Encounter Every Enemy

Turning Stat Blocks Into Story Hooks

Skip to content
  • Home
  • About This Blog: Making Every Monster Matter
  • The Legal Bits
Search

Worldbuilding With Monsters

The Mezzoloth: Just Doing Its Job

October 16, 2025October 6, 2025 / Chris Gladis / Leave a comment

Meet the Mezzoloth — not a villain, but the hired muscle. These mercenary fiends bring teleporting tridents, cloudkill spells, and a moral quandary or two to your campaign. Whether your players fight, flee, or strike a deal, Mezzoloths are a perfect way to say: Welcome to the Blood War, kids.

The Commoner: The Most Important Stat Block in the Book

October 13, 2025October 6, 2025 / Chris Gladis / Leave a comment

They have no magic. No armor. Just 4 HP and a club. But the Commoner might be the most powerful stat block in your game—not because of what they do, but because of what they mean. How your table treats them says more about your campaign than any monster ever could.

Monster #50: The Mirror

October 9, 2025October 9, 2025 / Chris Gladis / Leave a comment

This milestone post reflects on the three forces that define what makes a monster in Dungeons & Dragons — Wizards of the Coast, the Dungeon Master, and the players. What do we fight, and why? What happens when someone says “no”? And who decides what the monster really is?

Ogres: Big, Mean, and Worth a Second Look

October 2, 2025September 25, 2025 / Chris Gladis / Leave a comment

Ogres might seem like basic brutes, but they can be so much more. From tribal tattoos and spell-scarred warlords to clever terrain ambushes, here’s how to turn the classic dumb monster into a memorable encounter — or even an unlikely ally.

The Colossus: When the Dungeon Walks

September 29, 2025September 25, 2025 / Chris Gladis / Leave a comment

What happens when the dungeon stands up? The Colossus is more than just a monster — it’s a walking battlefield, a relic of a forgotten war, and the start of something huge. Whether your players want to fight it, stop it, or claim it, this is an encounter they won’t forget.

The Impossible Beast: Hippogriffs and the Power of Contradiction

September 22, 2025September 26, 2025 / Chris Gladis / Leave a comment

A Hippogriff is more than a flying mount — it's a living contradiction. Half solitary predator, half herd animal, it’s a symbol of tension, blending, and the impossible made real. In this post, we dive into the thematic richness of the Hippogriff, with story hooks, symbolic insights, and ways to make it meaningful at your table.

Moonlight and Mayhem: Making the Most of the Werewolf

September 18, 2025September 26, 2025 / Chris Gladis / Leave a comment

A monster as old as folklore and as fierce as your players’ worst fears, the Werewolf brings combat danger, narrative weight, and deep thematic resonance to your D&D table. Whether you're running a cursed noble bloodline or a savage forest ambush, this iconic creature is more than just teeth and fur — it's the animal within.

Snakes. Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?

September 15, 2025September 9, 2025 / Chris Gladis / Leave a comment

They’re not just snakes. They’re a slithering, fanged force of nature. Swarms can overwhelm, frighten, and transform terrain into living threat. This week, we explore how the Swarm of Venomous Snakes turns ancient temples, jungle floors, and dungeon pits into visceral, bite-filled nightmares — and why your players may never feel safe again.

Watchers in the Trees: Rethinking the Giant Owl

September 11, 2025September 3, 2025 / Chris Gladis / Leave a comment

More than just oversized birds, Giant Owls are Celestials with wisdom, magic, and stories to tell. This low-CR creature can serve as a divine messenger, a forest watcher, or a haunting reminder of things left unseen. Don’t waste them in combat — let them speak.

A Wish, a Show, a Splash of Drama: Marids at Your Table

September 1, 2025September 26, 2025 / Chris Gladis / 1 Comment

Marids are arrogant, dramatic, and deeply underused. But handled right, these oceanic genies can bring courtly intrigue, social chaos, and wish-fueled storytelling into your game. Whether you want to baffle your players or awe them, a Marid is a perfect choice for a session that makes waves.

Posts navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →
December 2025
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Nov    
  • Aberrations
  • Beasts
  • Celestial
  • Constructs
  • Dragons
  • Elementals
  • Fey
  • Fiend
  • Giant
  • Humanoid
  • Monstrosities
  • Undead
Website Built with WordPress.com.
Encounter Every Enemy
Website Built with WordPress.com.
  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Encounter Every Enemy
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Encounter Every Enemy
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...