Questions tagged [monsters]
This tag covers questions relating to either monstrous antagonists specifically, or all enemies of the player characters generally; which usage is correct varies depending on the traditions of specific games. Use as appropriate for the game in question.
2,014
questions
6
votes
1answer
103 views
Are there any effects that specifically prevent one tradition's spellcasting?
I'm designing an upcoming encounter. The villain of the adventure knows the party well, and intends to create countermeasures against them. They believe the party will consist of two Arcane ...
6
votes
2answers
203 views
How do night hags get to other planes to trade their collected souls?
How does a night hag get to the other planes in order to trade their foul earned souls? They seem to have the ability to go to ethereal plane but is that enough?
I checked out generic hag coven ...
4
votes
2answers
338 views
What are the mechanical effects of uneven ability scores in monster stat blocks?
Whilst homebrewing some variations of existing monsters, I noticed something unusual: Some monsters have odd (i.e. mathematically uneven) ability scores.
Uneven ability scores matter for player ...
2
votes
1answer
189 views
9
votes
2answers
1k views
What are the mechanical differences between the Shapechanger and Change Shape abilities?
Many creatures can transform into other forms. For some, the ability is called "Shapechanger".
Doppelganger: Shapechanger. The doppelganger can use its action to polymorph into a Small or ...
29
votes
5answers
7k views
What happens if a vampire tries to enter a residence without an invitation?
A vampire "can't" enter a residence without an invitation.
Forbiddance: The vampire can't enter a residence without an invitation from one of the occupants.
Source : Monster Manual, p. 297....
7
votes
1answer
380 views
For the Conjure Fey spell, who chooses the CR, whether it's a beast or fey, and the actual creature - the player, or the DM?
The description of the conjure fey spell says (emphasis mine):
You summon a fey creature of challenge rating 6 or lower, or a fey spirit that takes the form of a beast of challenge rating 6 or lower.
...
4
votes
2answers
118 views
What is the closest Pathfinder 1e equivalent to the graboids from the movie Tremors?
Clip
What is the closest Pathfinder 1e equivalent to the graboids from the movie Tremors? I'm trying to design an underground dungeon dive for an APL 8 adventure.
Wikipedia
At nearly 30 ft. long, ...
4
votes
1answer
306 views
Do any official materials (from any edition) explain why non-native outsiders breathe air?
"Outsiders breathe, but do not need to eat or sleep".
That just seems weird to me. Outsiders are so different to material-plane native organisms that they don't even need to physically ...
13
votes
2answers
2k views
Can I hit a creature that has a reach larger than mine but is using itself to hit me?
The Enormous Tentacle Has the following attack:
Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 35 ft., one creature. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 16). ...
18
votes
4answers
832 views
Is changing prepared spells a 'benefit of a long rest'?
This problem came up during a post-game discussion in my D&D 5e campaign last night. It concerns the curse ability of the Rakshasa and how that interacts with preparing spells. In game we managed ...
2
votes
1answer
76 views
Do skeletons and Skeletal champions retain or lose senses?
I have a Drider that has recently been given the skeletal champion template.
What is the new vision of the creature? Does it retain its 120ft dark vision, or is that lost and replaced with 60ft ...
4
votes
1answer
93 views
Where do I find charms for Wyrm elementals?
The wyrm elementals in Book of the Wyrm for Werewolf: The Apocalypse have charms that I can't find descriptions for.
For example, the Toxin elemental (pg. 100) has the charms Visceral Agony and Body ...
14
votes
3answers
309 views
Do the effects of the "beard" attack from a bearded devil interfere with recovering from the infernal wound from its "glaive" attack?
A bearded devil's beard attack stipulates that a character poisoned by the attack can't regain hit points (there's a save and the duration is fixed at one minute). The same creature's glaive attack ...
2
votes
1answer
171 views
Ability increase for extra HD not calculated correctly under the Lycanthrope entry in the Monster Manual?
In the SRD it states:
https://www.d20srd.org/srd/improvingMonsters.htm#abilityScoreImprovement
Ability Score Improvement
Treat monster Hit Dice the same as character level for determining ability ...
3
votes
1answer
100 views
What would be some good monsters to stalk the party like the Nemesis in Resident Evil? [closed]
As the question states, I’m looking for a monster that can stalk the party for the latter half of a campaign I’m running. They are only level 3-4 so it would have to be something way too strong to ...
10
votes
1answer
953 views
Can a ghost possess a vampire or any other undead?
In my campaign, I'm planning to have an NPC ghost possess an NPC vampire.
Is this even possible?
10
votes
4answers
296 views
How can one reduce the hit points lost from a Stirge's Blood Drain?
The Stirge is a monster, and it has the Blood Drain action which states (emphasis mine):
Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage, and the stirge ...
13
votes
1answer
1k views
If trapped by a web lurker, can I only use acrobatics to Escape?
The Web Lurker has the ability "Web Trap". It says (emphasis mine):
A creature hit by the web lurker’s web attack is immobilized and stuck to the nearest surface until it succeeds at DC 20 ...
8
votes
2answers
367 views
What happens to this Curse of Strahd character when using their Shapechanger ability?
My confusion comes from the use of the word polymorph, and no mention of what happens to her other stats while polymorphed into the swarm. Every other shapechanger has a clause about what doesn't ...
4
votes
2answers
253 views
Does the Creature Sense ability of ulitharids grant them partial immunity to the invisibility spell and unseen attacker penalties?
According to Volo's Guide to Monsters, the elder brain and ulitharid have the following ability, with the main difference between the two being the effective range (2 miles for the ulitharid, 5 for ...
5
votes
1answer
75 views
Are creatures with Stench auras affected by each others' Stench auras?
One of the Pathfinder 2E adventure paths features many xulgaths, typically fighting in groups. Many xulgaths have some variant of a Stench aura. For example, the level 1 Xulgath Warrior has:
Stench (...
6
votes
1answer
765 views
How problematic is this Exhaustion Pulse ability on a ~CR 30 monster?
I'm homebrewing an aberration monster to serve as a major BBEG and endgame threat for the campaign I'm running. The monster theme is "avatar of a sealed elder God". It should be able to, at ...
9
votes
4answers
3k views
Exactly how smart are Demon Lords? Demogorgon in particular
I’m trying to nail down exactly how cunning and intelligent demon lords are - Demogorgon in particular. It mostly relates to the Chaotic Evil alignment and the sort of hierarchy of Demons.
I ...
9
votes
3answers
2k views
What size is a Solar's Sword?
The Solar can use an action to release its sword, causing it to hover within 5 feet of it:
Flying Sword. The solar releases its greatsword to hover magically in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of ...
1
vote
0answers
190 views
Should the players know what monster they're fighting according to the rule book? [duplicate]
I've read through several rule books and modules, none of which specify whether or not the players should be told what monster they're fighting or if a description (and leave it at that) is enough.
...
15
votes
2answers
2k views
Do the smaller Black Puddings have their reactions in the same round as the original Black Pudding split?
The Split reaction available for the Black Pudding monster goes as follows:
Split. When a pudding that is Medium or larger is subjected to lightning or slashing damage, it splits into two new ...
9
votes
3answers
358 views
Can monsters use lair actions on targets in any part of their lair?
My previous experience with Lair Actions has been when the party fought Strahd (a vampire lord in Curse of Strahd) and Arauthator (an adult white dragon in Rise of Tiamat). Both of these creatures ...
5
votes
1answer
117 views
What Regional effects are present in the Tomb of Diderius (Rise of Tiamat)?
In Episode 3 of Rise of Tiamat, the players enter the Tomb of Diderius. Diderius has become a
and as such his lair (the Tomb) should show this legendary monster's Regional Effects (enumerations and ...
17
votes
5answers
4k views
Can monsters with a teleport ability grab enemies to teleport them both?
Some monsters have an Action/Legendary Action that allows them to teleport 120 feet. Using the Balor as an example:
Teleport. The balor magically teleports, along with any equipment it
is wearing or ...
13
votes
2answers
642 views
Did gnolls reproduce differently in previous editions?
I'm working on incorporating gnolls and the demon lord Yeenoghu into a campaign, and I am wondering where all the gnolls come from. Volo's Guide to Monsters describes the origins of gnolls:
Whenever ...
1
vote
2answers
86 views
What are the major differences between Aberration and Monstrous Creature?
I am looking at the difference between driders and centaurs monster type due to driders supposedly being a playable race in Pathfinder. However, driders are considered aberrations due essentially ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
What are "the actions available to all creatures"?
The Monster Manual tells us that:
When a monster takes its action, it can choose from the options in the Actions section of its stat block or use one of the actions available to all creatures, such ...
1
vote
1answer
140 views
Can I keep a hollyphant in a gem necklace with the Imprisonment spell and use its Aura of Invulnerability trait to be immune to lower-level spells? [duplicate]
The description of the hollyphant's Aura of Invulnerability trait says:
An invisible aura forms a 10-foot-radius sphere around the hollyphant
for as long as it lives. Any spell of 5th level or lower ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
When casting True Polymorph on myself, what is the challenge rating of my new form?
I'm a level 18 wizard. The Creature into Creature option of true polymorph states:
If you turn a creature into another kind of creature, the new form can be any kind you choose whose challenge rating ...
2
votes
2answers
84 views
Fiery Blood damage taken by a Blood Draining Creature [closed]
How does the spell Fiery Blood interact with a Blood Drain ability?
FIERY BLOOD
School transmutation [fire]; Level druid/shaman 5,
sorcerer/wizard 4
Components V, S, M (pinch of sulfur)
Casting Time ...
9
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the minimum challenge rating (CR) for creatures with Legendary Resistance (3/Day)?
I enjoy making my own creatures or tweaking existing ones for my campaigns and I have sometimes added the Legendary Resistance feature, in particular with some bosses (at higher levels). But I've ...
12
votes
3answers
2k views
Can Shape Water be used to hurt Vampires?
Shape Water Says:
You instantaneously move or otherwise change the flow of the water as you direct, up to 5 feet in any direction. This movement doesn’t have enough force to cause damage.
Vampire - ...
12
votes
2answers
318 views
Can Lair Actions be used while Resting?
I am curious because of an existing situation in my current campaign, and would appreciate feedback. Here's the scenario:
An Aboleth is confronted in its lair by the party, which manages to beat it ...
8
votes
1answer
114 views
What's the order of operations when multiple game elements check that a monster's dropped to 0 hp?
I'm considering for my PC the epic destiny Keeper of the Everflow, in part, because of the level 30 epic destiny feature turning the wheel that, among others, grants the following ability:
When you ...
5
votes
1answer
234 views
Does the Allips Whispers of Madness count as a charm effect?
The allips attack Whispers of Madness allows it to guide 3 creatures to attack other friendly creatures as there reaction if they fail a wisdom saving throw. Last night one of my players asked is this ...
4
votes
3answers
996 views
If I alter my Spined Devil permanently with this Ring of Alter Self magic item, can the Spined Devil still use their old features?
The description of the Ring of Alter Self says that if one wears it for a month, the effects become permanent.
I'm a 4 level hexlock and I have a Spined Devil who I want to use as a henchman. If I ...
7
votes
1answer
202 views
Is a Dryad able to issue commands to a charmed creature that doesn't understand Sylvan or Elvish?
A Dryad can use Fey Charm to charm a beast or humanoid. The result is that:
The target is charmed; it cannot willingly harm the Dryad.
The target is charmed; the Dryad's social checks against it have ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
Can a living shadow be dissipated with light?
Long story short, I'm a DM and one of my players was given the 'Living shadow' Dark gift from Van Richtens Guide to Ravenloft. The party, assuming that it was a threat, shot it with a crossbow bolt ...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
Which CR 5-13 monsters can I use against an all-flying party? [closed]
If I run a 5e game for a crow-man party who naturally have all-day flight as part of their basic movement modes, which existing published monsters / encounter types am I left with who have either ...
3
votes
1answer
207 views
Is it possible for a creature to be Mythic without being Legendary?
Is it ever possible for a creature to be considered Mythic without being Legendary?
Is there an example of such a creature?
-8
votes
1answer
248 views
Is this homebrew “tankkiller” balanced? [closed]
Normally my party has a couple players tanking, and others staying behind and hiding, and from what I can tell this is relatively common. To mix things up every now and then, I have come up with the ...
21
votes
1answer
3k views
What are Mythic Actions?
Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft features a creature called a Dullahan. Dullahan has a feature which allows it to come back to life after being reduced to 0 hit points, and doing so allows the ...
5
votes
1answer
547 views
What happens in Curse of Strahd if the players destroy Strahd's coffin or prevent him from returning to it?
SPOILERS BELOW
The first time I had a group of players face Strahd, it was c. 1988 and we were playing 1e with the original I6 Ravenloft. The PC's quickly found their way to the lowest level of the ...
11
votes
2answers
646 views
Can a Maurezhi raise an undead hit by a cleric's Destroy Undead?
The Maurezhi has:
Raise Ghoul (Recharge 5–6). The maurezhi targets one dead ghoul or ghast it can see within 30 feet of it. The target is revived with all its hit points.
A cleric has:
Destroy ...
