Building The Perfect Beast: A D&D 3.5 online monster generator
Recently, Campaign Mastery recieved a comment to one of our blogs informing us of an online monster/NPC generator available at Dingle Games. While the comment was not approved as it was unrelated to the post in question, we felt the product itself was worth a look: http://www.dinglesgames.com/tools/MonsterGenerator/dnd35/
I decided to test it out by constructing a creature that I need for my next Shards Of Divinity session, a Leonine. As with most such creatures, I decided to base the characteristics on an existing creature; looking over the choices on offer, I chose a Gnoll because its characteristics and behaviour most closely matched what I wanted for the new race. I had already decided that this species inherantly came with 4 levels of Barbarian, and had enhanced Str, Dex, Con, and Char. I was also of the opinion that just as lions are larger than most cats, so a lion-related humanoid would be large in size than an ordinary man. Finally, I wanted to play around with the number of class levels of Fighter that this particular (typical) specimen would have until I had the mix right.
The Monster Generator let me achieve all that. I started with 4 levels of fighter, but increased that to 6 after looking at the results. I was able to select from amongst the different feats on offer to suit, and to equip the creature with a +1 scimitar. I was also able to play around with the degree of enhancement I was going to include in the base characteristics for the race until I achieved a pack hunter design that I was happy with.
This is the text version of what the program output for me:
Name:
Gnoll (Large Humanoid)
Fighter level 6 (skill points 6) Knight
Barbarian level 4 (skill points 12) Scout
Hit die: 2d8+6d10+4d12+36(104hp)
Init: 8
Speed: 30
AC: 19 + Hide + Shield, heavy steel
AC flat footed :15
AC Touch: 13
Base Attack/Grapple: 11/21
Attack: +18 (++1/++1) Scimitar 1d8+9
or +14 Shortbow 1d8
Full attack: +18/13/8 (++1/++1) Scimitar 1d8+9
+10 Dagger, punching 1d6+3
or +14/9/4 Shortbow 1d8(range 70)
Space/Reach: 5/5
Special Attacks:
Rage +4 con +4 Str +2 +2 will save -2 AC per day 2
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60,
Fast movement Land Movement raised by 10
Illiteracy Cannot Read/Write
Trap Sense Reflex save and AC when dealing with traps bonus 1
Uncanny Dodge Retains Dex bonus if flat footed
Saves: Fort +15, Ref +7, Will +3
Abitities: Str 22, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 11, Chr 14
Skills: Climb 3, Handle Animal 4, Hide -3, Intimidate 4, Jump 3, Listen 2, Ride 6, Spot 3, Survival 2, Swim -3,
Feats: Blind-fight, Improved Critical, Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse, Armour prof heavy, Armour prof light, Armour prof medium, Improved Overrun, Martial Weap Prof, Power Attack, Shield Proficiency, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Tower Shield Proficiency, Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization,
This still isn’t perfect for my needs; I will have to modify the design to accommodate the house rules in use within that particular campaign. Nevertheless, a few seconds’ of playing around saved me at least an hour’s work.
How does the tool compare with a product such as Redblade 3.5? That lets me create new races, incorporate new feats and new skills, equip the creature with more variety of magic items, and output a far more substantial result, including descriptions and comments. I have Redblade; do I really need Dingle Game’s monster generator?
The answer is that the two compliment each other. Experimentation is quicker and easier using the Dingle Games generator because you can see the results all in one place, and the result is something that I could use in a pinch with minimal tweaking. In terms of deciding WHAT to feed into Redblade, the Dingle Generator was superb.
Redblade is perhaps better once the details and specifics of what the race is going to be like are nailed down, because I can retain permanently any campaign customisation that I take the time to enter into its system.
What’s more, the author of the online generator promises more refinements and add-ons to come. That makes it an extremely valuable resource to any GM, and one worth knowing about.
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March 9th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Hmmm… looks neat.
CR calculations don’t seem to factor in associated classes.
Stuart’s last blog post..Rising Stars
March 9th, 2009 at 10:51 am
I can see Pathfinder referees and the DMs who aren’t playing 4E being grateful for the assist.
I know I am (looks up from his 3.5E notes). What?
Part of me wonders if we should tell Monte Cook about this? :-)
satyre’s last blog post..big plot, little plot
March 9th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
That’s cool. 10 seconds to add class levels and generate a monster? I’m glad I stuck with 3.5.
Ambrose’s last blog post..Give Peace a Chance: Negotiating Peace Treaties in Role Playing Games
March 9th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Good catch, Stuart – but that’s an easy fix to correct, either on the output (now that we know about it) and in the program.
March 9th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Mike Thanks for the blog (If it was you that asked for pirates, sea captains, etc I’ve added them in). Any other additional monster or focus’s let me know and I’ll add them. Core books only though, don’t want to be shut down.
Stuart thanks for pointing out the CR problem, I’ll get around to fixing it. I noticed that it wasn’t on the print copy and added it a few days ago. But you are right about the associated classes (I thought no one would notice). I’ll do it properly now.
paul@dinglesgames.com
March 13th, 2009 at 8:44 am
That monster generator is something sweet, indeed! I almost bought DM Genie to get the capability that thing has in a quick easy web form. It’s so simple! You rock, Dingle!
March 14th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Thanks Noumenon, glad you liked it.
Any suggestions on improvements?
Paul (Dingles games)
May 18th, 2009 at 12:40 am
Is there a way to get a offline version of this monster program. I have a friend who likes to run sweeping world changing games, and has no problem designing maps, rp data, npcs but falters heavily when it comes to inventing monsters/random encounters on the fly and he gets annoyed somewhat when we tell him to use a monster manual becuase it breaks the pace of the game. We’ve tried to get MonsterForge to run on his hardware but for some reason it won’t. An offline version of this would do very well.
May 18th, 2009 at 1:13 am
That’s a question that is more properly put to the author of the software, paul@dinglesgames.com. You could try saving the web page (usually a menu command under “file”). This does mean that you would miss out on any upgrades, though. If that doesn’t work, keep looking; there may be other choices out there that would be just as suitable and will work perfectly. You could also try contacting the authors of MonsterForge about the difficulties you’re experiencing with their software and asking them for help.
May 19th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Hi LeatherCow,
Thanks for the comments on the site. I am not planning on creating an offline version of the project at the moment. The site uses php and databases on the server so it would not be possible to use it by saving the web page. Sorry.
Paul (Dingles games)’s last blog post..The Lion man
June 9th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I’ve recently added an NPC generator to the site that also allows spell selection (All PHB spells) and treasure allocation. I’ve also fixed a few bugs (including better CR calcuations) and added in more monsters.
Paul (Dingles games)’s last blog post..The Lion man
July 1st, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Just a heart meant Thank-you for Mike for doing the review :).
Campaign Mastery has consistently had the top number of visits and number of pages viewed (compared with any other site I’ve posted on) to my site.
If there is anything anyone would like included to the site please let me know. I am planning on working full time on the site until the end of the year, so any suggestions could well beome a reality.
I am planning on:
The saving of your NPC creations online.
Random encounter generators,
Creating your own monsters and saving them into your monster lists.
Adding extra options to the treasure generator (e.g. wizard/Sorcerer, Fighter, rogue, etc, specific items)
Thanks again Mike,
paul@dinglesgames.com
Paul (Dingles games)’s last blog post..Logging in to Dingle’s Games
July 1st, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Hey, if the product was no good, I would have said so. You’ve earned every one of those visitors! Thanks for providing such a great resource!
October 9th, 2009 at 9:09 am
I’ve now added a monster creator to the wed site so you can add in and design your own monsters.
There is also an Encounter Generator/Rogues Gallery
.-= Paul (Dingles games)´s last blog ..It’s My Turn to DM =-.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:37 am
That sounds great, Paul. I’ll have to dig it out in the near future (I’ve got a lot of Drow to generate and then customise), plus a few of their ‘pets’. Your program won’t help too much with the customise section (the campaign has some unique skills that I have to add) but should take all the gruntwork out of the first part of the process.
October 20th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Mike, if you tell me what login your using I’ll set you up as a lifetime member, everything is still free at the moment but I will soon be putting restrictions on the monster creation tools.
.-= Paul (Dingles games)´s last blog ..It’s My Turn to DM =-.
October 20th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
I appreciate that, Paul, but I’m not currently registered at your site. The link you provided goes directly to the page of the utility. I hope that a basic level of the tool will still remain free, though.
Mike
October 21st, 2009 at 6:07 am
Yes thats the plan the Monster/NPC generator and Treasure Generator will remain free, as is.
You will need to register to use the Monster Creator tools. If you do let me know.
Paul
.-= Paul (Dingles games)´s last blog ..It’s My Turn to DM =-.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:53 am
Thanks, Paul. I have to admit that I’m not completely clear on the difference between the “Monster/NPC” generator and the “Monster Creator” tools, though — maybe you’ld like to reply with a quick synopsis of what the tools do, and especially the differences between them.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:43 pm
The Monster and NPC Generator are now the same generator (I left the different headings on as people are linking directly to the pages, and better hit rates from Google). I was planning on Charging for the NPC generator but in the end decided to keep it free, so there was no need to keep 2 versions of the same code. The old Monster Generator was, after all, just a cut down version of the NPC generator. This Generator allows charcter levels to be added to monsters and also the increase of Monsrer Hit Die. As well as the allocation of magic items and spells.
The Monster Creator tools allow you to create a new monster, you type in the monster stats as they appear in the MM, MM2, etc you can then use this monster in the NPC/ Monster Generator. You can also create new Templates with this tool. As these new monsters are only available to the creator, it allows entering none SRD monsters to the generator, as well as creating your own monster and template designs.
.-= Paul (Dingles games)´s last blog ..Would you like to write a review? =-.
June 28th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
hey i was hoping that you could put in the “death knight” base for 3.5 as i have a boss monster i want to create for my game but alas this is not so easy when i do not have the 3.5 books [only 3.0] and they did not put those in [death knight base rules] until 3.5 MM2
would be a great help thank you
June 28th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Unfortunately, Casey, the Monster Generator is something we reviewed, not something that we wrote. Paul of Dingles Games, the author, monitors these comments so he should become aware of your request and hopefully will take action. In the meantime, this link http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Death_Knight_(3.5e_Class) may be of use to you.
June 29th, 2011 at 9:45 am
Hi Casey,
Sorry, I can’t use MM2 monsters as they are not covered in the SRD, so I would be breaking copyright rules.
Paul