Monkeying With Monsters | Running the Game

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  • Опубліковано 29 жов 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 986

  • @DiceHard
    @DiceHard 7 років тому +2282

    "I couldn't contribute because I was stoned." Matt Colville - 2017

    • @INeedANewHandle
      @INeedANewHandle 7 років тому +32

      Was about to comment the same thing hahahaha

    • @GergeCoelho
      @GergeCoelho 7 років тому +61

      Didn't know Medusas had that effect.

    • @shufflingfate4703
      @shufflingfate4703 7 років тому +6

      lmao :P

    • @Shane-The-Pain
      @Shane-The-Pain 6 років тому +102

      I was gonna contribute, but I got stoned...
      I was gonna turn and aim and shoot, but I got stoned...
      Now I'm living life just like, a garden gno-ooooome...
      Cuz I got stoned, Cuz I got stoned, Cuz I got stoned... Laaaala-lala.

    • @btCharlie_
      @btCharlie_ 6 років тому +8

      I literally play a dragonborn paladin who is addicted to tobacco, so I can relate.

  • @Lowkey-NoPressure
    @Lowkey-NoPressure 7 років тому +391

    One neat thing about the Medusa is that although she has a low bonus to her attack rolls, she will oftentimes be attacking targets who are averting their gaze and are thus blinded--she'll have advantage. Likewise, her low AC is helped out by the fact that oftentimes her attackers will have disadvantage. She's designed pretty well around this fun gameplay choice. Take full advantage of her lowish defense and offense, and you subject yourself to her petrifying gaze. If you protect yourself from her gaze, you enable her to turn her middling offense and defense into a threatening range.
    And her high con helps her survive her own gaze once someone pulls a Perseus! She's a great monster.

  • @likesgirlwithfan
    @likesgirlwithfan 7 років тому +416

    i like the idea of her unfreezing the old heroes and offering them freedom if they kill your pcs instead of animating the statues, then you have a neat social flair to the combat.

    • @twilightgardenspresentatio6384
      @twilightgardenspresentatio6384 5 років тому +6

      Sweaty Heart wow

    • @Alresu
      @Alresu 4 роки тому +19

      This would only work, if she is able to partially unstone people. Else it would be pretty likely, that those previous ones fight alongside the PCs.

    • @no_nameyouknow
      @no_nameyouknow 4 роки тому +8

      @@Alresu Not if you had the hero who was defeated by the hero consider the fact that HIS party was defeated and thus assume that this party looks too weak to put up a fight, you could then let the players, if they ask, try to persuade him so either they get a fighter on their side or she gets one.

    • @Alresu
      @Alresu 4 роки тому +8

      @@no_nameyouknow Assuming this hero knows that they lost. As far as I remember it would be RAW that they are unconcious while petrified. Those they would still see the Medusa as a recent enemy. A way would of course be, if she unstones people from time to time to bargain. One by one so they are no threat.

    • @rockytoprecordingreviews4167
      @rockytoprecordingreviews4167 4 роки тому +14

      I like the twist of having the pcs fight them as animated statues, but the tweak is that the statues are very weak to being broken if attacked. Meaning the heroes have a dilemma on their hands, they can make the minion part of their battle easy by striking down these animated statues, but then they will have no way to restore these petrified former adventures.

  • @Moribis
    @Moribis 7 років тому +339

    You could also say that a Medusa became blinded in one eye by a previous adventurer! This could make her stone gaze effective area smaller as she can't look at more people in the eye. Or it could effect DC, as it becomes easier to avoid looking her only left eye.

    • @fardareismai4495
      @fardareismai4495 5 років тому +15

      That's clever!

    • @chrism6315
      @chrism6315 4 роки тому +15

      Or, have the medusa be smart, she knows about her own curse, she knows if she sees her reflection she will be destroyed, so she averts her gaze at the start of any encounter encase her foes know this. Instead then of an AOE effect, it becomes her legendary action to once a round force a PC to look at her. Way more personal, way less deadly overall.

    • @dddmemaybe
      @dddmemaybe 3 роки тому +3

      @@chrism6315 Ok now make the final boss a Medusa who has controlled large bodies of humans with her ability to restore stoned individuals to life to have soldiers as well as magic items and one for touchsight so she can use her eyes with deliberacy. Now she can be a pirate lord and have naval warfare. Eyepatch on both eyes.

    • @андрейкопылов-л6ъ
      @андрейкопылов-л6ъ 3 роки тому +1

      Amazing idea, I ll steal it, do you mind?

    • @ConnorGrummer
      @ConnorGrummer 2 роки тому +2

      Higher level version, a fully blind Medusa who has learned how to petrify, possibly over multiple turns, with her voice. A piercing screech, sweet-talking, etc. She starts off sweet-talking a group to stone, they start fighting her and she starts shrieking as people make saving throws against the process of turning to stone. You can also say it's not necessary to hear it, it's a quality of her voice, since of course experienced players or high-level players will be able to pretty easily stop themselves from hearing something they don't want to.

  • @JonHerzogArtist
    @JonHerzogArtist 7 років тому +510

    1:25 Clearly, a medusa table is made of stone. :P

    • @Herosoyyo2
      @Herosoyyo2 7 років тому +39

      You mean made of dwarf

    • @DortzNC
      @DortzNC 7 років тому +8

      oh. well played sir.

    • @akba666
      @akba666 7 років тому +1

      Was it made of stone or did it turn to stone?

    • @Thing82liker
      @Thing82liker 7 років тому +2

      Jonathan Herzog My god... ingenious

    • @flyrefi
      @flyrefi 7 років тому +2

      Just a coiled round table of stone snakes?

  • @condenihilit1572
    @condenihilit1572 5 років тому +78

    "I don't know what a medusa table would look like"
    Maybe like an eeriely realistic stone statue of a frightened human knight crawling on all fours and looking upwards?

  • @benjaminclarke8113
    @benjaminclarke8113 7 років тому +82

    I appreciate that the RAW method for petrification is the party looking at her, not her looking at the party. That's the classic mythology good stuff.

  • @asblade
    @asblade 7 років тому +93

    "This is the HOLOTYPE of a Medusa"
    My taxonomist brain has just been blown away!
    You sir... you are AMAZING!!

  • @peterptchronic9696
    @peterptchronic9696 7 років тому +131

    I was kicking myself when you pointed out that you can adjust hit points on the fly when a battle has started. I ran Lost Mine of Phandelver for some friends and had managed to ramp up nicely to the Black Spider, the ultimate villain of the adventure. Problem was, when they finally confronted him, he got a low initiative roll and my druid turned into a bear and absolutely decimated him with a critical hit. It hadn't even been a full turn yet and my main villain was dead having done absolutely nothing to the party (I was really excited to finally cast some spells on the party, but it was not meant to be). Now I know that if a major villain is too easy for the party, I can just boost their hit points on the fly. This seems so obvious now but I was so bummed at the time. Thanks Matt for your insight!

    • @hamanu666
      @hamanu666 6 років тому +8

      I usually give them resistances and legendary actions to beef them up and improve the feeling of a climactic battle.

    • @Soitisisit
      @Soitisisit 5 років тому +1

      I think this is an interesting happening in its own right. Or at very least an interesting DM'ing challenge.

    • @fletcherclausen4349
      @fletcherclausen4349 5 років тому

      Same thing happened to me my plays kill him with a lucky inflicted wounds and a single great axe swing before he did anything

    • @kendrajade6688
      @kendrajade6688 3 роки тому +4

      The fall of Brian.

    • @evannibbe9375
      @evannibbe9375 2 роки тому +2

      Alternatively, give the creature the equivalent of a half-orc’s relentless endurance. This prevents the players from figuring out that you are changing the hp, and it gives them the idea that they are about to beat the creature (until it uses its action to teleport away).

  • @neji2401
    @neji2401 7 років тому +90

    Quick tip for any boss: Add legendary actions! Give the "boss" 2 Legendary action points and 3 options to choose from:
    - Additional attack
    - Cast a low level spell/cantrip
    - Evasion/movement ability

    • @Hazel-xl8in
      @Hazel-xl8in 5 років тому +2

      Mattia Salvetti you could also throw in a special ability that they don’t normally use (think this is what liches have)

    • @jamescretchley9949
      @jamescretchley9949 5 років тому +11

      What i did was give my hobgoblin warlord sniper boss was throw Disengage and summon reinforcements. 1d4 hobgoblins at initiative 20, or the ability to fuck off and gain distance and keep fighting with her bow

  • @calvincotton1998
    @calvincotton1998 7 років тому +665

    He really did change shirts

    • @TrueMaskGames
      @TrueMaskGames 7 років тому +29

      Can't have people thinking us streamers only own one shirt! :P

    • @earzo7
      @earzo7 7 років тому +60

      He also switched the painting in the background

    • @nick_goldy
      @nick_goldy 7 років тому +33

      find the differences in Matt's videos is the new game, let's go people! :P

    • @toddsaffell9695
      @toddsaffell9695 7 років тому +3

      It's a fun game to play.

    • @Cuix
      @Cuix 7 років тому +3

      Where's THAT video?

  • @DungeonDad
    @DungeonDad 7 років тому +308

    Great video Matt! Really solid wisdom about messing with the monsters in the book. Can't wait till my level 3 party fights the tarrasque next week!

    • @ethanscottcree2844
      @ethanscottcree2844 6 років тому +3

      what did you do to a tarrasque that made it easier for a third level party to defeat it? I desperately want to use on ut my players are too low a level to defeat it yet

    • @MrCan4dian
      @MrCan4dian 6 років тому +12

      babies

    • @Guest_1300
      @Guest_1300 6 років тому +9

      Wow, I'm also making a tiny tarrasque, because an evil god is trying to destroy an artifact that was created with tarrasque hide.

    • @no_nameyouknow
      @no_nameyouknow 5 років тому +3

      Yes, real solid advice on how to use petrifying gaze. Get it solid

    • @YoloSWAGJude
      @YoloSWAGJude 5 років тому +8

      @@ethanscottcree2844 3rd level seems a bit low fo. But let me help you out. It can´t be an adult so we make it a baby tarrasque. Why not? First you should lower the armor class. The current 25 should be set to 12-16ish. Of cause it also hasn´t a stregh of 30 but maybe 10 or 15. Also all the other stats should be lower. The hitpoints should be way lower. Around 90 if you like. You tarrasque has no Frightful Presence and cant swallow Party members, because its too little. Of cause you have to lower the attack of the tarrasque but remeber. It can still attack 5 times per turn. One attack with its bite, two with its claws, one with its horns, and one with its tail. That should be it. You should check the numbers and it it seems like a very weak version of a tarrasque then you can use it. Have fun!

  • @higherfive0783
    @higherfive0783 7 років тому +175

    Matt really should make a series to parallel called Ruining the Game, in which he highlights negatives and how to fix them. Of course if he can, time constraints of course provided for.

    • @1simo93521
      @1simo93521 7 років тому +24

      Higher Five lol. Ruining the game .1 Reading the box text out loud in a monotone voice!

    • @ash-tv3bu
      @ash-tv3bu 5 років тому +11

      consider: it's just how to make the shittiest april fool's one-shot your players have ever had the misfortunes of experiencing

  • @andrejbosiakov5726
    @andrejbosiakov5726 7 років тому +234

    Still watching video at the point when he says how to change hit points.
    Just justify it but the monster getting a high or a low roll, creatures with large number of hit die have a very large variance in minimum and maximum rolls.
    Medusa for example can have anywhere from 68 (17 1s +51 from constitution) to 187 (17 8s +51 from constitution).
    This seems like a pretty easy way to justify hit points if you have those by the book players.

    • @mcolville
      @mcolville  7 років тому +113

      True! I didn't even mention that I often just give the monsters Max Hit Points!

    • @rar000000000
      @rar000000000 7 років тому +9

      Another way to justify it is to say that's meta-gaming and that if a barbarian can have 150+ hit points there's no reason why other monsters couldn't have higher hit-points.

    • @burton3516
      @burton3516 7 років тому +13

      Andrej Bosiakov exactly what I was thinking. I personally roll for every creature so my players can't tell exactly what the hp of 2 of the same creature is

    • @SquallHart05
      @SquallHart05 7 років тому +2

      Same!

    • @MumboJ
      @MumboJ 6 років тому +7

      In the 5e published adventures, some NPCs use pre-existing stat blocks but have additional HP. The books never explain why they have more HP; they don't get extra hit dice or anything, they just have more HP.
      I always assumed they were implied to have just rolled exceptionally well when "levelling up". :P

  • @GardensAndGames
    @GardensAndGames 7 років тому +33

    The "animate statues" ability should be done by the Medar, that way they're like a mated pair. OR to make it different, a single Medusa with a harem of Medar would be cool.

    • @RobKinneySouthpaw
      @RobKinneySouthpaw 5 років тому +6

      Or make it a legendary action. Also, if someone gets stoned, animate them, hand them the stats of the statue and have them attack the party. Now the party has to deal with it and avoid breaking the statue of their friend. Or fix him later before casting restoration.

  • @jonathancunningham231
    @jonathancunningham231 7 років тому +775

    Am I the only one who grew up calling the race "Gorgon" and the specific Gorgon "Medusa"?

    • @andrejbosiakov5726
      @andrejbosiakov5726 7 років тому +102

      I also thought they were the same thing or similar, then suddenly gorgons are metal bulls that petrify with breath! (started playing at pathfinder)

    • @TheEnmineer
      @TheEnmineer 7 років тому +197

      In the mythology, the race was called Gorgons. You are correct. D&D is weird though, 'cause they already tagged the name Gorgon to a poisonous iron bull like thing

    • @jordensjunger
      @jordensjunger 7 років тому +127

      The bull creature that D&D calls a gorgon is called a catoblepas in actual mythology. For some reason, some ancient authors did conflate catoblepas with gorgons, which I guess is why D&D decided to call it a gorgon. (Though weirdly, I think there was also a D&D monster called a catoblepas that was nothing like the mythological one...)
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catoblepas

    • @zaphodglodart783
      @zaphodglodart783 7 років тому +48

      But the catoblepas is also a D&D monster (which is something like a stinking camel-giraffe swamp monster)! Man is it scambled.

    • @paulcoy9060
      @paulcoy9060 7 років тому +22

      I always assumed it was a single creature, "THE Medusa", because she was cursed, which is why she looks basically human. Never fought one as a player, never used one as a DM. Probably because I never had a mini to put on the table.

  • @ryanpratt6993
    @ryanpratt6993 5 років тому +24

    I wrote an adventure with a good-aligned medusa who used to be a cleric. She was trying to figure out how to cure a plague, and was going to die before it was completed. It was her pride in her work that drove her to ask the gods for more time, and was transformed into a medusa.

  • @diegopilati3052
    @diegopilati3052 7 років тому +199

    Matt casts "2 Videos in a Week" and I fail all my saving throws.

    • @SonicTheHedgedawg
      @SonicTheHedgedawg 7 років тому +14

      3 if you count his guest appearance on Geek and Sundry's DM tips

    • @DiceHard
      @DiceHard 7 років тому +13

      Sneak attack. Suffer an extra 2d6 pleasant surprise damage.

  • @thexcodec
    @thexcodec 7 років тому +128

    This content has made me a better GM and my players love my new campaign, thank you so much!!!

    • @TrueMaskGames
      @TrueMaskGames 7 років тому +10

      I think that's the best cimpliment Matt can get!

  • @tylerh2548
    @tylerh2548 7 років тому +26

    The medusa can have a lower AC because the party has disadvantage on atracks from keeping their eyes averted.

  • @joshpadro5129
    @joshpadro5129 7 років тому +64

    A few of my players just saw this video and groaned as I already heavily customize the monsters in my home games. One said "Oh lord, now he can say its Colville approved"
    LOL

  • @ericsimoneau4818
    @ericsimoneau4818 7 років тому +22

    Hey Matt. Didn't know where else to write this so figured i would do it here. Just finished "Preist" and I was hooked from the start. Couldnt put it down. Just ordered Theif and can't wait to read it. Great job. And to anyone who hasn't read Matts books do yourself a favor and go buy them.

  • @patrickbuckley7259
    @patrickbuckley7259 5 років тому +9

    A Madusa table is actually just four creatively posed statues holding up a table top.

  • @someguy6309
    @someguy6309 7 років тому +26

    I often have high level creatures for lower level parties that have been injured by countless battles. And nice shirt Matt!

    • @F4R207
      @F4R207 7 років тому +1

      I do the same, or I did. I started my current group out with an emaciated vampire (with some spellcasting, legendary and lair actions) as the second and final encounter with in a drifting slave ship. Then again the party is was seven characters (starting at level three).

    • @ReverendRover
      @ReverendRover 7 років тому +5

      I've also done that. My players were third level and exploring a dungeon when they walked into a battle involving a troll fighting some rat folk. The rats had poured liquid fire over the troll, weakening it. I kept it's stats almost entirely the same but gave it only thirty hit points and it had no regeneration.
      It's a really good way of justifying why THIS particular monster is weaker and also gives the players an idea of what such a creature can do if they meet a healthy one, which makes them feel cool and smart when they do.

    • @lauramcmillan9592
      @lauramcmillan9592 4 роки тому +2

      Absolutely love this. And it also makes the world feel bigger: this monster has a previous life, and there are other adventurers out there.

  • @zeik101
    @zeik101 7 років тому +14

    You could have a multi-staged battle, with the medusa wearing a helmet, thus focusing or negating her petrifying gaze, that gets taken out by the party or removed by the medusa once a certain hitpoint threshold is reached, OR if a party member scores a critical hit.
    The effect of the helmet could result in a cone effect and/or a visor needing to be lifted to activate the gaze at a particular attacker.
    Once the helmet comes off, that could cause the DC to go up by 1, since it's less obscured or something to that effect. This might result in a lower AC for the medusa at the benefit of making it easier to defeat her enemies.
    Offense vs Defense

  • @TheAgamemnon911
    @TheAgamemnon911 7 років тому +73

    Players passing by a bunch of "lifelike" statues...
    Not mine. They smashed every single one of them on the way. I don't even blame them.

    • @Alresu
      @Alresu 4 роки тому +14

      Well, could be reasonable. When you walk by lifelike statues another possibility would be, that they start moving and attack you....

    • @ShengFink
      @ShengFink 4 роки тому +20

      Alresu yeah there are 3 real options
      1. You’re approaching a master statue maker
      2. You’re approaching a Medusa
      3. The statues are gonna weeping angel on you the second they’re at your back

  • @summonfish
    @summonfish 7 років тому +205

    TWO VIDEOS IN TWO DAYS??
    HOLY S H I T.

  • @MichaelKyleKennedy
    @MichaelKyleKennedy 7 років тому +6

    For anyone wondering, that Ecology of the maedar article is from Dragon Magazine #106

  • @sumdude4281
    @sumdude4281 6 років тому +7

    "She was eager to get flanked"...nice lol.

  • @GenoTheMailler
    @GenoTheMailler 7 років тому +8

    Not a huge point, but i just checked and in 3.5 natural armor stacks with regular armor bonuses. Thanks for the video!

  • @TheK3vin
    @TheK3vin 7 років тому +11

    "You can modify this in a number of different ways. Well... two. Two is a number!"

    • @albertgore7435
      @albertgore7435 5 років тому +2

      Has someone made a page full of Colville-isms yet? I motion to add “Jerry, I said to my friend, because that’s his name.” To the list.

  • @daviddelpozofiliu5556
    @daviddelpozofiliu5556 3 роки тому +6

    "I don't know what a medusa table would look like"
    Well with the art for Kingdoms and Warfare that you showed the other day on stream, now you know what a medusa table looks like!

  • @wlr3791
    @wlr3791 7 років тому +10

    Also one thing to consider, and you briefly touched on, is to consider what factors you can include beyond the raw stats that can adjust the difficulties of the encounter. What sort of arena are you engaging in? As the ability has triggers based on light, what sort of lightning are you engaging in? what time of day? Are their any tools at your disposal or within the dungeon you've acquired that are specifically made to work with factors of this environment or arena? Any that work against the party? You might not need to adjust the stats at all, and instead can just figure out how to make the fight more of a puzzle, one with many solutions that don't necessarily involve just having to beat AC, a Con Save, and a lot of hit points.

  • @Caveman-67
    @Caveman-67 7 років тому +4

    Loved this! one of my Dungeon masters just used animated statues in his medusa fight. I loved how we instantly knew what was in the dark lair. Great video great hair and great advice!

  • @jameswilliams2467
    @jameswilliams2467 7 років тому +8

    "I couldn't contribute because I was stoned." Just say no, Matt XD

  • @conlon4332
    @conlon4332 2 місяці тому +1

    1:24 This just made me think that it would be super cool to make a Medusa-themed snake enclosure! I think it would work well for garter snakes, as you can keep lots of them together, and I think just one snake would be underwhelming.

  • @jaredsardella2170
    @jaredsardella2170 6 років тому +8

    I like your way of making the Medusa's gaze an attack, that's what I've been planning. I also concluded that a blind Medusa cannot petrify anyone.
    Side-note: Why does a Medusa's gaze work in a reflective surface? Greek mythology happens to be a particular strength of mine. I know the story of Perseus, that is not how it worked.

    • @hamanu666
      @hamanu666 6 років тому +4

      Probably so she would be a solitary encounter since nothing living would be her companion unless it was blind. I ignore that part of the MM and give her giant snakes as companions/pets and sometimes two sisters for company.

  • @TheNarratorTube
    @TheNarratorTube 7 років тому +9

    As an aging DM myself, dating back to the earliest years of D&D, I find your videos amusing and informative at the same time, especially your series explaning the changes and history of the various editions, and I was wondering whether you would help me out with a question. I've recently returned to the game after a couple of years of hiatus and I'm running some classic modules for a troupe of absolute newcomers (3.5 edition rules); I find myself dithering over awarding experience points, oddly enough. How much? How often? Award to the group or to the individual? XP for monster kills? Hauling treasure? I understand the various methods for awarding XP from various editions, but what is the current zeitgeist? How do you approach this with your players?
    I'd be especially keen to see you tackle this in one of your videos!

    • @theframe100
      @theframe100 4 роки тому +2

      Two years late to the party but hey, maybe somebody else will read this and appreciate my (non-matt) thoughts :)
      -handing out different amounts of xp to each players feels really off and can make some people feel bad.
      -giving xp at the end of each encounter is too bothersome. Maybe do it at long rests, preferably at the end of each session.
      -getting xp for treasure is interesting and promotes a sort of old school dungeon dive where the players are mostly just going out to rob tombs or whatever. This can certainly be awesome, but personally I've experienced that such campaigns eventually evolve beyond their premise and when that happens, gold becomes secondary to other objectives (eg personal revenge, power, ideals), making treasure-as-xp feel inappropriate.
      -I can highly recommend doing 'milestone xp', that is letting the players level up on your whim. It's just so much more easy to handle and it means you can tailor different stages of your adventure to specific levels. You can also let players level up on thematically appropriate moments, for example when they have some downtime or after a great achievement.

  • @alexterry4682
    @alexterry4682 7 років тому +14

    You are one of the few people I have notifications for on UA-cam

  • @lucasaugsten
    @lucasaugsten 7 років тому +2

    The DMG page 274 has suggested number of HP range, AC, damage, attack bonus and save DC for monsters for each Challenge Rating, and explain how to go if you want to change the balance of offensive and defensive capabilities of the monster for that level. It's really easy to use and makes a good reference point if you want to just take a monster and convert to a different level.

    • @smrhansen
      @smrhansen 7 років тому

      I was going to say this exact thing. That chart's great for newer players who don't have Matt's experience with the numbers of the game.

  • @Lorgrom
    @Lorgrom 7 років тому +28

    You forgot to mention the Medusa (and all intelligent creatures) using any treasure against the party. So per-generate the loot and make sure to use then against the party.

    • @hamanu666
      @hamanu666 6 років тому +2

      Yep, hmm medusa with a vorpal blade !

    • @Hazel-xl8in
      @Hazel-xl8in 5 років тому +5

      hamanu666 if your medusa has a vorpal sword in their treasure hoard then you’ve got bigger problems

    • @twilightgardenspresentatio6384
      @twilightgardenspresentatio6384 5 років тому +1

      Lorgrom use those items, the treasure has lost charges by the time it’s found

  • @jackfredricks6223
    @jackfredricks6223 6 років тому +7

    In 3rd edition, 'Natural AC' and 'Armor' do stack.

  • @TheRealDerohneNick
    @TheRealDerohneNick 7 років тому +16

    Another one that fast?
    If only it was in HD already, I want to see the beard in all its glory!

    • @andrejbosiakov5726
      @andrejbosiakov5726 7 років тому +2

      He did say in the last video that he was recording this immediately after the last video this was the one he recorded after the previous one.

    • @TheRealDerohneNick
      @TheRealDerohneNick 7 років тому +2

      Still, I thought it would be a few days.

  • @ANotmyname
    @ANotmyname 6 років тому +15

    Call me paranoid, but I always assume statues will come to life and attack or are trapped.

  • @Froschritter
    @Froschritter 7 років тому +7

    I'm excited for the undead video. I'm DMing a undead-heavy campaign myself. Maybe you"ll talk about ghouls and zombies aswell?

  • @jonathanbaker5037
    @jonathanbaker5037 7 років тому +2

    Matt,
    Your videos are so useful and really empowering as a first time DM. I hope that you enjoy producing this content enough to continue doing so for a long time!

  • @ThunderShade81
    @ThunderShade81 7 років тому +28

    Couldn't you call a male medusa a medudesa? ;D I'll see myself out...

  • @matthewheimbecker9055
    @matthewheimbecker9055 6 років тому

    I love all of the advice in this video. I am one of those self-limiting GMs who needs the math to work for my monsters and encounters. This frequently leads me to disappointing encounters because I feel like I can't alter the monster stats for dramatic purposes. Also, seeding the environment with things that you can chose to add (or not) as needed to make the encounter more exciting is fun too. Having it in your notes that the petrified adventurers could animate, but only using it if needed, is an amazing idea. Also, animating those statues to attack is a really great lair action.

  • @magnificentjosh
    @magnificentjosh 7 років тому +4

    I'm really relieved that you condone changing HP on the fly. I always feel so guilty whenever I do that.

    • @evannibbe9375
      @evannibbe9375 2 роки тому

      Alternatively, give your monster death saving throws and have an ally of the monster have access to healing word (maybe foreshadowing this by having that ally have a shield with the holy symbol of Vecna, Orcus, Lolth, a Yuan-Ti anathema, Anubis, etc, so the ally has a level in cleric of one of those).
      This then shows the players how close they were to defeating their enemies, which is more fun than just facing something with an endless pool of hp.

  • @xuetheviewer3897
    @xuetheviewer3897 7 років тому +9

    I'll have to keep this in mind, I'm co-dming for a group of 6 or 7 depending on the day so anything relating to action economy is extremely helpful. Also does anyone know of a good way to "persuade" players into doing more recon and information gathering. We threw a shadow demon at them expecting a collected response of light spells rendering the monster useless, but instead they tried to hack at it with their swords and axes, this nearly caused a tpk, but one player decided to run and the others followed suit.

    • @Msoulwing
      @Msoulwing 7 років тому +4

      You could always have an NPC suggest that information gathering would help the party.

    • @merlannin2108
      @merlannin2108 7 років тому +4

      Ethan Bridges you could have any relevant NPCs give them hints at times. Better yet those ant NPC followers or companions could just say "guys are we really thinking this through?" Or "maybe we should look into it first." In addition prompting players with an unknown threat like a "shadowy figure who lurks in the mansion at night" or "townspeople go missing/are killed every third night" pushes them to investigate/do more research. Finally the safe way, just like your shadow demon encounter, is for the players to safely lose so they go prepare for the second encounter with the given threat.

  • @trueelias2462
    @trueelias2462 4 роки тому +5

    There is a monster called Stone Cursed that is literally a stoned person coming alive.

  • @thejellyestbean
    @thejellyestbean 7 років тому

    This video has CHANGED MY GAME! I have wanted to throw monsters at my players that were too difficult for them and while I knew these options were there for me to tinker with I never exactly knew how to tinker it and make it work. This is the best advice I've gotten so far. Thank you so damn much Matt!

  • @demonxkiller1
    @demonxkiller1 7 років тому +4

    This gives me an idea for a dungeon.

  • @DungeonMasterLogan
    @DungeonMasterLogan Рік тому

    Great job man! love the video! I've been DM'ing for 8 years and still haven't read all the books entirely. This really helped me with my campaign! Thanks!

  • @pettersonystrawman9291
    @pettersonystrawman9291 5 років тому +6

    Most important question of all: Are those animated statues immune to petrification?

  • @benjaminjeppsson
    @benjaminjeppsson 7 років тому +1

    One thing I used to do a lot when I dm'd D&D was: Lets say I want to add AC to my Medusa I give it "Evasion: +X in AC". And if they have fought a Medusa before I say she moves faster than the last one you fought. If they haven't I say "She moves with unnatural speed and precision" or something like that.
    And I had that for saves and the like.
    Example: "Old Wound: -10 maximum HP" and just explain it.
    Sometimes the players wanted to see some enemies after the adventure or campaign or w/e and then I could show them.
    One upside for me with this is it can easily be modified to, and the name of the change could just be renamed to fit the fight.
    Evasive could be what Matt described here "Chainmail: +4 in AC"
    Old Wound could be Old, Sickly, Small or w/e.
    Great Video, Matthew.

  • @ArmorNox
    @ArmorNox 7 років тому +8

    Why not make her a rogue? bow and short sword. sneak attack....

  • @1420ify
    @1420ify 7 років тому

    this really helped out because i was getting kind of bummed out on how many cool/awesome creatures in the monster manual were out of my players' range. This gave me the spark i needed get into gear. Thanks tons!! Looking forward to more of them.

  • @taylormaines9909
    @taylormaines9909 7 років тому +5

    Not saying you should change how you do things, and I definitely dont speak for everyone else, but I would gladly sit through an ad or 2 every video to support you. I think your content and your overall generosity with your time warrants sitting through a 30 second ad to support you.

  • @callumcreaney5646
    @callumcreaney5646 6 років тому

    This is so handy. Even when I think I understand the dice math and follow along with your video for that, having the practical applications of using that dice math to tweak other beasties really helps. Much obliged!

  • @onewhosaysgoose4831
    @onewhosaysgoose4831 6 років тому +3

    A "5 or more" failure means that 20% is the chance of failing without triggering 5 or more.
    So, 50% to save is 30% chance to get stoned.

  • @Jessie_Helms
    @Jessie_Helms 2 роки тому +1

    I took an Abominable Yeti (CR9) and used it against a level 4 party of 5.
    I didn’t use its Breath Weapon, and everything worked out.
    4 normal yetis + the 1 abominable - the breath weapon worked out as the Fighter going down twice, the Paladin dropped to like 5, the Druid got knocked out of wild shape (but took minimal damage), and wizard’s mount died but he survived.

  • @LordTerracotta
    @LordTerracotta 7 років тому +103

    He changed his shirt, placed a new game under the orange box on his shelf, took away the one under the right game on his shelf and changed the picture by the light switch. Yeah that's right I'm that bored.

    • @QueensBlade2501
      @QueensBlade2501 7 років тому +7

      And people like you are the reason he does that kind of thing xD

  • @HungryHungryShoggoth
    @HungryHungryShoggoth 7 років тому

    Absolutely LOVE this video Matt! I recently used a lot of the advice in this to run a combat for my group. Normally they're the murder-hobo types that like to attack first and ask questions later but during this combat they actually planned ahead and coordinated! Keep up the great work on these videos!

  • @GrimBrotherIV
    @GrimBrotherIV 7 років тому +3

    This is great, I have been trying to power up a sea-hag for a large party in the future.

    • @MrFleem
      @MrFleem 7 років тому +4

      GrimBrotherIV Well, just be aware that large parties are different from higher level parties. A large party can really wreck lone boss monsters if it's something they can hit and damage, but the individuals in the party are still lower level characters. Losing half of your fighters isn't the same as one high level fighter losing half his HP. So in trying to adjust a many vs one scenario, it gets very tricky. I'd recommend adding minions for the hag and only buffing her a little bit if at all.

    • @DocEonChannel
      @DocEonChannel 7 років тому +1

      Oh, that's easy. Just make it a coven of hags.

    • @MrFleem
      @MrFleem 7 років тому

      ...or add ogres, call them goons, and make it the sea hag from Popeye.

    • @1simo93521
      @1simo93521 7 років тому +3

      GrimBrotherIV ancient queen sea hag? "The mother of hags"
      And her fishmen gaurdians.

    • @paulcoy9060
      @paulcoy9060 7 років тому +9

      "If I were a Deep One,
      Blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub
      All day long I'd swim beneath the waves,
      If I were a DEEEEEP One!"
      - Fiddler On Devil's Reef

  • @omicrex8527
    @omicrex8527 6 років тому

    This was incredibly helpful! I’m currently adjusting/zombifying a hydra, and this gave me all the recommended steps to do so!

  • @TheBeljaminium
    @TheBeljaminium 7 років тому +10

    Man, whoever made the male Medusa really missed out on "Medudesa"

  • @TaranTatsuuchi
    @TaranTatsuuchi 3 роки тому +1

    Was playing in a pathfinder campaign, Orc Barbarian, 15 con, 8 int and wis...
    We came upon a Basilisk, I as the player recognized it as a basilisk....
    As my barbarian had some ranks in Knowledge nature, I had him roll it, not the correct knowledge but it's all he had.
    Nat 1. The gm said my character believed it to be a malformed version of some lizards we'd fought earlier in the campaign.
    So, my characrter, who couldn't make it to the enemy in his turn, walked up as far as he could and readied an action to attack it if if got in range.
    It glared at my barbarian, failed my con saving throw.
    The rest of the party had quite a time taking it out with their main tank/damage being stoned.

  • @roskaboska42
    @roskaboska42 7 років тому +4

    Do you think it's fair play to raise DCs past 17 or so if you have a high level paladin in the party? All my players get +5 on all saving throws if they're in 10 feet of the paladin (and are pretty careful about staying within 10 feet if there's saving throws in play -- half spell damage and the save throw bonus tends to mitigate the AoE problem), so I can't imagine them struggling with anything where the save DC isn't at least 16 or 17 if not higher.

    • @rockstonic52
      @rockstonic52 7 років тому +7

      roskaboska42 I would argue that if they are taking all the precautions to be safe, that they should be rewarded with safety. They are choosing to give up mobility to make themselves safer. I would argue that you should try to find ways to have the party choose to spread out, where the normal DC would have a greater effect.

    • @LGRuggeri
      @LGRuggeri 7 років тому +5

      roskaboska42 instead of raising save DCs, try designing encounters that make it hard for everyone to huddle together. Some thing to keep in mind:
      -monsters can grapple and use the shove action too
      -use tight spaces that limit movement
      -use highly mobile monsters. Grouping around the paladin is harder when everyone has to move around each turn.
      -spellcasters with AoE spells can make them rethink grouping up. Sure they'll make their saves but after a few fireballs/lightning bolts they'll still be hurting and should rethink staying so close together.

    • @godofthunder4242
      @godofthunder4242 7 років тому

      Just remember that this particular save is really dangerous. Save or die situations can be really dangerous. If you have 5 players and they instantly turn to stone only on a 1 then each round there is a 22% chance that one of your players is now a statue. Any save or die situation that affects the whole party every round is incredibly dangerous because with that many rolls someone is going to roll a 1.

    • @paulcoy9060
      @paulcoy9060 7 років тому

      What about a Blob monster? like the movie, not just an Ooze, but being able to wobble up to people and grab them, and they can't pull away too easy. Maybe it can slowly dissolve a person, but it's main use in this encounter is only to slow the party down. PCs now have to choose between a move action to escape, or an attack action to damage the Blob.
      Or, how about a castle or cave complex, where pieces of the ceiling fall, and if they bunch up there is a high probability of everyone taking damage?

    • @SFMonster
      @SFMonster 7 років тому

      My first thought was that that sounds a lot like a black pudding, but yeah, they don't have a grapple attack for some reason.

  • @jeffiansiti8419
    @jeffiansiti8419 5 років тому

    As a new DM i've really been loving watching your channel to help improve my game! keep it up Matt

  • @spacesandshark2418
    @spacesandshark2418 7 років тому +16

    Matt, there's a simpler way of doing this. Just take a monster who's appropriate for the party's level and give it's stats to the Medusa. So for example, a Young Red Dragon would be a medium challenge for a 9th level party. Replace the dragon's Fire Breath with the Medusa's Petrifying Gaze and you're done. Likewise, for a 3rd level party you could use a Red Dragon Wyrmling instead of an adult one. It's much much faster and equally effective.

    • @Ephigy17
      @Ephigy17 7 років тому +1

      I do this and it works great!

    • @MisterCynic18
      @MisterCynic18 7 років тому +8

      Would be kind of odd for a medusa to have a dragon's strength score

    • @spacesandshark2418
      @spacesandshark2418 7 років тому +2

      Maybe she has Gauntlets of Ogre Power or something, idk, it's just an example. There's plenty of CR 9 or 10 monsters to choose from, just choose some other that has more fitting stats. Principle still applies.

    • @Deskof003Blogspot
      @Deskof003Blogspot 7 років тому +16

      I'm really not a fan of those kinds of skinjobs, for the exact reason that they can seem really odd and ill-fitting. Tweaking stats makes for much more convincing and appropriate monsters.
      That said, I will never get rid of Cockrel, the rooster with the exact stats of an Ancient Red Dragon.

    • @spacesandshark2418
      @spacesandshark2418 7 років тому +3

      As I said, the Red Dragon thing is just an example. And you have to realize, players are not able to the stat sheet nor will they know what you did. In the Medusa example above, they'll just think "damn she hits hard" and then the DM can just do as Matt said: "well, she's not a normal Medusa, she's the queen."
      Another example is, say, giving a Guard (CR 1/8) the stats of a Knight (CR 3) and saying that he's the captain of the guards or something. In this example you see that all the Abilities, Skills, Features and Actions of the Knight make perfect sense for a Captain of the Guards character. It's always faster to search for a monster with compatible traits than to try and make stuff up.
      If you want, name any monster and I'll give you a good example.

  • @ArthurAtlas
    @ArthurAtlas 5 років тому +1

    Matt's such a nice DM, if someone looks at a Medusa and make their save they are restrained, if they don't they are petrified and that's only by my good graces.
    You don't look at a Medusa or you look at her for a long time.

  • @Morow991
    @Morow991 7 років тому +3

    Regarding the Gaze, I think it would be interesting if on a nat 1 saving throw, the player isn't simply turned to stone, they're turned to stone and then *crumble into dust*. I like making botches memorable.

  • @tehdoctah2404
    @tehdoctah2404 2 роки тому +1

    As soon as you mentioned animated statues, I thought Weeping Angels! Don’t look at the Medusa, look at the statues so they can’t get closer!

  • @goyasolidar
    @goyasolidar 7 років тому +8

    "A monster's lifespan is measured in rounds, whereas a player character's lifespan can be measured in years."
    At least 50% of that statement is untrue 75% of the time.

  • @reyortsed113
    @reyortsed113 7 років тому

    Helpful lesson (as always). Additionally, it reminded me of an encounter my party and I had a while back with two Basilisks. During the encounter, my character and the Cleric's Ape companion were petrified and the Cleric had only one restorative spell available. Selflessly, the Cleric chose to restore my character who, for all intents and purposes, was a total stranger to her. Her choice turned out to be the accidentally wise one, as my character was an Alchemist. Upon coming back to his senses, and realizing the great sacrifice that was made for him, my character immediately begins working to restore the Albino Ape (and succeeds). Wounderful moment, and one that I will always treasure.

  • @HairyDisguise
    @HairyDisguise 7 років тому +6

    Maedar huh? Our game group calls it a Medudesa

  • @liamstyleschang362
    @liamstyleschang362 7 років тому

    Thanks Matt! Love your videos. Been DMing for a few years and I always learn something new and easy to incorporate into my campaigns. I thank you and my players thank you!

  • @KyleMaxwell
    @KyleMaxwell 7 років тому +3

    How are there 320 visits when I click as soon as I see the notification...

  • @AppledirtArchive
    @AppledirtArchive 5 років тому +1

    Petrification doesn't nessicarily mean instant death, you can have the other players run a quest to get a cure for it, perhaps defeating a few Basilisks for a famous alchemist, who then creates a cure, or going on a divine journey to have a god help out, temporarily letting one of the players cast Greater Restoration, or the way you mentioned.

  • @Gremlin4498
    @Gremlin4498 7 років тому +28

    Psst. Colville. Yes you.
    Do you feel next weeks video might be a little...Political?

    • @abcrasshadow9341
      @abcrasshadow9341 7 років тому +3

      Luke Cox
      True that subjekt is...UNDEAD!

    • @Gremlin4498
      @Gremlin4498 7 років тому +1

      It wouldn't be the first time he's pulled a sneaky one on us.

    • @metallsnubben
      @metallsnubben 7 років тому +2

      headbite alien Maybe the ones about... politics? ;)
      Check 'em out, they're great

  • @wietepiet
    @wietepiet 7 років тому +1

    Very handy information. I'm nearing the end of the starter set story and am working on the next adventure. I have noticed that some of the players had read the monster manual as well (not in depth luckily), and they kind of knew what the monsters were capable of. This might shake things up a bit :)

  • @orcassio17
    @orcassio17 7 років тому +5

    Have you been trying to talk slower in the videos? If so, you're doing great! Awesome video, man, per usual.

    • @xuetheviewer3897
      @xuetheviewer3897 7 років тому +1

      I thought I was the only one who noticed this, I might have to start watching at 1.5 speeds.

  • @harrisonroman8264
    @harrisonroman8264 7 років тому

    Another amazing vid. Great tips for new and intermediate players and DM's. Thanks! Enjoyed the bit about including curatives in game for dangerous afflictions. That helps the world become more alive and helps the players start to explore.

  • @nekrial
    @nekrial 7 років тому +7

    Woah. You are EARLY. ... Or late. One or the other. ;)

    • @ellonaf
      @ellonaf 7 років тому +8

      Peregrine Hawthorne he is never late, nor is he early, he posts precisely when he means to.

    • @jonathanmcdermott25
      @jonathanmcdermott25 7 років тому +1

      nafman l I see what you did there

  • @emeraldgaze
    @emeraldgaze 7 років тому

    this was really good, very helpful stuff. you know, I believe d&d basilisks have the ability to unstone those they turn with their saliva. mainly because they can digest stone so their food just turns back to flesh once they're already chewing on it

  • @dirus3142
    @dirus3142 7 років тому +18

    It's a gorgon. Medusa is an individual person who was cursed by Athena.

    • @lakebegley1818
      @lakebegley1818 7 років тому +2

      Dirus Nigh gorgons are actually a separate creature in the MM but I agree with you and I always homebrew medusas being called gorgons

    • @Jonatron101
      @Jonatron101 6 років тому +3

      They borrowed her from Greek Mythology, in D&D they are not constrained by it's rules. Much like something with two legs and wings that breathes fire is a dragon (not a drake) if in the world it inhabits it is called thusly.

    • @Arnsteel634
      @Arnsteel634 6 років тому +2

      gorgon is just an adjective that means terrible.

  • @DietrichPfister
    @DietrichPfister 7 років тому

    In a similar vein, I've put together unlikely mixtures of creatures to make for some fun encounters--like a cavalry of grimlocks that ride into battle on trained basilisks. These particular grimlocks train with their mounts for life and, since they are blind, don't have to worry about gaze attacks.
    It can be easy to give a medusa grimlock servants or some other similarly handicapped creatures (such as orcs who go one step further from their devotion to Gruumsh and poke out *both* eyes) to just give the encounters a different dimension.

  • @ooccttoo
    @ooccttoo 7 років тому +103

    "petrifying gays"
    I'm not sorry

    • @Damienov
      @Damienov 7 років тому +20

      Nothing stopping you to make a Gay Maedar (male medusa) encounter.

    • @ooccttoo
      @ooccttoo 7 років тому +11

      I'm going to do that now, thank you.

    • @josephpettit1519
      @josephpettit1519 7 років тому +2

      Maedar were the ones with the power to turn stone to flesh in earlier versions. I believe the earlier versions had a petrifying appearance which was passive, but they also had an active petrifying gaze which works whether you're blind or not.

    • @Qamikace
      @Qamikace 7 років тому +16

      A Medudesa, if you will.

    • @unrussiancosmonaut309
      @unrussiancosmonaut309 7 років тому +2

      Damienov gayedar

  • @terryramsey5979
    @terryramsey5979 7 років тому +1

    Great content applicable to game-mastering. Loving these vids! Thanks!

  • @shavits
    @shavits 7 років тому +3

    Notification squad!

  • @vazzaroth
    @vazzaroth 6 років тому

    This video made me appreciate Cypher System even more. I've been creating my custom creatures and just getting the baseline HP and adding as much or removing as much as I think it appropriate is great.

  • @DJVU12
    @DJVU12 5 років тому +1

    First time watching your video, 10/10 incredibly happy. Super useful thank you!

  • @JodianGaming
    @JodianGaming 4 роки тому +2

    I love using "weakened" creatures for boss battles.
    My best one was an "Injured Beholder" who not only had reduced hit points, but also missing eye stalks that denied it a lot of it's ray abilities. Threw it at a level 5 party and they absolutely loved it. The benefit was, I put a pool in the room behind the beholder and when I realized I had nerfed it a little too much I was able to just have it regenerate some of it's eye stalks back using the pool. The players didn't care what was in the pool, so I didn't have to explain it, the effect of the beholder regrowing some eye stalks took priority in their minds.
    In another dungeon, level 2, I added a lich as the boss. What? A lich at level 2? Yeppers! Liches have the perfect nerfing backstory because right in the lore it says if they stop feeding their phylactery, they lose power and can even forget spells. I dropped the lich to a level 6 spellcaster and lowered several of it's stats. Again, I went with more nerfing than normal because with a lich, if the battle is coming off as too easy, I can just have it summon allies like skeletons. No explanation required, because the "boss battle" area has several coffins so it also seems like something a lich might be able to accomplish during the fight.
    Players who end up facing these kind of creatures, which should be levels way higher than them, will often focus on the creature and less on your little difficulty adjustments to the battle. The fight is almost organic, in their eyes, and they end up loving it.

    • @stw7120
      @stw7120 3 роки тому

      At the very moment my players would beat that beholder the warlock will order the familiar to taste the liquid in the pool and the druid would start bottling it. I just know this and that is absolutely my fault.

  • @DuffTerrall
    @DuffTerrall Рік тому

    In my game (that I am running because Matt convinced me I can do it, thank you Matt) I had my party fight a ghost. I only sort of read the Fear ability that the ghost has, and when my fighter botched his save I realized that there is a section where of you fail by more than 5 you are 1d4x10 years.
    I was so unsure of I wanted to do that to him, almost ignored it, then decided that I need to learn to be terrible to my players and aged him 30 years. Breaking this curse has been the cause of the last 2 sessions, and we still haven't resolved it.
    I love the "if you fail too bad pain" saves now.

  • @HecsBrewed
    @HecsBrewed 7 років тому

    I have already been tweaking monsters since starting (I am a relatively new DM, gonna hit my anniversary in November). Your explanation of the hit die math blew the matter wide open. I can't believe I missed that now-simple detail. You have my sincere thanks!

  • @oscartirado1324
    @oscartirado1324 7 років тому +1

    You are the man Matt Coville! This was quite helpful.

  • @Ruakk
    @Ruakk 7 років тому

    Thanks Matt, this really helps. I have wanted to use some different monsters and a lot of what you have done to make them easier or harder helps to give a template for me to use. It was what I was doing already but it's nice seeing your thought process! Keep up the great work! I love your channel!

  • @WikiSnapper
    @WikiSnapper 6 років тому

    I have in the past had stone golems protecting a medusa. She had the magic needed to turn the heroes into golems after having turned them to stone. It turned out to be an interesting challenge. One of the players (the one that got petrified) had an intelligent sword that was aligned with the hero and the player argued that their sword shifted his alignment over time so it made sense to dominate the golem. Which their argument was very well crafted and so we went with it. That allowed the player to continue to play as a stone golem for the fight and then the sword helped get the body out of the dungeon and walked the player to the city to get the character unstoned.

  • @Nmber1Fan
    @Nmber1Fan 7 років тому

    An intuition based approach to monster tweaking (and building) works, and is often good enough that it creates an interesting game. In practice, most DMs do so all the time, even if it is in really small amounts.
    The DMG does have rules for doing it properly "by the book", in which case the math is usually fair, but that part of the book can be pretty hard to parse. If I remember correctly, a guy going by The Angry GM did a pretty deep dive into how to build a tweak monsters a while back.