Round 3 Monster Speculation Thread

[Mike Welham]

Any guesses for the monsters we'll see in Round 3?

[Notsonoble]

I'm sorta hoping someone takes a stab at skintaker... not just because I kinda wanna see Jim win (he's a fellow maptool user), but because the instant I read skintaker I wanted a statblock for a game I'm running... It just fit way too well!

[caith]

I can narrow it down to 32 guesses =P

[Urizen]

caith wrote:

I can narrow it down to 32 guesses =P

Actually, 16 guesses.

[PhysChic]

caith wrote:

I can narrow it down to 32 guesses =P

Considering they have to choose one of the monsters that made it to the top 16, I think 32 is a few too many guesses ;)

[Urizen]

While I would love to see the skintaker statblock, what we ought to be speculating on are the ones that may be more difficult to pull off, but if done successful it'll be a hit out of the ballpark. One creature has psionics. Another has magnetism. One's accused of being a template. Those are a few examples that would be the ones to watch for if someone wants to pull off a coup.

[Mike Welham]

Lantern Thrall is one I'd like to see someone tackle.

[PhysChic]

Urizen wrote:

While I would love to see the skintaker statblock, what we ought to be speculating on are the ones that may be more difficult to pull off, but if done successful it'll be a hit out of the ballpark. One creature has psionics. Another has magnetism. One's accused of being a template. Those are a few examples that would be the ones to watch for if someone wants to pull off a coup.

A magnetic world-eater as a CR6 or lower? That'd be a serious challenge.

[Urizen]

PhysChic wrote:

Urizen wrote:

While I would love to see the skintaker statblock, what we ought to be speculating on are the ones that may be more difficult to pull off, but if done successful it'll be a hit out of the ballpark. One creature has psionics. Another has magnetism. One's accused of being a template. Those are a few examples that would be the ones to watch for if someone wants to pull off a coup.

A magnetic world-eater as a CR6 or lower? That'd be a serious challenge.

Yes, it would. They need to avoid the Galactus route. I have an idea how I would pull it off, but I don't want to say it here out of fear it would cramp someone's defining mojo moment. That's what I think we all need to keep in mind when speculating. :D

[Quandary]

Does anybody know if people are allowed to develop a statblock for a 'Young' creature?
That would allow for a CR6 while implying the full mature specimin is a greater force to reckon with.

...???

[Neil Spicer]

Personally, I'd love to see someone take on the daunting challenge of statting up the Ossuary Golem as a CR6 creature. To do it justice, I think it would look better as a template which has differing powers depending on which kind of undead it contains. But, to do that, would mean a competitor would have to be really, really careful with how they spend their word count. I'm not even entirely convinced it can be done in 700 words or less. But hat's off to the Superstar candidate that can make that puppy work.

Other creatures I'd like to see statted would include the Skintaker, the Ardorwesp, and the Caltrop Golem...oddly enough, the very same creatures I voted for... ;-)

Just my two-cents,
--Neil

[caith]

Urizen wrote:

caith wrote:

I can narrow it down to 32 guesses =P

Actually, 16 guesses.

Whups! I misread. I thought it was any of the Round 2 entries.

Neil Spicer wrote:

Personally, I'd love to see someone take on the daunting challenge of statting up the Ossuary Golem as a CR6 creature. To do it justice, I think it would look better as a template which has differing powers depending on which kind of undead it contains.

Careful Spicer, don't want to give anyone too many ideas =D.

[Neil Spicer]

caith wrote:

Careful Spicer, don't want to give anyone too many ideas =D.

Who's giving anyone ideas? I may have to hoard the ones I've come up with and see if I can somehow create an Ossuary Golem on my own. ;-P

[Charles Evans 25]

Neil Spicer wrote:

Personally, I'd love to see someone take on the daunting challenge of statting up the Ossuary Golem as a CR6 creature. To do it justice, I think it would look better as a template which has differing powers depending on which kind of undead it contains. But, to do that, would mean a competitor would have to be really, really careful with how they spend their word count. I'm not even entirely convinced it can be done in 700 words or less. But hat's off to the Superstar candidate that can make that puppy work.

Other creatures I'd like to see statted would include the Skintaker, the Ardorwesp, and the Caltrop Golem...oddly enough, the very same creatures I voted for... ;-)

Just my two-cents,
--Neil

Ossuary Statuette

This five foot high figure of polished ivory, often crafted in an image of the deity Abadar, is used by many liches as a protector of their phylacteries, although evil mages have been known to trap the ghosts of tormented victims inside instead to provide the source of negative energy the golem needs to drive it...

;)

[Jason Rice]

The real suprise for me was the CR6 limit. With the CR6 (max) limit, it's going to be nearly impossible to see all of them statted.

I feel the following could be done well, with a CR6 limit:

Ardorwesp
Chymick
Lantern Thrall
Brown Urus
Chaitrakhan
Skintaker
Rotling
Lahamu
Sploruda

The following would be tough to pull off with a CR6 limit, but it's possible:

Wyrmhiri
Caltrop Golem
Churjiir
Slithering Horror

I don't see any of the following as CR6 or less:

Haga
Astrumel
Ossuary Golem

[Charles Evans 25]

With the exception of the haga (unless you want to have a haga hatchling, maybe?) I think most of them could be done as CR 6 or less, although the Lantern Thrall might have to deviate somewhat from the original design since I would assume that as Chris wrote them that grouping them should present more of a challenge than would normally be expected from creatures. I think (for the same reasons) the hive minds probably should go too, although axing hive minds would help to save word counts of a potentially lengthy and complex power anyway which should be useful with a budget of only 700 words this round.

[Urizen]

I agree with Charles on this. The Haga is the toughest one for me to perceive at CR 6 or less. But someone with SuperStah qualities can always prove otherwise.

[caith]

Charles Evans 25 wrote:

Ossuary Statuette

This five foot high figure of polished ivory, often crafted in an image of the deity Abadar, is used by many liches as a protector of their phylacteries, although evil mages have been known to trap the ghosts of tormented victims inside instead to provide the source of negative energy the golem needs to drive it...

;)

And you say you can't cut it in this competition, Charles. Phylactery guardian? Brilliant! Now I might have to use it...