My party encountered the wounded bodyguard of a wizard we sought, it had fought off half an army to protect him. Not knowing any of that, I healed and befriended it since it showed no hostile intent.
it warms my heart to think of a serrated rhino the weight of a small bus just wants to cuddle up to its favorite person next to the fire like a big cat
Ahh, Grey Renders. One party of mine had a Beast Master Ranger, and she stumbled upon a dying Grey Render with a baby near it. The Ranger took it upon herself to take care of this little guy, and after bringing it along with us, dubbed him Omnom after how eagerly the little bastard chewed on the party's supplies. We loved Omnom.
I asked for this video awhile ago and you delivered sir. Thank you. I love Gray Renders for their simplistic/instinctual relationships they have with whichever surrogate "family" they've been adopted by. I see no difference between a Gray Render raised by a pack of wolves helping to maintain it's pack's territory, and a Gray Render raised by a village of kind people whom use it to help plow their fields. The real problem begins when a unnatural force corrupts the innocence of a Render and uses it for malicious deeds. I'm sure a Gray Render could find some solace or regimented duty if it were trained and led astray by the church of Hextor, but it would be a terror on the battlefield being clad in full plate spiked armor.
“We should be thankful Tauril is also full of other super predators” I think our definitions of thankful are a bit different considering this is basically saying a bigger problem exists.
@@nandodando9695 At "Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe"... they don't have everything but can get you anything, just as long as you don't ask how they acquired it and don't dare to haggle. They also have legal services available, over-priced but they haven't lost yet.
Had an encounter with one of these in an ancient broken up spaceship with tight corners and vents. It added a bit of depth to have the vents as an escape route for when a character would get cornered. I also made the DM mistake to assume the characters would run back into the elevator to get away, which would have precipitated a falling broken elevator and a maze of a ship to get back out of, but instead they stood their ground and beat it, and gained a little gray render in the process which probably made for a better adventure anyways.
I had one of these bond with a player once. They were a rogue being a bit murder hobo-y/sticky fingered despite the rest of the table not playing that way. So I had a Grey Render get attached to him. Sounds like the opposite of solving the murder hobo problem? He is now at best kept under heavy guard in any city that would know about a renders bond, flat out refused entrance to smaller towns, unable to sneak and steal because the render will and has taken out a wall to keep him in sight.
@@Sinfilled66 The party wizard filled them in on what a render is and does so they were aware of the bond. He was overjoyed while the rest of the table looked at me like I lost the plot when I had it bond with the rogue until the first time it smashed through a building to get to him
I gave my party a Gray Render pet. They called him Thump and he bonded to the fighter, to the dismay of both the druid and the ranger. He died, multiple times in fact, and the party spent exorbitant amounts of gold to resurrect it. I thought it was because having a massive tank of a beast that ate horses for breakfast was too useful to give up but they informed me that it was just because they loved him too much to give him up, like an elephant sized puppy.
Currently playing a "smarter" grey render in a near epic campaign.. its acts basically as a giant labrador that follows the celric around. They dress him up give him treats, belly rubs and point him at walls or giants that need tearing down
I like these things. I played in a 3.0 campaign where there was a company of NPC half-orc Paladins that saved our bacon once or twice, but something devastated them and only the leader was left alive. We found him in the lair of a Grey Render, who was doing its best to care for the injured crusader despite it being very clear to us that he would rather be anywhere else. I don't remember how that got resolved, but I don't think we had to fight it. I imagine if we had, I wouldn't have such a fond (if fuzzy) memory of them.
I always loved renders. In one adventures i've put one bounded to a legendary hero long dead. But people thinked he was his sworn enemy, looking to misrepresentable paintings. In the hero's cenotaph i've put a long tunnel filled with traps and at his end a puzzle with the hero's statue with some holes and weapons on an altar. You had to place the right weapon in the right spot (helped by old songs about the final battle of the hero) to unlock a chest. BUT unknown to the party the render was in lethargy in that room, camuflaged with the wall in the back of a colonnade. When he saw, with poor eyesight because of age and sleep, "his master being again stabbed" he went in a rampage. The party was low level, it ended in a chase scene dodging previusly eluded traps. a bit like those Crash Bandicoot levels when you have to flee backward from a boulder or a huge beast. Was funny as hell xD
I love these things. Just have one guarding a flock of Deer in game. The deer are just standing there, grazing in a meadow, as if nothing can hurt them and the Render is behind a rock or tree. The party will immediately assume something is wrong.
I like to imagine each eye is adapted to see two wavelengths of light for a total visible spectrum of all 12 base colors, putting their vision on about the same tier as mantis shrimps.
That's an awesome thought. It makes sense that each eye pair may be attuned to a different form of light. What I think would be interesting is if each pair had some extra sort of magical sense. One pair sees invisibility, another set tracks heat, another senses the Weave. Or something like that. Would make these Renders more terrifying!
Silicone battle mats: My wife (a chef) cut mine into 3. They are now silicone baking mats, with a handy measuring guide. I’ll need to buy another 2.. Also, apparently, silicone is alway food and oven safe… also it costs more for 3 oven mats than a single A1 battle mat…
Well, it did, but the kickstarter price will never happen again, the battlemats, combat tracker and character sheet mats are now all available for pre-order at dndwow.com/rpg-mat/
One of my favorite moments in earlyencounters was when my young, cowardly dwarf ranger made a miraculous roll to stop a charging render, holding it off solo and giving the party just enough time to escape the traps theyd fallen in. It was a huge moment for him, facing his fears and holding fast! A great monster
I love Gray Renders!! They are such a funny surprise to show the party that the great beast that nearly killed them suddenly acting like a puppy for little kid lost in the woods.. they are perfect in every sense..
I recently used them as the protectors of a sentient sword, once belonged to a titan and the party got a task to find it, on which was a runic prophesy they were to copy off of. I displayed them as allies who are quick to attack on impulse, but always giving it a second thought around the wizard. It built this weird dynamic where the party hurdled behind the wizard instead of the paladin, as they'd usually do. That, and the paladins missing leg.
I gave them ultravision (if you can remember that, you're old). They can see perfectly in the dark, mists and the like, plus they can see magic, so they might not see you under invisibility, but they'll see the magic.
Hey AJ, what a monster, literally! All I remember is claw damage 2d6, knocked prone take 2d8 bludgeoning damage, it was almost endless, than you said Master! Have some little evil Gnome be it's master, the grey render can be blaster! They combine to make Masterblaster! The grey render uses a papoose to carry the Gnome around. Thanks AJ, you have a wonderful day!
I've had a party encounter a young Render, had each roll a percentile for bonding chance. Of all characters, it was the Ninja with the lucky roll. Hilarious to have a stealthy Ninja work around having this Ogre sized powerhouse following it everywhere.
Perhaps instead of being tamed and that leading to their desire for intelligent companionship, perhaps on their homeworld, they lived in tandem with some form of intelligent being which directed them as they braved the storms outside, bringing more food back to their masters
Love these monsters! It shows how just adding some quirks and some ribbon lore can turn a simple big beast into an endearing big doggo. Much like your story of the young elf, the last time I ran one of these beasties was with an NPC who CR wasn't any higher than 1.
I have a feeling all the sounds they make would be ugly to us, since it's so alien. Think a cross of a moose, ostrich, and crocodile. Just really weird and abnormal
Maybe they are like ribbon octopus and they have tiny mates that lay eggs in there skin? Also I read somewhere that silver dragons made these to protect elves. In light of this lore; I'm making it so a plane hopping silver dragon wizard with a zoo of aliens brought them to my setting.
When they're bored of orcs, goblins and bugbears they will appreciate your viewing habits. (I would also watch AJ's video on those creatures to make *them* more interesting/complex)
Imagine a massacred village that died from one of those critters bonding to an abused child! Bonus so if the party can pull it off without killing the stalker!
Aj it's been a hot minute since I last wrote a comment, I love your new editing and storytelling style it's familiar yet exciting. It was my birthday yesterday and it seems like I got a present a day later.
In a campaign i played in the DM made me bond with a grey render for complicated plot reasons. My character was polymorphed by an evil spell into an impish kobold who intimidated people using my friend,the grey render, hid behind him during battles and occasionally rode on his back. Basically a Rocket Racoon and Groot situation, but many years before the movies came out. Absolutely hilarious
Now there’s a plot hook. The family that’s house was destroyed and they are now fleeing through the wilderness to escape the terrifying beast that hunts them relentlessly day and night In reality the 10yo kid has bonded the creature while playing in the woods Almost forgot: Hail Tharizdun
I'm torn between teleporting somewhere dangerous with Dimension Door after grappling the Grey Render and getting rid of it immediately, or running at it head-on and letting its momentum help drive my strike deeper. The first option is probably safer, and I did learn that my Oath is fine with letting my Paladin use Dimension Door as well as Hold Monster. *Ah...*
Idea Grey Render bonds with child Necromancer who put a bow on it and called it a cute name, she asks the party to improve her image in a few ways and help her become accepted in the community. At the end, when the party does all these favors and leaving the notion the girl is alright, she comes into town with a small band of skeletons (of people they won't like so its ok i guess?) The Grey Render.... Only to be pivotal in repelling a wodely hated fanatical sect no one in the town actually liked. Grey Render and wizard girl combo, a party of 3, and alot of clerics. Ends with the lot becoming legends and the girl being accepted. Boom.
One of my PCs, Caleb the Eldritch Knight, was transformed into a Grey Render after reading a book that supposedly could defeat Hastur, the Elder God. Sadly the campaign ended before we could cure Caleb and defeat Hastur
I like to think the bond is something the mage bred into being stronger that was already there. That these beings form symbiotic relationships naturally as a way to survive their natural habitat and noticing this, maybe because one bonded with him, the mage made sure to strengthen this trait so he could make the species more useful. Maybe not realizing he could not control their propagation very easily.
I think one way to make the creature slightly more compelling is to give the creature the ability to phycicaly comunicate with its master but instead of it talking to you it would send sensations, images and emotions. If you have ever seen the more sereal digital/analog horror you know the sort of visceral experiences that could happen. For instance, you are talking to someone and suddenly you get vivid psychic visions of the render eating that person , sounds and tastes and all, essentially the monsters way of asking to eat that person. Not all the visions need to be violent but unusual and/or unnerving in some way.
Another use for this physic ability is when the beast is separated from its master. The creature would temperaraly connect with someone it recegnizes as an ally of its master in an attempt to find them. This would likely take the form of a mental barrage of emotions and frantic imagery that is likely to send an unperepered resipient into a catatonic state. Imagine the party has been knocked out, everybody wakes up, the render looked around and let's out a horrific screaming wail and teens to one of the party and that persons mind is flooded with an overwhelming send of fear and anxiety. Then they are hit with a reporting set of imagined and scenes, the smiling face of its masters face, the render running threw darkness searching for its master, the face again, the render falling screaming into a black abyss. the charecter does go catatonic, where that to happen, would likely send the render of the deep end, which isn't good.
Yay! The overgrown puppy gets a video. I've used Grey Renders as dogs for various BBEGs over the years and watched the party lose their minds seeing it just loved their fallen master.
I think there was a small error here, AJ. You say it weighs "over 4,000 lbs." Just checked the Forgotten Realms Wiki and it says they weigh 4100 kg. Which translates to 9,000 lbs. So I think these statistics got mixed together a bit? Still, neat monster. They are fairly simple but really those are some of my favorite creatures. I've always been a meat and potatoes kind of person, so something about that simplicity is deeply appealing. A magical apex predator that has an innate drive to bond with a master that meets certain criteria is both unique and fascinating. I'm already imagining a character with a pet siege engine! Thanks for highlighting a creature I've never paid attention to before, these guys deserve some attention.
1) What are feelings that the G.R. has for the creature that it protects? Is it love (friend, family, owner, something that can't be described), is it protecting it's property? 2) Is there something the defended can do to breake the bond between them and possibly get them to attack the defended? 3) Can there be more species of G.R.? Some amphibious, some smart, some social, some herbivores (and any other kind of eater), some arborial, some specific to certain planets or elemental plains, some build more for speed, ect.? 4) Are they nocturnal or diurnal?
1) Assigning an emotional state to the creature is anthropomorphizing them. They are motivated by instinct, they do it because that is what is done. 2) Syntax Error (if their master attacks them, the Gray Render will simply retreat to avoid being hurt, and if this keeps up, it will most likely leave permanently). 3) Due to their method of reproduction, genetic diversity is very low and while they are innately adaptable, it is as a species, not as special individual with unique traits. 4) Both, they sleep when they are digesting a huge meal, and hunt when they are hungry again. Hunting is easier for them in the dark.
One of my players is actually rearing a grey render. I designed the scaled down Verizon but it will get stronger as they level up. Provided they live that long.
1.) What determines who it bonds too? The first in a group it lays eyes on? 2.) Also, is there an age when they bond, or whenever? 3.) Can one have multiple bonded to them?
I would assume most "apex predator" type of monsters would be pretty rare. There is probably only one dragon for every two or three hundred square miles. Large predators are mostly solitary and require a wide territory. There are some exceptions like wolves and lions which form packs or prides. Toril would mostly be herbivores or have multiple tiers of carnivores with populations getting smaller as you climb up the food pyramid. Ancient dragon level creatures would be rare and probably have long dormant periods of hibernating or sleeping otherwise they would run out of food.
@@charaznable9209 to add on to that. The underdark and its strange energies contribute a huge amount of biomass to help feed those populations. I also imagine druids are constantly making efforts to maintain the normal population of normal animals. Also creatures from other crystal spheres. Really theres a lot to eat if you arent picky lol.
Thats all good stuff. 👍 I was thinking more along the line of, populations, densities, and distribution. Where are the "tamer" lands and where are the "wild" lands. We know the North is full of badasses and hordes of humanoids, but what is their distribution? Example. We know the Giants originated near the Great Glacier, so that's likely giant territory. (More encounters, giant ruins, giant magical items).
@@scottmcley5111 roughly speaking. I feel like theyd mostly be where the prey is. But since theres prey almost everywhere in this world. And theres tons of super predators duking it out for territory all the time everywhere. Youd pretty much be forced into whatever small pockets of the world that only your kind can tolerate. Your right. You would need a 30 minute aj video atleast to get a grasp on it. You legitimately just have to go through them all and determine from the top down which predators can exist where.
When I first saw this creature in MToF, I thought this thing to be ugly and whatnot. Then I read the text about it and thought 'man, was I wrong'. Now I think it to be kind of adorable, and even consider this beasty somewhat cute. One of my absolute favourite creatures in DnD. It's a tiny puppy the size of a fully grown horse, or juvenile elephant.
Strangely reminds me of the Obsaurus, from Toriko Anime? "It will give a ride to anything that is stronger than it, and will carry out its orders and protect its master until something stronger arrives." It's all fun and games until Grey Render you've been dragging around all night decides the BBEG (Big Bad Evil Guy) has a higher intelligence rating than your whole party combined.
Seeing as how you mention it in at least a passing manner in A LOT of your videos, could we get a comprehensive video on SIGIL, THE CITY OF DOORS? I have the utmost respect for all your tremendously hard work. Keep up the excellent content & thank you for such amazing videos!!
Not sure if this is as comprehensive as you would want, but here is his video on Sigil, as well as his video on The Lady of Pain. ua-cam.com/video/jOEPGakX4HY/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/QRyFLH2djeQ/v-deo.html
I played a mage that had only 6 strength and could barely move found stumbled across a grey render that served as his body gaurd and way to move around I'd cook the meat it brought me and share it with them
So, let's say you bond with one, I was thinking on this, say you have tattoos that provide effects after attunement, can they attune to them/be attuned to them? (I'm thinking about the Eldritch Claw Tattoo from TCE)
Wanted some opinions. Back in the 90's, I had a little contest among some friends of mine whom were practicing witches. "Who has the witch's cat with the coolest name! The three winners, by vote were... " Widdershins " (White cat with green eyes) " Mister Peepers" (Rare black cat with bright blue eyes) "Kaboodle" (ginger tabby... 'For nothing's quite as brutal as the kitten named Kaboodle!) Which do you folks like best?
Firstly, Widdershins, because if it's gonna be a witches familiar then it better be named after obscure magical principals that are fun to say. Oh, secondly, you shouldn't bring your cats out in front of Grey Renders, unless you want it to eat it or bond to it.
My party encountered the wounded bodyguard of a wizard we sought, it had fought off half an army to protect him. Not knowing any of that, I healed and befriended it since it showed no hostile intent.
it warms my heart to think of a serrated rhino the weight of a small bus just wants to cuddle up to its favorite person next to the fire like a big cat
Ahh, Grey Renders. One party of mine had a Beast Master Ranger, and she stumbled upon a dying Grey Render with a baby near it. The Ranger took it upon herself to take care of this little guy, and after bringing it along with us, dubbed him Omnom after how eagerly the little bastard chewed on the party's supplies. We loved Omnom.
I asked for this video awhile ago and you delivered sir. Thank you. I love Gray Renders for their simplistic/instinctual relationships they have with whichever surrogate "family" they've been adopted by. I see no difference between a Gray Render raised by a pack of wolves helping to maintain it's pack's territory, and a Gray Render raised by a village of kind people whom use it to help plow their fields. The real problem begins when a unnatural force corrupts the innocence of a Render and uses it for malicious deeds. I'm sure a Gray Render could find some solace or regimented duty if it were trained and led astray by the church of Hextor, but it would be a terror on the battlefield being clad in full plate spiked armor.
The religion of Malar is particularly keen on these creatures.
“We should be thankful Tauril is also full of other super predators”
I think our definitions of thankful are a bit different considering this is basically saying a bigger problem exists.
How's it going Dr. Bright? Making the lives of D-Class hell I assume?😉
There's always a bigger fish.
Customer: I want something that's like a cross between an Umber Hulk and a loyal Attack Dog.
Vendor: Say no more...
Where do you shop?!
@@nandodando9695 At "Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe"... they don't have everything but can get you anything, just as long as you don't ask how they acquired it and don't dare to haggle. They also have legal services available, over-priced but they haven't lost yet.
Had an encounter with one of these in an ancient broken up spaceship with tight corners and vents. It added a bit of depth to have the vents as an escape route for when a character would get cornered. I also made the DM mistake to assume the characters would run back into the elevator to get away, which would have precipitated a falling broken elevator and a maze of a ship to get back out of, but instead they stood their ground and beat it, and gained a little gray render in the process which probably made for a better adventure anyways.
Not gonna lie, when I first saw the little lore on this beast in 5e I instantly loved it!
I had one of these bond with a player once. They were a rogue being a bit murder hobo-y/sticky fingered despite the rest of the table not playing that way. So I had a Grey Render get attached to him. Sounds like the opposite of solving the murder hobo problem? He is now at best kept under heavy guard in any city that would know about a renders bond, flat out refused entrance to smaller towns, unable to sneak and steal because the render will and has taken out a wall to keep him in sight.
Honestly I'm surprised the murder hobo rogue hasn't tried to kill it yet lol
@@Sinfilled66 The party wizard filled them in on what a render is and does so they were aware of the bond. He was overjoyed while the rest of the table looked at me like I lost the plot when I had it bond with the rogue until the first time it smashed through a building to get to him
now that's a 4D chess move.
I gave my party a Gray Render pet. They called him Thump and he bonded to the fighter, to the dismay of both the druid and the ranger. He died, multiple times in fact, and the party spent exorbitant amounts of gold to resurrect it. I thought it was because having a massive tank of a beast that ate horses for breakfast was too useful to give up but they informed me that it was just because they loved him too much to give him up, like an elephant sized puppy.
Currently playing a "smarter" grey render in a near epic campaign.. its acts basically as a giant labrador that follows the celric around. They dress him up give him treats, belly rubs and point him at walls or giants that need tearing down
Adds a whole new level of danger when a mage says, "Oh would you like to meat my familiar"? No, thank you. Hard pass!
Or makes the threat of stars druids that suranded you go from: ,, this is bad'' to: ,, WE GIVE UP".
LMAO!
I like these things. I played in a 3.0 campaign where there was a company of NPC half-orc Paladins that saved our bacon once or twice, but something devastated them and only the leader was left alive. We found him in the lair of a Grey Render, who was doing its best to care for the injured crusader despite it being very clear to us that he would rather be anywhere else. I don't remember how that got resolved, but I don't think we had to fight it. I imagine if we had, I wouldn't have such a fond (if fuzzy) memory of them.
Marsupials. . . Of course this thing would be from fantasy Australia
... wow, accurate.
Yay!
I always loved renders. In one adventures i've put one bounded to a legendary hero long dead. But people thinked he was his sworn enemy, looking to misrepresentable paintings. In the hero's cenotaph i've put a long tunnel filled with traps and at his end a puzzle with the hero's statue with some holes and weapons on an altar. You had to place the right weapon in the right spot (helped by old songs about the final battle of the hero) to unlock a chest. BUT unknown to the party the render was in lethargy in that room, camuflaged with the wall in the back of a colonnade. When he saw, with poor eyesight because of age and sleep, "his master being again stabbed" he went in a rampage. The party was low level, it ended in a chase scene dodging previusly eluded traps. a bit like those Crash Bandicoot levels when you have to flee backward from a boulder or a huge beast. Was funny as hell xD
"I cast the Awaken spell"
I love these things. Just have one guarding a flock of Deer in game. The deer are just standing there, grazing in a meadow, as if nothing can hurt them and the Render is behind a rock or tree. The party will immediately assume something is wrong.
I like to imagine each eye is adapted to see two wavelengths of light for a total visible spectrum of all 12 base colors, putting their vision on about the same tier as mantis shrimps.
Mantis shrimp vision is ... unimaginable.
That's an awesome thought. It makes sense that each eye pair may be attuned to a different form of light. What I think would be interesting is if each pair had some extra sort of magical sense. One pair sees invisibility, another set tracks heat, another senses the Weave. Or something like that. Would make these Renders more terrifying!
Silicone battle mats:
My wife (a chef) cut mine into 3. They are now silicone baking mats, with a handy measuring guide.
I’ll need to buy another 2..
Also, apparently, silicone is alway food and oven safe… also it costs more for 3 oven mats than a single A1 battle mat…
Well, it did, but the kickstarter price will never happen again, the battlemats, combat tracker and character sheet mats are now all available for pre-order at dndwow.com/rpg-mat/
This is my all time favorite monster. What if Dog, but nature of a cat, but size of gorilla.
Oh hey, this is the earliest I've ever been here. Bout to grab myself a tasty beverage
One of my favorite moments in earlyencounters was when my young, cowardly dwarf ranger made a miraculous roll to stop a charging render, holding it off solo and giving the party just enough time to escape the traps theyd fallen in. It was a huge moment for him, facing his fears and holding fast! A great monster
I love Gray Renders!! They are such a funny surprise to show the party that the great beast that nearly killed them suddenly acting like a puppy for little kid lost in the woods.. they are perfect in every sense..
It sounds like if you're homebrewing a fallout campaign, this is what you reskin into a deathclaw.
Deathclaw crossed with a rhino yeah that was my first impression.
Love your content. Thank you for your time and effort.
Bought a mini for this beauty because I thought they looked cool, thanks for teaching me about them! I’ll definitely have to use it in my game now.
I recently used them as the protectors of a sentient sword, once belonged to a titan and the party got a task to find it, on which was a runic prophesy they were to copy off of. I displayed them as allies who are quick to attack on impulse, but always giving it a second thought around the wizard. It built this weird dynamic where the party hurdled behind the wizard instead of the paladin, as they'd usually do. That, and the paladins missing leg.
I gave them ultravision (if you can remember that, you're old). They can see perfectly in the dark, mists and the like, plus they can see magic, so they might not see you under invisibility, but they'll see the magic.
Hey AJ, what a monster, literally! All I remember is claw damage 2d6, knocked prone take 2d8 bludgeoning damage, it was almost endless, than you said Master! Have some little evil Gnome be it's master, the grey render can be blaster! They combine to make Masterblaster! The grey render uses a papoose to carry the Gnome around.
Thanks AJ, you have a wonderful day!
Yes!!!
Oh this is a really good idea. And an example of why gnomes... should always be feared... 👍
I've had a party encounter a young Render, had each roll a percentile for bonding chance. Of all characters, it was the Ninja with the lucky roll. Hilarious to have a stealthy Ninja work around having this Ogre sized powerhouse following it everywhere.
Perhaps instead of being tamed and that leading to their desire for intelligent companionship, perhaps on their homeworld, they lived in tandem with some form of intelligent being which directed them as they braved the storms outside, bringing more food back to their masters
Mill worker: Omgs its a rancor! Other mill worker : No for legal reasons its a render. Mw1: ahhhh mw2: ahhhh run . Splat
Love these monsters! It shows how just adding some quirks and some ribbon lore can turn a simple big beast into an endearing big doggo. Much like your story of the young elf, the last time I ran one of these beasties was with an NPC who CR wasn't any higher than 1.
Gray Render is what I call all of the 3D models I still haven't printed. 😄
ABSOLUTELY! Splendid storytelling mate.
So basically giant doggos and I love them.
Time for a lecture from my favorite professor. 🙂
The singing ritual sounds heart warming
or ear-splitting.
I have a feeling all the sounds they make would be ugly to us, since it's so alien.
Think a cross of a moose, ostrich, and crocodile. Just really weird and abnormal
Maybe they are like ribbon octopus and they have tiny mates that lay eggs in there skin?
Also I read somewhere that silver dragons made these to protect elves. In light of this lore; I'm making it so a plane hopping silver dragon wizard with a zoo of aliens brought them to my setting.
The "Collector"
Never really gave the bonding idea much thought, until now. PS, my players hate that I have begun following your videos.
They may hate the increased danger, but they will learn to love the added complexity of the game world :)
When they're bored of orcs, goblins and bugbears they will appreciate your viewing habits. (I would also watch AJ's video on those creatures to make *them* more interesting/complex)
Actually very much love the backing track on this vid
Imagine a massacred village that died from one of those critters bonding to an abused child!
Bonus so if the party can pull it off without killing the stalker!
Very much looking forward to using one(or more) of these.
Umber Hulk 2.0!
Gallatross
Aj it's been a hot minute since I last wrote a comment, I love your new editing and storytelling style it's familiar yet exciting.
It was my birthday yesterday and it seems like I got a present a day later.
Happy belated birthday Mr_cy
@@AJPickett Thanks AJ
In a campaign i played in the DM made me bond with a grey render for complicated plot reasons. My character was polymorphed by an evil spell into an impish kobold who intimidated people using my friend,the grey render, hid behind him during battles and occasionally rode on his back. Basically a Rocket Racoon and Groot situation, but many years before the movies came out. Absolutely hilarious
That sounds fun. And yeah, the "Big Guy- Little Guy" Theme has been used long before that movie. It's a classic theme.
Thanks for another good one AJ
Interesting creature, thank you.
P O N D E R O R B
Interesting! Thanks for uploading.
8:30 awe, they just want friends
Now there’s a plot hook. The family that’s house was destroyed and they are now fleeing through the wilderness to escape the terrifying beast that hunts them relentlessly day and night
In reality the 10yo kid has bonded the creature while playing in the woods
Almost forgot:
Hail Tharizdun
My party rescued one from a flock of Harpies trying to get him off their land. Now he's bound to our party rogue.
I'm torn between teleporting somewhere dangerous with Dimension Door after grappling the Grey Render and getting rid of it immediately, or running at it head-on and letting its momentum help drive my strike deeper.
The first option is probably safer, and I did learn that my Oath is fine with letting my Paladin use Dimension Door as well as Hold Monster.
*Ah...*
Please do an episode on the Space Penguins called Dohwar from Spelljammer.
Thanks AJ. Didn’t expect the video so soon. Amazing to see it happen so quickly.
Idea
Grey Render bonds with child Necromancer who put a bow on it and called it a cute name, she asks the party to improve her image in a few ways and help her become accepted in the community.
At the end, when the party does all these favors and leaving the notion the girl is alright, she comes into town with a small band of skeletons (of people they won't like so its ok i guess?) The Grey Render....
Only to be pivotal in repelling a wodely hated fanatical sect no one in the town actually liked. Grey Render and wizard girl combo, a party of 3, and alot of clerics. Ends with the lot becoming legends and the girl being accepted.
Boom.
Cast Enhance Ability, raise its Intelligence.
Cast permanency.
Especially if one chooses you.
Name it Hulk. Teach it the cmd, smash.
Love these guys! Awww George...
One of my PCs, Caleb the Eldritch Knight, was transformed into a Grey Render after reading a book that supposedly could defeat Hastur, the Elder God. Sadly the campaign ended before we could cure Caleb and defeat Hastur
What happened if I may ask?
Genuinely excited for this one :)
I like to think the bond is something the mage bred into being stronger that was already there. That these beings form symbiotic relationships naturally as a way to survive their natural habitat and noticing this, maybe because one bonded with him, the mage made sure to strengthen this trait so he could make the species more useful. Maybe not realizing he could not control their propagation very easily.
Love these guys, right up there with umber hulks. Thanks AJ!👍
You realise that makes you sound like a Neogi right? :)
If you are a neogi... how much for an Umber Hulk? I need to replace the once my party just killed.
I love this monster!
Glad you covered it.
Ditto! 😁
I think one way to make the creature slightly more compelling is to give the creature the ability to phycicaly comunicate with its master but instead of it talking to you it would send sensations, images and emotions. If you have ever seen the more sereal digital/analog horror you know the sort of visceral experiences that could happen. For instance, you are talking to someone and suddenly you get vivid psychic visions of the render eating that person , sounds and tastes and all, essentially the monsters way of asking to eat that person. Not all the visions need to be violent but unusual and/or unnerving in some way.
Another use for this physic ability is when the beast is separated from its master. The creature would temperaraly connect with someone it recegnizes as an ally of its master in an attempt to find them. This would likely take the form of a mental barrage of emotions and frantic imagery that is likely to send an unperepered resipient into a catatonic state. Imagine the party has been knocked out, everybody wakes up, the render looked around and let's out a horrific screaming wail and teens to one of the party and that persons mind is flooded with an overwhelming send of fear and anxiety. Then they are hit with a reporting set of imagined and scenes, the smiling face of its masters face, the render running threw darkness searching for its master, the face again, the render falling screaming into a black abyss. the charecter does go catatonic, where that to happen, would likely send the render of the deep end, which isn't good.
Yes! AJ let's go!!!!
Yay! The overgrown puppy gets a video. I've used Grey Renders as dogs for various BBEGs over the years and watched the party lose their minds seeing it just loved their fallen master.
DnD Rancor. 😋😊 Thank you for covering these guys, AJ. One of top 10 favs from DnD.
I think there was a small error here, AJ. You say it weighs "over 4,000 lbs." Just checked the Forgotten Realms Wiki and it says they weigh 4100 kg. Which translates to 9,000 lbs. So I think these statistics got mixed together a bit?
Still, neat monster. They are fairly simple but really those are some of my favorite creatures. I've always been a meat and potatoes kind of person, so something about that simplicity is deeply appealing. A magical apex predator that has an innate drive to bond with a master that meets certain criteria is both unique and fascinating. I'm already imagining a character with a pet siege engine! Thanks for highlighting a creature I've never paid attention to before, these guys deserve some attention.
Hmmm, I must have encountered a Runt or one not fully grown.... a scary thought.
1) What are feelings that the G.R. has for the creature that it protects? Is it love (friend, family, owner, something that can't be described), is it protecting it's property?
2) Is there something the defended can do to breake the bond between them and possibly get them to attack the defended?
3) Can there be more species of G.R.? Some amphibious, some smart, some social, some herbivores (and any other kind of eater), some arborial, some specific to certain planets or elemental plains, some build more for speed, ect.?
4) Are they nocturnal or diurnal?
1) Assigning an emotional state to the creature is anthropomorphizing them. They are motivated by instinct, they do it because that is what is done.
2) Syntax Error (if their master attacks them, the Gray Render will simply retreat to avoid being hurt, and if this keeps up, it will most likely leave permanently).
3) Due to their method of reproduction, genetic diversity is very low and while they are innately adaptable, it is as a species, not as special individual with unique traits.
4) Both, they sleep when they are digesting a huge meal, and hunt when they are hungry again. Hunting is easier for them in the dark.
@@AJPickett Thank you!
Thank you AJ for doing a video on this creature. I absolutely love gray renders.
One of my players is actually rearing a grey render. I designed the scaled down Verizon but it will get stronger as they level up. Provided they live that long.
1.) What determines who it bonds too? The first in a group it lays eyes on?
2.) Also, is there an age when they bond, or whenever?
3.) Can one have multiple bonded to them?
1) The Dungeon Master, 100%.
2) Not that I have seen.
3) I very, very much doubt that they can, no.
Love these guys. Always a fav curiosity. Well done as always
Off topic, but I'd love to hear a discussion about the population of monsters.
Which monsters are more prevalent and which are truly rare.
Thanks!
I would assume most "apex predator" type of monsters would be pretty rare. There is probably only one dragon for every two or three hundred square miles. Large predators are mostly solitary and require a wide territory. There are some exceptions like wolves and lions which form packs or prides. Toril would mostly be herbivores or have multiple tiers of carnivores with populations getting smaller as you climb up the food pyramid. Ancient dragon level creatures would be rare and probably have long dormant periods of hibernating or sleeping otherwise they would run out of food.
@@charaznable9209 to add on to that. The underdark and its strange energies contribute a huge amount of biomass to help feed those populations. I also imagine druids are constantly making efforts to maintain the normal population of normal animals.
Also creatures from other crystal spheres. Really theres a lot to eat if you arent picky lol.
Thats all good stuff. 👍
I was thinking more along the line of, populations, densities, and distribution. Where are the "tamer" lands and where are the "wild" lands.
We know the North is full of badasses and hordes of humanoids, but what is their distribution?
Example.
We know the Giants originated near the Great Glacier, so that's likely giant territory. (More encounters, giant ruins, giant magical items).
@@scottmcley5111 roughly speaking. I feel like theyd mostly be where the prey is. But since theres prey almost everywhere in this world. And theres tons of super predators duking it out for territory all the time everywhere. Youd pretty much be forced into whatever small pockets of the world that only your kind can tolerate.
Your right. You would need a 30 minute aj video atleast to get a grasp on it. You legitimately just have to go through them all and determine from the top down which predators can exist where.
@@jailoutafreecard4414 Right on. That makes sense, although it will make me want to streamline the monsters I use, which disappoints me.
I wonder if these would make a excellent war mount for a ixitxachitls land invasion? 🤔 also a excellent video as always aj !👍
These guys are among my favourite and most memorable monsters from Mordenkainen’s, thanks for taking the time to cover them!
When I first saw this creature in MToF, I thought this thing to be ugly and whatnot. Then I read the text about it and thought 'man, was I wrong'.
Now I think it to be kind of adorable, and even consider this beasty somewhat cute.
One of my absolute favourite creatures in DnD. It's a tiny puppy the size of a fully grown horse, or juvenile elephant.
Strangely reminds me of the Obsaurus, from Toriko Anime?
"It will give a ride to anything that is stronger than it, and will carry out its orders and protect its master until something stronger arrives."
It's all fun and games until Grey Render you've been dragging around all night decides the BBEG (Big Bad Evil Guy) has a higher intelligence rating than your whole party combined.
What's Anime? I'm not familiar with that RPG
Sort of a free will semi intelligent tardigrade like friend that can do the familiar things
Yet another Aj Pickett masterpiece!
AJ I'm really loving the new narrative style of monster ecology. Great stuff man
love child of a rhino and a xenomorph
o r b
Seeing as how you mention it in at least a passing manner in A LOT of your videos, could we get a comprehensive video on SIGIL, THE CITY OF DOORS?
I have the utmost respect for all your tremendously hard work. Keep up the excellent content & thank you for such amazing videos!!
Not sure if this is as comprehensive as you would want, but here is his video on Sigil, as well as his video on The Lady of Pain.
ua-cam.com/video/jOEPGakX4HY/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/QRyFLH2djeQ/v-deo.html
I read 'Grey Reindeer' at first sight and thought, 'Well, that's very season-appropriate."
Also, hmmm, fresh tasty glue stick! :9
Me too! 😁👍
I played a mage that had only 6 strength and could barely move found stumbled across a grey render that served as his body gaurd and way to move around
I'd cook the meat it brought me and share it with them
good video AJ
Good puppy.
Gray Renders reminds me of the brutes from universe at war because they look the same because there also gray alien life forms
Psychic dire hobbit at it again, just getting ready to work
Dont remember ever fighting this. It was an epic monster if i remember well
its like the demon from the outpost TV show. ive only seen a couple of episodes but it has a monster that listens to a girl.
So, let's say you bond with one, I was thinking on this, say you have tattoos that provide effects after attunement, can they attune to them/be attuned to them? (I'm thinking about the Eldritch Claw Tattoo from TCE)
Wanted some opinions.
Back in the 90's, I had a little contest among some friends of mine whom were practicing witches. "Who has the witch's cat with the coolest name!
The three winners, by vote were...
" Widdershins " (White cat with green eyes)
" Mister Peepers" (Rare black cat with bright blue eyes)
"Kaboodle" (ginger tabby... 'For nothing's quite as brutal as the kitten named Kaboodle!)
Which do you folks like best?
Really dude? Really?
@@FLEASPIRIT13 My thoughts exactly. smh
Firstly, Widdershins, because if it's gonna be a witches familiar then it better be named after obscure magical principals that are fun to say.
Oh, secondly, you shouldn't bring your cats out in front of Grey Renders, unless you want it to eat it or bond to it.
Are these the creatures who the party encountered in the realm of the Star Elves in the Last Mythal series ?
No idea sorry
Yes they encounter one on a trail going to the star elf realm.
@somki mcpuff I thought it was , thank you for confirming
I almost wish they were a bit more intelligent and had bulettes as pets. XD
Never heard of this creature before. That's why I watch. 😁