Favorite monster for a horror game (Ravenloft gothic style)?

danbuter · May 15, 2012, 11:01:44 PM

If you say "human" or "elf" or any other PC race, punch yourself in the face.

I like to use vampires, but they are such an obvious bad guy anymore that they don't really work. I just get stupid jokes about glitter from my players. If I just stick to nosferatu types, it is still pretty cool, though.

Ghouls are always fun. Nothing like undead cannibals to freak people out. Though they are chumps once the players hit 4th level or so.

misterguignol · May 15, 2012, 11:28:35 PM

Pennangalan are a favorite recurring monster type in my Gothic Fantasy games. As are hags and liches, of various types.

IceBlinkLuck · May 15, 2012, 11:37:55 PM

A rakshasa could create a challenging adventure for your players. It's illusion powers would be ideal for terrifying them and splitting them up to make them easier prey.

Just got finished reading a book where the primary threat was a necromancer who created armies of ghoul servants. He also had a kind of bound familiar/spirit that was a jackal-headed mass of shadows with venomous teeth.

Spinachcat · May 16, 2012, 06:26:45 AM

Ghosts. They aren't used enough in D&D. Also, they come in various incorporeal flavors like spectre, banshee and wraith.

Shadows are another favorite. I also like the not-undead kind which are some weird race of semi-elemental beings. They are hideously scary infilitrators and nasty in combat if they swarm an opponent.

I ran Ravenloft adventure with Dark Creepers once, gave the session a very Phantasm feel which was cool. I had only one Dark Stalker and treated him like the Tall Man.

Bedrockbrendan · May 16, 2012, 07:26:55 AM

I am partial to werewolves and flesh golems.

misterguignol · May 16, 2012, 08:30:34 AM

Quote from: Spinachcat;539874I ran Ravenloft adventure with Dark Creepers once, gave the session a very Phantasm feel which was cool. I had only one Dark Stalker and treated him like the Tall Man.

That...is bad-ass. Consider it stolen!

The Butcher · May 16, 2012, 08:44:23 AM

Vampires all the way. Often of the I Am Legend/From Dusk Till Dawn variety, i.e. swarming hordes of feral blood-drinkers led by a smarter, articulate "alpha".

I am very fond of Palladium's take on vampires, BTW.

Benoist · May 16, 2012, 11:34:28 AM

Golems and homunculi. Living objects.

Bedrockbrendan · May 16, 2012, 11:57:04 AM

Quote from: Benoist;539958Golems and homunculi. Living objects.

I once ran a cool murder mystery around stained glass golems (like out of young sherlock holmes).

Benoist · May 16, 2012, 12:07:17 PM

Quote from: BedrockBrendan;539969I once ran a cool murder mystery around stained glass golems (like out of young sherlock holmes).

I did use similar golems too, inspired from the same film! Awesome.

Simlasa · May 16, 2012, 05:20:48 PM

I like alchemical creations... such as Frankenstein's 'monster' or automatons of various sorts.

Ancient undying witches and liches are another favorite... especially in family groups (a mansion full undead nobles and all the weirdness they've collected over the years). Vampires like Dracula often feel more like Liches to me anyway... getting their occult abilities from knowledge rather than 'powers'.

Frundsberg · May 16, 2012, 06:01:56 PM

In the venue of the dark creepers, I've always wanted to run some Arthur Machen inspired "dark fairies" game, something like the "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" film.

Spinachcat · May 16, 2012, 08:12:32 PM

Quote from: Frundsberg;540057In the venue of the dark creepers, I've always wanted to run some Arthur Machen inspired "dark fairies" game, something like the "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" film.

Welcome aboard Frundsberg!

Those were deeply messed up fairies. Definitely perfect for Ravenloft.

Fairies are another not-used-enough monster. I use them in Rifts and they are a wonderful counterpoint to the common massive rampaging demon monsters.

IceBlinkLuck · May 16, 2012, 11:10:32 PM

Quote from: Frundsberg;540057In the venue of the dark creepers, I've always wanted to run some Arthur Machen inspired "dark fairies" game, something like the "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" film.

That would be a really good launching point for a game. The opening scenes of 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' were quite distressing.

deMonica · May 17, 2012, 01:21:15 AM

Ghost

Pass through solid objects: Excellent stealth or avoidance ability

Possession: <--This one just screams FUN TO BE HAD

Fear: Great for dividing opposition, thus making them more vulnerable

I myself don't use level, attribute or permanent HP theft results. Nor do I use abilities or powers that cause a player/character to age. All of them IMO are overly harsh