“They cannot scare me with their empty spaces Between stars—on stars where no human race is. I have it in me so much nearer home To scare myself with my own desert places.” –Robert Frost Last week, I tried to test the interest in an encounter using the two tapestry templates I presented. While the […]
Old Hat Monsters: Voidlings Read More »
“No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.” —Aristotle Last week, I wrote a template for this site I wish I could redact or recant. For those fortunate enough to have missed it: Do not click on this link. I was wrong to discuss the “fiction” of H.P. Lovecraft or its impact
Old Hat Monsters: Tapestry-Enlightened Template Read More »
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” –Friedrich Nietzsche Inspiration can be drawn from many places. In fantasy, Tolkien gets all the press, but I’ve always had a thing
Old Hat Monsters: Tapestry-Tainted Template Read More »
With their punishing climate and near-total lack of precious water, deserts are one of the most hostile environments in existence. Those who spend enough time among the desert sands know that some monsters can thrive even in these hellish wastes. Such creatures are feared and respected by wise adventurers, for they are invariably predatory and
Death Among the Dunes: Desert Monsters Read More »
Man is a wingless animal with two feet and flat nails.” —Plato Humans dominate the Earth because we use tools, plain and simple. Animals are limited to genetic and behavior adaptations, while humans can adjust to new environmental hazards with technology. Fangs and claws simply cannot compete with swords and guns. We have even taken
Old Hat Monsters: Lions and Tigers and Bears, Equipped! Read More »
“When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes.” ― William Shakespeare, Henry V Fantasy novels love a good cavalry charge, or a hero who fights alongside a wolf,
Old Hat Monsters: Animal Companions, Familiars, and Mounts Read More »
Gnolls have slaughtered their way to gaming infamy, and they are a favorite of gamemasters (GMs) and players alike. This article can be used by GMs to round out this age-old monster, or players can use it to create new characters. The following gnoll variant is formatted for AGE—though you can convert the material to
Gnasty Gnolls: Vulturists in AGE Read More »
A good gaming session has a few of the same elements as some traditional wedding receptions. Both are a gathering of friends in a festive atmosphere, likely with food at some point. As with one wedding tradition I could name, each session could feature “something old” and “something new.” Those familiar with my series here at
Old Hat Monsters: Signature Weapons Read More »
Last week, I had a survey that would pay off with this week’s article. Responses were consistent on wanting a CR 7–10 encounter, but there ended up being a tie between kobolds and bugbears for this week’s star! House rule: When there’s a tie between kobolds and something else, kobolds win. I can perhaps be
Old Hat Monsters: Survey Says Read More »
Gnolls have slaughtered their way to gaming infamy, and they are a favorite of gamemasters (GMs) and players alike. This article can be used by GMs to round out this age-old monster, or players can use it to create new characters. The following gnoll variant is formatted for AGE—though you can convert the material to
Gnasty Gnolls: Cultists and Guardians in AGE Read More »
“Every man is a quotation from all his ancestors.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson In many tribal societies, the chieftain leads the social hierarchy (along with sometimes a council of elders), the hero leads war parties, and the shaman serves as spiritual leader. The tribal shaman is sometimes the only member of a tribe with magic, and
Old Hat Monsters: Tribal Shaman Read More »
As you might expect from the title of this article, Pete continues his look at the gnoll. If you missed the first part, take a quick peek here first, and then come back to explore all that is the Midgard AGE gnoll avenger! Gnolls have slaughtered their way to gaming infamy, and they are a
Gnasty Gnolls: The Avenger in AGE Read More »
“My lands are where my dead lie buried.”—Crazy Horse Tribal cultures sometimes have a different leader in war then when in peace. The tribal chieftain template I discussed last week was for a chieftain who mostly leads primarily by speaking. The tribal hero, or war chief if you prefer, leads by action. You can represent
Old Hat Monsters: Tribal Hero Template Read More »
After several months of coding, testing, and review, it is here! Rejoice, Hero Lab users, for all the monsters and templates of the Midgard Bestiary for Pathfinder RPG are fully available as an add-on pack for Pathfinder in Hero Lab. If you are an existing Hero Lab user, you can pick up this package of
Midgard Bestiary Now Available for Hero Lab Read More »
“The sight of it made the earth seem unearthly. They were accustomed to look upon the shackled form of a conquered monster, but there—there you could look at a thing monstrous, beautiful, and free.” —Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness. My first Old Hat Monster article was about breathing new life into the classic monster races
Old Hat Monsters: Tribal Chieftain Template Read More »
Gnolls are one of my all-time favorite monsters. From the blue box’s hyena-men, to the latest variations, these monsters have been hacking at parties for time immemorial. The following mini-ecology is system neutral, and it can inspire gamemasters and players to help cover the world with these beloved-yet-despised creatures. Feral hunter-scavengers, gnolls are demon-twisted humanoid
Gnasty Gnolls: Lore and Adventurers Read More »
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