Grail Monsters

[Matthew Walker]

I really like the concept of Grail Monsters in the game. The VN is all about servant vs servant action but whenever that happens somebody has to lose (and likely die). Here each servant and master pair in the game is a player character so having mooks to beat up on is great.

The monsters aren't really fleshed out anywhere unless I'm just missing a thread or two so let's do it here! Here are my suggestions:

Grail Monsters are attracted to or created by large spikes of magical energy. That means that whenever Servants or Magus fight the battle is likely to attract Grail Monsters. So fights have extra mooks getting in the way to spice things up, give Masters something to do while Servants are duking it out, and give Servants hapless NPCs to inflict collateral damage on to show how badass they are. This wouldn't have to be a 100% thing so if you wanna have just a straight up Servant vs Servant brawl fest feel free.

Grail Monsters come in different flavors. Hordes of weak mooks (zombies, possessed humans, etc) that a regular human could deal with form the cannon fodder tier so that our badass normal characters get chances to shine and Masters and Servants alike have rows on rows of faceless goons to mow down.

The next tier up is the Credible Threat to Magus tier, mooks that a Magus would have trouble taking down without their servant's help. So if normal people can take on low tier Grail Monsters, Magus can take on mid tier Grail Monsters unless they get swarmed. Since FSN has strong themes of all legends actually being true we could get some classic fairy tale monsters like trolls, goblins, or entirely new monsters. I'd personally advise against "mainstream" monsters like vampires and werewolves because you just know somebody is gonna want to play a grail monster if that means they get to be a vampire.

Last tier is Giant Boss Monster tier. This is the Convenient Excuse for Everyone to Run From A Battle tier if nobody wants to get their characters killed off. You're mired in a fight, boss monster shows up, whoops! looks like it's time to run away. This is also the Epic Team Up to Beat tier. Lots of potential for alliances and such to beat 'em. Dragons, Golems, and big badass bruisers all go in this tier.

[fordprefect]

I get the impression that the Grail Monsters are probably supposed to be a bit like those dog things from F/HA. I like the idea that the creatures are drawn from legend, but are all sort of twisted reflections of the 'real' thing. So I mean, sure, trolls, definitely, but with extra mouths and shizat.

I mean, it sounds like an excuse for monster climbing.

[Illyasviel von Einzbern]

Ford pretty much hit the money on this one. They are indeed based on the Hollow Ataraxia shadow critters. As for definition, there's really a lot of room for variety, as well as discussion on how they should run. I hereby declare this the official Grail Monster discussion thread.

[The Ripper]

Also: Post rad pictures of monsters in this thread. For inspiration.

[Miliardo Red]

It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.

Because people should be worried the darkness contains more than just Jack, waiting to stick a knife in your throat.

[Lord Ashley Woodcock]

Would be giving my opinion on this idea also, maybe should you also start classefying into different breeds. Like would there be a specific breed for chasing masters and getting them to summon servants and would there also be another specific breed to be weak by its individual self but are used in zergrushing and controlled by a strategic breed. Or even multiple breeds of this kind just to cause general havoc and mayhem so you have flyers and crawlsers and hunters and that kind of thing. Would this really be just to attract servants and try to kill them so it can power itself more. I think the grail is already very intelligent and knows more than just choosing people now is it actually actively taking part in the grail war so it can amass more power for itself.

Would there also be a special "bait" breed that works in pairs and what they do is lure two servants to go after them until they meet so that they cause a fight that the masters don't expect to happen like an ambush. Is more likely to cause a death if is an ambush, right?

[Alan Girm Moria]

Oct 29, 2010 22:23:32 GMT -5 Lord Ashley Woodcock said:

Would there also be a special "bait" breed that works in pairs and what they do is lure two servants to go after them until they meet so that they cause a fight that the masters don't expect to happen like an ambush. Is more likely to cause a death if is an ambush, right?

You mean a "Trap" breed ? Sure masters with little experience would be weak to traps although it only works once. If it's not an instant kill they will probably go down hard.

Hearing the different types I'm begining to think of them less as hounds and more as a colony of locusts.

[Lord Ashley Woodcock]

Haha yeah forgot. Haven't been in character for too long. Maybe would the grail also have some ways to make the "trap" breed more effective since it knows everything about the servants. Or converse would it also have a "trap tripper" breed that interferes with other masters and servants who like setting traps and causing enough confusion that the trap makers become vulnerable.

I know its like the because I've been playing star craft recently to practice for when I get the sequel.

[Alan Girm Moria]

Rather than specialize in one specific area I think maybe defining some categories of monster and expanding on them slightly from there? Servants have seven classes but each individual has their own quirks something like that. I was thinking along the same lines.

[Lord Ashley Woodcock]

Could be. But would the grail also have enough resources to make many specific varieties for one type from situation to situation. Is like End War. You only have have "infantry type" but can you also choose to give shotgun, sniper rifle, assault rifle, and machinegun. Would it not be a bad idea to have a few general types and then have specific "configurations" for each based on the circumstances.