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| "Have some gold. Me no bite hard." (rough Umber Hulk translation) |
Some creatures that I've rarely used or even read about on this list surprise me with their level of intelligence. For example the Trapper (that monster that looks exactly like a dungeon floor) is "very" intelligent (11-12), but has no known language. It's perfectly camouflaged and it's smart as the average humanoid. Tricky! Then there is the classic Roper with "exceptional" intelligence (15-16) and its rocky cousin, the Storoper with it's mere "high" intelligence (13-14). These critters can mess up adventuring parties pretty good, but I wasn't aware they were that smart. While they also have no language mentioned, there has to be some sort of underdark-way of reasoning with these tunnel-bandits. Then there is the Crimson Death, an incorporeal undead cloud with a "genius" intelligence (17-18). I have used one of these before but never gathered that it was as crafty as your typical wizard or lich. What's more, there's a few languages on the list that I'm sure don't show up on many peoples' character sheets (except for druids perhaps), like Foo Creature, Carnivorian Apish, Hippocampian, and my favorite Moon Doggy.
It's a fun list and if Zavoda missed any smart critters from the old Monster Manuals let him know. Check it out.
Update 4/8/2021: I had to remove a broken link to Zavoda's entry on ENWorld. Interestingly the monster pics from Wizards' website still work.
5 comments:
Hey, thanks for pointing this out. I'll be printing a copy of this list for my Greyhawk campaign folder. :)
I like giving intelligence to some monsters to make players wonder why. Lurkers Above and Trappers could be races that are alien to our world or cursed by a deity. We don't expect something shaped like a floor to be particularly smart, so make it so and keep them guessing!
Awesome! Love the old LJN Umber Hulk!
I had the neon colored, 'bendy' roper when I was a kid... who knew it had an intelligence of 16?
Yeah I had that very umber hulk and the pile of gold. I know I had a few others and looking back I wish I had taken better care of those (i think i de-pincered my hulk) since they are all surely collectors items.
What, no Voadkyn?
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