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Best D&D original monsters out there?
Playgrounders, I beseech your great expertise in all things D&D to help me find out answers to the question posed in topic title. Some clarifications first, though:
- a D&D unoriginal monster would be one that has real-world mythological precedent and isn't sufficiently removed from it by modifications and D&Disms added to it by various D&D authors
- or one that has similar widespread fictional precedent
So, 1) would disqualify vampires, werewolves, faeries, zombies, angels, demons, devils etc.
and 2) would disqualify orcs, dragons, Tolkien-style elves and dwarves etc.
Well, some would fit both, as the line between 1 and 2 isn't always clear, but it is of no matter to this question.
Also, I'm mostly interested in richly described and innately diverse D&D original monsters - ones that could serve as a basic for a whole campaign, instead of a single encounter or - at most - 1 adventure. For example aurumvorax AFAIK is quite original to D&D, but for how long could you make a gold-eating, six-legged weasel interesting? Not very long, not by itself.
However, things like Drow, Illithids and Beholders certainly qualify. What else?
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
Well Beholders and Illithids are certainly the poster childs.
Which isn't such a suprise, as the early editions cranked out a huge amount of original monsters. But somehow these two became cool while all others are still laughed at 30 years later.
Another candidate would be Githyanki. I don't think there is anything like them anywhere else.
And actually, their backstory is as stupid as the worst out there: A race of space pirates that live in a void without time and build their cities on the petrified bodies of dead gods. And their queen is a necromancer who kills everyone who could become stong enough to threaten her rule. And they have Red Dragons as pets.
But somehow, they are still cool!?
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
I would say Kobolds are far enough removed from their mythological origins to be considered "original." The myths have them as invisible humanoid tree or water sprites who play tricks on humans. D&D (3.5 at least) has them as small, scaly, murderous, rat-like dragons with a fondness for traps.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Another candidate would be Githyanki. I don't think there is anything like them anywhere else.
And actually, their backstory is as stupid as the worst out there: A race of space pirates that live in a void without time and build their cities on the petrified bodies of dead gods. And their queen is a necromancer who kills everyone who could become stong enough to threaten her rule. And they have Red Dragons as pets.
But somehow, they are still cool!?
I thought your description of the Githyanki was cool right up until the part where you said they keep red dragons as pets (Because really, it should be the other way round.)
and as for a unique D&D invented creature, the humble mimic, and the huge variety of similar beings that disguise themselves as objects deserve a mention.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
In modern Germany, Kobold can be almost everything, as long as it's a small person of supernatural origin. Leperchauns, Brownies, Tomtes, and Gremlins could all be called Kobolds as well.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
If you're looking for originality in D&D you're not going to have a whole lot of luck except with aberations.
Almost every creature of any other type has its origins in some mythological body or other. Drow for instance, hail from norse mythology.
Even aberations are generally a nod toward the works of H.P. Lovercraft and his circle of author-friends, though none of the actual creatures of the type seem to be direct ports from that mythos.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
Wasn't there a thread like this a while back? Ah, no matter.
I have a fondness for the remorhaz. A polar insect thing that generates intense heat. It's not an incredibly intricate concept, but I think it's cool.
Similarly, the ankheg. Acid-spitting whack-a-mole. Always cool.
Can't really diversify these two all that much, though. Not like, say, the githyanki and githzerai. Those two races feel like they should have a whole series of novels dedicated simply to their history.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
I agree on the entire Gith/Githyanki/Githzerai/Illithid myth complex. That entire story is seriously cool, especially if you take Planescape sources and Planescape: Torment into it. The Unbroken Circle makes for an awesome read.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
How widespread does widespread need to be?
The humble Rust Monster - A simple creature that exists solely to put the fear of Og (and Rustoleum) into metal-clad warriors.
I'm partial to owlbears.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
Interesting. Githyanki were actually invented by Charles Stross, when he was 15. Which excuses that he took the name for them from a George Martin novel. :smallbiggrin:
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Yora
Interesting. Githyanki were actually invented by Charles Stross, when he was 13. Which excuses that he took the name for them from a George Martin novel. :smallbiggrin:
And that's why the original Fiend Folio is fun. All creatures people who played the game sent in. I think Slaad came from there too.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
Yes, they are also from him.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Joe the Rat
The humble Rust Monster - A simple creature that exists solely to put the fear of Og (and Rustoleum) into metal-clad warriors.
Seconded. This is one of THE best monsters. I'd also like to mention Gelatinous Cubes.
There are some that are hilarious, but not really GOOD. Duckbunny, Armadillephant, Giant Space Hamster, really any from here.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Kelb_Panthera
Drow for instance, hail from norse mythology.
Scottish mythology, actually. The word 'trow' or 'drow' refers to a type of troll, goblin or malevolent elf in the folklore of the Shetland Isles, which are part of the north-east of Scotland. They do also take a degree of influence from the ideas of 'svartalfar' in Norse mythology.
As to the topic, beholders all the way.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Narsil
Scottish mythology, actually. The word 'trow' or 'drow' refers to a type of troll, goblin or malevolent elf in the folklore of the Shetland Isles, which are part of the north-east of Scotland. They do also take a degree of influence from the ideas of 'svartalfar' in Norse mythology.
Which may very well just be dwarves.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
Flumph, ..., only kidding.
Worms of Kyuss - so innocuous and harmless, until they kill you.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
prufock
Seconded. This is one of THE best monsters. I'd also like to mention Gelatinous Cubes.
There are some that are hilarious, but not really GOOD. Duckbunny, Armadillephant, Giant Space Hamster, really any from
here.
I love these double-animals. I've introduced a few of my own making in my games. There was a really memorable one with a group of aquatic ogres herding Squeep (Colossal squid/sheep) with their trained Whogs (Sperm whale dogs).
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
I've always been fond of Displacer Beasts and Blink Dogs. No clue if those have any mythological background, but I don't think I've encountered them in any other setting.
The Tarrasque is also pretty iconic of D&D, I think.
As for intelligent races that are notable in D&D, I'd like to add Yuan-Ti and Elan to the list.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Kelb_Panthera
Even aberations are generally a nod toward the works of H.P. Lovercraft and his circle of author-friends, though none of the actual creatures of the type seem to be direct ports from that mythos.
I think Gibbering Mouthers are Shoggoths. A bit small for shoggoths, but still shoggoths.
As for original monster; I like Stirges. Well, I like killing stirges, because I hate mosquito's.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
There is one picture by Vinod Rhams, that made me want to cross a hyena with an auroch. It's awesome. :smallbiggrin:
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Edge of Dreams
I've always been fond of Displacer Beasts and Blink Dogs. No clue if those have any mythological background, but I don't think I've encountered them in any other setting.
The Tarrasque is also pretty iconic of D&D, I think.
As for intelligent races that are notable in D&D, I'd like to add Yuan-Ti and Elan to the list.
I agree with the above, although I'm not sure the Tarrasque is completely iconic, since everyone I know says "You mean that thing that's essentially Godzilla?" whenever I bring it up.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Edge of Dreams
I've always been fond of Displacer Beasts and Blink Dogs. No clue if those have any mythological background, but I don't think I've encountered them in any other setting.
The Tarrasque is also pretty iconic of D&D, I think.
As for intelligent races that are notable in D&D, I'd like to add Yuan-Ti and Elan to the list.
Displacer beast are one of my favourite D&D original monsters, thri-kriin are also quite cool.
AFAIK the Tarrasque is a french myth or something like that.
Edit: Yep according to wikipedia, the Tarrasque is based on the French myth of the Tarasque
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
Tarrasque is the name of a French dragon. But it isn't that close to the D&D version, really.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Eldan
Tarrasque is the name of a French dragon. But it isn't that close to the D&D version, really.
Their physical descriptions are very close, as well as certain other mythological elements (coming from the gods, being practically unkillable, causing ruin and devastation).
Also, a favorite of mine is the Ethereal Filcher.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Kelb_Panthera
If you're looking for originality in D&D you're not going to have a whole lot of luck except with aberations.
Almost every creature of any other type has its origins in some mythological body or other. Drow for instance, hail from norse mythology.
Even aberations are generally a nod toward the works of H.P. Lovercraft and his circle of author-friends, though none of the actual creatures of the type seem to be direct ports from that mythos.
Well, yeah, but as I wrote in the OP, I'm not looking for stuff that has no precedent in anything that came before. For example, as far as I can tell from quick googling after later poster's post, while Drow's source is in Shetland folklore and Norse mythology, D&D has took those two influences, mashed them into a ball and ran with it so far that it would be hard to pinpoint them if not for the name (and in fact there are many more entries in Monster Manuals that resemble those mythological influences much more closely). Unlike, say, Kenku, which aren't very far from Tengu (unless there's some spiffy sourcebook with an in-depth look at Kenku that I haven't heard about).
Also, I remembered another one that qualifies quite well - the Sahuagin. Another one could be Kuo-Toa, but they seem to have moved towards being indistinguishable from Deep Ones during the history of the game.
In fact, pursuing this line of thought I've remembered about the list of WotC's "Product Identity" monsters and that's
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beholder
gauth
carrion crawler
displacer beast
githyanki
githzerai
kuo-toa
mind flayer
slaad
umber hulk
yuan-ti
and umber hulks and carrion crawlers haven't been mentioned here (and are quite fun).
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Hel65
In fact, pursuing this line of thought I've remembered about the list of WotC's "Product Identity" monsters ...
Actually, are we even allowed to type the names of these things ?
Perhaps we ought to genericise them ?
- Flying eyeball, with more eyes on sticks.
- Flying eyeball, with more eyes on sticks, and long tongues.
- Slithering thing which eats dead adventures, and live ones too.
- Big cat with 6 legs and a couple of tentacles which isn't quite where you think it is.
- Weird humans who live in space
- Weird humans who live in space who are cousins and enemies of the other Weird humans who live in space
- Fishmen
- Man with a squid for a face
- Big talking toadman.
- Err, that thing which eats rocks for starters, adventurers for main course, and their treasure for pudding.
- Snakemen
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
nedz
- Weird humans who live in space
- Weird humans who live in space who are cousins and enemies of the other Weird humans who live in space
Hey! I'll have you know that the Githzerai are a very fine people who live on the humble planet of Limbo, not in space itself! :smalltongue:
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
Well, the word pre-dates the game, and means something very different. But the gazebo as a beast that wakes up and eats PCs is absolutely original to D&D.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
No, it doesn't. It is never said it wakes up and eats anything.
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Originally Posted by
nedz
And here we have the proof that Kuo-toa and Yuan-ti are not original monsters. They are just Deep Ones and Naga with a different name. Some individual touches, but that doesn't change it.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
No one's mentioned the Bulette yet? My favorite for those times when you really need to eat your PC's. Whole.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Yora
No, it doesn't. It is never said it wakes up and eats anything.
That's because it's a meme.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Yora
No, it doesn't. It is never said it wakes up and eats anything.
In the original story by Richard Aronson, in Alarums and Excursions, the DM's final comment is:
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Originally Posted by Richard Aronson
(Thoroughly frustrated) It's too late. You've awakened the gazebo, and it catches you and eats you.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
nedz
Flumph, ..., only kidding.
Actually, I have heard a pretty good case for the Flumph as D&D's "cute" monster, sort of like the Slime from Dragon Quest. Also, their Pathfinder backstory is awesome, and I am totally tweaking that for use in my own setting {:coughshamelessplugcough:}.
And I really like the Crawling Apocalypse from Sandstorm because GIANT OCTOPUS MUMMY YOU GUISE! I also love the Ocularon from the 3e Fiend Folio, mainly because it always seemed like the perfect natural enemy to the Beholder, though sadly it's never appeared again after its one Fiend Folio entry.
And isn't the Displacer Beast a straight ripoff of the Coeurl from Voyage of the Space Beagle?
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
Why has no one mentioned gnolls? I guess they are based off mythology--but just about all DnD creatures are based closely off something.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
I like FLUMPHS and I cannot lie!
Seriously, though. Flumphs are honestly one of, if not my favorite monster. I just love that fact that they are the heroes of the abberations. And honestly, I don't really understand why people don't like them. Whats so bad about them anyways? :smallconfused:
EDIT: Hey tbok1992! You saw that article on bogleech too! That's sweet. Flumph's are awesome, and they shouldn't be so discriminated by players.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
I just remembered. Gnolls are an original creation. Possibly the most original thing DnD has created. The name was based off a half-gnome-half-troll, which is what they originally were. Then, they decided to make them hyena humanoids.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
I'm also pretty sure trolls themselves regenerating lost body parts and being weak to fire originated with D&D.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Kadzar
I'm also pretty sure trolls themselves regenerating lost body parts and being weak to fire originated with D&D.
Actually they came from Poul Anderson's Three Hearts and Three Lions.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Agrippa
Alright. But it still fulfills the OP's request since the idea isn't based on mythology and it didn't have widespread literary precedence. Regenerating trolls are at least as unique to D&D as Vancian magic in that case.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Kadzar
Alright. But it still fulfills the OP's request since the idea isn't based on mythology and it didn't have widespread literary precedence. Regenerating trolls are at least as unique to D&D as Vancian magic in that case.
Umm, well, yes, it's as original to D&D as Vancian magic - which is to say, it wasn't invented for D&D, and isn't unique to D&D.
We are looking for original D&D monsters. The trolls didn't originate here, and are therefore not original.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
Along with the beholder and aboleth, I would float the Avolakia and the Ulgurstasta as two of the most impressive D&D innovations (although all four could do without the goofy made-up names IMO).
For something that's specifically original to 3rd Edition, I have to go with Incarnum. There aren't many other things out there which it resembles, and while the fluff as-written is a bit painful, it unlocks a lot of really great possibilities which my campaign has been running with to great effect.
Oh wait, we're talking monsters, right. Okay, the Incarnum golem. Basically a D&D Terminator - it thinks, it learns, it adapts as you fight it. And it's made of plates of glass with souls in them.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Jay R
Umm, well, yes, it's as original to D&D as Vancian magic - which is to say, it wasn't invented for D&D, and isn't unique to D&D.
We are looking for original D&D monsters. The trolls didn't originate here, and are therefore not original.
Well, I did say that for the purposes of this thread "D&D unoriginal monsters are those that have widespread fictional precedent [or are mythological]". It's useful to me when someone points out a monster even if it's taken from a less well-known work and it's educating when someone points out their origin! Win-win. Though maybe that makes the thread title less than ideal, but I still don't know how to phrase it better.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
Mind Flayers for me. Easily my favorite race in 3.5 D&D
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
I will cast another vote in favour of flumphs. I really can't help but like those guys, but I'm a sucker for the underdog.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Doorhandle
Which is not really a D&D original; HP Lovecraft came up with the idea, this is just a version of it which is a template and you can stick it on a wizard or something.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
IMO, you can't claim something is an original monster if it was lifted from another source, even if the source is obscure.
So regenerating trolls are out.
The displacer beast was lifted from "Black Destroyer" (1939) and The Voyage of the Space Beagle (1950) by A.E. van Vogt, originally called a "coeurl".
Mind flayers are another nod to Lovecraft, partially inspired by covr art from The Burrowers Beneath by Brian Lumley.
As stated earlier, the Tar(r)asque is French, D&D just made it a lot bigger.
Yuan-ti seem very close to at least one Oriental myth.
Gnolls seem very similar to "kaftar", mythological Persian "half-man, half-hyena" creatures.
And while in no way based on it in form, the "Land Shark" skit on Saturday Night Live aired in 1975, while the original Monster Manual was published in 1977.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
Cthonians look more like giant squids and not at all humanoid. But they do live underground, have a telepathic stun attack, and suck out their victims with their tentacles. To the elder brains and illithids being great wizards it's not a long step.
Yuan-ti are just naga, which you could call a "generic" creature from large parts of Asia. The only original part is that they were humans who attempt to become more snake like over thousands of years, while naga are treated as an actual species of creatures.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Yora
Cthonians look more like giant squids and not at all humanoid. But they do live underground, have a telepathic stun attack, and suck out their victims with their tentacles. To the elder brains and illithids being great wizards it's not a long step.
It's also funny to note that Final Fantasy took the image of a mind flayer for its Mage monsters. No beholder though, although there might be a loose inspiration for the various "giant eyeball with mouth" monsters, though they tend to have limbs and none of them have 10 smaller eyes.
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Yuan-ti are just naga, which you could call a "generic" creature from large parts of Asia. The only original part is that they were humans who attempt to become more snake like over thousands of years, while naga are treated as an actual species of creatures.
It irritates me profoundly that the name "naga" is NOT used for the Yuan-Ti; I've had to do a lot of flailing about to come up with an alternate concept for them which I liked. I've settled on a mix of Robert Howard's Hyborian Serpent People (also used by H.P. Lovecraft in the ghostwritten "The Curse of Yig"), the Setites from Vampire: the Masquerade, and some voodoo and new age references to a snake as a bearer of somewhat-venal enlightenment. But it would have been SO much easier if I could have called them Naga in the first place and THEN stapled on the Himalayan concept of kundalini and the Egyptian myth of Apophis and so forth. The monster that actually got the name Naga is fairly forgettable IMO, and doubly annoying when you get the Shinomen Nagas in OA which are completely unrelated (and, IMO, far cooler).
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
Just in case you were wondering Sealions are not original either.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
I remember reading a blog in which the writer complained that the sealion seemed like something a six year old would come up with -- he didn't realize that ancient scholars believed there was a marine equivalent/counterpart to every terrestrial animal.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
I may get some flak for this, but I really like what D&D has done for / with dragons.
From (post 2nd) Kobolds and Dragonborn, to Chromatic, Metallic, Gem, and Esoteric dragons, Wyverns, Manticores, Dragonnes, Drakes, Draconians, I think there's a lot of good stuff there.
Council of Wyrms, Dragonomicon, Races of the Dragon, Dragonlance, the list goes on.
Undeniably a part of real world mythos and legends, but I think the important thing is what they've done with it. I never heard of Linnorms before D&D, though they are ostensibly Norse dragons (I haven't looked that up, but am guessing). They don't have rear legs.
Big fan of dragons, and I really like what D&D has done with them, even if that is as simple as made them more accessible to me.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
jackattack
I remember reading a blog in which the writer complained that the sealion seemed like something a six year old would come up with -- he didn't realize that ancient scholars believed there was a marine equivalent/counterpart to every terrestrial animal.
You are almost certainly thinking of this legendary article. Which lead its author directly to playing 4th edition and landing a long-running freelance writing gig for Wotco. He is my hero, and while this isn't his best article IMO, it's certainly his most famous.
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Originally Posted by
psiclone57
I may get some flak for this, but I really like what D&D has done for / with dragons.
From (post 2nd) Kobolds and Dragonborn, to Chromatic, Metallic, Gem, and Esoteric dragons, Wyverns, Manticores, Dragonnes, Drakes, Draconians, I think there's a lot of good stuff there.
Big fan of dragons, and I really like what D&D has done with them, even if that is as simple as made them more accessible to me.
Some of the D&D dragon stuff is dumb, some of it is awesome. But then that's pretty much inevitable given how much they dominate the line in general (being in the name and all). You throw enough balls out there, some of them are going to be home runs, and others very foul indeed.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
What about thri-kreen and neogi? Anyone got any sources for that?
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
Thri-kreen are product identity so I guess they are a WotC creation. thought I am sure there is something that inspired them.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
I don't know if this was a direct inspiration, but the Thri-Kreen really make me think of the Priest-Kings of Gor...they're described as insectoid, have quasimagical powers (probably high technology in the setting, I haven't looked into it, but psionics would tend to fit better than magic), and rule over a desert land where they oppress humanity (okay that last part isn't quite a match for Dark Sun, but then they're a PC race so that's to be expected).
Neogi are completely original as far as I know; IMO this is not a point in their favor, as there isn't really anything resonant about them to me. I would like them to be more akin to the titular Aliens of Ridley Scott's movies, but instead they come in bright colors and are mostly known for being merchants. A bit of a letdown for an aberration race with mind control powers. The info on them in Lords of Madness helps some with taking them seriously, but I still shake my head at the idea of them having a more than vague, coincidental resemblance to a spider with an eel stapled to its head.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
The thri-kreen always reminded me of some interpretations of the Myrmidons from Greek legends.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
willpell
You are almost certainly thinking of
this legendary article. Which lead its author directly to playing 4th edition and landing a long-running freelance writing gig for Wotco. He is my hero, and while this isn't his best article IMO, it's certainly his most famous.
The vargouille and vampire frogs that he complains about are also straight out of mythology.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
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Originally Posted by
Dusk Eclipse
Thri-kreen are product identity so I guess they are a WotC creation. thought I am sure there is something that inspired them.
Kuo-toa and Yuan-ti are as well, and they are not even slightly concealed immitations.
With Thri-kreen, I am quite certain they are almost directly taken from the Green Martians from John Carter, which date back to 1917. Not explicitly insects, but the resemblance is striking.
And more recent interpretations by artists look a lot more like thri-kreen.
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Re: Best D&D original monsters out there?
Well I have only seen the most recent movie and never read the books so those martians aren't really on my mind. But now I do see a big resemblance between both of them.