[infinity]

I apologize to anyone for my very long abscence (wow I think I managed to already make a spelling error). I had some computer problems to deal with, but hey, everything's all good now.

I have a question to ask, since the release of the book where it tells you about being a "monster" race, has anyone had any experience on that. I would like to start a "monster campaign" for my players, and was wondering if anyone had any advice for me?

[Hida Gabriel]

Monster races as characters used to be extremely taboo. Most Dm's (including myself) would not allow players to make monster characters for game balance. Recently more and more books are including monster races and now there is a book dedicated to playing monsters as characters. I supose it's up to the specific Dm to decide if they should allow it or not, but I wanted to get some other opinions on this before incorperating this into my game structure. Alot of my players have requested this type of character, but I'm a little hesitant to allow it. Most townsfolk are going to want to kill the character, and I think it's a detriment to the campaign.

Any thoughts?

Gabriel

[Avantius]

You're right in thinking townsfolk will mostly want to kill the PC's, afterall they are MONSTERS.
Something that would be of utmost importance is what the campaing is about, (heheh, to my mind came the thought of a PC playing a dragon, trying to save a princess from a....dragon ).

In my opinion, epic level campaings are the most allowing in terms of monster PC's (perhaphs due to access to spells like polymorph or change self ), and if the campaing is about EVIL PC's than I guess there's no problem at all being monsters .

[dragonhand777]

Well, proving themselves to be of goodly intentions-to the towns folk-could be part of the campaign. Of course if they're wanting to be evil, that wouldn't matter. I see the challenges that that (playing monster races) would present, but don't see why it couldn't/shouldn't be done. If nothing else, it would prove to be challeging for the players and DM alike.

You also could create an area in the world you use where certain monster races are tolerated. Perhaps because one proved as a champion (to the people) years or decades ago.

[Darius]

frontier areas would be the most likely to find a monster character and the most likely for the character to find acceptance , the people would look more to what someone does than what they look like.

D

[Graywolf-ELM]

Our latest campaign, we simply took a different direction. The whole party is monstrous humanoids. Orcs, Goblins, a Half-Ogre. The adventuring is quite different, these guys have tremendous damage dealing power, which has me guessing at some points what they can actually handle in combat. But relatively low magic, and armor. I suggested this at the start of the campaign.

They adventure against other monsters, against humans, elves, dwarves, Kuo-toa, what everI feel like throwing against them. They are Evil Characters from a land of humanoids. They are as accepted as any other monster in the Broken Lands. There are even outlying bandit settlements and whatnot that will hazard to trade with these guys, dangerous work this. In these lands, a monster is handled better than in human lands.

It is somewhat easier to run a Human, or rogue Dwarf, or Dark Elf in a campaign like this, than trying to bring a monster into a good humanoid based party. There's a link to the story of their adventures so far, in my sig.

GW

[Doomdreamer]

As for game balance, using ECL critters, like an ogre, is rarely worth the levels you tend to give up. After running several monsterous host games, I have come to the conclusion that no matter what your minotaur is, an equivalent human will still tool him like Black and Decker. Creatures with an ECL are limited in the most important aspects, Spell Casting level, Hit-Dice, and Base Attack bonus. So if I run a game and some one wants to play an Ogre, not only are they behind in the power tier, but they also have to deal with the Socio-Psychological issues of everyone in the area. Just some of my thoughts on that.

[Iaijutsu Master]

Think about it...

A simple Spirit Folk give some troubles to DM, imagine a Half-Dragon/Half-Fiend/Hobgoblin, chaotic-evil, breath-maker, and cannibalist!!!

AAAARRRRGH!!!!

[Post Sleeper]

That would not be too bad. I once made a Half-Red dragon/Half-Fiendish Red Dragon/Fiendish Half Vampire Lich.

That was one tough mofo. I used him for a boss.

Any way, Monsters can make good charactors. I once played a Blink Dog that was "Pet" to an NPC Wizard.

Monsters really can be found in any enviorment, so their use should not be limited to location.

[Rintaran]

That makes up a total of 1 and a half creatures ( 1/2 + 1/2 + 1/2). No wonder it was tough.

[blacxthornE]

LOL...

I remember a quote from Seinfeld

"100% cotton, and some linen"

[Post Sleeper]

Yup, 1.5 monsters with an 8 increase in CR, and a total damage reduction of 50

[blacxthornE]

Now that's a lot of reduction... More of a damage prevention to me..!

[SchizofranicDM]

I can see where monster characters would come in handy, but it's something that needs serious consideration. Having too many monster characters might need alterations in world building, then again, maybe it is localized to a specific area. Personally, I'm not all for monster characters. As a DM it is just extra information that tends to clutter notes and gaming tables and adds more to arguments about abilities and such. When you take a human paladin character or a fighter dwarf, the focus is not on the hidden abilities of a race, but rather the story. And that's what is important. The story. During game sessions, i would much prefer PCs asking about a lord's estranged wife's son and his eccentric banterings of soldiers long gone over questions like whether or not it would be possible for a half silverdragon azer is immune to fire and cold. DnD is a Role-playing game, afterall, and the PCs must learn to think of their characters as a part of their own being, not just some overtly powerful tool. Don't get me wrong. There are a few players out there that have mastered the art of playing monster characters efficeintly by actually "living" the role, and to those few i applaud.

[Post Sleeper]

I keep my Monster Charactors simple by appling templets to normal races or limilt my PCs to solid, simple monsters like Blink Dog

I let my Players play as Monsters only if they:

Come up with a reason to play the monster. ("I just feel like it" is an iffy reason at best. "I serioulsy doubt a Human could survive these encounters" is a little better)

Keep the monster simple (as in no dragons, I've heard 'I swear it was a Young Adult' too many times.) If the monster has different stages of being, then sorry, no monster

Do not apply templates (Going straight back to SchizofranicDM
's Half Azer situation) Most monsters are speical enough as is

Select a monster that will be playable (Hydras dont speak you do know? I doubt that an Elemental would be adventuring along side and Elf.) If I cant fit into the group, then NO MONSTER CHARACTOR

Can tell me how it got to where we pick up play (I swear My dragon was captured an toted to the capital city, then relased!)