Out of the Abyss (D&D)

[Kor]

Recommendations courtesy of Kualan

NPCs:
Asha Vandree, a female drow priestess:
Baphomet, a male demon lord: Baphomet – The Horned King
Bloppblippodd, a female kuo-toa archpriest:
Brysis of Khaem, a female wraith:
Buppido, a male derro captive:
Burrow Warden Jadger, a male deep gnome ghost:
Chipgrin Goldwhisker, a male deep gnome wererat:
Davra Jassur, a female human assassin from the Zhentarim:
Demogorgon, a male demon lord:
Dorbo Diggermattock, a male deep gnome chieftain:
Droki,a male derro courier:
Eldeth Feldrun, a female shield dwarf scout:
Errde Blackskull, a female duergar guard captain:
Fargas Rumblefoot, a male halfling treasure hunter:
Flink Thunderbonk, a male deep gnome apprentice:
Fraz-Urb'luu, a male demon lord:
Gabble Dripskillet, a female deep gnome negotiator:
Gartokkar Xundorn, a male duergar Keeper of the Flame:
Ghazrim DuLoc, a male human negotiator:
Ghuldur Flagonfist, a male duergar negotiator:
Glooglugogg, a male kuo-toa whip:
Gorglak, a male duergar stone guard:
Graz'zt, a male demon lord:
Grisha, a male human cultist:
Gromph Baenre, a male drow mage:
Gurnik Tapfinger, a male deep gnome priest:
Ilvara Mizzrym, a female drow priestess of Lolth:
Jarlaxle Baenre, a male drow mercenary:
Jimjar, a male deep gnome rogue:
Jorlan Duskryn, a male drow warrior:
Juiblex, a demon lord:
Karazikar the Eye Tyrant, a beholder:
Kazook Pickshine, a male deep gnome alchemist:
Khlaessa Draga, a female high elf spy:
King Bruenor Battlehammer, a male dwarf king:
King Horgar Steelshadow V, a male duergar king:
Kinyel Druu'giir, a female drow assassin:
Klibdoloogut, a male kuo-toa whip:
Lolth, a female demon queen:
Lord Eravien Haund, a male half-elf noble of the Lords' Alliance:
Lord Zelraun Roaringhorn, a male human noble from the Harpers:
Lorthuun, a beholder:
Morista Malkin, a female dwarf scout of the Emerald Enclave:
Narrak, a male derro savant:
Nomi Pathshutter, a female deep gnome elemental wrangler:
Orcus, a male demon lord:
Peebles, a male deep gnome spy:
Ploopploopeen, a male kuo-toa archpriest:
Prince Derendil, a male quaggoth exile:
Quenthel Baenre, a female drow matron mother:
Rhiele Vannis, a female human squire of the Order of the Gauntlet:
Ront, a male orc brute:
Rystia Zav, a female human spy:
Ryzliir Symryvvin, a female drow commander:
Sarith Kzekarit, a male drow prisoner:
Senni Diggermattock, a female deep gnome quartermaster:
Shal, a female succubus:
Shedrak of the Eyes, a human male priest:
Shoor Vandree, a male drow warrior:
Shuushar the Awakened, a male kuo-toa hermit:
Sir Aljanor Keenblade, a male human knight:
Sir Lanniver Strayl, a male human knight of the Order of the Gauntlet:
Sirak Mazelor, a female drow negotiator:
Sladis Vadir, a male high elf druid:
Sovereign Basidia, a myconid sovereign: Snowbound – Myconid Sovereign
Sovereign Phylo, a myconid sovereign: Snowbound – Myconid Sovereign
Spiderbait, a male goblin thrill seeker:
Stonespeaker Hgraam, a male stone giant leader:
Stool, a myconid sprout:
The Pudding King, a male gnome:
Themberchaud, a male adult red dragon:
Topsy, a female deep gnome wererat:
Turvy, a male deep gnome wererat:
Velgor Zolond, a male drow mage:
Vizeran DeVir, a male drow archmage:
Werz Saltbaron, a male duergar merchant:
Xalith, a female drow scout:
Xazax the Eyemonger, a beholder:
Yantha Coaxrock, a female deep gnome mage:
Yeenoghu, a male demon lord: Yeenoghu – The Beast of Butchery
Yestabrod, a corrupted myconid circle leader:
Ylsa Henstack, a female duergar merchant:
Yuk Yuk, a male goblin thrill seeker:
Zilchyn Q'Leptin, a male drow mage:
Zuggtmoy, a female demon lord:

Monsters:
Animated Armor x 24: Fangs and Talons – Animated Armor
Animated Drow Statue x 6: Pathfinder Battles: Bestiary Unleashed – Animated Armor
Assassin x 1: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist – Spy
Awakened Zurkhwood x 10: Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft – Bodytaker Plant
Bandit Captain x 1: Storm King's Thunder – Bandit Captain
Bandit x 6: Storm King's Thunder – Bandit
Barlgura x 8: Pathfinder Battles: Bestiary Unleashed – Ceustodaemon
Basilisk x 2: Sand & Stone – Basilisk
Behir x 1: Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen – Behir
Beholder x 1: Spelljammer: Adventures in Space – Beholder
Black Pudding x 18: Monster Menagerie 2 – Black Pudding
Bridesmaid of Zuggtmoy x 12: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Elf Zombie
Bugbear x 12: Bugbear Warband
Carrion Crawler x 4: Boneyard – Carrion Crawler
Cave Badger x 6: Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants – Giant Badger
Cave Bear x 3: Pathfinder Battles: The Mwangi Expanse – Grizzly Bear
Chamberlain of Zuggtmoy x 6: Pathfinder Battles: Bestiary Unleashed – Quelaunt
Chasme x 8: Quests from the Infinite Staircase – Chasme
Chuul Spore Servant x 6: Quests from the Infinite Staircase – Chuul
Chuul x 1: Quests from the Infinite Staircase – Chuul
Cloaker x 1: Eberron: Rising from the Last War – Cloaker
Commoner (Dwarf) x 21: Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen – Thorbadin Dwarf
Commoner (Elf) x 11: Tyranny of Dragons – Wood Elf Druid
Commoner (Halfling) x 8: Tyranny of Dragons – Stoutheart Halfling Female Bard
Commoner (Human) x 17: Pathfinder Battles: Rusty Dragon Inn – Farmer
Crawling Claw x 1: Boneyard – Crawling Claw
Cultist x 12: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist – Human Warlock of the Fiend
Darkmantle x 8: Storm King's Thunder – Darkmantle
Death Dog x 1: Sand & Stone – Death Dog
Death Slaad x 1: Boneyard – Death Slaad
Death Tyrant x 1: Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage – Death Tyrant
Deep Gnome x 12: Pathfinder Battles: Darklands Rising – Deep Gnome Scout
Derro Savant x 1: Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse – Derro Savant
Derro x 18: Volo's and Mordenkainen's Foes – Derro
Doppelganger x 5: Tyranny of Dragons – Doppelganger
Dretch x 12: Rage of Demons – Dretch Demon
Drider x 4: Vecna: Eve of Ruin – Drider
Drow Acolyte (female) x 12: Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse – Drow Arachnomancer
Drow Cultist x 8: Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse – Drow House Captain
Drow Elite Warrior (female) x 9: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Drow Assassin
Drow Elite Warrior (male) x 12: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Drow
Drow Mage x 4: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Nezznar the Spider
Drow Noble x 1: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Drow Matron Mother
Drow Priestess of Lolth x 1: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Drow Priestess
Drow Spore Servant x 32: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Elf Zombie
Drow x 24: Pathfinder Battles: Darklands Rising – Drow Warrior or Pathfinder Battles: Darklands Rising – Drow Rogue
Duergar (Enlarged) x 8: Pathfinder Battles: City of Lost Omens – Enlarged Duergar
Duergar Alchemist x 1: Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden – Duergar Mind Master
Duergar Darkhaft x 1:
Duergar Guard x 12: Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse – Duergar Warlord
Duergar Kavalrachni x 1: Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse – Duergar Warlord (dismounted) or Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse – Female Steeder (mounted)
Duergar Keeper of the Flame x 1: Pathfinder Battles: City of Lost Omens – Duergar Bombardier
Duergar Soulblade x 2: Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse – Duergar Soulblade
Duergar Spore Servant x 6: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Psionic Ashenwight
Duergar Stone Guard x 5: Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden – Duergar Stone Guard
Duergar x 8: Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse – Duergar
Duergar Xarrorn x 2: Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse – Duergar Xarrorn
Duergar Zombie x 3: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Duergar Zombie
Duodrone x 1: Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse – Duodrone
Dust Mephit x 4: Snowbound – Dust Mephit
Dwarf Acolyte x 5: Rage of Demons – Shield Dwarf Wizard
Dwarf Assassin x 1: Pathfinder Battles: Jungle of Despair – Dwarf Explorer
Dwarf Berserker x 1: Critical Role: Characters of Tal'Dorei – Kraghammer Barbarian
Dwarf Ghost x 6 (+1 for each ghost destroyed; see page 123): Pathfinder Battles: Armies of the Dead – Dwarf Ghost
Dwarf Guard/Veteran x 6: Elemental Evil – Shield Dwarf Fighter
Dwarf Priest x 1: Pathfinder Battles: The Mwangi Expanse – Taralu Dwarf
Dwarf Scout x 6: Eberron: Rising from the Last War – Dwarf Artificer
Earth Elemental x 1: Fangs and Talons – Earth Elemental
Ettin (female) x 1: Pathfinder Battles: Bestiary Unleashed – Ettin (Flails)
Ettin x 6: Pathfinder Battles: Bestiary Unleashed – Ettin (Unarmed)
Female Steeder x 1: Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse – Female Steeder
Fire Elemental x 3: Fangs and Talons – Fire Elemental
Fire Snake x 5: Elemental Evil – Fire Snake
Flumph x 18: Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage – Flumph
Flying Snake x 1 (+1 for each player character): Sand & Stone – Flying Snake
Fomorian x 1: The Wild Beyond the Witchlight – Fomorian
Four-Armed Statue x 1: Tomb of Annihilation – Giant Four-Armed Gargoyle
Fungal Otyugh x 2: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Otyugh Mutate
Galeb Duhr x 4: Sand & Stone – Galeb Duhr
Gargoyle x 7: Snowbound – Gargoyle
Gas Spore x 6: Fangs and Talons – Gas Spore
Gelatinous Cube x 8: Monster Menagerie – Gelatinous Cube
Ghost (deep gnome) x 1: Tyranny of Dragons – Rock Gnome Female Wizard (Invisible)
Ghoul x 6: Boneyard – Ghoul
Giant Fire Beetle x 18: Monster Menagerie – Giant Fire Beetle
Giant Lizard x 18: Seas & Shores – Giant Lizard
Giant Rat x 2: Monster Menagerie 2 – Giant Rat
Giant Rocktopus (Octopus) x 1: Seas & Shores – Giant Octopus
Giant Spider King x 1: Critical Role: Monsters of Tal'dorei Set 2 – Demonfeed Spider
Giant Spider x 12: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Giant Spider
Giant Wolf Spider x 18: Fangs and Talons – Giant Wolf Spider
Gibbering Mouther x 1: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Gibbering Mouther
Gnoll Fang of Yeenoghu x 1: Snowbound – Gnoll Fang of Yeenoghu
Gnoll Pack Lord x 1: Volo's and Mordenkainen's Foes – Gnoll Pack Leader
Gnoll x 18: Monster Menagerie 3 – Gnoll
Goblin Boss x 1: Rime of the Frostmaiden – Snow Goblin
Goblin x 18 (60 in one specific possible encounter): Goblin Warband
Gray Ooze x 6: Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage – Gray Ooze
Green Hag x 1: Fangs and Talons – Green Hag
Green Slaad x 1: Fangs and Talons – Green Slaad
Grell x 4: The Wild Beyond the Witchlight – Grell
Grick Alpha x 1: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Grick Alpha
Grick x 8: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Crystal Grick
Grimlock x 12: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Grimlock
Guard x 3: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist – City Guard
Hezrou x 4: Pathfinder Battles: Legends of Golarion – Toad Demon
Hook Horror Spore Servant x 6: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Hook Horror
Hook Horror x 2: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Hook Horror
Hyena x 6: Sand & Stone – Hyena
Incubus x 1: Fangs and Talons – Incubus
Intellect Devourer x 8: Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage – Intellect Devourer
Ixitxachitl x 8: N/A
Jade Spider x 2: N/A
Kobold x 18: Kobold Warband
Kuo-toa Archpriest x 1: Kuo-Toa Warband
Kuo-toa Monitor x 15: Kuo-Toa Warband
Kuo-toa Whip x 5: Kuo-Toa Warband
Kuo-toa x 12: Kuo-Toa Warband
Magma Mephit x 12: Monster Menagerie 3 – Magma Mephit
Magmin x 18: Monster Menagerie 3 – Magmin
Male Steeder x 4: N/A
Mane x 32 (up to 100 in one specific possible encounter): Tyranny of Dragons – Mane Demon
Medusa x 1: Sand & Stone – Medusa
Merrow x 4: Tomb of Annihilation – Merrow
Mimic x 1: 50th Anniversary – Chest Mimic
Mind Flayer x 4: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Mind Flayer
Minotaur Skeleton x 3: Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage – Minotaur Skeleton
Minotaur x 8: Monster Menagerie – Minotaur
Monodrone x 13: Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse – Monodrone
Mud Mephit x 4: Monster Menagerie 3 – Mud Mephit
Myconid Adult x 30: Snowbound – Myconid Adult
Myconid Sprout x 12: Snowbound – Myconid Sprout
Nalfeshnee x 1: Rage of Demons – Nalfeshnee
Nothic x 4: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Nothic
Ochre Jelly x 4: Boneyard – Ochre Jelly
Orc Eye of Gruumsh x 1: Orc Warband – Orc Eye of Gruumsh
Orc x 18: Orc Warband
Orog x 15: Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden – Orog Ranger
Otyugh x 1: Boneyard – Otyugh
Piercer x 6: Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage – Piercer
Psychic Gray Ooze x 1: Snowbound – Psychic Gray Ooze
Purple Worm x 1: Purple Worm
Quaggoth Spore Servant x 8: Snowbound – Quaggoth
Quaggoth x 12: Snowbound – Quaggoth
Quasit x 4: Rage of Demons – Quasit
Red Dragon Wyrmling x 1: Monster Menagerie 2 – Red Dragon Wyrmling
Roper x 2: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Roper
Rust Monster x 5: Sand & Stone – Rust Monster
Salamander x 1: Elemental Evil – Salamander (Rebased)
Shadow Demon x 4: 50th Anniversary – Shadow Demon
Shambling Mound x 1: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Shambling Mound
Shield Guardian x 1: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist – Shield Guardian
Shrieker x 4: Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants - Shrieker
Skeleton x 12: Monster Menagerie – Skeleton or Boneyard – Skeleton
Spectator x 1: Seas & Shores – Spectator
Specter x 7: Boneyard – Specter
Spirit Naga x 1: Sand & Stone – Spirit Naga
Spy x 3: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist – Spy
Stirge x 18: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Stirge
Stone Giant x 3: Snowbound – Stone Giant
Stone Golem x 2: Monster Menagerie 2 – Stone Golem
Succubus x 1: Pathfinder Battles: Bestiary Unleashed – Succubus
Svirfneblin Wererat x 5 (40 in one specific possible encounter):
Swarm of Bats x 1: Monster Menagerie – Swarm of Bats
Swarm of Insects (Centipedes) x 3: Sand & Stone – Swarm of Insects (Beetles)
Swarm of Insects (Spiders) x 2: Sand & Stone – Swarm of Insects (Beetles)
Swarm of Quippers x 1: Seas & Shores – Quipper Swarm
Tridrone x 1: Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse – Tridrone
Troglodyre Champion of Laogzed x 1: Pathfinder Battles: City of Lost Omens – Xulgath Chief
Troglodyte x 22: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk – Troglodyte
Troll x 6: The Wild Beyond the Witchlight – Troll
Umber Hulk x 1: Spelljammer: Adventures in Space – Umber Hulk
Vampiric Ixitxachitl x 1: N/A
Veteran of the Gauntlet x 5: Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage – Veteran
Violet Fungus x 6: Sand & Stone – Violet Fungus
Vrock x 8: Vecna: Eve of Ruin – Vrock
Water Weird x 1: Fangs and Talons – Water Elemental
Winged Kobold x 1: Kobold Warband – Winged Kobold
Wraith x 1: Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen – Wraith
Xorn x 1: Rage of Demons – Xorn
Yochlol x 1: Storm King's Thunder – Yochlol
Zhentarim Thug x 10: Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage – Thug

[Kualan]

I have updated the first post with my current WIP list for this module; the list itself is complete, and the monsters all have recommendations linked to them. I just need to complete the NPC recommendations at a later date.

One thing I did notice with this module is that some of the quantities listed for creatures can get crazy. 10+ of a single monster type is fairly common, with one extreme example being up to 100 Mane demons showing up.

[Krod_Mandoon]

I only count 4 Rust Monsters (p. 123).

[berk the black]

I have updated the first post with my current WIP list for this module; the list itself is complete, and the monsters all have recommendations linked to them. I just need to complete the NPC recommendations at a later date.

One thing I did notice with this module is that some of the quantities listed for creatures can get crazy. 10+ of a single monster type is fairly common, with one extreme example being up to 100 Mane demons showing up.

Ah, the trials and tribulations of trying to use miniatures. It’s nothing for a writer to describe 100 Manes, it is something to have to sport them on the table.

10 manes is reasonable, I think I have about 20 (between 3rd and 5th edition variants). But I have zero interest in getting 100 for a single encounter. This breaks my will to try and faithfully reproduce the encounters in 3D. I cry “uncle” It’s either going to be proxies or waves at this point.

[Kualan]

I have updated the first post with my current WIP list for this module; the list itself is complete, and the monsters all have recommendations linked to them. I just need to complete the NPC recommendations at a later date.

One thing I did notice with this module is that some of the quantities listed for creatures can get crazy. 10+ of a single monster type is fairly common, with one extreme example being up to 100 Mane demons showing up.

Ah, the trials and tribulations of trying to use miniatures. It’s nothing for a writer to describe 100 Manes, it is something to have to sport them on the table.

10 manes is reasonable, I think I have about 20 (between 3rd and 5th edition variants). But I have zero interest in getting 100 for a single encounter. This breaks my will to try and faithfully reproduce the encounters in 3D. I cry “uncle” It’s either going to be proxies or waves at this point.

Yeah, there's a similar example in Mad Mage with ~40 or so zombies IIRC. Personally the absolute most I'd ever have of a single mini is 10, and that's only in cases where large swarms are likely (stirges, etc).

I've listed the absolutely maximum for the sake of being consistent, but it is a little silly sometimes (seems most noticeable in the older adventures too).

[Krod_Mandoon]

Yeah, in a comic book you wouldn't get detailed pictures of the non-adjacent enemies. You could use cardboard counters for them: it works great in Space Hulk.

Some encounters seem to be stacked to encourage players to avoid combat. Maybe two numbers could be given for the ridiculous ones: the Leeroy Jenkins number and the number that you would normally expect to use.

You can get by with 3 Black Puddings. The 18 Puddings only fight in self-defense.

You can get by with 8 Derro. The 18 Derro are a bunch of slaves who just try to escape.

I think you can get by with just 12 Drow Fighters and 1 Mage.

You can get by with 3 Duergar Stone Guards. You only need 5 for a fubar where the text assumes that everyone will end up arrested.

You can get by with 1 Flumph. The Flumph groups just want to talk.

You can get by with 2 Gelatinous Cubes. The 8 Cubes only fight in self-defense.

You can get by with 8 Giant Lizards. The 18 are part of a fubar where the party is likely to be overwhelmed by a small army of Drow.

You can get by with 9 Goblins. The 18 Goblins are slaves.

You can get by with 5 Gray Oozes. The 6 Oozes only fight in self-defense.

You can get by with 4 Grimlocks. The 12 Grimlocks are slaves.

You can get by with 2 Kuo-Toa Monitors and 2 Whips. You only need more if the players start some stupid fights.

Page 43 has a Mummy.

You can get by with 6 Myconid Adults. The 30 Myconids are just allies who can't harm Juiblex and abstractly sacrifice themselves as meat shields at a rate of 1 per round.

I can't find more than 2 Ochre Jellies.

You can get by with 6 Orcs. The 18 Orcs are slaves.

You can get by with 4 Orogs. The 15 Orogs are slaves.

You can get by with 18 Troglodytes. The 22 Trogs are distracted and easy to sneak past.

[berk the black]

Some encounters seem to be stacked to encourage players to avoid combat. Maybe two numbers could be given for the ridiculous ones: the Leeroy Jenkins number and the number that you would normally expect to use.

Sigh, I have a Leeroy Jenkins player. So much so that he even shouts “Leeroy Jenkins” when charging into a room and has even created his brother Leon when Leeroy didn’t make it.

[Krod_Mandoon]

I bet that never gets old.