There are dozens of creatures ready to use on the wiki, but more can always be added. If there is a particular creature you want to use in your game, this page lays out the steps for creating a new creature. And when you do, please include it on the wiki so others can use it too!
Creating a creature from scratch
Description
Name
The name of your creature creates expectations when someone first hears of it. Consider the following naming styles when choose a name for your creature.
- A descriptive name like hell hound creates the expectation of a demonic dog.
- A regional name like Defersi giant scorpion adds a regional (Defersi Desert) twist to a generic creature (giant scorpion).
- A common name like kraken is a common mythical creature that many players have likely heard of before and know what to expect.
- An uncommon name like ijirait is a mythical creature that is not well known, most players wouldn't know what to expect with a name like this.
- A new name like koraxolite is made up by the creator, it doesn't exist and the name alone isn't enough to infer much about the creature.
Size
A creature's size determines how big it is relative to a human. Size can impact how a creature fights or its defensive capabilities. There are six size groups: Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Huge, or Gigantic.
Type
A creature's type places it in a group with other similar creatures. Type can help you pick appropriate stats, traits, and actions for your creature.
Stats
Level
A creature's level determines how many dice are used for the creature's actions. Creature level is very similar to character level, though creatures generally don't have skills or skill levels, they just use the creature level for everything. The creature's level is going to determine how hard it hits and how well it can defend.
Losses
The number of losses a creature can take before it is knocked out of combat. A middle number is 3, which would make the creature about even with a player character of the same level. Low numbers (1-2) are typical for weak creatures that are intended to be encountered in large groups. High numbers (4+) are typical for very strong creatures or multi-creatures which have several parts that can each take losses.
Passive Defense
A creature's passive defense determines how successful an attack must be before it hits. Passive defense can be determined by many things including the creature's size (smaller is harder to hit), speed (faster is harder to hit), or armor (stronger armor is harder to damage). A high passive defense can make lower level creatures much more difficult.
Difficulty Rating
A creature's difficulty rating is used to measure how difficult the creature is to defeat. There is not a specific calculation for determining difficulty rating, but it takes into account the stats, traits, and actions of the creature.
Difficulty rating is intended to show what level a PC should be to have a reasonable chance of defeating the creature one-on-one. A difficulty rating of 3 would mean that a single level 3 PC at full health should be able to defeat it, but it will be a challenge. Since most PCs fight together as a party, you can use the highest level PC and add 1 for each additional PC to get a rough estimate of how difficult a creature they can take on. Though be aware, a dozen level 3 PCs would't stand a chance against a high difficulty creature with a passive defense of 4 unless they were exceptionally well prepared.
Traits
Traits are used to give each creature defining characteristics. Often, creatures of the same type will share similar traits. Trait descriptions are stored in Template:Trait and only the traits existing there should be used for creatures. If you have an idea for a new trait, suggest it on Template talk:Trait.
Bonuses and Penalties
Traits can apply bonuses or penalties to the creature or its target(s). Usually these modifiers apply to specific actions the creature can take.
Communication
By default, the only way a PC can communicate with other creatures is the animal affinity skill. Some creatures are capable of more advanced communication, such as speaking, writing, or telepathy. A creature capable of communicating with the characters can make a combat more dramatic or conflicting.
Movement
Traits can describe how a creature moves. It could be a burrowing or flying creature, or it could move very fast or especially slow. A creature with unique movement capabilities could make combat more difficult if players have no way to respond.
Senses
Traits can give a creature enhanced senses such as improved vision, hearing, or telepathy. If a creature has enhanced senses, try to incorporate them into its combat strategy. Enhanced senses can also make it more difficult to sneak past the creature.
Weaknesses, Resistances, and Immunities
Many traits include a weakness, resistance, or immunity to certain types of damage or conditions. These are tracked in addition to the traits to make them easier to find at a glance.
Resistances and immunities can increase a creature's difficulty rating or force PCs to alter their tactics, though sometimes the party will have the means to overcome a creature's defenses and the encounter will turn out easier than expected. Similarly, a weakness can make a creature less difficult, but only if the party knows about it and can exploit it.
Actions
Actions are used to package what a creature can do into a few short descriptions.
Magic
Some creatures are capable of using magic in combat. Creatures will usually be limited to a single magic form, and their actions include the few spells they can use. If you want the creature to use magic more freely, include its most common spells in the actions and add more in the details.
Details
The details section is for fitting the creature into the world. Here you can include things like its habitat, hunting and fighting habits, and whether it's likely to be encountered in a group or by itself. This section give you the opportunity to answer questions about your creature like:
- What does the creature look like?
- Where does it live?
- What role does it have in the local ecology?
- What makes it unique?