3. HQ25 - Choose your monsters + stats

[torilen]

I'll be posting my monster ideas - I just haven't had the chance to yet.
I just want to make sure you don't move on without me.

[tasoe]

Haven't you seen Harry Potter? It's a giant snake that kills with its gaze and it's also venomous, so its venom kills as well

I've only seen Harry Potter 1 and it sucked monkey ass. I don't recall a basilisk in that one. It was crucial for my sanity that I would not see another one. It literally was a health issue, I'm not joking.

Basilisk is a mythological creature. It's a snake with 8 legs and a crest on it's head like that of a rooster. It's called the king of snakes. It has petrifying gaze. It's conceived by a hen nesting on a snake egg.

That's the basic gist.

Frankly I thought it was pretty common
But well, it doesn't really have to be. We could even create an original monster. People are able to comprehend something unfamiliar.

Maybe it is common after all. I asked a couple of friends and half of them knew what it was, although only one of them knew it for a reason other than having seen the sucky harry potter films.

[TMU]

I guess that HP wasn't so popular in Greece

[Teldurn]

I'm curious. We have a bunch of people posting as many different ideas about the types of monsters they would like to see. How are we supposed to decide which ones to use... just kind of ballpark figure which ones seem popular and go with that?

[The Road Warrior]

Haven't you seen Harry Potter? It's a giant snake that kills with its gaze and it's also venomous, so its venom kills as well

I've only seen Harry Potter 1 and it sucked monkey ass. I don't recall a basilisk in that one. It was crucial for my sanity that I would not see another one. It literally was a health issue, I'm not joking.

Sadly I have seen every HP film. This was the only scene I really enjoyed from all 8 films.

Basilisk is a mythological creature. It's a snake with 8 legs and a crest on it's head like that of a rooster. It's called the king of snakes. It has petrifying gaze. It's conceived by a hen nesting on a snake egg.

That's the basic gist.

Frankly I thought it was pretty common
But well, it doesn't really have to be. We could even create an original monster. People are able to comprehend something unfamiliar.

Maybe it is common after all. I asked a couple of friends and half of them knew what it was, although only one of them knew it for a reason other than having seen the sucky harry potter films.

I first read about a Basilisk in 'Dragon Warriors' when I was about 7. Recently I have read quite a few stories to my children in various 'Knights & Dragons' children's story books.

[MrBigB]

I'm curious. We have a bunch of people posting as many different ideas about the types of monsters they would like to see. How are we supposed to decide which ones to use... just kind of ballpark figure which ones seem popular and go with that?

I assumed after enough ideas were brought forward we'd do another poll? Unless there is an early consensus on a particular monsters/stat/ability/whatnot. Whatever the mods deem needed

Chaos Dwarves - common warriors, like orcs, melee
Chaos Beastmen - stronger warriors, like fimir, with several weapons (archers and melee types)
Chaos Minotaur - gargoyle like monster, melee
Chaos Warriors exist
Chaos Warlock exists (with some chaos spells of course)

Kobolds - like goblins, perhaps archers and spearmen
Lizardmen - the orc variants
Fimir - exist
Fimir Meargh - spellcaster with fimir spell deck, more BP and INT, perhaps a summon undead spell that raises bodies from the bogs.
Basilisk is a nice idea, I'll back it

I'm thinking that perhaps we should allow each quest to have a maximum of ONE unique monster, if it fits the theme, that's not necessarily aligned with either chaos or dragonkin. A mimic for example as an alternative trapped chest, or a Beholder as a boss, just in case someone has this great idea but can't use it because of the two restricting factions. But only ONE! and only if it fits the quest!

I was envisioning the the beastmen and chaos dwarves flipped in your order up there. C. Dwarves with large attack, defense, and mind points, but low(ish) hp to balance. Then beastmen around an ork or so in stats but faster and an ability.

As for lizardmen, don't feel like they're necessary if we add any Fimir variants A kobold shaman with a basic 3 card spell deck (fire attacks and maybe an attempt to summon a basilisk?) seems a better fit in my humble opinion.

[knightkrawler]

I also tend to consider BEastmen strong in attack, Chaos dwarfs strong in defense.
BM 4/2 or 4/3, the latter preferred, with the 4 AD to be divided into two attacks.
CD 2/4 or even 2/5. I'd prefer the latter tank stats.
That must be accomodated by Chaos Warriors in the same quest having American stats (4/4) or being Doomguards (4/6)

Although I wouldn't even compile Chaos Dwarfs and Chaos Warriors in the same quest.
I'd prefer to just stuff a Chaos Dwarf dungeon with Hobgoblins as cannon fodder, figures and stats of regular goblins.

Beastmen and Chaos Dwarfs with the stats given above in the same quest would make for some interesting EWP strategies and schemes..

[torilen]

OKAY...what I've got so far (these are already found in my monster expansion):
==============================================================================================
CHAOS
Shadow
Move: 6 AD: 4 DD: 6 Body: 3 Mind: 2
Special: Creature is incorporeal - it can only be attacked by magical weapon or
magic spell; Creature's movement is Flying; If attack causes at least
1 point of damage, GM rolls one red die. On roll of 5 or 6, character
loses 2 Body, which reduces his maximum Body Points until healed
by spell or Potion of Restoring, or by a special restoring spell.

Greater Shadow
Move: 6 AD: 6 DD: 6 Body: 4 Mind: 2
Special: Creature is incorporeal - it can only be attacked by magical weapon or
magic spell; Creature's movement is Flying; If attack causes at least
1 point of damage, GM rolls one red die. On roll of 5 or 6, character
loses 3 Body, which reduces his maximum Body Points until healed
by spell or Potion of Restoring, or by a special restoring spell.

========================================================================================================
DRAGON-KIN
Dragon (Dragon-kin)
Move: 10 (walk), 15 (flying)
AD: 5/5 (two claws front/front-side) or 6 (claw and tail to rear/rear-side)
DD: 8
Body: 15 Mind: 8
Special: This creature's defense is magical and does not decrease if unconscious; this monster is roughly 25ft to 30ft long and stands roughly 15ft to 20ft tall; this monster takes up an area equal to: 2-spaces wide and 5-spaces to 6-spaces long.
If both front claw attacks cause at least 1 point of damage, the dragon may make a bite attack using 4 combat dice. This bite attack cannot be defended against.
**Dragons are typically solitary creatures, and will typically control an area of roughly 100 sq. miles. They will demand tribute from any “intelligent” creature within its lands; tributes must consists of both food and treasure.

Dragons have the ability to breath deadly breath attacks. Every turn, the Evil Wizard should roll 1 red die. On a roll of 5-6, the dragon may, if it wishes, use its breath attack.
Dragon Type Shape Attack Defense Against
Red Fire Type D 6 dice Full defense, without armor, unless armor is magical
Black Acid Type A 5 dice 2 dice to dodge
Blue Lightning Type B 5 dice Full defense, without armor, unless armor is magical
Green Poison Type C 5 dice Number of dice equal to Body Points
White Cold/Frost Type A 5 dice Full defense, without armor, unless armor is magical

Immunities
Red – Fire/Heat
Black – Acid
Blue – Electricity
Green – Poison (reduces maximum Body Points until healed with proper potion)
White – Cold/Ice

The above statistics are for adult dragons. The statistics for dragons change with the age, as follows:
Age /Size /Body /Mind /AD /DD /Breath Attack
Young /-10ft /9 /no change /-2 /-2 /-2
Adolescent /-5ft /12 /no change /-1 /-1 /-1
Adult --- --- --- --- --- ---
Old /no change /no change /9 /9 /+1 /+1
Elder /no change /no change /10 /10 /+2 /+2

Basilisk (Dragon-kin)
Move: 8 AD: 4 DD: 5 Body: 8 Mind: 4
Special: This monster is lizard-like, and is roughly 15ft long and stands roughly 10ft tall. This monster takes up a 3-space x 1-space area.
Any creature that stands in front of the Basilisk with its eyes open are at risk of being petrified. This is a magical ability the basilisk possesses. If the basilisk wants to try and petrify a target, the Evil Wizard rolls a combat die. The target does the same. Treat the rolls as a normal combat. If the target loses the "combat", it is petrified.
This creature does not talk.

KERICHOR (Dragon-kin)
Move: 10 (flying) AD: 3 DD: 4 Body: 6 Mind: 3
Special: In place of its normal bite attack, this creature can use its tail as a whip using 2 AD - this tail whip attack can be used up to 3 spaces away. This monster is lizard-like, except it has no legs or arms. It can only fly. It is roughly 10ft long and takes up a 2-space x 1-space area.
These creatures are communal creatures, and will typically be found in groups of 5 to 10.
These creatures are descendants of dragons, and have developed the breath attack ability of dragons. Use the breath attack types listed under dragons, by color. The Kerichor breath attack, however, is 3 combat dice less than that of its dragon counter-part.
Though descendants of dragons, these creatures cannot talk, while dragons can.

====================================================================================================================
I know these are a little complicated, but it doesn't take much to memorize the stats. I think they could really add a lot of fun to the
game, when used properly.
My monster expansion also includes the chart needed for the dragon breath, to show HOW the breath weapon attacks..

[Goblin-King]

@ whoever asked how we are going to decide to which actual monsters:

I think for now we let the ideas run loose. I personally encourage to keep iterating your monster packs. Don't assume you nailed it in first try
Use the ideas you like from other's packs, let them melt together and post a new monster list. I hope we can somehow reach a consensus on at least a big portion of the pack.
Please be open about which ideas you like and don't like - The squeaking wheel get's the oil and all that jazz. If we hear a vocal support for an idea, it's more likely to be included.
If necessary we'll vote.
********************************

@ torilen:

To be honest I think these are a little overboard. Where are the creatures to use as cannon fodder? The basic dungeon minions? These are kinda all end-bosses!
Oh God do you imagine these as common dungeon minions?!?

I don't think bases any larger than 1x2 can really work in HQ. 2x2 can't go through doors or use corridors. Even 1x3 can't navigate around corners. Then you'd have a monster stuck in a single room.

I would also be very careful to create monsters with an immunity to physical. I tried in several games and it's always a brick wall. I'm sure it's possible - but be careful!
I like the basic idea of a shadow monster though.
Maybe instead of physical immunity it could have the ability to vanish?

In the beginning of Morcar's turn you may remove this model from the board.
You may replace it anywhere on the board in any of Morcar's subsequent turns.
It can attack and move normally that turn. Any Bodypoints lost remains lost when the model is put back on the board.
*********************************

And finally my new monster list suggestion
I'm not putting stats on. I think most get the approximate level each should aim for.

Kobold: Ambush or gang-up
Kobold Sorcerer: I suggest a full 9 cards spell deck
Basilisk: Petrify skill
-----------------------
Chaos Dwarf: Defensive
Beastman: Heavy Attack if standing still. I suggest 3 attacks increased to 5!
Shadow/Demon/Minotaur → I think any of these could do. They all kinda fill the hole of a big scary hard hitter. I kinda like the shadow. It's seen before yeah, but in no way overdone.

I really like the chaos cultists, but I think they fit in more with chaos warriors and secret cult city adventures.
With the combination of chaos dwarfs and beastmen I imagine more of a wild/nature/caverns kind of adventure.
I dunno? Maybe they could still fit in?.

[torilen]

Goblin king
- Yeah, now that you mention, when I posted them, I wasn't even thinking about the "new groups of monsters similar to
goblins --->orc ---->fimir" thing. I saw chaos and dragonkin, and just posted what I had available. Didn't even think that there
might need to be cannon-fodder, as you so nicely put it.

I'll work on that.

Of course, if anyone wants to take what I posted and downgrade them to work, that's all fine with me. Like you suggested
GK - maybe give the shadow different abilities in place of immunity to physical attacks...that could drop it in power enough
to be closer to cannon-fodder.