#yearofthemonster
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nightnoon.games
@jpcoovert.bsky.social's latest youtube video is all about drawing one of my #YearoftheMonster creations, the Lizardfolk Wizard!

I'm having a TON of fun working on the Shadowdark adaptation of JP's Dragon Town and the Darkness Below, which should be released in early summer!

Check out the video:
Drawing Old-School D&D Monsters!
YouTube video by JP Coovert
youtu.be
February 23, 2025 at 3:29 PM
nightnoon.games
The Orange Ball of Hate, is inspired by a Mountain Goats song and absolutely nothing, nothing else. (#YearoftheMonster 20/365)

#Shadowdark
Orange ball of hate A small wrinkled sphere that floats just off the ground turning humanoids to hate. AC 11, HP 4, ATK 1 hate monger (near) +1 (1d4 + hate), MV near (hover), S -2, D +2, C -1, I -5, W -5, Ch -4, AL C, LV 1 Hate. DC 12 or consumed with hate for 1d4 rounds.
January 21, 2025 at 1:22 AM
nightnoon.games
Coming in hot is another monster I've adapted for Shadowdark as part of @rollforcombat.bsky.social 's new BattleZoo Bestiary! I especially love the art on the Ghostwriter!

Sign up to be notified when the campaign goes live: buff.ly/PhrdSU2

#YearoftheMonster 65/365
Stats and background on the Ghostwriter monster for Shadowdark.
March 8, 2025 at 12:36 AM
nightnoon.games
You just can't go wrong with a CLASSIC Shadowdark Stingbat!

#YearoftheMonster Day 72/365
Stingbat Darting, orange insect-bat with four wings and needlelike beak. AC 12, HP 4, ATK 1 beak +2 (1d4 + blood drain), MV near (fly), S -2, D +2, C +0, I -2, W +0, Ch -2, AL N, LV 1 Blood Drain. Attach to bitten target; auto-hit the next round. DC 9 STR on turn to remove.
March 14, 2025 at 11:34 PM
nightnoon.games
I rolled in the Shadowdark core rules that my monster would be crystalline, it's strength would be that it swallows whole, and that it's weakness is salt. Thus the Crystalline Cube was born! If a party runs into this monster, they might be in for some trouble!

#YearoftheMonster #Shadowdark (9/365)
January 9, 2025 at 5:31 PM
nightnoon.games
Bonmen are different than skeletons... I promise! Look, they can turn into a puddle and spawn more Bone Lamas to join the Legion of Bones!!!

But seriously, tweaking existing monsters is a great way to create something unexpected for players.

#YearoftheMonster (23/365) #Shadowdark
January 23, 2025 at 5:31 PM
nightnoon.games
One week into posting a Shadowdark monster daily for #YearoftheMonster, and today I present you with the Lady of the Deep!

She was inspired by Billy Blue's art and is the perfect baddie for a party to encounter if they're slinking around caves near the ocean or even if they're out to sea.

(8/365)
January 8, 2025 at 5:31 PM
nightnoon.games
Usual distances in Shadowdark are close, near, and far. However, double close does show up once between the core rules and Cursed Scrolls appearing as a range for the pike in CS2.

I think it makes sense to use more frequently as I have here with the Whippersnapper. #yearofthemonster (11/365)
January 11, 2025 at 5:31 PM
nightnoon.games
Another monster made through random generation! These lizards are REALLY cold blooded!

I am now exactly ONE FIFTH through this project. It feels like a milestone for sure.

#Shadowdark #YearoftheMonster Day 73/365
Lizard, Arctic Cold-equipped with ice running through their veins giving their spit freezing properties. AC 13, HP 10, ATK 1 bite +3 (1d6) and 1 spit (near) +3 (1d6 + iced), MV near, S +2, D +2, C +1, I -1, W +0, Ch -3, AL N, LV 2 Iced. DC 12 CON or 1d4 damage each round until thawed with a successful check.
March 15, 2025 at 8:40 PM
nightnoon.games
Any idea what inspired this #Shadowdark monster?

I'd love to hear your guesses.

#YearoftheMonster Day 69/365 (nice)
One Million doll hairs A relentless carpet looking to shadow its victims in darkness before swallowing them alive. AC 12, HP 35, ATK 2 hair wave (2d6 + engulf), MV double near, S +4, D +2, C +3, I -2, W +0, Ch +1, AL N, LV 7 Liquid Solid. Moves and acts as if water. Engulf. If a target is hit by both hair waves in same round, it is consumed by the one million doll hair's body and suffocates in 2d4 rounds. DC 15 STR on turn to escape.
March 12, 2025 at 12:31 AM
nightnoon.games
Earbite is a riff on the classic Witch spell Eyebite which I think will be a lot of fun, especially if it were to be cast from hiding before the rats swarm a character.

#YearoftheMonster #Shadowdark #OSR (7/365)
January 7, 2025 at 5:31 PM
nightnoon.games
I'm not going to pretend I know what inspired @jpcoovert.bsky.social 's art here, but I'd put money on Tangela coming into play.

The Shadowdark conversion of Dragon Town, which this monster is party of, is coming along with an expected completion date of early summer!

#YearoftheMonster (36/365)
Thorny Bush Guardians of Malumir Castle. Will attack intruders on sight AC 11, HP 6, ATK 1 thorn thrash +1 (1d6 + poison) or 1 thorn shot (near) +1 (1d4 + poison), MV near, S -3, D -1, C +1, I +0, W -1, Ch -2, AL L, LV 1 Impervious. Poison immune. Poison. DC 12 CON or drowsy and movement is halved. Can only be cured with magic or a Mire Breath Lichen potion. Tangela pokemon.
February 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
nightnoon.games
I used Knave 2e to design a monster before realizing it was WAY close to one I had made for BattleZoo Bestiary for Shadowdark!

So, instead of seeking eyes, this monster seeks the truth.

My kickstarter campaign is in its final push! buff.ly/mlZ3ItS

#YearoftheMonster 63/365
Truth Seeker A cursed soul with shrived skin stretched taught over its bones. It relentlessly pursues horrid truths. AC 12, HP 26, ATK 2 claw +4 (1d8 + dishonest rage) , MV near, S +3, D +1, C +3, I -3, W +1, Ch +-4, AL C, LV 5 Detect Lies and Truths. Can always tell if someone is lying. Dishonest Rage. Attacks deal double damage against targets who have told any lie in the past 10 rounds.
March 6, 2025 at 12:34 AM
nightnoon.games
I haven't run this by anyone with a PhD in biomechanics or anything, but it makes sense to me that if a monster has three legs, it can run faster. And since a Fuzzzel has three legs, I figure it deserved three Zs as well.

#Shadowdark #YearoftheMonster (5/365)
Fuzzzel Covered in long fur with three legs, a short torso, and stubby arms. They never stray far from woodland cover. AC 12, HP 24, ATK 2 claw +4 (1d8), MV double near (climb), S +3, D +3, C +1, I +0, W +1, Ch -2, AL N, LV 5 Three-legged. Fuzzzle is not impacted by difficult terrain.
January 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
nightnoon.games
Kairosoviat is another monster inspired by rolling on tables!

Do you think Weapon Wary is a good talent, or would the players have a hard time figuring it out?

#Shadowark #YearoftheMonster (Day 52/365)
February 22, 2025 at 4:19 AM
nightnoon.games
In an episode of his great GM podcasting last week, @slyflourish.com mentioned his favorite statblock in the new 5e24 Monster Manual is the Cultist, Fanatic!

Mike, any thoughts on how my Shadowdark version holds up?

#YearoftheMonster (42/365)
Cultist, Fanatic A cult leader gone mad by accessing secrets and unlocking a great, long- forgotten power. AC 14 (leather), HP 18, ATK 2 dagger +2 (1d8) or 1 spell +2, MV near, S +1, D -1, C +0, I -1, W +3, Ch +0, AL C, LV 4 Fearless. Immune to morale checks. Deathtouch (WIS Spell). DC 12. 2d4 damage to one creature within close. Conjure Flames (WIS Spell). DC 12. One target in far takes 2d6 damage. Command (WIS Spell). DC 15. Focus. Target in earshot obeys a simple command on its next turn and nothing else.
February 11, 2025 at 6:11 PM
nightnoon.games
A creation by @jpcoovert.bsky.social for his book Dragon Town and the Darkness Below (preorder: https://buff.ly/3WgcAOt). I converted its stats for use in Shadowdark!

Care to make your own Shadowdark monsters? Check out my new project: https://buff.ly/3Ch6gQg

#YearoftheMonster (41/365)
Sludge Behemoth The sounds of its lumbering footsteps always proceeds this defender of Malumir Castle. It mindlessly patrols the interior with the sole purpose of protecting the doorway to the dragon's tower, usually by crushing intruders. AC 14, HP 35, ATK 2 slime punch (half near) +6 (2d6 + grab), MV near, S +4, D +1, C +3, I -1, W +0, Ch -1, AL L, LV 7 Absorb Slime. Behemoth absorbs another slime and recovers its remaining HP. It may also absorb chunks of its own slime that have been lopped off to regain 1d6 HP. Charge. 1/turn, move up to double near in straight line and make 1 slime punch attack. If hit, x3 damage. Attacks made in this way do not grab. Grab. DC 15 STR or held in slime. DC 15 STR to break free on turn. Chuck. In place of 1 slime punch, hurl grabbed creature up to near dealing 2d4 damage.
February 10, 2025 at 6:10 PM
nightnoon.games
High level monsters are few and far between in Shadowdark with only 15 being of levels 15+. Today I present you with another monster to introduce into high-level play: the Lone Titan!

Fun fact: the Corkle mountains are named after a gas station.

#Shadowdark #YearoftheMonster (Day 60 of 365)
Lone Titan The titans are now known only in myths. Thought to have once roamed the globe as nomads, none have been seen for centuries. However, one still sleeps, buried beneath a series of hills at the base of the Corkle mountains. One day the titan is bound to awake from its slumber, whether it be an earthquake or the beckoning of a sorcerer enlisting powerful magic. What happens then is anybody's guess. AC 20, HP 112, ATK 3 wreck (near) +10 (2d12) and 1 crush (near) +10 (3d12 + pulverize), MV triple near, S +7, D +2, C +4, I -3, W +1, Ch -2, AL N, LV 24 Legendary. Hostile spells targeting the titan are DC 16 to cast. Attacks against you with nonmagical weapons deal half damage. Colossal Might. Can crash through even fortified buildings with ease. Titan's Rage. When titan drops below half HP, they enter a berserk state for 10 rounds. During this time they may take one additional wreck attack each round. Pulverize. On a natural attack roll of 18+, attack does 3x damage.
March 2, 2025 at 8:50 PM
nightnoon.games
You don't want to mess with these little critters! While they seem innocuous, once a Psychic Slug takes hold of your mind, there's no telling store!

I'm posting a new Shadowdark monster every day as part of #YearoftheMonster! This is (15/365). If you use one at your table, let me know how it goes!
Psychic Slug These slugs often wait for their victims in small groups, placing themselves near where humanoids are likely to sleep. They slowly crawl towards their prey, or occasionally drop themselves from cave ceilings or tree branches. Attaching themselves to a creature causes the victim to lose control of their movements as brain functions are overridden by the slug’s psychic powers. AC 9, HP 15, ATK 2 bite +4 (1d6 + attach), MV close, S +0, D -2, C +2, I -4, W +1, Ch -4, AL N, LV 3 Rubbery. Half damage from stabbing weapons. Attach. DC 12 CON or mind is controlled by slug. Reroll at the end of each turn to overcome. Creatures with INT of 8 or lower are unaffected.
January 15, 2025 at 6:11 PM
nightnoon.games
If the party has a priest with them, getting bitten may not be a huge deal. But if they don't and they're deep in a dungeon, it could sure spell trouble!

Also, my Shadowdark monster-making zine launches on Tuesday!!!
https://buff.ly/3Ch6gQg

#YearoftheMonster (Day 47/365)
Zombie, Snake Necrotic magic has brought these serpents back from the dead. AC 13, HP 20, ATK 2 bite +3 (1d6 + necrosis) and 1 constrict (near), MV near, S +2, D +0, C +2, I -2, W -1, Ch -3, AL C, LV 4 Undead. Immune to morale checks. Necrosis. Necrotic venom quickly kills the flesh bite wound. If not treated by a priest within 1d4 days, during which he target cannot regain HP, they will fully succumb to the venom and become a mindless zombie. Constrict. Contested STR to hold target immobile for 1 rd.
February 16, 2025 at 5:37 PM
nightnoon.games
Does a two-headed bear need twice the food? I don't think it does, but it still likes to eat a lot. I think the Two-Headed talent can come into play in really interesting ways as it may catch a spellcaster off-guard when their spell doesn't work as intended.

#Shadowdark #YearoftheMonster (6/365)
Bear, Two-Headed A monstrous creature with two heads as ferocious as they are indecisive. AC 13, HP 35, ATK 2 bite +6 (2d6) and 1 claw +6 (1d8), MV near (climb), S +4, D +1, C +3, I -2, W -1, Ch -2, AL N, LV 7 Two-Headed. Counts as two creatures for spells that impact their target mentally. Indecisive. Heads tend to fight one another if they disagree.
January 6, 2025 at 5:31 PM
nightnoon.games
With all of the hubbub of my monster-making kickstarter launching, I almost forgot to post my daily Shadowdark monster for #YearoftheMonster!

It's fun to make variations on existing monsters, or mash up monsters together. I've done both of those things here with the Giant, Shadow!

(Day 49/365)
Giant, Shadow The spirit of a slain giant whose desire for vengeance keeps them tethered to the world of the living. AC 14, HP 41, ATK 3 spectral club +6 (2d10 + life drain), MV double near (float), S -2, D +4, C +0, I +0, W +2, Ch +3, AL C, LV 9 Greater Undead. Immune to morale checks. Only damaged by silver or magical sources. Incorporeal. In place of attacks, become corporeal or incorporeal. Life Drain. 1d4 CON damage. Death if reduced to 0 CON.
February 19, 2025 at 12:38 AM
nightnoon.games
Hilelxintog is one of my favorite monsters. I liked them so much I commissioned a SICK piece of art from Yuri Perkowski to go along with the stat block!

Hilelxintog is included in my monster-making zine quest as well! - www.kickstarter.com/projects/mic...

#YearoftheMonster #Shadowdark (57/365)
Hilelxintog: The Vampire Dragon Though Hilelxintog (hi-lel-x-in-tog) died, he did not perish. His body, while still powerful, has taken a gaunt and sinewy new form. The red scales that had made him glisten as if gold lost their luster. The wings that once cast solid shadows on those below are tattered and riddled with holes. Though he still thirsts for treasure, he now also thirsts for blood. AC 18, HP 90, ATK 2 Bite +11 (1d10 + blood drain) and 2 rend +11 (2d12) or 1 charm or 1 fire breath, MV double near (fly), S +6, D +4, C +4, I +4, W +3, Ch +4, AL C, LV 19 Supreme Undead. Immune to morale checks. Only damaged by magical sources. Blood Drain. Vampire heals 2d6 HP and target loses 1d4 CON. At 0 CON, target dies and rises as a Vampire Spawn. Charm. One humanoid target who can see the vampire dragon within near, DC 15 CHA or under vampire dragon's control. Shapechange. In place of attacks, turn into a bat, wolf, vampiric flames, or back into regular form. Weak against water while in flame form. Vampire. Must sleep in a lair daily or loses 2d6 HP each day that can't be healed until resting in lair. Takes 3d8 damage each round while in direct sunlight. Cannot be killed unless pierced through heart with a wooden stake while at 0 HP.
February 28, 2025 at 3:34 AM
nightnoon.games
Here's a cute lil fella I converted for @rollforcombat.bsky.social's upcoming Battlezoo Bestary for Shadowdark!

More info: shadowdark.rollforcombat.com

#YearoftheMonster (Day 55/365)
Blood Mouse: AC 12, HP 4, ATK 1 proboscis +2 (1 + blood drain), MV near, S -1, D +2, C +0, I +2, W +0, Ch +1, AL N/L Blood Drain. Attach to hit the target; auto-hit next round for 1d4 damage. DC 12 STR on their turn to remove. Soothing Aroma. Living creatures DC 9 WIS the first time within close or stupefied for 1 round.
February 25, 2025 at 1:13 AM
nightnoon.games
Another instance of the art inspiring the monster! This dude reminded me of Slimer, so I went with a sloppy, slimy, mindless theme for it.

Just a few days left in my Shadowdark monster-making kickstarter, too!: buff.ly/mlZ3ItS

#Shadowdark #YearoftheMonster (Day 62/365)
Slobber Grabber A wizard's experiment gone awry, this three-eyed, three-armed mindless creature desires the possessions of others. AC 12, HP 21, ATK 1 bite +3 (1d6 + slobber) and 2 slap +3 (1d6 + grab), MV near (hover), S +2, D +1, C +3, I -4, W +0, Ch -2, AL C, LV 4 Slobber. Target is covered in a thick layer of slick, gooey saliva. Grab. DC 12 STR or slobber grabber rips an item from target's possession. DISADV if they have been slobbered on.
March 4, 2025 at 9:07 PM