Making a Monster

Game designers show you their favorite monster, how it works, why it works, and what it means. Each bite-sized episode features a D&D or TTRPG designer and the monster of their choice.

Giant Sharkbowl Ooze by Kobold Press

Megan Maricle shares the deadliest catch for dungeon delvers everywhere!Read the transcript and get more from the show: https://scintilla.studio/monster-sharkbowl-ooze/ Get stat blocks, bonus content, and other monstrous perks: www.patreon.com/scintillastudioJoin the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtterMeet my guests:https://koboldpress.com/the-kobold-team/Music by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com

07-17
09:03

Wave Lurcher: Astra Fauna by Sarah Dahlinger

An alien shark feeding off the living islands of an alien world, the wave lurcher is a partner in the search for life.Read the transcript and get more from the show: https://scintilla.studio/monster-wave-lurcher/ Get stat blocks, bonus content, and other monstrous perks: www.patreon.com/scintillastudioJoin the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtterMeet my guests:My about page has all my bio info :) https://www.sarahdahlinger.com/about Sarah's Website Music by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com

06-26
22:10

Extinction: The Dodo

The dodo is a funny-looking bird with a funny-sounding name that never knew what hit it. There isn't a more fitting icon of extinction. Back the Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/magehandpress/book-of-extinctionDownload a dodo: https://magehandpress.com/2023/03/the-dodo.htmlJoin the conversation:https://www.instagram.com/sparkotter/https://twitter.com/sparkotter"Extinction Theme" by Alex Miller, the Boy King of Idaho: https://www.instagram.com/theboykingofidaho/

03-20
18:07

OGL 1.1 & The Extinction of D&D

OGL 1.1 risks killing the thriving ecosystem of valuable third-party content for Dungeons & Dragons. Don't wait: tell Wizards of the Coast they're making a mistake, and tell your favorite third-party creators it's worth staying in the fight.Transcript of the episode: Legal analysis of OGL 1.1: https://medium.com/@MyLawyerFriend/lets-take-a-minute-to-talk-about-d-d-s-open-gaming-license-ogl-581312d48e2f Io9 leak: https://gizmodo.com/dnd-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-1-1-open-gaming-license-1849950634Polygon review: https://www.polygon.com/23540640/dnd-ogl-1-1-leak-dungeons-dragons-pathfinder-2e-wotc-hasbroThe aurochs as "Nazi Supercow": https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/when-nazis-tried-bring-animals-back-extinction-180962739/Join the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtter

01-07
18:27

Ol' Chap Ettercap, ft. Critical Crafting

O'l Chap Ettercap is a monster whose story grew in the telling, from meaningless Download Ol' Chap Ettercap in every form a tabletop needs: https://scintilla.studio/monster-ettercap-critical-crafting/ Get stat blocks, bonus content, and other monstrous perks: www.patreon.com/scintillastudioJoin the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtterMeet my guests:Dillon Onley, Creative DirectorCameron DeFord, Marketing Directorhttps://www.critical-crafting.com/Music by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com"Creepy Dungeon Ambience" by DrMinky from Freesound.org

10-11
20:30

Mörk Borg's 7 Deadly Sins

Mörk Borg, the doom metal TTRPG by Free League, gets an adventure with seven deadly sins chained in an off-shore prison boat where nothing is as it seems.Read the transcript and get more from the show: https://scintilla.studio/monster-mork-borg-dolja/ Get stat blocks, bonus content, and other monstrous perks: www.patreon.com/scintillastudioJoin the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtterMeet my guests:Zac Goins, World of Game Designhttps://twitter.com/wogdesignMusic by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com

10-05
17:53

Shoebill Cockatrices show a terrifying biodiversity of monsters

Many monsters are combinations of animals, like the owlbear - but which owl, and which bear? Atlas Animalia by Metal Weave Games shows a terrifying biodiversity of monsters, including the shoebill cockatrice.Read the transcript and get more from the show: https://scintilla.studio/monster-atlas-animalia/ Get stat blocks, bonus content, and other monstrous perks: www.patreon.com/scintillastudioJoin the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtterMeet my guests:Sarah Dahlinger: https://www.sarahdahlinger.com/Andreas Walters: https://metalweavegames.com/Music by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com

09-21
32:23

Migo: Stillfleet's bio-tech super-future scientists with Wythe Marschall

Wythe Marschall, creator of Stillfleet, shares a monster born in the frozen ammonia crystals of Yuggoth at the far reaches of our solar system 100 billion years in the future.Don't wait, get it now! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wythe/the-stillfleet-core-rulebookGet stat blocks, bonus content, and other monstrous perks: www.patreon.com/scintillastudioJoin the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtterMeet my guests:Wythe Marschall: https://twitter.com/hollowearthsMusic by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com

08-30
40:29

Extinction: The Call of the Giant Beaver

The size of a black bear, this Ice Age giant didn't build dams, but it guarded the water with a fearsome call just the same. Meet the world's most complete fossil giant beaver with Heather Lerner, the ancient DNA expert who brought her to life!Get three extinct animals raised to life as monsters in D&D: https://www.scintilla.studio/extinctionEpisode transcript: https://scintilla.studio/monster-extinction-giant-beaver/ Guides:Dr. Heather Lerner, Curator of the Joseph Moore Museum https://twitter.com/moore_museumJoin the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtter"Extinction Theme" by Alexandre Miller, The Boy King of Idaho

08-22
59:55

The Mukad: aberrant insect harbingers from Grim Hollow by Ghostfire Games

The mukad are insect-like aberrations following the orders of a slumbering god of destruction as they lurk in the walls. Read the transcript and get more from the show: https://scintilla.studio/monster-mukad-grim-hollow-ghostfire-games/ Get stat blocks, bonus content, and other monstrous perks: www.patreon.com/scintillastudioJoin the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtterMeet my guests:Joe Raso: https://twitter.com/_joe_rasoGrim Hollow by Ghostfire Games: https://ghostfiregaming.com/grim-hollow/Music by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com

07-26
26:41

Aurochs, De-Extinction, and the Racism of Orcs in D&D

Get three extinct animals raised to life as monsters in D&D: https://www.scintilla.studio/extinctionEpisode transcript: https://scintilla.studio/monster-extinction-aurochs-nazis-orcs/ Guides:Steve Sullivan, director of the Hefner Museum of Natural History at Miami University in OhioJessica Marcrum, Uncaged Author and producer of the Threeflings actual play podcast, www.jessicamarcrumwrites.comJames Mendez Hodes, game designer and orc historian: https://jamesmendezhodes.com/Did you like this stat block? Let me know on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SparkOtter"Extinction Theme" by Alexandre Miller, The Boy King of IdahoClosing music by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com

06-27
43:58

The Frog of Holding, ft. Nature Check

A team of scientists encounter the Frog of Holding, a giant monstrosity with an extradimensional space for its young!Get three extinct animals raised to life as monsters in D&D: https://www.scintilla.studio/extinctionPartial transcript: https://scintilla.studio/monster-extinction-frog-of-holding/ Guides:Sheryl, The Roving Naturalist: https://twitter.com/RvingNaturalistEthan Kocak: https://twitter.com/BlackmudpuppyChelsea: https://twitter.com/ChelseaHerpsMaria Gatta: https://twitter.com/M_GattaDid you like this stat block? Let me know on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SparkOtter"Extinction Theme" by Alexandre Miller, The Boy King of Idaho

06-13
48:05

Extinction: Dragon Bones & Cave Bears

The cave bear is more than just a monster variant on MM 334. It's the source of piles of dragon bones in caves all over Europe, and fulcrum where archaeology turned from fantasy to science.Get three extinct animals raised to life as monsters in D&D: https://www.scintilla.studio/extinctionGet stat blocks, bonus content, and other monstrous perks: www.patreon.com/scintillastudioJoin the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtter"Extinction Theme" by Alexandre Miller, The Boy King of Idaho

05-30
09:38

Giant spider chucking goblins in the MCDM monster book

How does it square with your heroes when the bad guys treat their animals better than the good guys? What if your villain pets the dog?Read the transcript and get more from the show: https://scintilla.studio/monster-war-spider-mcdm/ Get stat blocks, bonus content, and other monstrous perks: www.patreon.com/scintillastudioJoin the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtterMeet my guests:James Introcaso: https://twitter.com/JamesIntrocasoFlee, Mortals! The MCDM Monster Book: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mattcolville/mcdm-monster-bookMusic by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com

04-18
42:37

Solarpunk in Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel

Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel's creator was inspired by the solarpunk and hopepunk movements, but what even are those?Read the transcript and get more from the show: https://scintilla.studio/monster-solarpunk-journeysthroughtheradiantcitadel Get stat blocks, bonus content, and other monstrous perks: www.patreon.com/scintillastudioJoin the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtterMeet my guests:David Somerville, author, Planegea: https://www.twitter.com/PlanegeaMike Rugnetta & Taylor Moore: twitter.com/funcityventuresKierán Suckling, Executive Director and Founder of the Center for Biological Diversityhttps://www.biologicaldiversity.org/Tierra Curry, Senior Scientist at the Center for Biological Diversityhttps://twitter.com/TierraMusselMusic credits: "Limousine" by Jason Shaw"Extinction Theme" by Alex Monroe

04-15
24:28

Extinction: The Florida Fairy Shrimp

Get three extinct animals raised to life as monsters in D&D: https://www.scintilla.studio/extinctionEpisode transcript: https://scintilla.studio/monster-extinction-florida-fairy-shrimp Guides:Tierra Curry, Senior Scientist at the Center for Biological Diversityhttps://twitter.com/TierraMusselDid you like this stat block? Let me know on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SparkOtter"Extinction Theme" by Alexandre Miller, The Boy King of Idaho

04-11
36:59

The False Hydra & Larry the Kung Fu Kraken

The best game-breaking exploits in D&D. This week: the false hydra, the most terrifying homebrew monster ever made; and the Kung Fu Kraken, an ancient titan of the deep somehow less effective than a straw dummy.Read the transcript and get more from the show: https://scintilla.studio/monster-false-hydra-kung-fu-kraken/ Get stat blocks, bonus content, and other monstrous perks: www.patreon.com/scintillastudioJoin the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtterMeet my guests:Jeremy Vine: www.twitter.com/taluminJarrod Jahoda, Mid-Level Adventurers: www.twitter.com/midlvladventureDanilo Vujevic, Thinking Critically: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk/Rebecca Gray and Steven Myers, Eberron: A Chronicle of Echoes: https://www.sivisechoerstation.com/Music by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com

03-21
34:02

Arrow of Destruction & The Wireless Troll

D&D players have spent almost 50 years breaking the game. This week: the arrowhead of total destruction, nuclear warhead powered by extradimensional spaces; and the wireless troll, communication via regeneration.Read the transcript and get more from the show: https://scintilla.studio/monster-arrow-of-destruction-wireless-troll/ Get stat blocks, bonus content, and other monstrous perks: www.patreon.com/scintillastudioJoin the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtterMeet my guests:Jeremy Vine: www.twitter.com/taluminJarrod Jahoda, Mid-Level Adventurers: www.twitter.com/midlvladventureDanilo Vujevic, Thinking Critically: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk/Rebecca Gray and Steven Myers, Eberron: A Chronicle of Echoes: https://www.sivisechoerstation.com/Music by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com

03-14
36:08

Peasant Rail Gun & Quantum Ogre

D&D players have spent almost 50 years breaking the game, creating exploits that became monsters in their own right. This week: the peasant rail gun, an army of hirelings with a light-speed projectile; and the quantum ogre, the monster who is everywhere until it is observed.Read the transcript and get more from the show: https://scintilla.studio/monster-peasant-rail-gun-quantum-ogre/ Get stat blocks, bonus content, and other monstrous perks: www.patreon.com/scintillastudioJoin the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtterMeet my guests:Jeremy Vine: www.twitter.com/taluminJarrod Jahoda, Mid-Level Adventurers: www.twitter.com/midlvladventureDanilo Vujevic, Thinking Critically: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk/Rebecca Gray and Steven Myers, Eberron: A Chronicle of Echoes: https://www.sivisechoerstation.com/Music by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com

03-09
35:31

Luthic the Blood Moon Witch in Uncaged Goddesses

Read the transcript and get more from the show: https://scintilla.studio/monster-luthic-uncaged-godesses/ Get stat blocks, bonus content, and other monstrous perks: www.patreon.com/scintillastudioJoin the conversation: www.twitter.com/SparkOtterMeet my guests:Jessica Marcrum: https://twitter.com/angrynerdgirlDavid Markiwsky: https://twitter.com/DavidMarkiwskyhttps://www.dmsguild.com/product/382873/Uncaged-Goddesses?affiliate_id=1485089Music by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com

02-22
36:53

Recommend Channels