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Sunday, March 13, 2011

Sentient Races of Greyhawk

Long time Greyhawk fan and list-maker supreme, Jason Zavoda has posted an interesting new blog entry over at EN World. In it, he attempts to make a comprehensive list of races and creatures (from 1st edition sources) that have an average intelligence or better and/or a language of some sort (many are telepathic). 
 
"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.
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5 comments:

  1. RagnardbardMarch 13, 2011 at 11:17 AM

    Hey, thanks for pointing this out. I'll be printing a copy of this list for my Greyhawk campaign folder. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 13, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    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!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Victor Von DaveMarch 14, 2011 at 2:18 AM

    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?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mike BridgesMarch 14, 2011 at 8:30 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Valkaun_DainMarch 15, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    What, no Voadkyn?

    ReplyDelete