Oh how I love October and the lead up to Halloween. The cooler weather, leaves turning, ghost and ghouls roaming the neighborhood...such a fantastic time of the year. Like many other Dungeon Masters in the hobby, it is fun to run those spook and scary one-shots for Halloween, but there are so many monsters to choose from...what should your theme be. Well, here are my top 10 monsters for Halloween adventures, plus some suggestions of published work using them. This is definitely not the gospel and strictly my opinion, feel free to chime in on those you love as well.
10) Flesh Golem: not often used, but definitely iconic considering Frankenstein is one of the gothic horror tropes. Often used as the useful idiot, only killing by order of a crazed doctor who is pulling the strings; you can change this up by making the creature more horrifying...additional heads, arms or even monster parts. "Adam's Wrath" from 2nd edition Ravenloft is an adventure to consider, also "Trial of the Beast" from the Carrion Crown Pathfinder AP .
9) Zombies: you know this one would make the list. A good zombie adventure makes for a harrowing experience for a group of 1st level adventurers. I prefer a Night of the Living Dead approach....trapped in a house, survive the night from the zombie hordes, keep them coming until dawn and help arrives. "Night of the Walking Dead" from 2nd edition Ravenloft is another good adventure you could use.
8) Vampire: Sharp fangs hunting you in the night...oh the Vampire, another classic staple dating back to Dracula. Vampires can often feature as the main villain in an ongoing campaign...seductive, calculating and powerful...PC's beware! "I6: Ravenloft" if you haven't run this one for your group, go find a copy and do it, definitely an all-time great.
7) Gibbering Mouther: Straight out of Lovecraftian horror, the Gibbering Mouther is a favorite of mine. The ability to claw at and influence the mind of the PC's while this nasty guy closes in and devours their weak flesh...likely not a focal point of an adventure, but who says you can't do it. "The God that Crawls" from LoTFP would work for this one.
6) Green Hag: you can't do Halloween without some witches and the Green Hag is my favorite. Beware little children and player characters, this nasty gal has some stew to fix and she may need some of those body parts you're currently using. I've always wanted to add in a coven of hags themed around the women from Hocus Pocus.
5) Lich: Watch out for this bad boy. I've always been a huge fan of the scheming and mastermind Lich, often using them in my campaigns. To dial up the spooky factor, center your adventure around a wizard or cleric in the midst of their transformation into the undying lich...can the PC's stop them? Check out "Tomb of the Black Sand" a recent release from Jacob Hurst, an excellent OSR creator.
4) Wraith: Many will use ghosts for their haunting, but I really like the wraith. It is much more cruel and sinister. Let's not forget these nasty undead can level drain in the early editions of D&D...want to see some scared PC's, put a level drain creature before them. "Trial of the Beast" from Pathfinder, has a sinister little side-trek quest involving a wraith that had stolen away and killed many of a villages children, spooky indeed.
3) Devil: a lot of D&D is smash the monster get the treasure, but Devils are interesting creature to toss into the adventure. Often disguised or working along with the PC's, tempting them with offers perhaps too good to be refused. We all know your fighter won't turn down that flaming long sword of giant slaying +3, but eventually payment comes due. Hope your players are ready to fight for their very souls in Hell. "A Paladin in Hell" by Monte Cook is a great late 2nd edition adventure full of devils and demons to crush your PC's dreams.
2) Werewolf: Definitely my favorite iconic horror creature, the premise of man or woman trying to contain the beast within only to succumb murderous and animal impulses. For extra horror keep the PC's guessing whom the werewolf is in their remote village setting, perhaps their most trusted contact...maybe even someone within the party, evil indeed.
1) Mankind (humans): Perhaps the most evil of all of the creatures. Cults and cultists are a favorite of mine. Worshiping their dark gods in the late hours under a full moon, sacrificing the village virgin for dark knowledge and gain, the allure of power and promise is often too much for man to refuse and these monsters blend in with the day-to-day surroundings of your adventure. "Against the Cult of the Reptile God" is a favorite adventure of mine, who in the village of Orlane can the PC's really trust.
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