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herolab dudeI would buy it ASAP lol.
Infact if you make an peice of software that will apply these templates, classes, and archetypes to the monsters and spit out stat blocks for me I'll buy that as well...yes i realize that this would probally happen anyway just wanted to say I'd be willing to pay for it.
Or PCGen.
Well Rite Publishing offers several products that offers parts of what the OP desires.
101 Not So Simple Monster Templates
101 Monster feats
101 Featured Alternate Racial Traits
Regarding monster archetypes, Rite Publishing offers racial paragon classes, which are depictions of monsters following their traditional folklore abilities spread across 20 levels of being "classed". Virtually all the In the Company of... series includes one for the monster race included.
For example, regarding Kaidan setting specific "In the Company of" releases (links to paragon classes posted at d20pfsrd.com)
Tengu Hishoken
Henge Mushakemono
Kappa Bone-breaker
Plus the sourcebooks for each of these Kaidan races all contain various class archetypes specific to that race. Rite offers racial paragon classes and archetypes for giants, gargoyles, minotaurs and many more.
Yes, yes!
I've been saying for years we need a Pathfinder equivalent to Savage Species and/or Advanced Bestiary.
I still go for the name Ultimate Monsters; given that the NPC Codex is a bunch of pre-gens, I wouldn't name it Monster Codex, since I want it to be more of a toolbox and less of a variant bestiary.
And I'm all for making [Monster] feats that aren't for PCs. I suppose always having some list of creatures as prerequisites is similar, but [Monster] is basically the same thing and far more concise than having "Aberration, Magical Beast, blah, blah" in the list for every feat.
And definitely more templates and even more fundamental toolbox stuff. Take that final Demonomicon article James wrote - something like THAT would be perfect in this book.
Vote yes!
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This would be a great book. I've posted a few times about this this thread on the issue.
Maybe we can get a list going on what we would like to see in the book?
I would like to see:
-Creature Breakdown/Creation: Put it together and figure out cost at end system, or work from a budget and pick what you can buy based on desired CR.
-Section on powers for creatures (scored): Looking at low CR abilities vs higher CR abilities that go beyond DC increases. E.g. Giant Spider web ability, vs. much bigger Demonic spider Corrosive or evil infused web ability, etc).
-Monster Archetypes/Progression beyond HD/monsters designed for roles
-Monster Templates/Template Creation Guidelines
-Monster Feats
YES PLZ
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Developing Vilain Points!
Vilainous Traits (e.g. Way of the Wicked Crime Traits). Nice way to add texture to baddies.
A new trait category like "mental disorder" has potential.
Vilainous drawbacks, like "generous", "merciful" or "remorseful".
Guidelines for creating monsters from scratch and guidelines for advancing/reducing monsters.
Template creation guidelines.
Texts on how NPCs of all alignments can be opponents to PCs. Like the LG paladin opposing PCs.
Alternative motivations for LE/NE/CE NPCs and iconic monsters (Devils, Demons, Lich, Vampires, Orcs, Giants, etc.).
How baddies can become (temporary) allies to PCS when certain circumstances presetn themselves and how PCs can deal with this situation.
Suggestions for Vilainous NPCs and the evil PC campaigns.
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Ultimate Villains
Doubles as a PC book if it's an evil campaign.
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Sign me up for a book for monsters like templates, archetypes, etc. I would love stuff like that for monsters both good and evil, lawful and chaotic and everything in between. I would love stuff like alternate abilities to make cool or interesting variants.
But I say no for a book of villains because to me villains means evil humanoid with class levels and that doesn't interest me. I also hate evil player characters and options related.
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ill admit it, I want official bestiary leveling rules. similar to the "in the company of" series but more pathfinder legal.
This sounds like a book worth buying to me!
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It would embrace the fact that monsters are built using the same "Legos" that PCs are built out of. The problem is, there's several books of Lego expansions for PCs, but very very few Lego expansions for monsters. THAT'S what this book would be about.
The trickiest hurdle to clear for a book like this is the fact that it's not really a book for players, and that tends to make folks nervous since the perception is that the book would sell much less. I'm not sure that's the case, since Bestiaries aren't player books and they seem to be selling just fine.
It'd pretty much be a crunch-heavy book for GMs, and NOT for players.
As a GM, and as someone who writes and develops lot of adventures... I've always felt these books for other systems are worth their weight in gold. And almost as rare.
I would quickly buy a book on Monsters as James has described.
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I would quickly buy a book on Monsters as James has described.It would embrace the fact that monsters are built using the same "Legos" that PCs are built out of. The problem is, there's several books of Lego expansions for PCs, but very very few Lego expansions for monsters. THAT'S what this book would be about.
The trickiest hurdle to clear for a book like this is the fact that it's not really a book for players, and that tends to make folks nervous since the perception is that the book would sell much less. I'm not sure that's the case, since Bestiaries aren't player books and they seem to be selling just fine.
It'd pretty much be a crunch-heavy book for GMs, and NOT for players.
As a GM, and as someone who writes and develops lot of adventures... I've always felt these books for other systems are worth their weight in gold. And almost as rare.
Me too. Oh my gods, me too!
More tools, the better!
Oh my!
Such a book would be - more Superstar options for Monster rounds!
Yum yum!
*Rubs chin*
Got linked to here from a Kickstarter... anyway, I don't know about Archetypes (since most monsters don't have a universal class level to base things off of), but you might be able to do something with the monster's combat style. Let's say we've got a group of moderately competent undead, for example. Several of them are devoted to using their shields to protect their companions; one of them is an aggressive type, working to halt the advance of the heroes. Another one is working in tandem with a fighter type, protecting it from attacks while it focuses on chopping things, and a third stays back to cover a pair of archers from ranged blows and allow them to harass the heroes from the rear.
With the same basic equipment, players (and monsters) can do very different things. Classes... don't seem quite universal enough for monsters, but I think you might be able to create something that would work (or at least work well enough) if you focused on the way monsters are used in the game. If a creature is a "charge straight in and start mauling things" type, give two or three ways to do that. If it's a "screw with everyone using illusions" type, find a few ways to change that up. Be universalist, not specific. I just can't see anything else being too viable, given the sheer diversity of monsters that we already have.
I would support such a book. I would love to have this on my shelf!
More options for monsters is always appreciated. I am on board with the KS for GR's Advanced Bestiary but something Paizo would do in the same or similar vein would be most welcome as well. Monster books are great but ideas on modifying monsters so they behave differently than the PCs expect without breaking the social contract of the game gives a GM a toolbox that's worth its weight in gold as far as I'm concerned.