Legendary Monsters

Just like high-level heroes, some monsters have progressed in power to the point where they are the most fearsome of their kind. Legendary monsters are not just large or strong specimens, but instead they are a superior strain of their race. The rules that follow are designed for non-humanoid monsters and can also be combined with the Ability Scores for Monsters section.

A legendary monster has the same movement rate, number of attacks, damage per attack, morale rating, and special abilities as its normal counterpart. The creature has increased Hit Dice, an improved Armor Class, and some additional powers that the DM assigns. Table 12 details typical Hit Dice and Armor Class variances. When creating a legendary monster, don’t forget to recalculate the creature’s experience point value.

Rank is simply a convenient way to categorize and assign powers to legendary monsters. Tables 12–22 use the following terms to identify the various types of legendary monsters.

Lesser Scion: The creature is slightly more powerful than normal members of its race. It comes from an exceptional bloodline, but the line has become diluted over the generations. There can be anywhere from several hundred to several thousand lesser scions of a given race on a world, depending on the races’ overall population. Lesser scions have two or three powers from Tables 13–22. When generating ability scores for lesser scions, roll 3d4+4.

Scion: The monster is superior to normal members of its race. There are only a few hundred to perhaps a thousand scions of a given race on a world. Scions have three or four powers from Tables 13–22. When generating ability scores for scions, roll 2d6+6.

Elder: The creature is considerably more powerful than normal members of its race. It comes from an exceptional bloodline, barely diluted by time. There are not more than a few hundred Elders of any race on a world. Elders have three to five powers fromTables 13–22. When generating ability scores for Elders, roll 1d10+8.

Great Elder: The creature is vastly more powerful than normal members of its race. It comes from an exceptional and undiluted bloodline or is an outstanding member of an elder bloodline. There are not more than several dozen great elders of a given race on a world. Great elders have four to six powers from Tables 13–22. When generating ability scores for elders, roll 1d10+8.

Paragon: The creature represents the pinnacle of its race’s strength and vitality. It is an extraordinary member of an elder bloodline, or perhaps the progenitor of its entire race. There are not more than and a handful of paragons of a given race on a world, and a paragon often is a unique creature. Paragons have five to seven powers from Tables 13–22. When generating ability scores for paragons, roll 1d8+10.

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