Monster Categorization

[Zulgyan]

I'm working on my home brew M&T booklet for OD&D. In the original M&T booklet, creatures are not ordered by name but by category. I think this model is good, but it would be better to name those categories. I've been working on that, I'll post what I have now and I invite the interested to discuss on the subject. Raithe's ideas where good, I borrowed some!

MEN
sub-categories:
- Civilization (wicked and corrupt)
- Wilderness (savage and untamed)
- Sea (lawless and desolate)

HUMANOIDS
sub-categories:
- Large (ex: troll)
- Fantastic (ex: medusae)

MUTANTS

GIANTS

FANTASTIC CREATURES
(ex: pegasus, chimera, manticore, hydra)
sub-categories:
- Flyers
- Water

OOZES

INSECTS
(refers only to what can be a threat for adventurers, thus it refers to giant or monstrous insects, as swarms as well).

DRAGONS

UNDEAD
sub-categories:
- corporeal
- uncorporeal

ELEMENTALS
sub-categories:
- Pure.
- Kin.

ROBOTS

CONSTRUCTS

ANIMALS
sub categories:
- Giant

PLANTS

ABERRATIONS & THE WEIRD

DEMONS
(I don't distinguish bewteen demons and devils)

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Did I miss anything? Comments? Suggestions?

I'm also longing for a "Cthulhuloid" category - what could be included there? Geoffrey, you are the man here!

[busman]

The OD&D books definitely treat Lycanthropes as a different class.
Demi-Humans? (Elves, Dwarves, etc)
Have you considered leaving Giants in the Humanoid category?
Same with Dragons into the Fantastic Category (An argument that anything on the Fantastic Combat chart from CHAINMAIL is Fantastic?)
Robots and Constructs, what's the difference?
Insects and Animals, big difference?
Planar creatures/beasts/monsters? Are these subcategories of the various other categories?
Demons, I would use a different term if you plan on lumping Demons and Devils into the same category: Fiends or something like that.

I like what you are doing with this.

[Zulgyan]

Demi-Humans? (Elves, Dwarves, etc)

I'm trying to get rid of them and adopt a more S&S selection of creatures.

Robots and Constructs, what's the difference?

Concept. Robots = high-tech; Contructs = enchanted objects or constructions.

Concept has been the criteria for categorization. What I want to achieve is something like: "Hey I need some high-tech now", "hey, I need something really weird and mind disturbing", "hey, I need mooks to be hacked and slashed", "They are going into a forest, I need a plant monster", "A tomb, I need undead", etc. I want to make it easy to find what you are needing. There are no mechanics associated with categories, just concepts that are there to help you find what you need to create a certain game experience.

Insects and Animals, big difference?

Insects are much more disgusting, and when giantsized, much more otherworldly.

Have you considered leaving Giants in the Humanoid category?

Giants offer a different game experience, so that's why they are separate.

Same with Dragons into the Fantastic Category

Dragons are so special that they deserve their own category.

[raithe]

If you're looking for a break down of types on Cthulhu Mythos critters: (If I understood that last bit right)
Outer Gods, Great Old Ones, Greater Servitor Races, Lesser Servitor Races, Independent Races, and Undead. That covers most of the big groups.

If you were looking for D&D type critters to fit into those groups there's actually a bunch of them. (if you don't mind converting some 1st & 2nd edition monsters) Just about anything that has the type Abberation in later editions of D&D could be given a few spiffy twists and turned into a mythos creature. And never underestimate Lizardmen as a great mythos tie-in creature.

As the list goes, great job. Looks like you've got all the bases pretty well covered. Maybe a seperation for sentient and mindless undead, since the former tend to be far more dangerous. (hmm maybe I should edit my list) Of course I have to check myself when I start trying to classify undead or they get their own book in a hurry. Also maybe switch Demons to Planar since there are other things that can fit into that group that aren't demons or devils. That's all I can think of right now.

[Zulgyan]

Maybe I can use both DEMONS (they get used more often, and IMC demons are not necessarily from another plane, they could be ruling an empire in the prime material) and PLANAR (all the rest).

[ffilz]

Back in college, I had my own customized monster manual divided into all sorts of categories. On the one hand, the idea is nice, on the other hand, I think it can make it harder to find monsters.

One thought would be just an index with these categories included.

Your categories look nice, though they mirror the D20 ones, was that intentional, or is it just that D20 actually has a somewhat logical arrangement?

Frank

[Zulgyan]

I mainly used the C&C categories with some changes. As you go by yourself they turn to be quite logical and natural. The d20 ones too.

[gleemaxjr]

Concept. Robots = high-tech; Contructs = enchanted objects or constructions.

There is likely much more than this as the mechanical differences. Constructs are generally invulnerable to most magic, whereas a robot would likely not be (there are some spells where immunity would remain) and often take orders from someone who can instruct the creature to its action, and failing that, continues to perform its last order without question. Most "robots" in the "high-tech" sort of way, would be sentient, and able to use their own tactics and methods. There are also major differences in weaknesses - robots are susceptible to lightning and water, not to mention rust (as are iron golems) unless they are treated as being composed of materials that would not be so harmed. Golems cannot be healed -- robots can be repaired, and often, by themselves. Weapons are vastly differen: a robot has something equivalent to an infinite disintegrate spell, perhaps, yet a golem has its hands.

So, superficially, a golem and a robot are physically resemblant, but in the rules... very, very different.

In my opinion.

[Deleted]

I like the Monster Categories, they are quite cool. I have thought many times about writing up my own homebrew version, but never find the time to do it. Glad to see someone following through and doing it.

[codeman123]

Thats a good idea i also have been thinking along the same lines but making a alphabatized monsters manual of sorts for alot of the monsters from other editions and supplements for just 3lbb core.

[stonetoflesh]

Nice set of categories. Are your robots totally homebrewed or are you adapting them from Metamorphosis Alpha, Gamma World, or somesuch?