How to Build a Better Monster!! Encounters & Adventures!!

We are designing a monster from concept to combat stats and actions, then prepping a DnD 5e adventure for it! Writing your own balanced encounters for your homebrew ttrpg session is fun and actually pretty easy if you are using the resources of @AlphastreamRPG @SlyFlourish , Scott Fitzgerald Gray, and @mcolville
MONSTROUS KICKSTARTER PRELAUNCH: www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
Forge of Foes: forge-of-foes.backerkit.com/h...
Action Oriented Monsters: • Action Oriented Monste...
Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master: shop.slyflourish.com/products...
0:00 - Intro
1:26 - Step 1: Monster Concept
10:40 - Step 2: Monster Stat Block
15:26 - Step 3: Combat Actions
18:05 - Step 4: Session Prep Notes
29:10 - After Crow
Download the MONSTROUS Preview Packet: www.thecloudcurio.com/monstrous
I often draw with Foam Grip Tubes from Impresa to ease my hand strain. You can buy them here: amzn.to/3KgpDXs
This was drawn on 100 pound Strathmore bristol board: amzn.to/3ZjTt67
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Patreon: / mapcrow
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Additional Music by Alex Ansaldi: www.epidemicsound.com/artists...

[@irongolem123]

Something about the idea of a cursed undead headless knight filling the empty neck-opening of his armor with severed arms like a bunch of Olive Garden breadsticks is hilarious to me.

[@mapcrow]

When you are here.... you are f a m i l y ....

[@Stormwovles]

@@mapcrow i love the idea that the Behander Knight's Mark, and the fact that your hand severs itself and runs away like a crawling claw, its symbolistic of the punishment for stealing in older times where you lose a hand. So each hand jutting from his breastplate is a thief he's already collected from.

[@hanneslubke2573]

I don't even play RPGs (although I'd like to), but I show up every single time Map Crow posts for the creativity behind the monsters, the incredible narration and mainly these absolutely perfect drawings

[@mapcrow]

Thank you so much!!

[@twicedeadmage]

You could give Solo Rpgs a try.

[@edwardblacklock2446]

When I wanted to play i had to gm for others first. Its really not that hard and a lot of fun.

[@gearandalthefirst7027]

I know supernatural creatures don't exactly need a source for their mysterious noises, but a war horn of the creature's throatless lungs wheezing into and reverberating within the cavity of his armor seems like a pretty chilling description to me.

[@minimoose7890]

The clasping palms and woven fingers can create changing structures for the air to pass through and amplify and alter the sounds, too

[@thetristan7391]

7:40 THAT NARRATION WAS METAL!!!!!! Ilysm for that, the energy was *palpable.*

[@SlyFlourish]

Thank you so much for the call outs to Forge of Foes and Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master! I appreciate it!

[@mapcrow]

You make great books with great folks! It's my pleasure! Cheers!!

[@ordinarydm3676]

A Behander? A behander. A BEHANDER!!! What a horrifyingly wonderful idea! Thank you, Kyle, for another great video.

[@Nova-jw6ju]

I've noticed that a very important bit of worldbuilding is "why do the players have to kill this monster?" A lot of players (especially nowadays) will attempt to be cordial or diplomatic with their enemies. It's important to have monsters that Will Not Stop. A horde of undead who march forth at the will of their dark master. A band of dragon men who fight till the death, because as they say, "To die in glorious battle is to have lived the greatest life!"

[@samuelesanfilippo222]

i can just image the hands in the head joining together to created crocked skull shapes, like trying to reproduce the head he'll never be able to have again.

[@mapcrow]

Oh cool!! I think there is a scene like that in the Labyrinth!

[@RevRaak]

​@@mapcrowdefinitely.

[@Ninsects]

I would love to see a unique take on oozes and slimes. They seem like some of the derpiest creatures out there but I bet they can be truly horrific with the right mindset.

[@petsdinner]

This is pretty good, I gotta hand it to you

[@mapcrow]

Thank you so much! I just wanted to put all the most useful stuff I know about monster design into one video!

[@petsdinner]

@@mapcrow I should have put more emphasis on "hand" 😆

[@timblighton6216]

@@petsdinnerI counted a few hand lines in the video too-such as keeping things “on hand” where I couldn’t tell if it was on purpose or not.

[@minimoose7890]

Oh, don't worry, I think we all see what your fingers did there with making that comment. ;-P

[@itisALWAYSR.A.]

Booooooo

[@timblighton6216]

As an old head D&D’er, who’s been playing and dming for forty years, I’m genuinely excited for “Monstrous.” I love your videos and podcast, filled with humor and passion-and visual art and storytelling-all of which speaks to the middle schooler who discovered role playing so long ago.

[@mapcrow]

Thank you so much!! One of the things I like about KZbin and podcasts is a chance to reach out to folks who have been in the hobby for a long time as well as folks that are just beginning! It’s really wonderful!!

[@HateSonneillon]

Something I think would work for this and explain the blowing of hunting horns is that ethereal phenomena can be like a weather condition in D&D. Some nights you have fog or extreme humidity, some nights you have source-less ghostly wailing. A natural occurrence given that the ethereal plane overlaps the material. If you can cast fog or change the weather, then its reasonable that a creepy malevolent horror could passively bring about ghostly weather changes. So the sound of hunting horns could be a component of ethereal weather brought by the Behander.

[@oldmanofthemountains3388]

You illustration makes me think that the armor is the creature and the hands just reside within it. Almost like a swarm creature animated by the platemail.

[@brantbowers6368]

This book seems like it'll vibe well with the Witcher/Supernatural style monster-of-the-week campaign I've been planning! Can't wait to see the full thing!

[@lucasperez2904]

Could you do the basilisk at some point in your making better monsters series? They have a really cool aspect of turning people to stone with just a gaze, but the monster manual doesn't offer much else to make it even more interesting. Amazing videos and I love your art btw

[@edwardwalter3100]

The snapping bit made me legit lol. Hilarious and mad evocative. Great vid man.

[@clanknfrends1]

I can't tell you how excited I am for Monstrous

[@user-ty2ry2sk2w]

8:10 It waves it's hands very fast to create an air current that blows through the horn.

[@itisALWAYSR.A.]

Two words: palm farts.

[@leilahamm8597]

I was going to say that a CR 2 melee fighter isn't intimidating enough for an accursed horror that the kingdom would rather build a special vault and recall coins than just send some dudes to put down, but then you gave it an army of dog monsters and crawling claws and I was like "oh, okay."

[@mapcrow]

It would have to be tier one play for a folktale monster to matter to them anyway. Very low level pcs

[@thedeaderer8791]

ABSOLUTELY keep the longer form videos they're great and ppl will def watch them for sure

[@thecocktailadventurer9229]

Good to see you at Gen Con! I only regret not getting more time to chat!

[@itisALWAYSR.A.]

I like the idea of this Hand Brute seeking the false king's coin, but also having a side-quirk: if your character is empty-handed (literally, unarmed), it and its hounds will not attack you. This is how it doesn't harm civilians, since it's still bound to some sort of code of chivalry. Maybe it would parley? And perhaps it also prioritises the rich, too? So it would mark on the person carrying the most cash. And their allies, unless they are open to a suited arrangement. (Of course, the creature has no mouth, so the voice comes from the goat.) Funny how a design and a little creative concept can spark imagination!

[@dobo9150]

A hunting horn blown by hunting bellows. Like one of those squeezy honk horns you might see on a bicycle or old, old car. And now your cursed brute's workplace is AD&DA compliant: you're welcome.

[@amatostano3936]

As always Kyle great to hear your thoughts on RPGs while seing your drawing skill.

[@mapcrow]

Thank you so much!!

[@mathisunderwater3429]

You have inspired me man! I'm now gonna write up a 'Treasure Haunter' for my Spelljammer game - an undead pirate who's been betrayed on his way to wealth either through gamble, mutiny or other betrayals; after dying penniless, they rise and target those who have found great wealth. All I've got for support/look - probably uses mimic chests, and wields a shovel.

[@GregMcNeish]

Outstanding to see you go through the whole process, drawing upon different resources. This was a fantastic video!

[@mapcrow]

Thank you so much!! Yeah I really want to show folks the best way I know how to do things, especially when I can point the way to other wonderful resources!!

[@panicpillow6097]

This prep stye seems to be suited for a playstyle very different from my own, but it was still really interesting to follow along from the start until the end. Love these longer form video's as well as the super interesting monster ideas!

[@Puffymcstuff]

I love how each video we could get you completely unhinged or just an art guy. So good.

[@jaflood0378]

This video is amazing!!!! Thank you so much! Super engaging, synthesizes a lot of resources and techniques I use into a cohesive process. Can’t wait to get my hands on Monstrous! ❤ the longer length is satisfying!

[@DarthReluctant]

Loved the creativity and loved the long format. I'm looking forward to Monstrous.

[@sockbrown6832]

this is probably the single most helpful video about monsters I have ever watched! thank you so much! :)

[@mapcrow]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rafaeljoseph3951]

As usual, this has been hugely informative, distinctly, beautiful and well crafted, and makes me want to sit down and start planning a session right now

[@eitanelran3877]

The video length is great, i was very excited to see you released a half hour video and really enjoyed the video and how in depth it was.

[@bolicob]

I'd be interested in an episode on Rock Monsters/ Golems

[@Toddalotapodamus]

I like introducing common, but unlikely to be with the PCs, weaknesses. The hobfey, a catchall fey creature attempting to capture all the different representations of fey in 80s fantasy movies, is terrified of house cats (stolen from Stephen King's "Cat's Eye"). They shrink down to tiny size, reduced to 1 damage per attack, and get disadvantage on all rolls while a cat is within close range.

[@heavymetalmystic2430]

Love this! Thank you for all the inspiration and awesome art!🤘🏻

[@mapcrow]

Thanks for watching and for the kind words!!

[@minimoose7890]

And who cares if he doesn't have a clear mouth to blow a horn with, he's blowing a silent horn during combat that only the hounds can hear, ha!

[@eastoforion]

i want to run this adventure! love it

[@yo5tan]

I really love how you kitbash together many different resources into one cohesive whole, it's really such a cool approach to GMing!

[@GrafXohoo]

I just wanted to say thanks you, you reminded me of my old TTRPG games, which I made when I was a little boy. Now im working on a new game, becasue I saw one of your videos. Great work, keep it up man. You have a hole tone of talent for art.

[@mapcrow]

Cheers! I'm so glad you are finding inspiration in the videos!!

[@sentientwaffle535]

Saw a new map crow, clicked, started watching, heard “it’s a long one”, looked at the timestamp, IT’S OVER 30 MINUTES OF MAP CROW WOOOOOO YEAH BABY!

[@mapcrow]

Had a lot to say on this one! Haha! Cheers!!

[@paulh3892]

Your Behander Knight is so evocative and inspiring. Good luck in your many RPG related endeavors 👍

[@thedabblingwarlock]

I really appreciate this video. I am going to be backing Monstrous when it goes live.

[@mapcrow]

Thank you so much!! I'm glad you like the video, and we are just so excited to bring folks MONSTROUS!!

[@thegmwitch]

Love watching this, the art looks great and I enjoyed hearing the different Ideas that you came up for the monster. I'm also a big fan of the lazy gm books and didn't know he had a new one out, thanks for sharing, for sure going to back it! Awesome video and can't wait to see more AND for the kickstarter to launch!

[@mapcrow]

Thank you so much! Yeah I’m always checking in to see more lazy gm books! Cheers!!

[@minimoose7890]

@thegmwitch Consider signing up for both Kyle's and the Sly Flourish newsletters, heh, then news of books might reach you sooner. There's also videos on the Sly Flourish KZbin channel showing and discussing the Foes book fwiw to you ;-)

[@coopnasty2017]

I recently purchased your 'Agnostic' booklet as well as the old roads booklets and maps. I am super excited to use them and have already gotten some cool ideas of things to put in my games. I am excited for monstrous!! I've been an avid follower of the building better monsters series since you uploaded the first one!! They have all been so great.

[@mapcrow]

Thank you so much!! We are really REALLY looking forward to getting this book out there!! It's wonderful to hear that you've been with the channel for so long too!! Cheers!!

[@clintonbehrends4659]

17:22 in exandria unlimited calamity their was the taxmen and they dealt bonus damage based on the highest level spell slot

[@trynda1701]

Glad you feel that if it's needed, the long videos are working. But do them to your schedule, we will enjoy them whenever you post them. 👍👍👍👍 BTW, as a new subscriber (will have to check out more of your videos, this is just my second), may I say when you start to laugh manically at appropriate points while drawing your monstrous knight! 😅😅😅😅 Keep up the great work! 😎😎😎😎

[@rayjustice5387]

Didn't see it mentioned at a glance, but incredible intro. Absolutely gripping

[@mapcrow]

Haha! That one got me!!

[@onesleepybeetle]

All your videos make me want to try DMing again!

[@harrisonwilling7122]

This was phenomenal!

[@mapcrow]

Thank you so much!!

[@daneclements7822]

Loved the way ya prepped stuff, really is inspiring me to prep my games a little looser. Also, the artwork baller, style is so cool 💀

[@mapcrow]

Heck yeah! Get loose, try it out! Might not be your style, but I’ll bet you learn something at least! Cheers!!

[@Typheaus]

If I was pressed to decide whos got more infectious chaotic energy, Runehammer or Map Crow, Id be in trouble :D

[@RevRaak]

Okay, the whole video is

[@mapcrow]

Ha! Right on! Truthfully, when I prep monsters for a 5E game, I just right down two numbers for attribute/skills, GOOD and BAD, which would include the ability mod and the proficiency bonus (or lack thereof). So if anything, I over prepped for the episode because I thought it would be more broadly useful for folks. Haha. There is an article in the OSR called "Just Use Bears" which says anytime you need to improve a monster, just use the stats for a bear and wing the rest! This is easier to do in an old school game than 5E, but it's a really helpful reminder to chill out and reskin for a home game. Haha!!

[@RevRaak]

​@@mapcrowlove it, seriously, I'd rather go deep and over-prepare than be caught stumbling with Ums and Ahs while my brain goes blank from pressure. But it doesn't need to be complex to be ready. As far as a future monster to treat this way, I love your take on the Lich. I would love to see you build out this kind of video with a high-level evil spellcaster. Thank you!!!

[@GeekOutStudio]

I stumbled across this today as I was coming up with some ideas from art my friend did of an Undead looking Mermaid. I'm adding all the books to my shopping cart. Would the Lich sample you did be good for a mermaid?

[@minimoose7890]

Unlike the majority of monster books out there that are full of stats and mechanics, sounds like your monster book is about lore and theme and setting and impact of the monsters on the world and story and helping GMs consider those things when prepping, and I am all for that kind of different approach to a monster book because I have enough stat-boxes and static monster descriptions already.

[@mapcrow]

Heck yeah!! That’s the idea!! Folks are up there eyeballs in stats, but we are trying to support GMs with all the other cool stuff to plan out!

[@minimoose7890]

Mike Shea has a lot of published material to help generate Fantastic Locations. I'm looking forward to see more help to generate "fantastic monsters and other entities". The Monstrous preview document already has me rethinking my ideas for a lich and ancient dragon that I had spawned by rolling on random tables from The Lazy DM's Companion.

[@SirDracnix]

gotta love the bberserk reference in the celestial artwork !

[@mapcrow]

I love those dang books!! What exquisite drawing!!

[@djokealtena2538]

I can't wait for monstrous. I'm sure you covered hags in there, if not I'd like some more indepth hags or darker fae creatures.

[@rezthemediaruler3768]

This Video is extremely helpful and fun. In will put your advice to proper use, when I start to make my own first Homebrew Campaign. Maybe something with a giant coldfire breathing Demon-Bird.

[@mapcrow]

Heck yeah!! That sounds awesome!! Cheers!!

[@bertramchristianbode5755]

That intro tho! haha I jumped in my seat.

[@snapshotdm]

Mike Shea (the lazy dm) shouting you out brought me here and your content got a sub, like, and bell.

[@mapcrow]

Oh! Thank you so much!!

[@user-hc2tx1vz9v]

Lol, imagine behander holding two eyes in his hands and having one hand with mouth in the middle of them😆

[@Josephrobrose]

LOVE THE VIDEO… what’s the brand of legal pad you used in this video? The green one? I want to cosplay as you while I’m prepping.

[@mapcrow]

Haha! It just a generic pad from Office Depot! Cheers!!

[@samuelesanfilippo222]

do you plan for the thing you say during the video? like for the quality, i'd say yes but for the exctiment and the jumps in your tone i constantly feel like you mind is being like "oh yes this sound cool, let's say this"

[@mapcrow]

Ha! I record extemporaneously, then edit and revise from there! Thank you for the kind words!!

[@babzm.1666]

No joke, no fabrication- Not three months ago did I homebrew an armored monster swelling with cloying hands (not quite filled with severed arms, but still) and even wielding a greatsword. It’s not a third as cool as this creepy lil’ dude.

[@lv20warlock21]

it's the Evil DooWop Knight, the headless Beatniks brigade,

[@garrettdaly9893]

I enjoy watching your monster design process. Would I be able to use monstrous for other game systems fairly well? I've used a book called Wickerpunk for other systems even though it's designed for dnd 5e

[@mapcrow]

Monstrous is completely system agnostic! A lot of its example are mythic dark fantasy, but we also offer support for scifi games with some examples as well! It's just a structured way to think through how your monsters are fitting into your story, so it's useful for prepping all kinds of games!

[@garrettdaly9893]

@@mapcrow wonderful to hear. I love folk horror and feature it heavily in my games and I'm looking forward to MONSTEROUS. On this wonderful rpg art show I'd love to see fungus people they tend to come off as goofy, peaceful mushroom people not a monster that could easily invoke body horror.

[@jakehollingworth4226]

Quick question 🙋🏼‍♂️ what type of paper are you using for this?

[@mapcrow]

Sure thing! It's strathmore bristol board! I think I have a link in the description.

[@shivernaut8607]

I wish there was some kind of discord where I could see what monsters people make and maybe art

[@mapcrow]

Discord can really overwhelm me, but I hope you enjoy the videos!

[@shivernaut8607]

@@mapcrow I do!

[@KrustalHersh]

Maybe the goat blows the horn?

[@VulcanorBoss]

A "Dullahand" pun was right in front of you and you never took it 😢

[@mapcrow]

Haha!! That's how it's written in all my notes Hahaha!! I am a big punster, but I also want to be careful not to make meme content. Haha

[@gmg9010]

Do you have a video on Gothic Horror campaigns and how to create them?

[@mapcrow]

I have a video on Building Better Vampires, but not a one on gothic horror campaigns! I’ll add it to the list! Thank you!!

[@A-necron]

what about animal based monsters like dragons, that one dnd t rex and sea monsters? would the goal just be survival

[@mapcrow]

You have the right idea, but survival is a bit broad. The best plan for survival is to avoid combat with the PCs. So try protect home, hunt for food, feed young, scavenge nest material, collect shiny objects, follow light source. Think specifically about what the monster wants, and then have them retreat when it becomes too hard only to try again later at a more opportune time. Also, in games with an action economy, you want to make sure the animal attacks in a pack, calls for back up, or has multiple actions per round.

[@A-necron]

@@mapcrow like how certain animals get aggressive after hibernation, mating season and territory, aswell as how bears when scavenging human waste can become a threat. stuff like that? wow i can just imagine a giant bear with large spikes, big claws pushing over large walls of fortresses for the stench of leftovers, causing safety hazards for the soldiers who reside there, sometimes chasing off dragons to keep a carcass they found haha, and how sometimes a monster will run away when they find a strange thing, like modern animals

[@mapcrow]

@@A-necron Yeah! Though this is all with the caveat that often run monsters that are intelligent or are involved with people who are also in the encounter. Very rarely will I say, "a bear attacks". If a bear does indeed attack, it is usually doing so because of the activity of another faction nearby.

[@A-necron]

@@mapcrow alright! thanks!

[@R2-DPOO]

I love you