D&D 5E Seeds inspired by Monster Manual

[Rejuvenator]

Apologies if this is redundant with any other thread, but I just started reading through the Monster Manual and it's already inspiring ideas...

I've had a couple from just the few entries:

The Aboleth Handicap
Aboleths have flawless immortal memories spanning back eons, and knowledge is power, so theoretically aboleths could have used their ultimate lore to evolve towards omniscience and omnipotence. Yes, they are powerful but not as powerful and influential as they presumably could be with all that knowledge, and an aboleth attacked in its lair does not unleash complex spells, retrieved artifacts, etc. My idea is that the aboleths are holding back, that what you see of the aboleths is the tip of an iceberg. An aboleth would rather be killed (and reform in the Elemental Plane of Water) than reveal is true evolving nature. The aboleths have had "untold eons to plot and prepare their plans for perfect execution" so they're very patient, waiting for the right moment to achieve the fantasy equivalent of singularity. The gods aren't fools and know this too, but the aboleths pose no clear and present danger, so most of the gods are more concerned with the present and short-term threats (devils, demons, etc.). Perhaps there is the equivalent of a deific department founded to combat the aboleth threat but it is woefully understaffed and underfunded.

Guardian Angels = Devas
Devas are said to take mortal forms for years according to legends. They can raise dead and heal any curse/disease/poison/blindness/deafness. The world is a very dangerous place and, by all accounts (and the "Monster density and wilderness settlements" thread), a lot of regular folk should be dying in droves. My idea is that disguised devas embedded in communities is quite common. And it's not just a legend. The children stories about guardian angels are completely true. Devas use their powers to save countless lives across the lands. The most obvious healings are celebrated as miracles by priests. The devas always remain in disguise, though, because a revealed deva will quickly be overwhelmed by petitioners. (PCs who learn the truth of this might try to seek out a deva for healing at every village, but it's actually a well kept secret masked as superstition, miracles and children stories, and besides, most devas heal the poor and needy and innocent, not reckless adventurers.)

It would be great to share and discuss ideas (little or big, germinating or fully fledged) amongst ourselves.

 

[Rejuvenator]

Ancient Animated Defenders
At least one D&D nation ought to exist amidst the ruins of a great fallen empire. Animated armor and flying weapons (and a handful of rugs of smothering that survived the ages) still stand and protect the current population. The animated objects are commanded by three laws: never injure a human, obey orders from humans (except to injure humans) and protect themselves (if it doesn't conflict with the first two laws). For all but the oldest animated guardians, the artificers of that fallen empire had reworked the animation spells to include elves, dwarves, halflings, and maybe gnomes. Tieflings and dragonborn were never accounted for in the revised Three Laws and don't feel quite safe. The citizens of this nation feel comfortable and secure with their animated guardians, but most of the populace is in denial that more and more animated objects are suffering a high rate of attrition and nobody in the current age knows how to make more in such numbers.

 

[Sacrosanct]

I really like this MM. I've had dozens of campaign ideas from the flavor text. Mummy lords, medusa, slaads, nagas, yuan-ti, you name it. I'm really Jonsing for a sequel to Dwellers of the Forbidden City meets Conan the Barbarian. Just screams snake cult.

 

[Drammattex]

I'm really Jonsing for a sequel to Dwellers of the Forbidden City meets Conan the Barbarian. Just screams snake cult.

Was running Dwellers of the Forbidden City via Dungeon World last year, but due to schedule conflicts we weren't able to get far. I really want to try it again in D&D5. Give your goblins spears, nets, and advantage on climbing and you have tasloi.

 

[jamesjhaeck]

Ancient Animated Defenders
At least one D&D nation ought to exist amidst the ruins of a great fallen empire. Animated armor and flying weapons (and a handful of rugs of smothering that survived the ages) still stand and protect the current population. The animated objects are commanded by three laws: never injure a human, obey orders from humans (except to injure humans) and protect themselves (if it doesn't conflict with the first two laws). For all but the oldest animated guardians, the artificers of that fallen empire had reworked the animation spells to include elves, dwarves, halflings, and maybe gnomes. Tieflings and dragonborn were never accounted for in the revised Three Laws and don't feel quite safe. The citizens of this nation feel comfortable and secure with their animated guardians, but most of the populace is in denial that more and more animated objects are suffering a high rate of attrition and nobody in the current age knows how to make more in such numbers.

I never knew I wanted to play Asimov's D&D before now!