Creepiest D&D Content

[Chainsaw Hobbit]

Have you ever opened up a D&D book, and while browsing, found something truly unsettling or disturbing? I don't mean things from books where the writers were trying to be unsettling, like in Heroes of Horror or the Book of Vile Darkness. I'm looking for creepy spots in otherwise comfortable books.

[Balain]

A friend of mine always found modrons creepy.

[Welknair]

Whatever those psionic leeches were called?

[Chainsaw Hobbit]

Thought eaters (the original emaciated platypus things) are actually kind of terrifying to me. It seems like a laughable concept at first, but the more one thinks about them, the scarier they seem.

Its even more disquieting if one takes into account the tidbit of lore saying that they are the souls of dead psionic characters.

[TuggyNE]

ELH's High Proselytizer has a signature ability (Proselytize) that creeps me out because it seems like it's intended to be some kind of sick parody of cults or something. Anything that lets you command low-level followers of the same deity/cause to commit suicide, no save, is just ... Dude Not Funny.

[Kelb_Panthera]

It kinda treads on the line for the OP's request, but the Tsochar from Lords of Madness creep me out to no end.

Hive mind leech/snake things that climb inside your body and force you to do their bidding or suffer horrible agony, and can also decide keeping you alive isn't worth the trouble so they just eat your brain and drive your body around like an old volvo.

*shudders*

[ghost_warlock]

Whatever those psionic leeches were called?

You mean puppeteers?


Personally, I love those things. I played one in a short campaign several years back. I was Lawful Good but would go around using my dominate on the BBEGs in order to rehabilitate them and show them how to lead a good life. Quickly acquired quite the entourage and hilarity ensued!

[falloutimperial]

Technically, this was in the BoVD, but they weren't trying to be unsettling at that point: D&D morality.

Lying: Probably evil.
Cheating: Evil.
Making an advantageous contract: Evil
Having a disadvantageous hallucination: Evil
Cannibalism: Evil
Masochism: Evil
Self-Mutilation: Evil
Obesity: Evil

etc.

[Kelb_Panthera]

Technically, this was in the BoVD, but they weren't trying to be unsettling at that point: D&D morality.

Lying: Probably evil.
Cheating: Evil.
Making an advantageous contract: Evil
Having a disadvantageous hallucination: Evil
Cannibalism: Evil
Masochism: Evil
Self-Mutilation: Evil
Obesity: Evil

etc.

I object! This is being misconstrued by taking it out of context.

BoVD says that many evil characters have one or more of those traits, or do one or more of those things.

It does not say that everyone that does any of those things or has any of those traits is automatically evil, or even that the traits and acts are in and of themselves evil.

This kind of misunderstanding is the biggest reason that people think D&D's alignment system is non-functional.

[DigoDragon]

Neogi usually get my vote for creepy factor. Particularly their reproduction cycle.

[Ranting Fool]

Well the picture of the Female half-orc in the Players Handbook tends to disturb a fair number of people (Though I think that is just because they want all/most women in a fantasy world to be stunningly attractive and scantly clad in chain mail bras or aged hags who curse people)

The more and more I think about it the more creeped out I get by the fact that a dragons Good/Evilness is based on the color of it's skin.

[Ashtagon]

Wildren (Planar Handbook). If you thought the classic half-orc background was ick, this makes it even more so.

[Craft (Cheese)]

I object! This is being misconstrued by taking it out of context.

BoVD says that many evil characters have one or more of those traits, or do one or more of those things.

It does not say that everyone that does any of those things or has any of those traits is automatically evil, or even that the traits and acts are in and of themselves evil.

This kind of misunderstanding is the biggest reason that people think D&D's alignment system is non-functional.

Willing Deformity Feats.

[PaperMustache]

Intellect devourers. They kill you and move into your head while you sleep and then drive you around to mad orgies and stuff. They do this while BEING a giant brain with hands and feet.

[Kelb_Panthera]

Willing Deformity Feats.

Cover some of those things taken to their extreme and require that a character be evil to take them. A character with one of the physical or mental features granted by a deformity feat, that doesn't have the feat is still perfectly RAW legal. He just gets no benefit or drawback from being deformed. Or are you actually arguing that deformities should be beneficial to everyone that has them?

For example, there was an entire thread on obese characters in D&D in the 3.5 subforum recently.

Edit: upon further review only self mutilation and obesity are covered by the deformity feats.

[Feytalist]

How has someone not mentioned the BoEF yet?

Although whether that's intentional or unintentional, I'd rather not find out.

I'll just vaguely mention the alternate bag of holding analogue and leave it at that.

[Kelb_Panthera]

How has someone not mentioned the BoEF yet?

Although whether that's intentional or unintentional, I'd rather not find out.

I'll just vaguely mention the alternate bag of holding analogue and leave it at that.

Really? I didn't think it was that bad, except for one of the pictures. I covered that with post-its and never looked back.

Then again, my creep factor detector for that sort of thing may be a little off.

I'm not creepy myself (I don't think. My wife doesn't seem to either) but I think that as long as your kinky doesn't hurt anyone that doesn't want to be hurt and doesn't involve children or animals it's noone else's business.

[Lapak]

Neogi usually get my vote for creepy factor. Particularly their reproduction cycle.

Since you remind me of it, yes, that is one of the creepier things D&D has produced. And in a setting (Spelljammer) that wasn't overtly creepy most of the time. But alongside matchlock-wielding hippo mercenaries and Giant Space Hamsters that literally power spaceships by running on exercise wheels, you have a race of ruthless hermaphroditic spider-monster slavers. Who reproduce by waiting until one of their kind starts to suffer from the senility of old age, then subject it to a (thankfully not detailed) hormonal/chemical/letsnotconsiderittooclosely process that causes it to go completely mindless and swell up with young who are birthed by devouring it from the inside.

Which, just as a side effect, leads to encounters with ships captained by aging monsters who already had no conscience and are now suffering from both dementia and an ironclad determination to avoid the notice of their kindred at any costs.

[Ravens_cry]

The Worm the Walks sets off a little *ping* in my brain

[kardar233]

The Worm the Walks sets off a little *ping* in my brain

Speaking of which, I think the Ulgurstasta (sp?) is probably the grossest creature in D&D.

Father Llymic also gives me a bit of a twang, but that might just be shades of Stephen King.

[tbok1992]

Wildren (Planar Handbook). If you thought the classic half-orc background was ick, this makes it even more so.

Yeah, that's why I cited them as well in the Stupid Non-Monster things thread. I still don't get how Editorial didn't nix that. I mean, it's kinda hypocritical to say "No" to the Book of Erotic Fantasy and yet still make an entire race spawned by bestiality.

Also, on the whole "S&M is Evil" issue from the BoVD, I also don't get why the Vermin Lord has a "Must Be Evil" requirement in both the 3e and 4e versions. Yes it's squicky to turn yourself into a living hive for bugs, but that could just as easily be flavored as a "Friend to all living things, even the lowliest" thing, like a really weird version of St. Francis.

[Arbane]

Also, on the whole "S&M is Evil"

To quote one review on RPGnet:

Sadism I can understand, but masochism? A villain who enjoys being beaten is a villain that's realized their place in the universe with unusual clarity.

[Dimers]

Rot grubs and scarecrow golems from AD&D both creeped me out in terms of mechanics. I shudder when I think of save-or-dies inflicted by what appears to be an innocuous object (a pile of garbage, a scarecrow). Rot grubs also have gross fluff, of course.

[Blueiji]

I find Gnolls horrifying, not because I'm scared of Hyenas or anything, but because of how purely evil and morally disgusting my first DM portrayed them as. Plus the their cackling, which evokes pure terror.

Rakshasas also creep me out, because of the hand thing. Just imagine shaking their hands. . . *shudder*

[Kelb_Panthera]

To quote one review on RPGnet:

Masochism was included in BoVD for its undeniable relationship with sadism, not because it's a trait common to evil characters, excepting of course sadomasochist villians.

Also, where the devil else were they going to describe such things? Complete Scoundrel?

[Kane0]

Not sure if it counts, but one session of Pathfinder led us to meeting some very enthusiastic followers of Zon-uthon...

[tbok1992]

Masochism was included in BoVD for its undeniable relationship with sadism, not because it's a trait common to evil characters, excepting of course sadomasochist villians.

Also, where the devil else were they going to describe such things? Complete Scoundrel?

Ah. Well, I do think that it's in poor taste for D&D to malign a relatively reasonable kink like that. I mean, they don't use Catfolk or Dragonborn to bash on furries or Changelings to bash on transformation fetishists, so why should S&M be singled out like that?

This also reminds me of the Yuan-Ti from my setting {:coughshamelessplugcough:}, who routinely mutilate themselves to practice their own brand of blood magic and whose god is a giant skinless snake with nails pounded into his muscles and hung up by hooks on the celing, dripping luminescent blood...

And they just so happen to be the good guys, using said blood magic to keep the Tarrascon (Essentially the Ur-Tarrasque, the being upon which all Tarrasques across the multiverse unconsciously base themselves and who could make Tharazidun pee his pants in fear) sealed within the setting and being willing to teach their magic to those hardy enough to withstand it and unselfish enough to use it for others sake and not their own.

[Mordokai]

I find Gnolls horrifying, not because I'm scared of Hyenas or anything, but because of how purely evil and morally disgusting my first DM portrayed them as. Plus the their cackling, which evokes pure terror.

Rakshasas also creep me out, because of the hand thing. Just imagine shaking their hands. . . *shudder*

Really? I find that laughter kinda endearing

Guess I'm just used to much more obvious display of fun from hyenas. Aka, The Lion King style.

[tbok1992]

You mean puppeteers?


Personally, I love those things. I played one in a short campaign several years back. I was Lawful Good but would go around using my dominate on the BBEGs in order to rehabilitate them and show them how to lead a good life. Quickly acquired quite the entourage and hilarity ensued!

Well that just sounds silly. Also, weren't the Puppeteers ripped off from Heinleins' the Puppet Masters?

And by the way Blueiji, could you give me some examples of Gnoll brutality from that DM? I find myself intrigued.

[Silus]

Pathfinder Goblins.

Imagine a player that plays their character Chaotic Stupid as much as they can with an unhealthy fascination with fire. Now make a whole race of them. First encounter with PF Goblins, they were in the rafters, with cover, and a good supply of fire bombs.

*Shudders* It's 'cause of this that my next character is gonna be a Peri-Blooded (Aasimar) Fire Mage for that sweet 15 Fire Resist at lvl 1.

Stat-wise, the Wonderland themed Tane from Pathfinder. Jabberwocky, Bandersnatch and JubJub Birds, oh no!