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Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: AikiGhost on October 16, 2019, 10:39:00 AM

Title: LoTFP equivalent of the Monster Manual?
Post by: AikiGhost on October 16, 2019, 10:39:00 AM
I'm only now getting into this game and I know its supposed to be "each monster is unique" and all that, but in honesty I don't really care about my perceived laziness :)

I want my generic bad guy skeletons, orcs, trolls etc, is there a book, free pdf or site with a bunch of generic foes? Monsters and randomly generated NPCs, or am I going to have to make my own?
Title: LoTFP equivalent of the Monster Manual?
Post by: Teodrik on October 16, 2019, 02:14:14 PM
Quote from: AikiGhost;1109830I'm only now getting into this game and I know its supposed to be "each monster is unique" and all that, but in honesty I don't really care about my perceived laziness :)

I want my generic bad guy skeletons, orcs, trolls etc, is there a book, free pdf or site with a bunch of generic foes? Monsters and randomly generated NPCs, or am I going to have to make my own?

I don't think there is a specific bestiary for the game. Luckily you can use more or less any OSR or TSR bestiary. For example you could you use the Basic Fantasy RPG's monster section(or OSRIC/Swords&Wizardry/TSR's Monster Manuals etc) and  then add the AD&D Fiend Folio or Tome of Horrors for Sword&Wizardry for example. Any  such source works really.
Title: LoTFP equivalent of the Monster Manual?
Post by: Razor 007 on October 16, 2019, 02:27:52 PM
1E AD&D Monster Manual?
Title: LoTFP equivalent of the Monster Manual?
Post by: rgalex on October 16, 2019, 02:39:24 PM
I know it's not exactly what you want, but if you aren't feeling super lazy and don't mind rolling on random charts, the Random Esoteric Creature Generator (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/242323/Random-Esoteric-Creature-Generator-for-Classic-Fantasy-RolePlaying-Games-and-Their-Modern-Simulacra-The) is a great book.
Title: LoTFP equivalent of the Monster Manual?
Post by: JeremyR on October 16, 2019, 08:06:04 PM
The thing with LotFP is that standard D&D monsters don't really work because other games assume characters actually get competent at combat, which is not true of LotFP.
Title: LoTFP equivalent of the Monster Manual?
Post by: AikiGhost on October 17, 2019, 04:52:26 AM
That does look great. I guess an online version isn't available yet.... hmm a small Django project for me maybe :)
Title: LoTFP equivalent of the Monster Manual?
Post by: AikiGhost on October 17, 2019, 04:54:20 AM
Yes that is something I suspect some of my players will have to get used to although I have sold it to them as "Brutal, deadly and weird" :)
Title: LoTFP equivalent of the Monster Manual?
Post by: AikiGhost on October 17, 2019, 04:55:17 AM
Quote from: rgalex;1109926I know it's not exactly what you want, but if you aren't feeling super lazy and don't mind rolling on random charts, the Random Esoteric Creature Generator (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/242323/Random-Esoteric-Creature-Generator-for-Classic-Fantasy-RolePlaying-Games-and-Their-Modern-Simulacra-The) is a great book.


That does look great. I guess an online version isn't available yet.... hmm a small Django project for me maybe :)

EDIT: There is this.. https://www.mithrilandmages.com/utilities/Esoteric.php
Title: LoTFP equivalent of the Monster Manual?
Post by: AikiGhost on October 17, 2019, 04:55:50 AM
Quote from: JeremyR;1110062The thing with LotFP is that standard D&D monsters don't really work because other games assume characters actually get competent at combat, which is not true of LotFP.

Yes that is something I suspect some of my players will have to get used to although I have sold it to them as "Brutal, deadly and weird" :)
Title: LoTFP equivalent of the Monster Manual?
Post by: Graytung on October 17, 2019, 05:25:47 AM
Quote from: JeremyR;1110062The thing with LotFP is that standard D&D monsters don't really work because other games assume characters actually get competent at combat, which is not true of LotFP.

I don't think it's that much of a problem. Fighter's get their higher attack bonus earlier and the other classes are only really missing out from level 5 onward, even then the difference is small and the higher to hit bonus the fighter gets is a good compromise. The other factor here is that there are no armor or weapon restrictions in LotFP, so you can have a magic user in plate armor or wielding a pole-arm and they can still cast spells if they are otherwise unencumbered. There are also other ways to increase your to hit chance in LotFP, using specific weapons or taking the Aim action. The biggest concern really are AoE spells like fireball, which are missing, but it's easy to put them in if you're using LotFP as a framework to run more traditional d&d adventures.
Title: LoTFP equivalent of the Monster Manual?
Post by: AikiGhost on October 17, 2019, 08:26:07 AM
After a bit of a search this looks like a great option for me. The Basic Fantasy Field Guide by Chris Gonnerman, lots of monsters both unique and "classic" with OD&D stats and dirt cheap too :)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1503347257/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i6
Title: LoTFP equivalent of the Monster Manual?
Post by: bryce0lynch on October 17, 2019, 01:47:01 PM
There are a couple of inspirational monster manuals though, that you can use/riff from.

Back in the 3e era there Was Nightmares & Dreams (1 & 2) which had a good monstrous/horror bend.
I suspect that Shadows of the Demon Lord monsters would work well also. (I'm pretty sure it was a horror-ish offshoot of 4e?)

IE: horror fantasy monster manuals.
Title: LoTFP equivalent of the Monster Manual?
Post by: JMiskimen on October 17, 2019, 07:47:11 PM
Try this for traditional AD&D Monsters ... scruffygrognard's Monstrous Manual.pdf (http://www.scruffygrognard.com/documents/Monstrous%20Manual.pdf).
Title: LoTFP equivalent of the Monster Manual?
Post by: AikiGhost on October 18, 2019, 07:26:17 AM
Quote from: JMiskimen;1110402Try this for traditional AD&D Monsters ... scruffygrognard's Monstrous Manual.pdf (http://www.scruffygrognard.com/documents/Monstrous%20Manual.pdf).

Excellent stuff, cheers.