10 Disturbing Undead from 3e D&D

Presented here are 10 gruesome undead from 3e D&D. They are from a time when things were far more brutal, and in some ways, more creative.
Eldritch Castle interactive adventure: • Eldritch Castle - Inte...
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--Music--
“Feedback” Omniman
“A Brief Imaginary Excursion through Jakarta to Candi Borobudur in Central Java“ Omniman
“Darker Lakes I: Moraine” Sarin
“Amber Guide” Sarin
“Low Moon” Sarin
“Bloom” Sarin
“Ocean Burn” Sarin
“Darker Lakes III: Glacial” Sarin
“Embers Circling Downwards” Sarin
Music by Omniman is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License.
Music by Sarin is licensed under a Attribution License.
sarin.bandcamp.com/
--Chapters--
0:00 Intro
0:57 Corpse Rat Swarm
3:03 Mohrg
4:52 Plague Spewer
6:32 Eldritch Castle
8:24 Voidwraith
11:00 Boneyard
13:47 Dream Vestige
16:44 Wheep
19:19 Forsaken Shell
21:14 Skulking Cyst
23:59 Slaymate
26:52 Outro

[@Blizz3112]

3.5 absolutely had some terrifying stuff both looks and mechanically...

[@nicocrestmere9688]

3.5 is advanced D&D 5e is D&D Lyte. Just to clarify there is no better system just flavor. 3.5 has far more freedom and FAR more math and rules. 5e is quicker easier and more story driven I think. But then a wizard can solo the tarasque with a fly spell spamming catrips.

[@kazzysenpai5906]

@@nicocrestmere9688 in 3.5 the tarrasque was a literal world ender

[@jamesfragomeni8039]

and this is why i love 3.5 vs 5 e there is so much more to the game

[@kazzysenpai5906]

@@jamesfragomeni8039 I agree but I’m thankful for 5E because I can teach my daughter how to play easier

[@chriswills418]

Most definitely whent on a monster book Binge and loved the lore n feel of the monsters helped make homebrews fun on spooky season

[@alexandriamason2355]

The 3rd edition, still the pinnacle of D&D. The most options, gritty play, and great at storytelling.

[@BenCDBrown]

Agree. Pathfinder was what 4e shoukd have been.

[@Laozi_Sparta]

Without a doubt.

[@HenriFaust]

I don't know what you're talking about. TSR went out of business before releasing a 3rd edition of D&D.

[@alexandriamason2355]

@@HenriFaust TSR released 5 editions of D&D, and WotC released 3, Piazo released 2.

[@HenriFaust]

@@alexandriamason2355 TSR released 7 versions of D&D including four versions of the Basic Set, but not a single one was called 3rd edition.

[@Takeda10K]

“When I was a boy, my grandfather on mu human side used to let me read his journals. He used to be part of a company of monster hunters called the Red Hawks, who were one of the best in all realms. He would write down their encounters with monsters, describing their appearance and capabilities. But one night I found entry titled “hoard of skulking cyst” but there was nothing to it. When I asked my grandfather about it I clearly stirred up bad memories. Being a stubborn child I kept asking until my mother told me to stop pestering him and drop the subject. Later I saw him burning the page while holding his Red Hawk medallion. Only years later could I piece it together…” Samuel, Half-Elf Rogue Happy Halloween Esper!

[@esperthebard]

"I thought I had gotten rid of that page," said grandfather, unconsciously scratching the old chirurgy scar on his forearm. "Some things are better left forgotten."

[@untamedwild1]

I want to know More!

[@sugarjumper45]

@@untamedwild1 years later The Boy grew to become a man. Though he was head strong, and cavalier, he was diligent in his studies. His grandfather had made sure of that in his fathers absence. The Boy had taken a strong fascination with medicine and for a time his Grandfather was hopeful he’d lose interest in being a hunter and would instead become doctor, or a cleric…or anything else really. Yet It was shortly after The Boy’s 23rd name day, that the Grandfather was awoken from his rest in his rocking chair next to the fire place. He was startled and nearly drew his sword he always had at his side. He then realized it was his grandson who had woke him from sleep. He looked his Grandson pensively. Taking note of his backpack, his foul weather coat, a hand axe tucked away on his side…and a musket slung over his shoulder. “A wonder of the modern age.” he mused in his head. “Son…I don’t think now is a good time to hunt for game, the weather is unseasonably severe out there and way I hear it’ll be like that into next day. Besides we are well stocked on food.” The Boys face tightened and he took a deep breath “Pah….I’m…I’m joining the Red Hood Society. I want to explore and make the world a safer place, and I want to find my brother, I know he’s out there somewhere.” The old man stared blankly almost as though he was looking through his grandson instead of at him. His stomach dropped his mind ranged in his head his body trembled and his lips quivered. In that moment he hated himself, “I should’ve burned that damned journal. I should’ve never planted that seed into his mind” he thought. He then he then opened his eyes and felt a trickle of a tear fall down his cheek. “Please, I am begging you… don’t do this too me. I can’t lose you as well. You are all I have, You don’t need to be a hunter, please I can make sure you get into finest colleges or guilds around the world, just don’t lea..” before his Grandfather can finish, The Boy puts his hand on his grandfathers shoulder and their eyes meet, The Boy’s countenance is stoic yet, sympathetic. “Pah, I have to do this. I will write and visit you whenever I can but I must go.” “WAIT.” The grandfather interrupted tearfully while grabbing The Boy’s arm “It’s my fault, I filled your head my nonsense, I omitted the terrors, and the toll it’s taken on my mind and body. I gave you a sanitized telling of glory and heroism…but please if I can’t persuade you to not go may I at least tell you as warning, one of my most dreaded hunts.” The Boy stood for a second and then took a seat close to his Grand father. “Son….Do you remember the Entry in my journal titled Hoard of Skulking Cysts?”

[@rocketprime]

This video just gave me an adventure idea. What if a mage lost their child to a war or a plague and ended up turning the child into a Slaymate in a misguided attempt at resurrection?

[@esperthebard]

That sounds like the start to a powerful story there.

[@johntheherbalistg8756]

Those arcane boys, still jealous of clerics for that 🙄

[@Kattlarv]

While they are incredibly rare in D&D: I really love the non-murderhobo monsters. *Especially* undead ones. The suspiciously specific ones always fascinated me. Like: "This thing is full of holes. It won't attack you unless you attack it first. OR if you are undead. It HATES undead. ... Or if you smell really bad. THEN you are in danger." which, always made me wonder: WOULD it attack a mummy? Or like: "This undead isn't evil. In fact, it's not even hostile. UNLESS you've harmed innocent people. *Especially* children. It can supernaturally sense that within 100'. And it WILL truck your day." Or: "This thing IS hostile. But! It ONLY does subdual damage. And if its knocks you out. It steals your toenails and leaves you alive. Why? Who the frick knows!"

[@zzygyy]

Original A&DD DM here. 1979-1984. Thank you for this channel. It's fun nostalgia for 50+ year old me. Scary undead adventures were amazing. Description with lots of adjectives made the game fun. We never used minis. THE GAME was about storytelling. Good players "described" their attacks with colorful language. If they "role played well" they got extra bonus. Keep up the good work here.

[@theserpentslair8072]

I was fascinated by D&D as a kid but never had the chance to play until I was nearly twenty. I used to sneak to the TTRPG section and peek at the books whenever we'd go to Books A Million. This takes me back to those times. Thank you. I see why people don't like 5e. It's about the player when it used to be about the stories you create as a group.

[@user-vm9xz4kv9z]

16:12 Shadows have strength reduction in 5e, if they hit you, you lose 1d4 points of strength (no save involved) and you insta-die if your strength reaches 0 I remind you that they're CR 1/2, and that strength is often the dump stat for most casters, rogues and monks, often not being higher then an 8

[@esperthebard]

Yes indeed, that's an example of the extremely rare 5e ability damage. Others are intellect devourer, maurezhi, and vargouille.

[@TabletopBob]

Love the old art. Really miss the style. Great video!

[@esperthebard]

I'm hoisting the torch to keep some light shining on these grittier old styles.

[@skeletalremains8555]

I miss it too. I find the 5e artwork to be lame compared to 1-3.5 art

[@LHWK_RHC]

The old school gory art reminds me of the older Games Workshop stuff and other horror/fantasy themed art from the 80s and 90s. Love it! Nowadays, everything is so sanitised. 😔

[@skeletalremains8555]

Agreed. Hate to be that guy, but 5e is truly "soft" compared to earlier editions. Still a great game, just wish it was a little less "prettied up" if that makes sense

[@Skybot437]

Wow. 50% of these I've never heard of. Pretty cool entries. I'm kinda glad the guy that gm'ed most my 3.5 games never threw some of these at us, but they're cool, lol.

[@GundamDemon]

As a Necromancer player myself this video was amazing! You talked about my favorite book and then talked about almost all of my favorite Undead creatures. One I love is The Visage. being able to rip memories away and then act like some sort of mimic is amazing and then being an Undead Creature it having some immunity to Holy energy. Instantly subbed

[@ninjabreadman22]

These are some of my all time favorites from 3.5e. I miss that feeling of looking at a new undead monstrosity and reading its flavour text and feeling deeply perturbed by the thought of facing one as a commoner. The idea that one could live a provincial or pastoral life of peace and have everything upended by undead horrors spreading decay is so deeply terrifying. An unfathomable hatred enduring beyond death and returning to its village in undeath, raising its victims as thralls to assist in the undoing of its place of origin. A single shadow, wraith, or morhg could turn a bustling town into a rotting, bloated necropolis within a night if a well meaning party of adventurers fail to take care in disposing of a murderer's body.

[@stevesmith5883]

That's one of the reasons I love the world of the Witcher, while it's easy to become complacent and used to the monsters when playing as a character who's life is based around slaying them, when you imagine just being an average citizen of that world, suddenly every ghoul, nekker, and drowner becomes horrific again, let alone the more powerful monsters or entity's like the Crones.

[@owlthemolfar4690]

Thank you for the list! 5e definitely may benefit from few Death metal album covers in it's books. P.S. Also it was really nice nighttime video.

[@thedragondaddydm6182]

I like the challenge of ability loss and the greater the risk the better it feels to overcome it

[@NeroWesten]

This was a particularly great one. When I was a kid, I played 2E. When I was a grown up and got back into it in college, 4E was the most current edition. Now I play 5. So I missed 3 and 3.5 and have only played one or two shorter campaigns with that system. It’s so cool to Hear these breakdowns on monsters I never encountered. Thanks for this.

[@Orthanderis]

3.5 system was, more or less, ported into Pathfinder. Couple changes, but otherwise a carbon copy. I loved 3.5, but it was overly complicated. If you like the mechanical aspect of the game Pathfinder kept all of it. 5.0 is my favorite so far for simplifying a lot of it, without over simplifying it like 4.0

[@NinjaSushi2]

3.5 was the best. Basically they took third edition and gave it a hotfix to patch all the problems it had and added a bunch of new crap that worked great. Like DLC for pen and paper.

[@LB-yg2br]

That’s sad that you missed 3e. It was basically the best edition. If you hear people complain that it was “complex”, pay them no mind…they are illiterate and tipping their hand as such. Like, they swear “grappling” is so complex you need a flow chart to understand it when it’s just two dice rolls: one to hit and then an opposed STR check. Legit that’s it lol

[@Laozi_Sparta]

3.5 was simply the best edition ever.

[@twilightgardenspresentatio6384]

I miss the adult stylings of this hobby

[@esperthebard]

Also how the game used to be about making creative, unique content, instead of the simplest, least offensive thing possible.

[@NoNamesLeft0102]

@@esperthebard nothing greater than the tome dedicated to evil and based on edginess being compared to terrorism. In 2002. What attitude we could have maintained.

[@migueldelmazo5244]

Modern younglings say "speech is violence". I grew up with vorpal swords and level-draining undead. Now that was violence!

[@yossiharr]

I wish I could like this video more then once I really miss 3.5

[@NecromancyForKids]

You can still play it! Now is a better time than ever

[@bigblue344]

I like it when monsters are able to damage you in more ways then "you take 10 damage or half as much on a failed roll" because it adds dynamics to the combat, either through making the players play smart or adding panic which is what a horror monster should be doing.

[@beardiebuddy]

I loved the Brain in a Jar, so simple a concept but terrifyingly potent against low-level groups with its minor psionic abilities.

[@esperthebard]

Oh man, I love the brain in a jar! I thought about including it here, but it is in 5e, and I wanted to stick with things that have not been done yet in 5e (and maybe never will).

[@beardiebuddy]

@@esperthebard wait, what 5e book has the Brain in a Jar?

[@necrogoblicon8946]

@@beardiebuddy I think it got published in Icewind Dale

[@liljohnnotbigjohn]

On the bright side, a Slay mate with a necromancer has finally found someone who loves and values them. Be a fun twist to have a necromancer who genuinely loves the poor thing like their own kid.

[@nicocrestmere9688]

This year celebrates 30 years playing D&D for me (mostly designated DM) I started with AD&D and still playing 5e. Thank you for your stories, history, and in depth descriptions. Adventure on to all my fellow dorks. May your dice never roll a 1. You're always 20 in my book, Esper

[@danceswithpaperhands6221]

Love the tier lists!

[@simondean5227]

It's crazy that undead used to drain levels back RC and BECM dnd lol

[@peterhebenstreit451]

1) Start with a low intelligence humanoid creature. it appears to be wearing an odd cloak. 2) Said cloak is actually a Forsaken Shell 3) Forsaken Shell is covering up some Cysts. Party thinks they fighting one thing - ends up fighting 3.

[@OuchMaster6000]

I love 3.5 D&D and its monsters. The Skulking Cysts and Slaymates are two of my favorite undead as well, along with the Atropal Scion. You should consider doing other videos like this one, like 10 disturbing aberrations, demons, devils, evil fey etc. from 3e D&D.

[@necrogoblicon8946]

Seconding this, that’d be killer, especially since a lot of 3e/3.5 monsters never got published past 3.5.

[@purplehaze2358]

I've been so desensitized to undead in general that I can't help but watch this and feel quite literally nothing for a good chunk of the featured monsters.

[@BobCain2006]

Well done good sir. Your tales of ole are so well done. Perfect for this time of year!

[@FlutesLoot]

Like you, becoming a father intensified my care and concern for the wellbeing of children. That Slaymate monster would be a difficult encounter for me.

[@stavros2956]

Surely enjoyed this list. I personally really like the Bone drinker, i think he is in the Red hand of Doom module.

[@esperthebard]

Bonedrinker just barely didn't make the cut!

[@daheadsmiter2052]

The Atropal always makes me shiver.

[@twilimist]

damn i just realized how gnarly and brutal earlier dnd edition monsters were, there are probably so many awesome stories about fighting these monsters!

[@O4C209]

1: I think WotC needs a age rating so we can have both our PG and our NC 17 2: On a couple occasions I've busted out monsters that drain Max HP or an ability score and every time the players loved it... but I suspect it was because it was special.

[@nigelhirth2181]

I've played every edition except 4th, and 3/3.5 is a personal high point for me. I enjoy 5th currently, and 2nd was the edition I first played, so it has a special place. 3rd though, just seemed like it hit all my buttons in the best ways.

[@Silvermoonlight18]

I love this kind of content. I wish more played 3-3.5E

[@esperthebard]

Thanks Bryan! I played the hell out of 3.5, but then I grew fed up with it. It's hard to explain. There are many aspects of 3.5 that I love the best of any edition, but then there are other sides to it that make it so difficult to play. The system itself is unstable and out of control, the constant flurry of mathematical calculations is an annoying chore, the bloat is bewildering, many parts of it are legitimately too complicated, and the amount of trifling/mediocre character options that you have to wade through to find good stuff is just a slog. 3.5 will forever hold a very special place in my heart, but I just can't play it anymore.

[@Silvermoonlight18]

@@esperthebard I see. Well that makes sense. I love the hardcore feel of past editions but practicality will usually triumph in the end.

[@bloodraven669]

Hell yea! Honestly I never left 3.5 that's where I got a good collection all the MM, Libris Mortis, Fiend Folio, Book of Vile Darkness, Monsters of Faerun, Fiendish Codex Hordes of the Abyss. Just missing the other Fiendish Codex but on the list to get.

[@bloodraven669]

I did try a session of 4th & 5th but Idk 3.5 has more appeal to me. BTW Esper I always loved your monster lists videos regardless of the Edition been a fan of them for yrs. I also thought your garden videos were awesome it was fun to watch Mathias was it? going through the maze

[@LandonTheDM]

Awesome list! Very spooky. Also go watch eldritch castle!

[@AzazelCain]

Absolutely great... We do need this kind of undead variety in 5e

[@johnarnold8485]

Just started up a new 3.5 campaign, I look forward to using one or more of these creatures alongside my newly discovered darling, the rot reaver

[@johngleeman8347]

Libris Mortis is a gold mine.

[@esperthebard]

It is one of many 3.5 books that I love, along with the two Fiendish Codexes, MM3, Sandstorm, Frostburn, Stormwrack, Dungeonscape, Cityscape, Drow of the Underdark, and all the "Complete" books.

[@digisalamander2726]

Boneyard would make a awesome boss fight. I can see a Boneyard being the undead guardian of a ancient long forgotten tomb

[@necrogoblicon8946]

They definitely make a great boss fight, but can often be trivialised with things like freedom of movement.

[@TheIoPC]

The Dream Vestiage could offer a chance for some stories where both the living, and intelligent undead have to work together to to stop a particularly potent Vestige. Cool stuff. ~ Adam

[@Leonismychild]

I run a campaign about Undead, Horror, Halloween and general spooks. I need a lot of Undead, for it. So this video is doin’ me good.

[@thedeaderer8791]

Love the video can't wait for more of the eldritch castle. Love the way uve been going with ur channel lately keep it up

[@IllIllIIIllIll]

Loving all your content!

[@Jake-mf5sn]

Nice video Esper, I really appreciate content like this, keep it up.

[@pizzarat3275]

The dream vestige is almost certainly based on a 1926 short story from Weird Tales called The Night Wire. It's public domain and definitely worth a read.

[@jeffagain7516]

HI Buddy; Just as an aside, I posted this comment whilst viewing a MR Rhexx vid. I thought you may appreciate the little touch of nostalgia it evokes; :) I'm confident there's a few Old Salts that like me, remember the days of the D&D "Satanic Panic" that took place throughout the early '80s. In addition to all the Devils and Demons we used throughout our games, utilizing the Undead also fueled the fire well above bbq levels of heat. The hilariously bad 1982 film "Mazes and Monsters", starring a young upstart named Tom Hanks, also attempted to decry how our souls were going straight to hell for playing such an EVIL game. It got pretty wild for a while there. Funny to think about now but at the time, Lobby Groups tried their best to send us gamers underground and created a lot of Press against the game. Many of us seasoned Vets have since declared; "well, if we survived that, we can survive anything!" Sadly, Hasbro and WotC as of late, continues to try our patience in maintaining that mind-set.

[@styx5293]

Love your work, keep it up.

[@cameronpearce5943]

I remember reading about the Dream Vestige in the Unclean, Unholy, Undead trilogy where Szass Tam released on as a super weapon. Horrifying stuff

[@thegayghost872]

It’s spooky time!

[@Forbeplay]

Bringing back the memories! I forgot how brutal some of these were for players…yikes! Great video! Definitely going to try reskinning these for 5e for upcoming sessions. Would love to see a video of you giving your insight on how to do that with some of these monsters!

[@0num4]

Great list. Keep making these awesome, creative, creepy, and otherwise interesting videos.

[@KS-PNW]

Libris Mortis was a hell of a good supplement. I remember how excited I was to get my hands on it.

[@alexandercross9081]

Undead in 5e tricky but manageable. Undead in 3.5 are an absolute nightmare

[@johntheherbalistg8756]

New players: ability score damage is pretty easy to handle. For every 2 of damage, subtract 1 from anything that uses that score. If the damage ever equals your ability score, you usually die and usually don't get saves. Your DM will tell you what happens, otherwise. Don't be intimidated

[@blamp666]

Thanks for this!

[@JeriDro]

"This is the mohrg, not a morgue, but a mohrg." hahahaha

[@jamiemcdonough6548]

I like the balance for this video. From Esper promising us grotesque concepts that 5th Edition can't/won't do to later defending 5th Editions methods and even feeling rather sorry for the Slaymates.

[@akaroth7542]

Devourers were great to use as penultimate monsters. Either the players figure out what's going on and confront/protect innocents or it gets more utility and power to use against them.

[@dave-bulletrider]

Ah, that was a great video once again. I just absolutely love these kind of your videos and the intro comment regarding the more tame approach of 5e is sth that always gnawed at me, too. Mechanically I really like 5e (and play it) but growing up with AD&D 2nd, I miss the more mature, mean and ugly approach esp. in creatures and supplements from back then and from 3/3.5e.

[@TurboWulfe]

What a throwback, I had that book, thanks man, keep up the great job 😎 🤘🍻

[@firebornliger]

Had a campaign where the right hand of the big bad was a Morgh. Party also nearly wiped to a Weep in that one. They managed to retreat, as it was bound to a room to guard a mcguffin.

[@cameronpearce5943]

The boneless and skinkites are what happens when a necromancer says waste not want not

[@amberkat8147]

Wow. I think slaymate is the best, although the forsaken shell and the skulking cyst are ALSO very horrifyingly good.

[@toomanyaccounts]

if you watched the 3rd DND movie "Book of Vile Darkness" there was a slaymate in it. just look up "The Undead Girl (D&D3)" to see the segment from the film

[@necrogoblicon8946]

As someone who plays a lot of 3.5, and has a deep, profound love of undead, you made some excellent picks here! Especially good picks with the Forsaken Shell and the Skulking Cyst. Had an excellent night a few months ago playing out a combat with a Skulking Cyst menacing a low level party; darkness is a really, really good spell-like ability for it. Another few undead that deserve a shout are Plague Blights, another great entry from Libris Mortis, and Bonedrinkers from MMIII. I think I vaguely remember a video of yours where you mention Bonedrinkers, but I might be conflating your video with someone elses. It’s great to see videos about 3.5 still coming out, and I hope you keep up the good work!

[@jeffagain7516]

Excellent! Thanks so very much once more Esper, greatly appreciate you 'resurrecting' these wonderfully horrifying entities for us from a darker, grittier, era of play. Of note, I cannot recall which recent 5E book had it but there's a critter called "The Boneless" which is relatively similar to the "Forsaken Shell", though not as powerful if I recall. On a side note: recently I've been focused on developing some unique "Familiars" to spice up the game. Most recent is injecting some horrifying attributes to a "Crawling Claw" which any true blooded Necromancer would find endearing. Many ideas to play with but be assured, a Claw gripping a humanoid type entity would do far more than a simple throttling, heh heh. :) Cheers Buddy!

[@esperthebard]

A grittier era to be sure. Back when there could be actual horror in the official game books, instead of just "spooky but tame."

[@alytrissa8562]

My absolute favorite among them was the Angel of Decay. The visceral art behind such a creature looked as if it held nothing but contempt for the living. I never had a chance to utilize one as a DM until more recently, but since there are none I could find for 5th edition, I'm pretty much using it as a bbeg for the current campaign. The fact that it is called an angel as a mockery of the heavens always made it appear more dreadful than most undead of the realm, with the exception being the atropal scion of course.

[@Nyoh_5]

amazing list

[@svenb6804]

the old school Esper,s back! finally an undead list again 🤝

[@J012ol4N]

Great video! It makes me want to create a horror theme dungeon to use most of these monsters. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@joze838]

Great stuff.

[@dragonminz602]

Great for my Halloween OneShot. Thank you

[@tigereyeinc.718]

Spooky monsters for the spooky month!

[@vodkalord6941]

Great vid for Halloween. I forgot how terrifying 3e undead were.

[@xmikeborealx]

Badass video dude

[@JokersVsZombies]

YOOOOO these are so cool. This makes me wish I played 3.5 even more.

[@W4rgle]

Here's towards the video doing well!

[@malachischrodinger4675]

Just started the video, I'm hoping for a Hullathoin mention (may have mispelled; massive undead rat-thing that can spawn various swarms)

[@florianw.9545]

OMG, Sepulterra! Nice creation! Roots, bloody roots. You're the master of words and storytelling!

[@BanjoSick]

I see the world, old!!!

[@esperthebard]

Thanks! The names of my undead elementals are plays on words: blightning, bonefire, sepulterra, shipwretch

[@Bluecho4]

Ability score damage is a heavy tonic. Not every campaign needs it, and it doesn't need to appear that often when it does. For some campaigns, of course, the extreme lethality is the point. But for others, it's a "trick" to be used sparingly. That way, it hits all the harder. I'd even argue that making the ability score damage permanent isn't necessary in most cases. If a character gets their CON dropped to critically low levels, and it's permanent, they're either going to try to get it healed with magic, or retire the character. At that point, is it really that much different from an effect that just kills them? (It's also worth noting that 5e has another mechanic that can serve a similar purpose: Exhaustion. Exhaustion monsters are a similarly heavy tonic, not to be overused. But there's an inherent temporary nature to it, since you just need to rest for a few days to heal it. But it can really give you that feel of having your life drained away.) On the other hand, when you're at high levels, taking ability score damage can be exactly what's needed to truly threaten the PCs. A single failed save may leave the character as weak as they were at first level, at least in a single ability. Effectively erasing months or years of game sessions. Even if only temporarily.

[@davidprice6002]

Freaky- tnx Esper

[@mattmaughan6871]

Love it!

[@stevenschnepp576]

None of these are as viscerally disturbing as seeing the iconic characters transformed into purple reptilian monstrosities called "dragonborn" in _Races of the Dragon._

[@cygnia]

Our GM sicc'ed a Boneyard on us a couple months ago. Nasty fight -- and the GM admitted he nerfed it. I shudder to think how worse it would have been at full abilities.

[@danielkearney3295]

friggin awesome

[@PsionicCavalier]

Looking into this video, it's clear that 5e neutered undead, as back then, no matter how powerful the party was, they had to be cautious when battling the undead, as in 2e, getting hit by a wight automatically removes a level and is described as "an attack so traumatic it makes you forget the experience" and a ghost's attack could literally age you by a decade or even 4 decades, killing you by making you old, and if you played a race with a short life span like orcs, this was a scary moment. The Undead were meant to be feared and only fought if you were fully prepared.

[@Ian_Comics]

The second art of the Forsaken Shell messed me up when I was younger.

[@the_chosen_one5642]

ALGORITHM LETS GOOOOO

[@eros5420]

Love your vids, know they take a lot of work but I wish they came out more frequently! lol. Cheers!

[@wcjara]

Amazing

[@seangray6131]

And this video is why to me at least 3.5 edition D&D will always be the best it wasn’t toned down it was dark, gritty, and could be outright disturbing at times but it was made for a more cultured audience back then in my opinion.

[@hawkticus_history_corner]

While we had a lot of Ability Score damaging attacks we also had a ton of ways to either heal it or outright ignore it. So if you kept getting hit with it and didn't have something for it, that was kinda your own fault

[@Nunubotz2]

to thing that MTG of all things will be the end of the dark DND lore

[@dragonlord498]

very nice listing of horrifying monsters of bygone times

[@glennhouston5686]

Nobody likes losing an invested character, but getting over that and understanding the game you get to slay a myriad of monsters the scales have to be balanced death is on both sides.

[@RaysHobbies]

I built a campaign in Moil, my players loved that campaign. But only a couple survived.

[@jhenz3378]

I do miss the monsters that players truly feared. Level drain, permanent damage... decapitation or turned to stone on one (difficult) failed saving throw. 5th edition lets players know that no matter what happens to them, one long rest will cure it.

[@migueldelmazo5244]

Modern players don't fear death. They fear their magic items being taken away. So a DM is well within their rights to join those 2 together. If you die, your items go with your character....

[@dallasmeeker5577]

I think the reason that's not as popular these days is simply because, over a long period of time, abilites and monsters like that stopped feeling interesting and unique and started feeling more like cheap and artificially difficult.

[@wraithreaper22]

Instakills aren't fun or interesting and ruining a character for no reason just because it's the monster of the week to fight doesn't do anything to invest a player in a game, their character, or anything at that table. That's why they were phased out. Less is more. That shit should stay relegated to the extremely rare uses and end game encounters.

[@jhenz3378]

@@wraithreaper22 Yes, you are correct. I misspoke. I do not miss the monsters and ridiculous abilities that ruined/insta-killed characters, per se. I miss when players had dread and were cautious because a monster could be dangerous. 5e is too player-friendly. Players don't worry about the things they fight anymore because after a certain level, dying is really hard for a character to do.

[@wraithreaper22]

@@jhenz3378 not really. Focus fire and confirm kill

[@chadnorris8257]

Undead in early editions invoke a lot more fear, when they can drain you of the ability to fight back, as they prey on you.