Handling 'trigger' items... as a GM

[GM Wageslave]

Is it acceptable as a GM if you have a phobia with a particular statted creature to use a surrogate description that has the same stats/weaknesses/etc for a given encounter?

It's 'reskinning' in a way, but it'd make my mental health a lot better?

[Davor Firetusk]

I would assume so given that we are instructed as GMs to do something similar if we encounter a player in a similar situation.

[Leathert]

Yeah, it should be okay, as long as the characters can get whatever bonuses/penalties they would have had against the original creature (like favored enemy).

[GM Wageslave]

Definitely.

[BigNorseWolf]

Eyup. No reskinning is for players.

And the DM can't skin players.