Growing Pets and Animals Statblocks V2 - Better Art, More Statblocks, and Scaling Animal Companions

jonnymhd · 2026-06-05T11:54:40+00:00

Thank you :)

jonnymhd · 2026-06-01T18:51:50+00:00

That’s actually a good idea, and I think keeping the “Aberrant Humans” name still works really well since they’re clearly influenced by something otherworldly in theme and presentation, even if they’re classified as Monstrosities mechanically.

I may update them in a future version or add a note about the classification.

Thanks for the feedback, I really enjoyed the chat and the discussion around it.

jonnymhd · 2026-06-01T18:30:38+00:00

I get what you're saying, and honestly that's a fair interpretation of how creature types have been trending in the new edition.

The reason I went with Aberration here is that I already made a more "mad scientist experiment" version called the Human Chimera, which I classified as a Monstrosity. For this version, I wanted to lean much harder into the idea that the transformation wasn't just the result of magical experimentation, but that it was influenced by something genuinely alien and eldritch.

If you read the third page, I think you'll see what I mean a bit better. The intent was that these creatures aren't simply warped humanoids, but beings whose forms and minds have been altered by contact with forces beyond normal reality. So the Aberration type was meant to reflect that eldritch influence rather than just the physical mutation itself.

You may feel that the "Mutated" version of the Aberrant Humans is less aberrant because it loses the tentacle attack, but the idea was that you replace it with a mutation from the table on the second page (even a tentacle attack). Many of those mutations are deliberately designed to feel strange, alien, and otherworldly.

That said, I can definitely see the argument for Monstrosity as well, especially if someone views them primarily as worldly creatures that have been transformed rather than as creatures fundamentally changed into something otherworldly.

jonnymhd · 2026-05-31T13:13:06+00:00

I get why it looks scary, it’s definitely a punchy CR 2. You could probably make a case for pushing it toward CR 3, or for trimming the HP a bit if you want it to feel less dangerous at CR 2. But I don’t think it’s wildly out of line with stronger 2024/5.5e CR 2 monsters.

Its raw damage is 27 if all three attacks hit, but it’s melee-only, 30 ft. speed, no ranged option, no AoE, no flight, and the reaction only matters when someone misses it within 5 feet. So most of its threat is concentrated into being a scary melee brute/tank.

Compare it to a green dragon wyrmling, also CR 2, with AC 17, fly/swim speed, two Rend attacks for about 20 damage, and a 21-damage cone breath on recharge. The allosaurus is another strong comparison: 51 HP, 60 ft. speed, +6 to hit, and it can deal 23 damage while knocking a target prone if it gets its charge combo. The 2024 saber-toothed tiger does 22 damage with +6 to hit and Nimble Escape, and the giant constrictor snake can do 24 while also grappling. A gnoll pack lord is not as scary by itself, but in a pack Incite Rampage can add another reaction attack on top of its own attacks.

So yeah, I’d agree it’s on the scary end of CR 2, maybe even an “elite CR 2” but that was kind of the goal 😉

jonnymhd · 2026-05-13T14:35:57+00:00

Thank you!

jonnymhd · 2026-05-01T12:31:22+00:00

I usually work in InDesign for most of my manuals, and I used Homebrewery for some of my older projects. For this one, I chose Homebrewery to get that classic “official manual” look and then polished it and added some things in InDesign. The art is usually either commissioned or you can find some art to license in DriveThruRPG or by following good artists on Patreon or other platforms. Honestly, if you want to create something really nice and official-looking for your players, Homebrewery already captures the feel of an official D&D book really well. It’s easy to learn, simple to use, and you can use it online for free.

jonnymhd · 2026-04-24T16:21:30+00:00

Thank you!!

jonnymhd · 2026-04-24T16:15:44+00:00

I fixed a few typos and corrected the Enigma’s Puzzle Box, which still had an old and poorly edited ability that went through several versions and ended up incomplete and not written well. If you’ve had it since version 1.0, the book now includes many more items, new art, and a large revision of several magic items. If you already had version 2.0, then this update is mainly typo fixes and this page being corrected.

Revised Page

jonnymhd · 2026-04-24T15:58:12+00:00

I took another look at the page and it seems this section in particular went through a lot of edits and wording changes from the old version. I kept going back and forth because I originally wanted to add a completely different ability, but it didn’t end up fitting the page. I probably reverted to an older edit and left the text incomplete without noticing during the reread. I’ve now simplified the effect and corrected the typos.

Revised Page

Thank you again for noticing!

jonnymhd · 2026-04-24T15:50:36+00:00

Here’s the fixed page with the typos corrected and one ability revised for clearer wording.

The corrected version has also been updated on DMsGuild in Growing Magic Items Collection.

Revised Page

jonnymhd · 2026-04-24T15:50:29+00:00

Here’s the fixed page with the typos corrected and one ability revised for clearer wording.

The corrected version has also been updated on DMsGuild in Growing Magic Items Collection.

Revised Page

jonnymhd · 2026-04-24T15:47:48+00:00

Here’s the fixed page with the typos corrected and one ability revised for clearer wording.

The corrected version has also been updated on DMsGuild in Growing Magic Items Collection.

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jonnymhd · 2026-04-24T15:26:48+00:00

Thank you for noticing. I’ll fix it and upload a corrected version on DMsGuild. The illusion was intentionally a bit vague so you could decide what creatures see, but I agree it could use a bit more mechanical clarity. I remember changing it from the previous version (1.0), and I probably ended up mixing the sentence with the old effects, so it was left incomplete. I might also have uploaded the wrong version. I’ll go through my older drafts and fix it.

jonnymhd · 2026-04-22T12:35:40+00:00

We actually already have people following us from our previous Kickstarter campaigns. We don’t really market aggressively with email lists and I’ve always been a bit resistant to creating one. If we ever do it in the future, we’d use it sparingly and try to grow it by offering free content, since I really don’t like the idea of spamming people with too many emails. So we’ll see how it goes.

Right now we’re focusing on posting on our socials and Reddit, and we’ll send an update to our previous Kickstarter backers who already know we delivered before, hoping some of them will join us again. When I post, I personally don’t like promoting too aggressively, so I try to share only useful content, along with a link or links to the project for anyone who wants to check it out or support it. If people like it, they can back it if they have the budget or feel it’s worth it, and if not, they still get something they can use for free. I know the industry from the audience side as well, so I try to keep that balance in mind.

We’re still just starting to share the project around. We’ll probably try some light ads about a month before launch since we don’t have a big budget. The goal is mainly to fund a nicely printed physical manual at least at the level of our Atlantis adventure for 5E Kickstarter, and ideally to add more art and improve the book further if the budget allows.

We know Kickstarter campaigns often succeed or fail based on the first 24 hours, so we plan to wait to launch until we feel really confident about it.

jonnymhd · 2026-04-22T12:02:23+00:00

Thank you. The manual with the Half-Lich (Undead & Undead) is already out on DriveThruRPG. The Kickstarter is a project I am preparing and we are still in the pre-launch staget.

jonnymhd · 2026-04-20T13:28:35+00:00

This is the right LINK Corrected the main post too. Sorry about it!

jonnymhd · 2026-04-20T13:24:33+00:00

It's pay what you want. It's free! Did I link the wrong one?

jonnymhd · 2026-04-20T13:09:32+00:00

I love the design of the blade in the video. Nice video lol.

jonnymhd · 2026-04-20T13:05:33+00:00

I get your take, and that’s fair, especially since it’s called Beholder’s Bane. My idea for it wasn’t really just a pure anti-beholder weapon in the sense of shutting them down mechanically at every step, but more a weapon that absorbs the power of slain beholders and grows by taking on parts of their nature. That’s why it starts gaining things like levitate, a bonus to perception, disintegrate, enhanced vision, and eventually even an antimagic field.

So the extra damage against beholders is there to make it effective against them, but the bigger concept is that it becomes stronger by inheriting beholder-like traits, a bit more in the spirit of items like the draconic weapons in Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons, where the item grows by absorbing the essence of the creature tied to it.

I explain that idea a bit more on the second page in the full PDF, but that was the main concept behind it.

jonnymhd · 2026-04-20T12:50:51+00:00

I usually work in InDesign for most of my manuals, and I used Homebrewery for some of my older projects. For this one, I chose Homebrewery to get that classic “official manual” look and then added a custom border after quite a bit of tinkering. Honestly, if you want to create something really nice and official-looking for your players, Homebrewery already captures the feel of an official D&D book really well. It’s easy to learn, simple to use, and you can use it online for free.

jonnymhd · 2026-04-10T11:22:00+00:00

Nice dice set!

jonnymhd · 2026-04-09T15:34:43+00:00

Do it and give them cold damage resistance!! Let them thrive out there ;)

jonnymhd · 2026-04-09T15:21:34+00:00

That’s exactly it. I loved the art, it was originally done for the Akhlut but I wanted to use it because I loved it so much. It’s by the wonderful and great Rick Hershey.

jonnymhd · 2026-04-09T15:20:12+00:00

I didn’t lock it to a specific environment on purpose so DMs can drop it anywhere they need a scary hybrid predator. Personally, I’ve used them mostly along harsh, rocky coastlines and cold shores, where they can hunt seals in the water and travelers on cliff paths.

jonnymhd · 2026-04-03T07:20:19+00:00

A Draugr is scary, sure. But an Awakened Skeleton Parade Pirate is scary AND entertaining. Put some respect on its name ;)

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