Combat rating 4

February 6, 2024

ANKYLOSAURUS: Using an Adversary That Just Wants to be Left Alone

The ankylosaurus is that rare D&D monster that will not set out to attack the PCs. Continue reading

Uncategorized

Combat rating 4, Combat rating 6, Combat rating 7, difficulty 4, dinosaurs
February 1, 2024

ALLOSAURUS: Hunted by a pack of dinosaurs

Of all the monsters in the Monster Manual, dinosaurs are the ones that really don’t fit. Continue reading

animal, attacker (CR 0-4)

Combat rating 3, Combat rating 4, Combat rating 5, difficulty 3, difficulty 4, dinosaurs
January 30, 2024

SPINED DEVIL: Messenger, Sentry, and Quick-Moving Attacker

Before I begin, let me say that there is no reason that the spined devil would ever make a melee attack. Continue reading

attacker (CR 0-4), minion

Combat rating 3, Combat rating 4, Combat rating 5, devils, difficulty 4
December 25, 2023

BEARDED DEVIL: Basic Tactics, and Strategic Positions

The bearded devil is the first monster I have encountered since starting this blog that does not require any special setting to make using it interesting. Continue reading

guardian (CR 0-4), minion

Combat rating 4, Combat rating 6, Combat rating 7, devils, difficulty 5, difficulty 6, difficulty 7
August 17, 2023

CENTAUR: Tactics of Horse Archers

The Monster Manual doesn’t talk much about what centaurs are like. In almost every book I can think of, though, their personalities range from proud to arrogant jerks. They are certain of themselves and they look down on other creatures. Continue reading

guardian (CR 0-4), minion

battlemap, Combat rating 3, Combat rating 4, Combat rating 5, difficulty 4, social encounter
August 10, 2023

CARRION CRAWLER: The Monster on the Ceiling

The players have to climb a cliff, and there is a carrion crawler waiting for them on top of an outcropping (to stop them from shooting it down.) Continue reading

animal, guardian (CR 0-4)

Combat rating 3, Combat rating 4, Combat rating 5, difficulty 3, difficulty 4
July 20, 2023

BUGBEAR CHIEFTAIN: One-Round Challenges

The bugbear chieftain has a special feature that gives him immunity to most spell-inflicted conditions. This makes him a very good fit for a situation where he has an upper hand, and the players have only one round in order to avert disaster Continue reading

guardian (CR 0-4), minion

bugbears, Combat rating 4, Combat rating 6, Combat rating 7, difficulty 3
June 29, 2023

SPECTATOR: Optimizing it With Simple Fences

Unlike the other beholders, the spectator is meant for a low-level party, and doesn’t need the complexity and difficulty surrounding the others (nor should they be used. Low level players can’t survive them.) Continue reading

guardian (CR 0-4), servant

beholders, Combat rating 4, Combat rating 6, Combat rating 7, difficulty 4
June 8, 2023

BASILISK: Exploring the Consequences of Fighting Blind

The base idea behind running a basilisk is running a monster that can’t be looked at without harsh penalties. Fighting a monster without being able to look at it is unfortunately quite complicated. I’m going to break it up into three parts. Continue reading

animal, guardian (CR 0-4)

battlemap, Combat rating 4, Combat rating 6, Combat rating 7, difficulty 4, difficulty 6, puzzle
May 28, 2023

AZER: Turning its Terrain Into a Hazard

The azer are extremely neutral. They won’t seek out a conflict, but they won’t shy away from one either. If the players are coming after them, or if for some reason they need to attack the players, they won’t try to avoid it. Continue reading

guardian (CR 0-4), minion

Combat rating 3, Combat rating 4, Combat rating 5, difficulty 3, difficulty 4

About Me

I’ve been a DM since I was about 10 years old. (Not of D&D, admittedly, but still.) After growing bored of fights that were all the same, dungeons heavily populated by one monster type, and a general shortage of ideas, I figured I’d embark on my own trip through the Monster Manual, one monster at a time. Feel free to join the quest.

Dragon Encounters

Combat rating 4

ANKYLOSAURUS: Using an Adversary That Just Wants to be Left Alone

ALLOSAURUS: Hunted by a pack of dinosaurs

SPINED DEVIL: Messenger, Sentry, and Quick-Moving Attacker

BEARDED DEVIL: Basic Tactics, and Strategic Positions

CARRION CRAWLER: The Monster on the Ceiling

BUGBEAR CHIEFTAIN: One-Round Challenges

SPECTATOR: Optimizing it With Simple Fences

BASILISK: Exploring the Consequences of Fighting Blind

AZER: Turning its Terrain Into a Hazard

About Me

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