Behaving Like a Monster

Enemies and monsters do not simply exist to be slain for treasure and experience.

Enemies and monsters do not simply exist to be slain for treasure and experience. They have goals, strategies, instincts and needs and taking those into account can create much more engaging encounters.

Aggressive Begging: This creature will beg and may be extremely brazen in terms of trying to get into the players backpacks, steal food from them or try to chase them off from a camp so it can raid it. It has little interest in attacking the players but it gladly will if it does not get it’s way.

Challenging: This creature seems bigger and tougher than usual with at least one extra level. It is looking for a fight to establish dominance but it might flee if things start to go badly for it.

Curious: This creature shows interest and may follow the party from a safe distance. It might alert other creatures and it could take advantage of a moment of distress to attack the party.

Diseased: This creature is likely dying but in its final days it is attacking any prey it can find. There is likely no way to avoid this creature and it is possible that it could infect a player that it injures.

Indifferent: It may be resting, eating a fresh kill or considers the party to be no real threat. So long as nobody gets too close it will continue to ignore them and a bold party member may try to steal something from it.

Injured: It will act extremely aggressive and fight anyone who gets near it. It is missing half it’s hit points and could be appeased with food, assistance or healing.

Ravenous: This creature is extremely hungry and will stalk and eventually ambush a member of the party. It will be receptive to scraps and rations but it might take quite a bit for it to leave the party alone.

Territorial: This creature may be guarding a den with young-lings, or a valuable treasure, or simply an area it has decided to call home. It will fight until the death but if the party flees it will only chase them to the edge of it’s territory.