Beware the Hodag!

As most of you probably aren't aware, the hodag is a cryptid from the USA, specifically the state of Wisconsin. It's pretty well accepted that it was a hoax, but its influence lives on. There is actually a hodag festival.

I'm not sure that I'm entirely happy with what I came up with for the hodag, but I'm not finding any inspiration, so here it is.

This lovely picture is by Frank Parr. Used with permission.

Hodag

Large monstrosity, unaligned

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)

Hit Points 76 (9d10+27)

Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.

Str                    Dex                  Con                  Int                    Wis                  Cha

19 (+4)             10 (+0)             16 (+3)             3 (-4)               12 (+1)             3 (-4)

Saving Throws Con +5

Skills Stealth +4

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11

Languages –

Challenge 3

Charge. If the hodag moves at least 20 feet straight towards a target and then hits it with a gore attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 10 (2d10) damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8+4) piercing damage.

Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10+4) piercing damage.

The hodag is a solitary and territorial predator that inhabits temperate woods. It is a large, thick-bodied lizard-like creature with short legs that end with clawed feet. The hodag’s body is covered with dark green fur, its mouth has large, vicious fangs and a pair of forward sweeping horns grows from the top of it head. Spikes grow from its back along its spine, sprouting from its nape to the end of its tail.

Despite its somewhat ungainly appearance, the hodag is surprisingly stealthy. It is also a proficient climber, able to use its claws to aid in its efforts. The hodag is also a very robust creature, seemingly more resistant to such things as poisons if only through sheer stubbornness.

Lone Hunters

Hodags live alone in wild, wooded places, claiming a large hunting territory. They will only tolerate another member of their species when it is time to mate, with the pair immediately going their separate ways once it is done. At any other time, two hodags who cross each other’s paths will battle until one is finally forced to flee.

Fearless Predators

Hodags are vicious predators, and they fear very little. They will eat just about anything they can kill, though they seem to have a peculiar fondness for dog flesh. They will only hesitate to attack something that is obviously significantly more powerful than they are.

Hodags despise the scent of lemons. While not harmful to them, they will generally avoid an area that smells of the fruit. Travelers who know they are passing through a hodag’s territory will typically make sure they have some of the fruit with them to ward off the beast. If the traveler is lucky, it will actually work.

Deathstroke and Wildcat for Blood of Heroes

I think my inspiration for the Arrowverse is played out for the moment. I give you Deathstroke, major bad ass villain turned doorstop in a secret prison, and Wildcat, ex-vigilante, gym owner and guy written out of the series due to the actor signing on with a different show.

Deathstroke

Dex: 10/7        Str: 7/5            Body: 8/6

Int: 6                Will: 9              Mind: 9

Infl: 7               Aura: 7              Spirit: 8

Initiative: 25/22                      Hero Points: 80

Powers: Analytical Smell & Taste/ Tracking Scent 3, Regeneration 3, Super Hearing 3, Telescopic Vision 3

Limitation: Analytical Smell & Taste/ Tracking Scent is limited to Analytical Smell & Taste

Skills: Acrobatics 10*/7*, Charisma (Interrogation, Intimidation) 8, Martial Artist 10*/7*, Medicine (First Aid) 7, Military Science 6*, Thief 10*/7*, Vehicles 6, Weaponry 10*/7*

Advantages: Area Knowledge (Lian Yu), Intensive Training, Iron Nerves, Leadership, Lightning Reflexes, Sharp Eye

Drawbacks: Serious Irrational Hatred (Oliver Queen), Minor Physical Restriction (Missing Eye), Minor Psychological Instability

Equipment:

DEATHSTROKE SUIT (Body: 9)

Handgun (Body: 4, EV: 5, Range: 5, Ammo: 6, R#: 2)

Knife (Body: 5, EV: 3)

Sword (Body: 8, EV: 4)

Background:

Alter Ego: Slade Wilson

Wealth: 0

Motivation: Mercenary

Occupation: Mercenary/ Assassin

Marital Status: Unknown

Known Relatives: Joe Wilson (son)

Base of Operations: currently Lian Yu

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 185 lbs

Age: 47

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Dark Brown

Note: Deathstroke's higher stats & skills, as well as his powers, are when he was under the effects of Mirakuru. Once Oliver neutralized the Mirakuru in Slade's system, he lost his powers and his stats & skills changed to the lower numbers.

Wildcat

Dex: 5              Str: 4                Body: 5

Int: 3                Will: 5              Mind: 5

Infl: 4               Aura: 4               Spirit: 5

Initiative: 14                            Hero Points: 45

Skills: Charisma (Intimidation) 5, Martial Artist 7, Medicine (First Aid) 4, Thief (Concealment, Stealth) 7, Weaponry (Melee) 7

Advantages: Area Knowledge (Starling City), Lightning Reflexes, Headquarters (Confined), Connection: Black Canary (High)

Drawbacks: Mistrust, Secret Identity

Equipment:

Brass Knuckles (Body: 5, EV: 2)

Knife (Body: 5, EV: 3)

Nunchakus (Body: 5, EV: 3)

Background:

Alter Ego: Ted Grant

Wealth: 4

Motivation: Seeking Justice

Occupation: Gym Owner

Marital Status: Single

Known Relatives: None

Base of Operations: Starling City

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 181 lbs

Age: 35

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Dark Brown

The Canary Sisters from Arrow for Blood of Heroes

hlowing up the the archers from Arrow for the Blood of Heroes RPG, here are the Lance sister, Laurel and Sara. Sara's physical stats reflect her post-Lazarus Pit status.

The Archers

Deathstroke & Wildcat

Black Canary

Dex: 5              Str: 3                Body: 5

Int: 6                Will: 6              Mind: 6

Infl: 6               Aura: 6              Spirit: 6

Initiative: 19                            Hero Points: 50

Skills: Charisma (Interrogation, Intimidation) 7, Detective 6, Martial Artist 6, Vehicles (Land) 4, Weaponry (Firearms, Melee) 6

Advantages: Area Knowledge (Starling City), Credentials (Police, High), Scholar (Law), Lightning Reflexes, Sharp Eye, Connections: Team Arrow (High), Team Flash (High), SCPD (High)

Drawbacks: Secret Identity

Equipment:

CANARY CRY (Body: 2, Sonic Beam: 6) Bonus: Area effect

Tonfa (Body: 5, EV: 3)

Background:

Alter Ego: Laurel Lance

Wealth: 8

Motivation: Responsibility of Power

Occupation: ADA/ Vigilante

Marital Status: Single

Known Relatives: Dinah Lance (mother), Quentin Lance (father), Sara Lance (sister)

Base of Operations: Starling City

Height: 5’6”

Weight: 119 lbs

Age: 30

Eyes: Green

Hair: Brown

Canary

Dex: 8              Str: 5                Body: 6

Int: 5                Will: 7              Mind: 7

Infl: 5               Aura: 5               Spirit: 7

Initiative: 20                            Hero Points: 50

Skills: Acrobatics 8*, Martial Artist 8*, Medicine (First Aid, Forensics) 6, Military Science 6, Thief 8*, Vehicles (Land) 6, Weaponry 8*

Advantages: Intensive Training, Iron Nerves, Language (Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish), Lightning Reflexes, Sharp Eye, Connection: Team Arrow (High)

Drawbacks: Serious Rage, Secret Identity

Equipment:

Batons (Body: 5, EV: 3)

Sonic Device (Body: 2, Sonic Beam: 5) Bonus: Area effect

Motorcycle (Str: 3, Body: 5, Running: 7, R#: 2)

Background:

Alter Ego: Sara Lance

Wealth: 4

Motivation: Unwanted Power

Occupation: Vigilante

Marital Status: Single

Known Relatives: Dinah Lance (mother), Quentin Lance (father), Laurel Lance (sister)

Base of Operations: Mobile

Height: 5’6”

Weight: 123 lbs

Age: 28

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Blond

Hunters in the Night, the Yeth Hound

The yeth hound is a lovely, slavering dog monster first published in Monster Manual II in 1983 for 1st edition AD&D. It has since been published a number of times, making an appearance in every edition of the game except for 5e.

The original mythological yeth hounds were headless dogs, said to be the spirits of unbaptized children. They would run around in the woods, making wailing noises. They were featured in both Dictionary of Phrase and Fable and in The Denham Tracts.

This art is from Monster Manual II.

Yeth Hound

Medium fiend, neutral evil

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)

Hit Points 45 (7d8+14)

Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft.

Str                    Dex                  Con                  Int                    Wis                  Cha

16 (+3)             15 (+2)             15 (+2)             7 (-2)               14 (+2)             10 (+0)

Skills Perception +6, Stealth +6

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from nonmagical weapons that aren’t silvered

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16

Languages understands Infernal but can’t speak

Challenge 3

Bay. When the yeth hound howls or barks, all creatures except other fiends within a 90 ft. radius must make a DC 12 Wisdom save or become frightened for 2d4 rounds.

Keen Hearing and Smell. The yeth hound has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Magic Weapons. The yeth hound’s weapon attacks are magical.

Pack Tactics. The yeth hound has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the hound’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.

Actions

Bite. Melee weapon attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

A yeth hound is a sinister flying canine that inhabits the lower planes. These large dogs are black in color, with faces that strangely bear characteristics of a humanoid’s face. Their eyes glow red, and their pointed ears curve to resemble horns. Their ghastly baying can be heard for a mile or more.

Packs of the beasts somehow find their way to the material plane, where they inhabit remote wilderness.

Fearsome Pack Hunters

Yeth hounds form packs, with the strongest hound as pack leader. They truly only need to feed once per lunar cycle, but are eager carnivores. Their favored prey are humans, demihumans and fey, but will hunt any warm-blooded creature they encounter. They willingly run with evil creatures such as night hags or vampires.

They hunt much like other pack hunters do, though their ability to fly allows them to cover a larger area than any normal beast. They will occasionally drag dead prey back to their lair to be consumed at their leisure.

No natural predator hunts a yeth hound, and many unnatural predators will avoid them as well.

Subterranean Lairs

Packs of yeth hounds lair underground, away from the hateful light of the sun. Yeth hounds fear the sun, and nothing can persuade one to venture out during the day. If a hound is exposed to sunlight, it fades away to the ethereal plane, unable to escape it on its own. As a result, packs only hunt at night, and always return to their lair before dawn.

Yeth hounds don’t value treasure, so any valuables found in their lair will be random discarded remnants of their prey.

Arrowverse for Blood of Heroes

I'm branching out from my usual 5e posts for today. Back in college, I played the Mayfair Games DC Heroes RPG a fair bit. It uses the MEGS system, which while isn't perfect, does a pretty good job capturing the Superhero genre. The rules still exist, now as Blood of Heroes. Not a lot has been done with it officially, but it's still getting published, and I recently discovered that there is still an active community of fans out there on the internet.

Anyway, I got bored and decided to start writing up characters from the Arrow & Flash TV shows, collectively known as the Arrowverse. Arrow has, imho, kind of jumped the shark, but I still really like Flash.

Here are the main archer characters from Arrow. I may or may not get around to other characters.

The Canary Sister: Laurel & Sara

Deathstroke & Wildcat

Green Arrow

Dex: 7              Str: 4                Body: 6

Int: 5                Will: 7              Mind: 7

Infl: 7               Aura: 7              Spirit: 7

Initiative: 21                            Hero Points: 80

Skills: Acrobatics 7*, Charisma (Intimidation) 8, Gadgetry 5*, Martial Artist 7*, Medicine (First Aid) 6, Military Science 5*, Occultist (Occult Knowledge) 7, Thief (Concealment, Escape Artist, Locks and Safes, Stealth) 7*, Vehicles (Land) 6, Weaponry (Firearms, Melee, Missile) 9

Advantages: Area Knowledge (Starling City, Lian Yu), Confidant, Headquarters (Confined), Intensive Training, Iron Nerves, Language (Russian), Lightning Reflexes, Omni-Connection, Sharp Eye, Connections: ARGUS (low), Team Arrow (High), Team Flash (High)

Drawbacks: Secret Identity

Equipment:

Bow (Str: 7, Body: 8, EV: 4)

Explosive Arrow (Body: 1, Bomb: 5, R#: 2) Limitation: No Reload

Snare Arrow (Body: 1, Snare: 5, R#: 2) Bonus: Creates Swing-Lines; Limitation: No Reload

Flachette (Body: 1, EV: 2) Bonus: Dart

Motorcycle (Str:3, Body: 5, Running: 7, R#: 2)

Background:

Alter Ego: Oliver Queen

Wealth: 5

Motivation: Seeking Justice

Occupation: Adventurer/ Vigilante

Marital Status: Engaged

Known Relatives: Robert Queen (father, deceased), Moira Queen (mother, deceased), Thea Queen (maternal half-sister), William (son), Nyssa al Ghul (wife), Walter Steele (ex-step-father), Ra’s al Ghul (father-in-law, deceased), Amina Raatko (mother-in-law, deceased), Felicity Smoak (fiancée)

Base of Operations: Starling City

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 182 lbs

Age: 30

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Blond

Arsenal

Dex: 7              Str: 4                Body: 5

Int: 4                Will: 6              Mind: 6

Infl: 5               Aura: 5               Spirit: 6

Initiative: 18                            Hero Points: 50

Skills: Acrobatics 7*, Gadgetry 4*, Martial Artist 7*, Medicine (First Aid) 5, Thief (Concealment, Escape Artist, Locks and Safes, Stealth) 7*, Vehicles (Land) 6, Weaponry (Firearms, Melee, Missile) 8

Advantages: Area Knowledge (Starling City), Intensive Training, Iron Nerves, Lightning Reflexes, Omni-Connection, Sharp Eye, Connections: Team Arrow (High)

Drawbacks: Guilt, Forced Exile, Secret Identity

Equipment:

Bow (Str: 7, Body: 8, EV: 4)

Explosive Arrow (Body: 1, Bomb: 5, R#: 2) Limitation: No Reload

Snare Arrow (Body: 1, Snare: 5, R#: 2) Bonus: Creates Swing-Lines; Limitation: No Reload

Eskrima Sticks (Body: 5, EV: 3)

Flachette (Body: 1, EV: 2) Bonus: Dart

Knife (Body: 5, EV: 3)

Motorcycle (Str: 3, Body: 5, Running: 7, R#: 2)

Background:

Alter Ego: Roy Harper

Wealth: 3

Motivation: Seeking Justice

Occupation: Fugitive

Marital Status: Single

Known Relatives: Roy Harper Sr (father, deceased), Mrs. Harper (mother)

Base of Operations: Mobile

Height: 5’9”

Weight: 152 lbs

Age: 25

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Brown

Speedy

Dex: 6              Str: 3                Body: 5

Int: 5                Will: 6              Mind: 6

Infl: 5               Aura: 6               Spirit: 6

Initiative: 18                            Hero Points: 45

Skills: Acrobatics 6*, Martial Artist 6*, Medicine (First Aid) 5, Thief (Concealment, Escape Artist, Locks and Safes, Stealth) 6*, Vehicles (Land) 6*, Weaponry (Firearms, Melee, Missile) 7

Advantages: Area Knowledge (Starling City), Intensive Training, Iron Nerves, Lightning Reflexes, Connections: Team Arrow (High), Team Flash (Low)

Drawbacks: Minor Rage, Secret Identity

Equipment:

Bow (Str: 7, Body: 8, EV: 4)

Explosive Arrow (Body: 1, Bomb: 5, R#: 2) Limitation: No Reload

Snare Arrow (Body: 1, Snare: 5, R#: 2) Bonus: Creates Swing-Lines; Limitation: No Reload

Katana (Body: 6, EV: 4)

Motorcycle (Str: 3, Body: 5, Running: 7, R#: 2)

 Background:

Alter Ego: Thea Queen

Wealth: 8

Motivation: Seeking Justice

Occupation: Club Owner/ Vigilante

Marital Status: Single

Known Relatives: Malcolm Merlyn (father), Moira Queen (mother, deceased), Oliver Queen (maternal half-brother), Robert Queen (step-father, deceased), Tommy Merlyn (paternal half-brother, deceased), William (nephew), Walter Steele (ex-step-father), Nyssa al Ghul (sister-in-law)

Base of Operations: Starling City

Height: 5’7”

Weight: 123 lbs

Age: 20

Eyes: Green

Hair: Brown

Malcolm Merlyn

Dex: 8              Str: 4                Body: 6

Int: 6                Will: 8              Mind: 9

Infl: 7               Aura: 8              Spirit: 8

Initiative: 22                            Hero Points: 80

Skills: Acrobatics 8*, Charisma 8, Martial Artist 8*, Medicine (First Aid) 7, Military Science 6*, Occultist 8, Thief 8*, Vehicles (Land) 6, Weaponry (Firearms, Melee, Missile) 10

Advantages: Area Knowledge (Starling City), Gift of Gab, Intensive Training, Iron Nerves, Language (Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish), Lightning Reflexes, Omni-Connection, Sharp Eye, Connections: League of Assassins (High)

Drawbacks: Secret Identity

Equipment:

Bow (Str: 7, Body: 8, EV: 4)

Explosive Arrow (Body: 1, Bomb: 5, R#: 2) Limitation: No Reload

Snare Arrow (Body: 1, Snare: 5, R#: 2) Bonus: Creates Swing-Lines; Limitation: No Reload

Scimitar (Body: 6, EV: 4)

Knife (Body: 5, EV: 3)

DARK ARCHER SUIT (Body: 7) Limitation: Partial Coverage Trick Shot (+1 OV)

Smoke Bombs (Body: 1, Fog: 6) Limitation: Grenade

Background:

Alter Ego: Malcolm Merlyn

Wealth: 15

Motivation: Power Lust

Occupation: Ra’s al Ghul

Marital Status: Widowed

Known Relatives: Rebecca Merlyn (wife, deceased), Tommy Merlyn (son, deceased), Thea Queen (daughter)

Base of Operations: Nanda Parbat

Height: 6’

Weight: 178 lbs

Age: 55

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Brown

The Tiniest Beholderkin

Today we have the tiniest beholderkin, the eyeball. A tiny, nasty little predator that will sometimes serve a wizard as a familiar.

This picture is official Wizards of the Coast art.

I don't know exactly when this critter was made for D&D. The first time I saw it was in Monsters of Faerun. Anyway, feel free to menace your party with softball-sized beholders. Should be a good time.

Eyeball

Tiny aberration, neutral evil

Armor Class 13

Hit Points 2 (1d4)

Speed 0 ft., fly 30 ft. (hover)

Str                    Dex                  Con                  Int                    Wis                  Cha

5 (-3)               16 (+3)             10 (+0)             3 (-4)               10 (+0)             8 (-1)

Skills Perception +4, Stealth +7

Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 14

Languages –

Challenge ¼

Magical Origin. The eyeball has advantage on saving throws against being charmed.

Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.

Eye Rays. The eyeball shoots one of the following magical eye rays at random, choosing a target it can see within 35 ft.

1. Fear Ray. The targeted creature must make a DC 10 Will saving throw or be frightened for 5 rounds. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

2. Stun Ray. The targeted creature must make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of the eyeball’s next turn.

3. Frost Ray. The targeted creature must make a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw or take 5 (1d8) cold damage.

4. Slowing Ray. The targeted creature must make a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the target’s speed is halved for 5 rounds. In addition, the creature can’t take reactions, and it can take either an action or a bonus action on its turn, not both. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of it turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

The eyeball is an 8-inch diameter cousin to the much feared beholder. Like the beholder, the eyeball has a central eye as well as four eyestalks. The central eye is only capable of sight, but the smaller eyes possess magical powers much like the eyestalks of their larger kin.

Underground Predators

Eyeballs are voracious, underground predators. They are usually encountered alone, but occasionally a group will come together to form a pack. When alone, they rarely pick a fight with anything bigger than they are. When operating as a pack, however, they are much more willing to pursue larger prey. Like most wild predators, they will flee a situation if they feel that they cannot win.

Wild & Fierce

Eyeballs cannot be domesticated in anyway. They are so wild that they even prove difficult to influence through magical means. Despite this, there are tales of wizards who have managed to take one of these creatures on as a familiar.

The Beastmaster Needs Accounting

A lot of people feel the 5e ranger class is a bit lacking. I think the Hunter archetype is fine, but I agree that there are issues with the Beastmaster.

Reddit user Leuku wrote up what I thought was a nice solution to solve the Beastmaster's issues.

Check it out: What the Beastmaster Needs is Accounting