French-Inspired Campaign

I haven't told my players group yet, and we haven't gamed regularly in quite some time, but I'm hoping to pick back up this summer with a bi-weekly session. (Fingers crossed the summer allows it after I return from a delayed honeymoon). 

I'm working on some encounter areas and a map based on a personal version of Clark Ashton Smith's Averoigne stories. But I'm also planning on supplementing with a whole host of creatures out of more traditional French legend/mythology. 

Below is the working version of the list, and my goal is to stat a few a week from now through early June. I may be dropping some of those here as I go. Even if I don't do much with the campaign setting, at a minimum, I'll likely collect the monsters into a published book in the 6"×9" format like the Creature Cache (available in print from Lulu.com and in PDF from DriveThruRPG). 

Working List: "Bestiaire Fantastique" (a.k.a. "Le Grand Grimoire")

1. Ankou (medium undead)
2. Babau  (large dragon)
3. Barbegazi (small humanoid)
4. Bigorne (medium monstrosity)
5. Camba Crusa (small aberration)
6. Carcolh (huge monstrosity)
7. Cheval Gauvin (large fiend)
8. Cheval Mallet (large fiend)
9. Chevalier Géant (huge giant)
10. Chicheface (medium monstrosity)
11. Chien Noir (medium fiend)
12. Codrille (large-to-gargantuan dragon)
13. Coulobre (huge dragon)
14. Craqueuhhe (medium undead)
15. Dame Blanche (medium undead)
16. Dame Verte (medium undead)
17. Dard (large dragon)
18. Dormette (tiny fey)
19. Drac (large dragon/shapeshifter)
20. Duphon (small monstrosity)
21. Ech Goblin (small humanoid/shapechanger)
22. Fadet (small fey)
23. Fion (small humanoid)
24. Gargouille (huge monstrosity)
25. Gavant (medium monstrosity)
26. Giant, Basajaun (large giant)
27. Giant, Jentil (huge giant)
28. Giant, Mairu (large giant)
29. Giant, Tartalo (huge giant)
30. Goubelin (small fiend)
31. Groac'h (medium fey)
32. Guivre (huge dragon)
33. Houeron (medium fey)
34. Houle (medium fey)
35. Irrwurz (small plant)
36. Jetin (tiny humanoid)
37. Karnobo (medium fiend)
38. Loup Garou (medium humanoid/shapechanger)
39. Lupeux (medium fiend)
40. Marioche (large fiend/shapechanger)
41. Matagot (small fey)
42. Melusine (medium fey)
43. Nain Rouge (small humanoid)
44. Peluda (huge monstrosity)
45. Peteu (huge monstrosity)
46. Picolaton (medium monstrosity)
47. Quinotaur (large monstrosity)
48. Rô (huge dragon) 
49. Tarasque (gargantuan monstrosity)
50. Tempêtte (medium fey)
51. Varou (medium undead/shapechanger)
52. Volo Biou (large monstrosity)
53. Vouivre (huge dragon)
54. Yan-gant-y-tan (medium fiend)

Monster Stat Concept: Disposition

Yesterday, I introduced the concept of monster Motivations as a way to help understand how to use that monster when designing encounters, or what they might be working toward when encountered as wandering monsters. But motivation only explains what the monster wants. Disposition, on the other hand, is a way to help understand the general attitude of the monster, and how they interact with others. This again is because alignment alone (even dual axis alignment) doesn't really help a DM in knowing how to play a monster during encounters. 

Many of you may have seen the alternate Reaction tables I created (that appear both in Petty Gods: Expanded Edition and RS1: Fang, Faith, and Legerdemain B/X Rules Supplement. The idea is that Reactions table can be created around Dispositions, with extremely good and bad reactions stemming from that Disposition. E.g., a bad reaction from a Passive creature shouldn't be the same as a bd reaction from an Aggressive creature. Below is an example of a custom Reaction table around a Passive creature (the Álainn, from the Creature Cache).

You'll see there's a noticeable correlation between many of the alignments and the Dispositions, but there's a nuance in some of these Dispositions that alignment doesn't capture (e.g., consider the differences between a True Neutral animal that is Aggressive vs. Passive, or a Lawful Good humanoid that is Friendly vs. Passive, or a Chaotic Evil fiend that is Aggressive vs. Manipulative. 

DISPOSITION provides a general reference for the way a monster of that type typically interacts with other creatures around them, though it may vary among individual creatures of that type. Disposition is the main factor when determining a monster’s Reaction during an encounter. Following are the standard Dispositions, though the DM may develop their own. 

Friendly. Friendly creatures will generally approach other creatures optimistically, unless they know those other creatures to be dangerous or hostile. Furthermore, friendly creatures with a greater intelligence can often be counted on to help the PCs or offer them assistance in some way. 

Passive. Passive creatures generally prefer not to interact with other creatures, and rarely (if ever) attack. If attacked, they are more likely to flee (if they are able) than to engage.

Indifferent. Indifferent creatures have as much likelihood to interact with other creatures as avoid them altogether. They generally won’t take interact other creatures unless approached, provoked, or otherwise engaged.

Ambiguous. Ambiguous creatures are not prone to any particulary behavior, or they have unclear intentions. They are unpredictable and may act in in a number of ways, depending on the situation. 

Rational. Rational creatures are unemotional and considered. They will take their time to examine the parameters of a situation before acting or reacting (if the situation allows).

Aggressive. Aggressive creatures are typically short-tempered, acting with hostility and arbitrary violence, spurred on by greed, hatred, vengeance, or bloodlust. They are likely to attack on sight, though more intelligent creatures of this ilk may weigh their chances of success in combat before engaging opponents.

Manipulative. Manipulative creatures are possibly the most dangerous of all the disposition types. They rely on cunning, guile, and deceit to achieve their goals, and may act in almost any of the manners outlined above. They are unpredictable and sometimes downright devious. They may simply be mischievous or they may be driven by darker goals. They may pretend to be an ally, only to turn on the PCs later. They may use their charm and persuasion to influence the actions of those around them, possibly even getting the PCs to turn on one another. They may even resort to intimidation or aggression if they think it will work. There is little a manipulative creature won’t do if it helps them achieve their goals. 

Monster Stat Concept: Motivation

On the whole, I find that alignment alone (even dual axis alignment) doesn't really help a DM in knowing how to play a monster during encounters. To that end, as part of the Expanded Creature Cache stat block, I'm playing around with the ideas of "Motivation" and "Disposition." Then, in combination with the classic Monster Manual stats (like Intelligence), you start to get a better idea of how to play the monster.

I've come up with the following as the working version of the Motivations. Dispositions will follow in a future post.

MOTIVATION describes the most common motivation(s) for the creature, most typically when encountered as a wandering monster. The actualy motivation may vary depending on the encounter and the scenario (as outlined by the DM).  

Territoriality. The monster is fiercely protective of a particular area, typically attacking anyone who enters their domain.

Protection. The monster acts out mainly in defense of other creatures, either because they are charged with doing so or they are naturally inclined to do so.  

Survival. The monster acts out of a desire to protect themselves, their offspring, or their territory.

Hunger. The monster is a voracious predator, driven by a need to feed on other creatures.

Greed. The monster is motivated by a desire for wealth, power, or other material possessions.

Dominance. The monster either seeks to gain or maintain control over others, typically through fear or manipulation.

Vengeance. Monsters may seek retribution against those who have wronged them, either in the past or in the present.

Loyalty. The monster is likely to serve a powerful master or follow a particular ideology, acting out of a sense of duty or obligation.

Curiosity. The monster may be driven by a desire to explore, learn, or understand the world around them.

Insanity. Some monsters may be driven by madness, chaos, or a desire to cause destruction for its own sake.

Just a few sample pages from CC2: Creature Cache

 Just a few sample interior pages from CC2: Creature Cache.

200 new monsters based on PD pulp images statted for classic editions (OSE, B/X, BECMI, LL, etc.). Available in PDF from DriveThruRPG, and in hardback and paperback from Lulu.com. The hardback has white interior pages, and the paperback has a cream interior (nodding to the books pulp roots). Includes new animal-related spells and new psionic abilities for Basic Psionics. (236 pages)

Get the PDF at DTRPG. >> 

Get the hardback from Lulu.com. >>

Hardback has white interior pages.

Get the paperback from Lulu.com. >>

Paperback has cream interior pages.

Old School Adventures™ Accessory CC2: Creature Cache Now Available

200 new monsters based on PD pulp images statted for classic editions (OSE, B/X, BECMI, LL, etc.). Available in PDF from DriveThruRPG, and in hardback and paperback from Lulu.com. The hardback has white interior pages, and the paperback has a cream interior (nodding to the books pulp roots). Includes new animal-related spells and new psionic abilities for Basic Psionics. (236 pages)

Get the PDF at DTRPG. >> 

Get the hardback from Lulu.com. >>

Hardback has white interior pages.

Get the paperback from Lulu.com. >>

Paperback has cream interior pages.

And it shall be known as the Creature Cache!

In order to keep the books separate as entities (since the content is different) but still tie them together, Welbo helped me rename the new collection of monsters based on PD pulp illustrations (in BX only format, as opposed to the "dual-stat" format I used for the Creature Compendium).