Using old creatures in creepy new ways - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Using old creatures in creepy new ways

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Sep 18, 2003 15:49:20 Created this thread by accident and thought I'd use it. I guess I'll use it to start a threa about cool twists on old old monsters.

Ideas: Small zombies: These are reanimated children. Created by an undertaker who is secretly a necromancer. Sent to the village to exact revenge for the death of his mentor in magic. Killing a zombie is one thing, but is is something else to have to bash in the head of a five year old girl who strikes with one arm while clutching a teddy bear in the other.

Non-attacking zombies: Left to their own devices after their controllers were killed, these souls somehow regained a little bit of their former selves. They mindlessly perform the jobs they had in life. Imagine a village full of them, planting and harvesting crops that are left in storage to rot, baking bread that is never eaten, forging horse shoes that simply lie in a pile and rust, etc. Village life goes on, but the purpose is gone.

Swarm of crows.

Zombies covered in fly swarms.
#2
zombiegleemax
Sep 19, 2003 7:31:31 Hey, that sounds like some good stuff!

Especially the children zombies part. Have you had a chance to peruse the newest Van Richten Guide To The Walking Dead? It would greatly enhance such an encounter.

And your "non-attacking zombies" MAY already exist. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there's some kind of race or template known as a Lebentod (sp?)

I'm not in the lab right now, so I can't check my files, but I BELIEVE the Lebentod originated during the Ship Of Horrors module, featuring the evil Mystara necromancer Meredoth.

But other than that, that's some cool twists on basic monster classes. Speaking of which, I found an interesting use for some FLEAS in my game. COMING SOON TO A MESSAGEBOARD NEAR YOU! lol

peace, Dark One!

MSD
#3
zombiegleemax
Sep 26, 2003 1:16:16 In theory *ANY* monster can be used to create horror. The two key principles are: 1) the critters must be sympathetic in some way and 2) they must engage in behavior that is WRONG.

Sympathy is often the harder trait to evoke. Often it can achieved by providing information to the players that its "not their fault" that bad things are happening...circumstances have swept out of control. Creating parallels between the monster and a player also may create sympathy (while striking close to home). Players may start to sweat "there but for the grace of the light go I".

Wrong behavior is easier to come up with...these are monsters after all. Lying, Theft, Assault, Terrorizing, and Vandalism all start the ball moving in the wron...er right direction. Players need a motivation to oppose whats happening.

Minotaurs terrorizing someone in a hedge maze is old hat. A mother minotaur raiding the old and infirm to feed her "youngsters" may cause some uncomfortable moments when the PCs catch up to her.

-Eric Gorman
#4
zombiegleemax
Sep 29, 2003 15:08:25
Originally posted by The_Dark_One
Non-attacking zombies: Left to their own devices after their controllers were killed, these souls somehow regained a little bit of their former selves. They mindlessly perform the jobs they had in life. Imagine a village full of them, planting and harvesting crops that are left in storage to rot, baking bread that is never eaten, forging horse shoes that simply lie in a pile and rust, etc. Village life goes on, but the purpose is gone.

Swarm of crows.

Zombies covered in fly swarms.

You've been to Keening, too?
#5
zombiegleemax
Sep 29, 2003 15:12:51
Originally posted by The MadStepDad
Hey, that sounds like some good stuff!
And your "non-attacking zombies" MAY already exist. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there's some kind of race or template known as a Lebentod (sp?)

I'm not in the lab right now, so I can't check my files, but I BELIEVE the Lebentod originated during the Ship Of Horrors module, featuring the evil Mystara necromancer Meredoth.

The Lebentod were a race of undead created by Meredoth. Their claims to fame were that they could detatch their limbs, either to better facillitate a murder, or to help cut down on shipping costs, and that they could shift between a withered zombie-form, and their former mortal visage, and that they, unlike other undead, age as if they were still alive, albeit much slower, one year per decade of unlife.
#6
zombiegleemax
Oct 03, 2003 21:56:31 there's always vampiric children too. She may look six, but she's got a 400 year old mind.

I have a little girl on file for JUST that situation should it be needed. Her names "Rebecca" and she likes dollies.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Sep 18, 2003 15:49:20	Created this thread by accident and thought I'd use it. I guess I'll use it to start a threa about cool twists on old old monsters. Ideas: Small zombies: These are reanimated children. Created by an undertaker who is secretly a necromancer. Sent to the village to exact revenge for the death of his mentor in magic. Killing a zombie is one thing, but is is something else to have to bash in the head of a five year old girl who strikes with one arm while clutching a teddy bear in the other. Non-attacking zombies: Left to their own devices after their controllers were killed, these souls somehow regained a little bit of their former selves. They mindlessly perform the jobs they had in life. Imagine a village full of them, planting and harvesting crops that are left in storage to rot, baking bread that is never eaten, forging horse shoes that simply lie in a pile and rust, etc. Village life goes on, but the purpose is gone. Swarm of crows. Zombies covered in fly swarms.
#2 zombiegleemax Sep 19, 2003 7:31:31	Hey, that sounds like some good stuff! Especially the children zombies part. Have you had a chance to peruse the newest Van Richten Guide To The Walking Dead? It would greatly enhance such an encounter. And your "non-attacking zombies" MAY already exist. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there's some kind of race or template known as a Lebentod (sp?) I'm not in the lab right now, so I can't check my files, but I BELIEVE the Lebentod originated during the Ship Of Horrors module, featuring the evil Mystara necromancer Meredoth. But other than that, that's some cool twists on basic monster classes. Speaking of which, I found an interesting use for some FLEAS in my game. COMING SOON TO A MESSAGEBOARD NEAR YOU! lol peace, Dark One! MSD
#3 zombiegleemax Sep 26, 2003 1:16:16	In theory ANY monster can be used to create horror. The two key principles are: 1) the critters must be sympathetic in some way and 2) they must engage in behavior that is WRONG. Sympathy is often the harder trait to evoke. Often it can achieved by providing information to the players that its "not their fault" that bad things are happening...circumstances have swept out of control. Creating parallels between the monster and a player also may create sympathy (while striking close to home). Players may start to sweat "there but for the grace of the light go I". Wrong behavior is easier to come up with...these are monsters after all. Lying, Theft, Assault, Terrorizing, and Vandalism all start the ball moving in the wron...er right direction. Players need a motivation to oppose whats happening. Minotaurs terrorizing someone in a hedge maze is old hat. A mother minotaur raiding the old and infirm to feed her "youngsters" may cause some uncomfortable moments when the PCs catch up to her. -Eric Gorman
#4 zombiegleemax Sep 29, 2003 15:08:25	Originally posted by The_Dark_One Non-attacking zombies: Left to their own devices after their controllers were killed, these souls somehow regained a little bit of their former selves. They mindlessly perform the jobs they had in life. Imagine a village full of them, planting and harvesting crops that are left in storage to rot, baking bread that is never eaten, forging horse shoes that simply lie in a pile and rust, etc. Village life goes on, but the purpose is gone. Swarm of crows. Zombies covered in fly swarms. You've been to Keening, too?
#5 zombiegleemax Sep 29, 2003 15:12:51	Originally posted by The MadStepDad Hey, that sounds like some good stuff! And your "non-attacking zombies" MAY already exist. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there's some kind of race or template known as a Lebentod (sp?) I'm not in the lab right now, so I can't check my files, but I BELIEVE the Lebentod originated during the Ship Of Horrors module, featuring the evil Mystara necromancer Meredoth. The Lebentod were a race of undead created by Meredoth. Their claims to fame were that they could detatch their limbs, either to better facillitate a murder, or to help cut down on shipping costs, and that they could shift between a withered zombie-form, and their former mortal visage, and that they, unlike other undead, age as if they were still alive, albeit much slower, one year per decade of unlife.
#6 zombiegleemax Oct 03, 2003 21:56:31	there's always vampiric children too. She may look six, but she's got a 400 year old mind. I have a little girl on file for JUST that situation should it be needed. Her names "Rebecca" and she likes dollies.