How to Make Monstrosities More than D&D's "Other" Monster Type | Grim Hollow | DnD 5e | Formidable

[@mikecerutti4721]

As someone who worked with birds, the term “goose hydra” is absolutely terrifying.

[@insertcleverjoke8383]

Birds are so fucked up that in my current campaign, all flightless birds are regarded as monstrosities as opposed to animals and nobody, players included, question this decision

[@charleighkimber4611]

The behir can turn out absolutely horrifying if the party doesn't have a way to chase it, as it can swallow a party member, then immediately use its climbing speed to just... leave. And now it's familiar with the party and knows they're weaker and unable to chase it.

[@Dragonzzilla]

It really does feel like some monsters are ONLY Monstrosities because "We don't want the druids to feel TOO cool."

[@lanterns_glow]

Literally this

[@josephwilliams5292]

“I wanna turn into a regular wolf but with a breath weapon” “Whoa whoa whoa, a breath weapon? That’s way too unnatural, that’s a monstrosity.”

[@sarooku]

Like Dael's videos, yours are usually very inspiring: at the end of every video, I have concrete new ideas for my own campaign. Love it!

[@joelwest6507]

I love this approach to monstrosities, and it's one I've been implementing in my games for a bit now: I DM for a party who slew a manticore, but when they returned to the town, a 'mad scientist' type had stitched together and reanimated the manticore's remains. Thus, the party had to fight a (modified) chimera...

[@GhostfireGaming]

😮 that's cool!

[@Putrefax]

Calling the goose hydra anything other than a Honkdra is just a mistake honestly

[@valois6846]

Someone has to be really good at fowl language to make that one up

[@angelalewis3645]

🤣

[@nathanschmaltz672]

In Canada we just call that a family of Canadian geese.

[@JacopoSkydweller]

Cob-ren-dra Co-chi-dra Bra-chi-hyd Cobra-Chicken-Hydra!

[@gamercore5216]

They're officially called goose mothers by wotc

[@HazzardousEco]

0:10 DAMNIT BEN! Stop landing critical hits to my heart man! >=( As for how I would look at a Monstrosity definition, it's pretty much the same as yours; I always considered them to be the middle between Abhorrents and Beasts; not alien, but not entirely natural as they tend to disrupt the circle of life more than help it, given a number of them are the result of wild experimentation

[@jordancabe732]

Great video as always. I always felt like monstrocities was the "mythic monsters" category, thanks so much for the ideas for the "mythic" origins for D&Doriginal monsters! I'm definitely going to steal the carrion crawlers origin and your ideas for the hydra!

[@RevocerGM]

I love these videos. I've started working on a writing project (audio fiction) and we've been discussing the role of monsters in storytelling, so this is hitting a vibe for me right now!

[@MarxMayhem]

2:31 I don't believe your fear, Ben! Doesn't Australia have giant spiders at the regular?

[@GhostfireGaming]

I mean they don't phase shift! 😬 They just skitter and eat mice...

[@timothyh5632]

My homebrew world is all about dark steampunk fantasy. So the way I define a monstrosity as compared to a beast is that the monstrosity is mutated. They're experiments of Wyrd science, the unfortunate victims of extreme magi-radiation, or ordinary creatures warped by the twisting presence of the Horrors in the Dark.

[@Cassapphic]

I really like this summary of monstrosities and it makes me want to use them as ways to helpa ccent areas if needed. It also helps me to stick to my personal interpretation of owlbears. Unlike most monstrosities which are clearly big fancy cursed or evil monsters, owlbears being the result of a wizard's experiments that broke free and began to just exist in the wild, whilst its origin is a monstrosity, it becomes more natural and lets you lean more into that for stories about how nature and humanity coexist and change off of each other.

[@babony5]

I’ve been eyeballing that witch owl for a while now. I’ve been thinking of pairing it with the doom boars for a short low level monster hunting campaign.

[@gregorygreenwood-nimmo4954]

I really like the idea of Monstrosities as symptoms of some broader malaise such as the influence of a more powerful and esoteric creature upon a region or the side effects of some sort of magical spell or phenomenon. Monstrosities could function as living portents - supernatural perversions of the natural order that foreshadow some looming catastrophe or the return of an old evil erroneously thought permanently vanquished long ago. Perhaps the sinister portents escalate over time, and what started out with things like soothe sayers, regional wise women, shamans, druids, hedge wizards and others with the gift or foresight or magical sensitivity all suffering the same terrible nightmares, then waking visions, and finally madness. Strange, unseasonal storms followed, with vermillion or emerald coloured lightning or which rain blood instead of water, followed in turn by crop failures and unknown blights effecting local plant life, and then an inexplicably high percentage of calves and other livestock (and/or, if you want to get really dark, maybe even children) in a region being born with two heads and other supernatural mutations and sorcerously induced deformities. The various monstrosities (that the party is ultimately hired to get rid of or encounter as part of the pursuit of another goal as the adventure unfolds) started to emerge next as the latest stage in the sickening and corruption of the land, all building toward the rise of some terrible peril or monstrous foe.

[@thewelshdm]

Your presentation of your ideas are what makes these videos incredible. I love the ideas too obviously but the delivery is 🤌

[@scasimir1000]

What if the Medusa is actually a woman living in a mansion who covers up her hair, wears glasses or veil over her face. And she might be like maybe a concubin or a late mistress or a widow to a noble who didn't know. And she sells in a private auction life-like statues that other nobles purchase and that's how she keeps her Fame and riches. But a mayor of a town was suspecting something was off when he noticed that times people went missing or the fact that she would purchase criminals and inmates to come to her manner. But yet those same individuals are never seen again or have not been a nuisance to the town. And that's where your adventurers go to the town to investigate maybe a suspicious situation or towns member or a child ventured into our house and has not returned still and their job is to find out what's going on. Just in case you're curious the reason why no one really noticed her. She stayed to herself in a house. She has one servant and the servant never sees her face. She always covers it with a veil or she leaves notes for him to read and proceeds to get what she asked.

[@GillfigGarstang]

Reminds me of one of the stories in ‘The King in Yellow’ called ‘The Mask’, in which a sculptor discovers a almost magical-seeming chemical process that transforms living tissue into marble resulting in what look like uncannily perfect and detailed marble sculptures.

[@The_Archlich]

Goose Hydra is cursed.

[@OnigoroshiZero]

Your videos are a great inspiration.

[@krispingle]

7:07 rats with crystals? do i smell skaven?

[@camdenthompson4307]

One of the coolest ideas I had in my game was the idea of a group of people simply called "The Mutants". Despite the name and them technically being "Monstrosity" by definition, they're fairly chill. In summary, they're Humanoids (Primarily Humans, although its possible for other races to become a mutant as well) who, due to the massive amount of Nature energy (Or Druidic magic if you wanna be more faithful to regular D&D) that came from the 4 elder elementals that settled there, had their bodies altered, sometimes giving them new abilities. The overall area where their seen takes inspiration from Asian folklore, specifically Japanese, so a lot of the types of Mutants are based on Japanese Yokai, and they vary in what they can do. Some examples include growing a 2nd mouth in the back of your head, controlling your hair, Being able to extend your neck farther than normal, gaining a large, extendable tounge, etc. They're only terrifying on first sight, but generally live alongside normal people, as they are still technically "People" and have morality. Some residents even consider these Mutants as gifts from their respective Elemental (Or the Gold Dragon if your part of the Capital).

[@Tomha]

I had a concept for a monstrosity but I worry it might be too powerful. Basically it's a extremely fast sneaky type that cannot be seen in the dark (even with darkvision) and requiring Darkvision to see it in dim light. The idea was that it was a nocturnal predator with a speed of 60 and will usually creep around a target, run in to hit it and run away or chase after them if they are running, either way it is always running and kills for fun. The area that has this threat sell light sources that keep it away at high prices, and if you brandish a light source at it, it has to make a will save 20 or be frightened and blinded. It has to make this save every time you flash light at it. The idea was that the group can't simply chase after it and have to try and trap it in a way they can confront it. To really emphasize how dangerous it is, I considered giving it a sneak attack like Legendary Action when it does the hit and run tactics for somewhere like 6d6 or 10d6 Slashing damage. Appearance wise it would look like an amalgamation between a Cheetah and a Raptor with oversized claws permanently bent and shaped like clutching hands like it's about to grab something. Making it a boogeyman of a town that is forced to keep the streets well lit so it won't come near, but leaving behind gore and death in the morning when a homeless man mistook dim light as a safe spot.

[@Laban6112]

These are very good points and great ideas. Got some ideas for my next campaign. The problem is I don't really see how this is specifically related to monstrosities as a type. Any of those might as well be another monster. Like the medusa could be a cursed undead instead. Or the mountain pass always raining could be an effect of an elemental or dragon living there. Winter wolf could be a fey and no one would bat an eye. It's not really about the monster's type, but how you use the monster. You could make a cool encounter or mystery with any monster, even humanoids. You can run monsters without type or with 3 types at once and nothing would change. The type doesn't matter at all beyond some specific abilities like the "evil and good" spells. So just make cool encounters and worry about monster type last ;)

[@thehubbleton]

Monstrosities are my favorite. Dope video.

[@TheBlackSerpentBeta]

One of my favourite Monstrosities I've made is the "Carnivorse" which is simply a carnivorous horse It was purposely brought into existence by people in far northern lands, due to there not being enough hay to keep normal horses, so they bred them to eat meat which is in more abundance Always a nasty surprise for the party while they are fighting a mounted Knight and the horse starts extending its jaw to bite them

[@OpenWorldAddict0]

What about the horrific Catoblepas, which is a CR 5 monstrosity that looks like a Cattle transformed by necromantic magic.

[@CreamCakes420]

12:03 make em look like their original disighns and it fits I think

[@anderslundtoft2315]

I woukd love a hours kong video ig this guy fleachting out advenrures based on monsters and locations. He has it in him and he is such a little muse for my inspiration!

[@themasterchefnz]

I like the idea of mages experimenting on monsters and creating monstrosities.

[@chrisg8989]

Monstrosities in my Campaign world come from the Beast Lands. The afterlife for beasts and those who worship nature or the Hunt. The more time a beast spends in the beast lands, the more powerful they become. Eventually becoming the various Monstrosities. Once a beast's spirit has stayed in the beast lands for long enough, they reincarnate in the world in their new form.

[@akgzero8141]

Hoping we get more of your stuff on Dndbeyond soon, picked up a few pdfs but would love to add more monsters into the my encounter on dndbeyond

[@GhostfireGaming]

Appreciate the support! Crossed fingers. 🤞

[@dilanlimoncostelos2]

It has been a known fact for centuries now, that tigers that have been hunted or wronged in any way seek out revenge on nearby human populations. They are also known to imitate the sound made by their prey in order to lure them. Those facts alone have made me think to this day that manticores are just tall tales about real encounters with tigers

[@GhostfireGaming]

Absolutely! The monsters of our ancestors were the real world animals we understand much better today. Because of that understanding these animals don’t always hold the same dread they once did, but which can be accomplished using a supernatural monstrosity…

[@dilanlimoncostelos2]

@@GhostfireGaming So is either nature going for some payback or just simply saying "Hey! I am here. Remember how you were scared sh*tless of me once? You still should! *And* of your dumb mistakes too! Just a friendly reminder c:" Great concept my guy, really. A whole new perspective on monstrosities.

[@17joren]

Regarding the opening, if that single sentence was all they wrote in the MM description, then yeah it would be a weak and vague definition. I know you’re being hyperbolic, but it’s actually a useful statement, especially for homebrewers who can’t decide if their monster should be any of the other types. Also, I feel like there is a gray division between monstrosities and aberrations, since some like the otyugh could be either. Though real world myth and folklore puts a grey area between everything really, just watch Runesmith’s video on the fey/fae; they could be elementals, fiends, celestial, and undead in some cases.

[@lorekeeper685]

They should have kept magical beast

[@xavierdoesntmatter]

People saying they purposely attack the hydra body and not the heads/necks have no clue what it's like to actually deal with a snake or any other hostile animal for that matter. Scared animals like some dogs and cats might turn their body towards you to make themselves bigger and hope to scare you off but hunting animals face you dead on, you are hitting their head/neck if you don't have someone to help flank. And flanking a hydra... it has multiple heads on snake like necks, it will simply point some of them at the flank as well buddy.

[@Tomeroche]

The most annoying thing about Monstrosities is that there's a lot of creatures in the type that could easily just be beasts.

[@AbstractStew]

Isn't the Monstrosity category just an excuse to keep druids from wildshaping into the teally cool animals?

[@PaddyCapDice]

As I have watched several of these videos, I've noticed that a common point is that the fun of fantasy games is giving natural dangers supernatural explanations with magic and monsters. And that got me thinking; could such a fantasy world where actual monsters cause volcanoes and whirlpools, and are the reason the woods are dangerous and scary really be considered a "medieval" world? We use the term "medieval fantasy" to denote a world of sword wielding knights, but if superstitions and magic are real, and common folk know about them, would they not be comparatively much more educated and aware of how their world actually works compared to our history where people made up stories in place of understanding? It's just a world building discourse I've had stuck in my head.

[@wbbartlett]

I hate it when I'm sat indoors and my ears are cold.

[@darklordmathias9405]

Invisible? No. Phase spiders are "ethereal", because when they use their phase ability, they can pass theough solid objects. I hate being "that guy", I just actually can't help it.

[@commonviewer2488]

Monstrosities are supposed to feel organic, like something you are familiar with, but with some aspect of it twisted into an affront to nature.

[@edwardkopp1116]

The Monstrosity category fixes the evil race issue that seems to be so prickly. Goblins, hobgoblins, bugbears, and orcs are monstrosities and that's why they're evil and NOT player character races (or sexy).

[@mrredeef]

"creatures that don't fit into any other type." There should be a "and which also...[criteria for being a monstrosity here]"

[@cosmonaut2684]

In older editions monstrosities were called "magical creatures"

[@marcusaaronliaogo9158]

do you think owlbears still gonna be monstrosity with how much the newer media of dnd portray owlbears as natural creatures?

[@GhostfireGaming]

Possibly not, and I think GM’s and Players can change them to Beasts in their world if they prefer. But I think that should change how Owlbears affect their world and interact with the party, as a result.

[@marcusaaronliaogo9158]

@@GhostfireGaming you know, I will make owlbears giant monotremes like the platypus and echidnas, it would be so funny. And make it like the owlbear is framed from all the monster attacks and then the actual monster appears.

[@CountDVB]

@@GhostfireGaming I think so. I mean, nothing is stopping monstrosities from reproducing. Otherwise, they’d all be dead from old age and I doubt there would be that many mages making enough to fill the void.

[@notajesternotaclown1102]

Mr. Owl, how many thumbnails does it take to discover The Secret of Nimh?

[@Fyre19]

orgeswine? whats that

[@GhostfireGaming]

Ogre Swine are a CR 2 Monstrosity from the Grim Hollow: Monster Grimoire. They're large and aggressive hogs with a taste for flesh and a couple of unique features that make them resilient and difficult to keep at a distance. They work great as a grittier alternative to an owlbear-esque encounter, or as minions for brutish nobles or giants.

[@Titon931]

Can you please make a video on how to use the new raiding system and how to create/ balance and run it. Step by step

[@1998topornik]

Monstrosities are quite decent filler enemies.

[@nicholasjonas2505]

Could you teach us how to make owlbears creepy?

[@jacobhoover1654]

Mange, rabies, twisting their head 360 degrees, sleepwalking & sleeptalking while hibernating

[@nicholasjonas2505]

@@jacobhoover1654 nice ideas

[@joeybravo6172]

medusa wasn't unfairly punished. she was vain in her beauty,,, and chose to keep it. in a way she was worshipping herself, which the gods punished.

[@CzerwonyRymcer]

Poor book...

[@LeonardAndHisBiscuit]

Ahem. Owlbears and griffons are beasts, not monstrosities. That is all.

[@et2792]

good proposal, but there are a literal ton of "monstrosities" that don't fit your description at all. i think there needs to be an additional classification that separates what you've described from things that are basically just created creatures that still behave exactly as normal animals.

[@FirstLast-wk3kc]

Uhm. But aren't absolute most if not all monstrosities are... Magically enhanced/affected creatures? In the opposite of Abberants and beasts. Like Owlbears, Mimics and EVERYTHING.

[@RegiArt7]

They can be, but they don’t have to be. The important thing is that they are in some way unnatural.

[@FirstLast-wk3kc]

@@RegiArt7 but isn't there 2 ways to be unnatural? Extraplanar (90% are demonic, fae, abberant or humanoid, cause pc races) and magic?... Lorewise i mean.

[@rylog8]

Congrats, you've successfully repeated the definition of Monster. Monsters aren't cladistically related to each other like Beasts or Fiends or even Aberrations. They're unique. That uniqueness unites them. Not all trolls are Trolls.

[@FloppaBreaker]

I have to cut this off for a moment because this pisses me off to no end; That is not Medusa's true origin. Medusa was always a horrific monster. That really poorly done tragic backstory was a completely unrelated rewrite of her history. Medusa is pure evil, there was no point where she was human.

[@gregorygreenwood-nimmo4954]

Please stop mutilating source books. It hurts my soul.

[@RiotKurhein]

In my setting, most Monstrosities were created as siege weapons by Elves in a war between the Feyblooded and Humanity.