Hidden monsters in the DMG

[darnizhaan]

I have been rereading the DMG and have been pleasantly surprised to find several new monsters that I hadn't noticed before. Sure there is the minor Death from the Deck of Many Things, but Brooms of Animated Attack and Figurines of Wondrous Power make good adversaries, especially a Goat of Travail for high-level parties. Plus, reading the encounter tables in the back, one can that they addressed the nothosaurus, giant white furred snakes, and even polar bears (not the MM II version, but ones with brown bear stats).

[foxroe]

Yep, another reason to love the 1ed DMG. It almost seems like it's a "quieter" take on the encounter tables in U&WA with Thouls, dinosaurs, and Barsoomian denizens. "Hey, here's some non/semi-stat-ed monsters... fill in the details yourself. It's the thing to do!"

[prespos]

Giant Lobsters, which are identical to the Giant Crayfish in stats.

Bon appetit,
Prespos

[grodog]

Appendix E also expands on several monster types (hydras go up to 20HD IIRC, for example), and provides meaningful notations for some monsters too (trolls only surprised on a 1, for example).

[prespos]

Yes, indeeed.

Also, there's a lot of detail for the different types of whales there too.

Moby Dick,
Prespos

[thedungeondelver]

And not to forget the Nycademon and Mezzodemon!

(Yes I know they're statted elsewhere)

[Zenopus Archives]

The Bag of Tricks also includes stats for some normal (non-giant) animals not found in the Monster Manual: weasel, skunk, owl, goat, ram, eagle, ostrich. These are interspered with normal animals that are in the MM, and the stats for those generally match those in the MM. The Sample Dungeon also has a 1 hp monster: a young Large Spider.

For other opponents, don't forget Tribal Spellcasters, Intelligent Swords (controlling an NPC), and Random Generation of Creatures from the Lower Planes. Even Baba Yaga's Hut has some stats.

Gygax was always doing this. B2 has no new monster section, but several encounters are with previously undescribed creatures: Huge Dog, Asp, Mountain Lion, Giant Rat Leaders and "Warrior Zombie" (former 3rd level fighter). The World of Greyhawk encounter tables also have a few 'new' monsters.

Among 1E hardbacks, Deities & Demigods likewise has a number of overlooked monsters.

Just noticed that the original post in this thread is from 2011.

[darnizhaan]

Among 1E hardbacks, Deities & Demigods likewise has a number of overlooked monsters.

Just noticed that the original post in this thread is from 2011.

Yeah I wanted to use deep ones and shoggoths in my mega-dungeon, Castle Triskelion, but I'm concerned about whether people had the Cthulhu/Moorcock version and would be able to get monster descriptions.

Also the Minions of Set are in the DDG. They get used in Jaquays Dark Tower. They may have showed up in one of the OD&D supplements, though first.

[francisca]

Also the Minions of Set are in the DDG. They get used in Jaquays Dark Tower. They may have showed up in one of the OD&D supplements, though first.

Very briefly, in Supp IV Gods, Demi-Gods, & Heroes.