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[5e] Monster humanoid variants

Started by Sacrosanct, August 21, 2014, 11:02:58 AM

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Sacrosanct

August 21, 2014, 11:02:58 AM
As far as we can tell so far, 5e doesn't have the variants that 4e had with a lot of the humanoids: kobold dragonshields, alchemists, goblin worg riders, etc.

Yesterday jadrax posted on ENWorld a few variants he came up with.  Taking from his awesome idea, I think there is an easy template one could use to easily and quickly add a lot of flavor and variance to your monstrous humanoids.

Rule:  Add one feat, and double the CR if <1.

Examples:
kobold alchemist (feat: magic initiate /w acid spash cantrip)
goblin spy (feat: skulker)
goblin sentry (feat: observant)
orc shaman (feat: ritual caster)
kobold dragonshield (feat: shield master)


I think the feat system in 5e lends itself very well to easily and quickly modifying monsters.
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Exploderwizard

#1
August 21, 2014, 11:17:31 AM
Monsters are easy enough to modify without filling up volumes of the same monsters with minor tweaks, as you have demonstrated.

We were modifying monsters back in the early days without official rules to do so. 5E monsters seem to be easy to modify and manipulate from what I have seen so far.

I have needed to modify yetis in various editions for about 25 years in order to get REAL yetis. :p
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#2
August 21, 2014, 12:45:51 PM
Quote from: Exploderwizard;781506Monsters are easy enough to modify without filling up volumes of the same monsters with minor tweaks, as you have demonstrated.

We were modifying monsters back in the early days without official rules to do so. 5E monsters seem to be easy to modify and manipulate from what I have seen so far.

I have needed to modify yetis in various editions for about 25 years in order to get REAL yetis. :p

While I don't mind variant monsters in print, I have always found it pretty simple to make tweaks as needed.

Need a Hobgoblin from the nine hells? Give a regular hobgoblin a firesheild spell always on.

Don't really need a HellHobgoblin entry for that.

jibbajibba

#3
August 21, 2014, 01:08:34 PM
Yeah I think a monster builder, maybe a random one like the denizens of the lower planes in the back of the AD&D monster manual is better than a load of monsters.

The art is pretty good in the 5e MM  but I am really far to lazy to go and read up on stuff much easier just to make it up based on a picture or just off the top of my head.
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