In Part 1, we looked at ability scores and established a few useful rules for assigning them to monsters of your own design. In this part, we look at Hit Dice and hit points as they relate to challenge rating and extract a few lessons about monster defenses.
Howling Tower: Monster Stats, Part 2 Read More »
In the year since fifth edition came out, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time deconstructing its monsters and putting them back together again. The lessons I’ve learned have been invaluable when developing new creatures for third-party monster collections such as Fifth Edition Foes from Necromancer Games and Southlands Bestiary and Tome of Beasts from
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The imposing presence of this lion whose body is crisscrossed by scars is quite unsettling. Man-Eater Lion CR 5    XP 1,600    N Large Animal    Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +13 Aura frightful presence (30 ft., DC 12)
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The mahamba is a freshwater cousin of the mosasaur, a large prehistoric marine reptile. The mahamba can reach a length of 50 feet. The aboriginals simply call it Nkoli and sometimes compare this terror to the nguna-monene, a sizeable lizard-like monster, even if the creatures are quite different. Although overly voracious, this cunning aquatic monstrosity
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The Impundulu, more commonly known as a lightning bird, is an avian with an insatiable thirst for blood, and many witches do not hesitate to offer a small amount of their lifeblood to control one. The lightning bird’s fat possesses incredible properties. A spellcaster can substitute the material components and focus of any spell having
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As soon as this yellow-bellied sea snake emerges from the river, it releases an ear-splitting yell. Ilomba    CR 5 XP 1,600 Any evil alignment (same as proprietor) Medium Construct    Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; low-light vision, scent; Perception +13 Defense    AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +3 natural)   Â
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An amazingly beautiful woman with flowing dark hair leisurely walks knee-deep in the river’s muddy waters wearing a diaphanous dress that reveals her slender form. Her body is nearly transparent underneath. An el naddaha is the daughter born from the rare union between a nereid and a janni. Although such offspring retains many characteristics of
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Now available, the Southlands Bestiary brings 90+ new monsters of the hotter climes to Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Want to run a campaign in the deserts, jungles or savannas? This 120-page tome of monsters will make sure your players will have hair-raising encounters like none they’ve experienced before. Several of these creatures are brought to life by the
Experience the Creatures of the Southlands Bestiary Read More »
According to Horus’s priesthood, the bennu bird—also known as “He Who Came Into Being by Himself” and “The Ascending One”—is a self-created being that influenced the creation of the world. Many believe that this outsider forever guards the ba of the Prince of Princes. Nowadays the bennu bird is the stoutest ally of Horus, gathering
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The features of this humanoid-headed bird are those of your deceased brother-in-arms. According to the Coffin Texts of Nuria-Natal, the Ba is the ensemble that makes an individual unique and is one of the five aspects of the human soul with the Ren, the Ka, the Sheut, and the Ib. The Nurians believe that the
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As this glowing fly takes flight away from its victim, you notice a streak of blood that flows from a puncture left behind by the insect in the man’s skin. Adze CR 11 XP 12,800 CE Fine Undead (shapechanger)    Init +9; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +20 Defense    AC 24, touch 23, flat-footed
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You are not sure if this erect biped is some kind of hairy humanoid, a very strange chimp, or perhaps some ape species about which you know nothing. The agogwe are discreet and reclusive creatures that inhabit the central forests of the southern continent, though they they hide among others of their kind if threatened.
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When this man gazes at you, you feel compelled to follow him, forgetting about the feral aspect of his person that had so disturbed you but a moment before. Afiti CR 1 XP 400 Afiti Sorcerer 2 CE Medium Humanoid (human)    Init +2; Senses Perception +1 Defense    AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 10
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Abatawa This living being hiding under a blade of grass has a human form, but its height does not exceed one quarter of an inch. Abatawa CR 1 XP 400 Abatawa fighter 1 CN Fine Humanoid    Init +4; Senses Perception +3 Defense    AC 22, touch 22, flat-footed 18 (+4 Dex, +8 size)    hp
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Are your adventurers ready for a larger challenge? As in, physically larger—though size isn’t the only thing our collection of giants brings to your gaming table. Why not find out if they’re prepared? Larger Than Life gives you everything you need to bring these terrifying titans to your table. This 76-page book by RPG Superstar
Giant-Size Fun All in One Place: Larger Than Life, a Pathfinder Supplement Read More »
There were more amazing creatures submitted to the Monarch of the Monsters fifth edition contest than made it into the Top 6—it’s a testament to the quality of the work that we couldn’t decide on only a Top 5. Though I had numerous favorites that didn’t make it to the voting round, there are two
Judge’s Commentary: Monarch of the Monsters 5—The Gargoctopus and the Glasscrock Read More »
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