as opposed to Sorcerers.)
... grant you, this is from the perspective of someone for whom Eastern Dragons are his favorite dragons. :)
Hear, hear, Drakli!
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Don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but...
I'd like to see Oriental Dragons (Lung and Ryu) who aren't treated as third-best cousins to "real dragons."
It's always kind of weirded me out that the dragons of the East were wise, and elemental, spiritual creatures in their mythology, but they couldn't cast spells in D&D (just use some spell-like abilities,) unlike their Western kin, which were mostly big and scary monsters in their legends but became spellslingers in D&D.
I like the idea of Oriental dragons in Pathfinder casting spells as Druids or Clerics (as opposed to Sorcerers.)
... grant you, this is from the perspective of someone for whom Eastern Dragons are his favorite dragons. :)
Well, according to Pathfinder #4, there are the Dragons of the Celestial Host in Tian Xia. They are supposed to be embodiments of the five Chinese elements, flame, sea, wood, metal, and earth, so druidic abilities might make sense, though I would suspect more likely they'll be whatever update/conversion/revision of the Wu Jen ends up in Pathfinder.
They're listed as being in the Bestiary, right?
Is there a list of monsters that will be in the Bestiary? Where's that?
I got interested in the series again, so I was watching the BBC's "Walking with Dinosaurs".
The first episode had a great predator, a rauisuchian like the batrachotomus. It was an slow ambush predator, like a crocodilian in many ways, but adapted to terrestrial life: it walked like a monitor lizard, with a head like an allosaurus.
It could be a great animal predator where crocodiles don't show up much, like shallow fens and shrubby scrublands: the fencroc or plains gator.
The marine episode featured the Liopleurodon, one of the largest predators ever. One of those lurking in Absalom's Flotsam Graveyard or the Reef of Aroden, stalking ships, might cause a captain to look like hire some freelance swordslingers.
How about Drop Crocs .
Hah, who needs drop bears when you can have drop crocs!?
I'm really liking this "short-faced fencroc" idea. Crocodillians were descended from terrestrial lizards, and many of their predecessors were land predators that died off in the mass extinctions that preceeded the age of the dinosaurs... Critters like this guy, this one, Ornithosuchus, or especially Prestosuchus.
It could be a great animal predator that occupies a similar apex predator niche to a lion, but available in different terrain; and since it only has a crocodillian intelligence, could plausibly be expected to fight to the death.
There's also the unrelated gorgonopsids.
Okay, my insomnia usually strikes on the other side of the night, but whatever.
So. Devils have imps, demons have quasits... seems like a good trend to keep running with other planar races, right?
In addition, keep those monster ideas coming. I've built a big list of creatures just from this thread.
And on a completely unrelated note, we start work on the Bestiary II soon.
Coincidence?
Elementals have mephits.
Archons/LG Celestials have lantern archons.
Maybe Cherubs for Angels?
Fear Daemons for NE? (Buffy style ones...)
I'd like to see more Mythos-inspired critters. And, in the same vein, how about making the old Flayer more of a Mythos creature? Maybe give them a true madness power rather than being psionics? Maybe call them something like "Cthonics" or some such?
As far as other monsters, I liked how some Pathfinder books had used Urban Myths/Americana Legends in them. More of that would be great. I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but how about something alien? Like taking on some ideas from movies? Alien, Predator, The Thing ... they all had some neat monsters. How about fantasy versions? Even things like "The Gentlemen" from Buffy could work if tweaked.
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So. Devils have imps, demons have quasits... seems like a good trend to keep running with other planar races, right?
Some ideas in that vein. Improved Familiar-sized versions of Formian, Archon, Deva, Daemon, etc, etc.
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So. Devils have imps, demons have quasits... seems like a good trend to keep running with other planar races, right?Some ideas in that vein. Improved Familiar-sized versions of Formian, Archon, Deva, Daemon, etc, etc.
Demon :: Quasit
Devil :: ImpDaemon :: Apocalypse Ponies :-D
Archon :: Lantern Archon (I concur)
Azata :: Faerie Dragon? Peri*?
Agathion :: A Lapinal* (your celestial bunny friend)
Axiomite/Inevitable :: This would be the perfect slot for some kind of little modron-like construct.
Protean :: An Ophidius (a little chaos snake with arms & hands)?
* = new / suggested
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Agathion :: A Lapinal* (your celestial bunny friend)
Oh, you want an Al-miraj here. What could be more appropriate as a celestial familiar than a unicorn-bunny? :)
The quick templetes from the Bestiary preview are great how about quick templetes for making elemental creatures. Pyronic, Terraric, Hydronic, Aeroric or something along those lines so that you can have creatures like fire bats with out needing to make an entire monster manual entry.
Also, I love the Mythology stuff but wouldn't mind seeing a few creatures based off of more pop culture monsters. For example take Venom or Carnage from the Spider-Man comics. These are basically were-abberations, but instead of being infected and suddenly having the desire to eat brains, have them eat other abberations. So now you have a PC in a dungeon hunting not for treasure but for food and if he dosen't find another abberation to feed upon soon, well there's always the brains of his companions.
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Also, I love the Mythology stuff but wouldn't mind seeing a few creatures based off of more pop culture monsters. For example take Venom or Carnage from the Spider-Man comics. These are basically were-abberations, but instead of being infected and suddenly having the desire to eat brains, have them eat other abberations. So now you have a PC in a dungeon hunting not for treasure but for food and if he dosen't find another abberation to feed upon soon, well there's always the brains of his companions.
I was thinking of the same thing but my thought came from that weird demonic ooze that infected the Boar Gods in Princess Mononoke. Same concept though...
It would be cool to see something like that and I agree (from an earlier post) that the Gentlemen from BtVS would be awesome in D&D!
Another idea .. with Reaper and Paizo working together, is there a way to get their "Mind Flayer"-esque monsters into Pathfinder? ;)
I was thinking of the same thing but my thought came from that weird demonic ooze that infected the Boar Gods in Princess Mononoke. Same concept though...
It would be cool to see something like that and I agree (from an earlier post) that the Gentlemen from BtVS would be awesome in D&D!
Miyazaki-san's films are chockful of Japanese mythology and figures inspired by mythology. PM and Spirited Away are prime examples. Good material for mining. Man, it's time for me to watch those again...
Oh no, Sketchpad! You said the "M" word!
I was thinking of the same thing but my thought came from that weird demonic ooze that infected the Boar Gods in Princess Mononoke. Same concept though...
It would be cool to see something like that and I agree (from an earlier post) that the Gentlemen from BtVS would be awesome in D&D!
Oh yeah I had forgotten about Princess Mononoke, a lot of things in there that can be used for inspiration.
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I'd like to see at least one and preferably more then one set of variations for outsiders of all of the various ideological polarities and combinations which are also essentially viable as PC races of beings.
Someone clever and insightful commented earlier that humanoids and demihumanoids are the most common enemies out there.
My Thoughts are along the Lines of Beings Associated with a subset of Chaos such as adaptability, freedom, or gambling/risk taking (to name a few chaotic subsets) without them being insane.
Too often monsters and outsiders have to be EVERYTHING associated with an ideological position instead of just something.
On a simpler line of thinking I'd also like to see More:
Inflictible Templates
A Clockwork Template to make clockwork creatures feasable from level 1+
Animals and Magical Beasts, especially a magical beast template for upgrading animals with low to mid level spelllike abilities (blink dogs and displacer beasts being a good start)
A set of Aberration Parasites/Symbiotes or other source of living equipment to buff nonsentient opponents in some way which can't be predicted.
Some sets of monsters I'd like to see:
* Everything from "The Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll.
* Monsters of Irish, Norse, and Greek mythology.
* Drakes: Winged, legless, fire-breathing serpents of animal intellect that share the dragon type (generally size small thru large).
* Titans, demigods, avatars, etc: I'd envision these as templates that can be applied to existing creatures to make them the stuff of legend.
* Pixies: Complete with a set of stats that would make them suitable for play from 1st level.
* Horror: Take some monsters from some of Robert E. Howard's "Conan" stories: man-eating apes, giant flesh-dissolving slugs, etc.
* Hengeyokai: A template for turning animals into medium-sized anthropomorphic fey (this should be different from lycanthropy).
* Soul-bound Items: A template or other guidelines on what properties normally inanimate objects assume when possessed by or created with angelic, infernal, or other spirits inside them. Example: An ego-sword with mind-affecting abilities and self-animation would make for an interesting adversary.
* Flying Monkeys: The horror!
Let go of hate...
Another idea .. with Reaper and Paizo working together, is there a way to get their "Mind Flayer"-esque monsters into Pathfinder? ;)
Sketchpad.
Read the whole post from the beginning or I'll suck your brains out.
A few notes. First, I really like a lot of these extraplanar "familiar" ideas. Quite a few parallel my own thinking, but there's some great new ideas here. Keep 'em coming!
From a few of the the creatures rattled off above, at least one of you is going to be VERY happy when they see Bestiary II.
Another idea .. with Reaper and Paizo working together, is there a way to get their "Mind Flayer"-esque monsters into Pathfinder? ;)
Nope. We're just not interested enough to dare the slippery legality of those slopes. Its been more than two years since we went our own way from the D&D brand. In the beginning we mourned mind flayers, umber hulks, beholders, carrion crawlers, displacer beasts, koa-toa, demon lords, and others deeply. Nearly 30 volumes of Pathfinder, a PF RPG Bestiary, and more than 150 all new monsters later, we've taken off the black veils and are pretty much over it. So yeah. Don't expect "brain scourgers" or "observers" from us, like, ever.
For your own games, though: Go crazy!
Sorry .. sorry ... missed some of notes on the slippery stuff.
Keeping with the theme of the thread though, I would like to second some of seeing some critters from Irish & Scottish folklore. Also, Russia has some neat things in their mythology as well.
Miyazaki also has some neat ideas as someone posted, but anime in general is filled of lush visuals. While kind of fantasy, Dot Hack has some neat takes on monsters, as does Bleach.
Horror-wise, I'd like to see some modern horror monsters given a more fantasy flair. Take something like Freddy Kruger and make a Nightmare Demon in the same vein. Or how about something like the Harvester from Jeepers Creepers? Really, someone could have a field day watching Sci-Fi Originals and taking notes on their creatures ;)
While kind of fantasy, Dot Hack has some neat takes on monsters, as does Bleach.
I can see it now: James Jacob's Big Book of Hollows, and Arancar Encyclopedia! :D
What I'd really like to see though are some templates needed to make a shinigami, complete with rules on their Zanpakutou. (Though that would probably be a book all to itself.) XD
Okay, my insomnia usually strikes on the other side of the night, but whatever.
So. Devils have imps, demons have quasits... seems like a good trend to keep running with other planar races, right?
Isn't there a breed of Div that would make a good Neutral Evil Familiar? That floating bugbear head with horns? C'mon, you know you want a greedy, lazy, ugly head for a familiar!
I keep thinking of those bouncing heads in Yubaba's office in Spirited Away. ^-^
Director of Narrative
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Okay, my insomnia usually strikes on the other side of the night, but whatever.
So. Devils have imps, demons have quasits... seems like a good trend to keep running with other planar races, right?
Isn't there a breed of Div that would make a good Neutral Evil Familiar? That floating bugbear head with horns? C'mon, you know you want a greedy, lazy, ugly head for a familiar!
I keep thinking of those bouncing heads in Yubaba's office in Spirited Away. ^-^
Yep. You're thinking of the doru. They can be taken as familiars using the Improved Familiar feat, and indeed would make lazy and conniving companions. They love to gossip and spy as well.
Yep. You're thinking of the doru. They can be taken as familiars using the Improved Familiar feat, and indeed would make lazy and conniving companions. They love to gossip and spy as well.
Yup! That's the idea with them for divs. As for daemons, though, I think cacodaemons might be the new daemon-familiar race. Maybe. We'll see.
I keep thinking of those bouncing heads in Yubaba's office in Spirited Away. ^-^
By the by, I'd love to know the folkloric precedent for these creatures in Spirited Away (if there is one). As with so many Miazaki films, it's hard to tell what's obscure folklore and what's just his awesome imagination.