Making Monsters

Monsters in FÄNGELSEHÅLA are more than just obstacles; they are puzzles, horrors, and tricksters designed to challenge players in unexpected ways. Whether they lurk in the shadows of a forgotten ruin or erupt from the depths of a poisoned lake, monsters define the tension, wonder, and danger of an adventure.

With the FÄNG Monster Jam, you have the chance to create your own monsters—beasts that fit into the eerie, storybook world of FÄNG. But what makes a FÄNG monster truly terrifying (or delightfully weird)?

Step 1: Start With a Concept & Description

A great monster isn’t just a stat block – it lives in the world, and has it’s own purpose and motivations.

How does it fight? Does it ambush from the trees, charge head-on, or lure players into a trap?
Why is it here? Is it guarding a cursed relic? Is it hunting the players?
What does it want? Is it driven by hunger, revenge, instinct, or magic?

Step 2: Features that Supports the Concept

Now that you have a concept provide features that forces players to rethink their approach. FÄNG monsters often have one or more Features that shape the encounter.

Damage Suppression: Does it have an armored shell that blocks blunt attacks? A spongy body that absorbs blades?
Movement: Can it leap chasms, fly over attacks, or burrow unseen?
Surprise & Awareness: Is it camouflaged? Can it see in all directions? Can it smell prey even in complete darkness?
Regeneration: Can it heal over time, forcing players to take risks?
Toxic Defenses: Does it bleed acid, secrete poison, or emit a stench that forces players to make Saving Throws (SV)?

Step 3: Critical Attack that Supports the Concept

When players roll double 1’s, the monster strikes hard. Critical Attacks in FÄNG follow different patterns:

Decide if it is an area effect, or limited to those who are in combat with it? It makes party members a little tense when somebody’s bad roll has an impact on them! The type of attack usually helps answer this question for you.
#SV (Multiple Saves): A deadly strike (3SV Tuff) or a quill barrage (2SV Agile).
RSV (Recurring Saves): Ongoing effects like acid burns or suffocating vines. Players will keep getting this effect until a successful save, but the character can keep taking action.
CSV (Condition Saves): Attacks that incapacitate characters until they make a successful save – like being wrapped in webs, mind-controlled, or pinned beneath massive claws.

Step 4: What Scar Does it Leave?

A great monster leaves a lasting impression after a Doom Stack Topple. Get creative, and make it fun for players to role-play!

An Electric Eel that leaves the character jittery and stuttering.
A sabre-toothed beast that leaves a hole in the character’s hand that whistles in the wind.
A serpent’s fire breath that singes the character’s hair so badly that there is a constant burnt smell.

Step 5: Give it Some Stats

A great monster doesn’t necessarily have to have all high stats. You want to lean into the concept, and provide some uniqueness that makes it easy for Doomsayers to drop into their adventures.

Difficulty (DF): How hard it is to hit (ranges from 6-12). As yourself how effective is it in combat? Perhaps it’s not actually good at combat, but can instead take more damage with higher DM. Learn more about how DF scales
Doom (DM): The amount of damage it can take. A small rodent might just have 1DM, while a giant beast that can sustain a ton of damage might have 12DM.
Monster Actions (MA): Every monsters starts with 2MA, which is the number of defensive actions it can make per turn. If it is fast or has lots of heads, you give it up to 5MA to convey that.

A great monster doesn’t necessarily have to have all high stats. You want to provide some uniqueness and variation that makes it easy for Doomsayers to drop into their adventures.

Step 6: Bring the Monster to Life with Art

Now the fun happens! The Fun with FÄNG aesthetic draws inspiration from 1960s children’s book illustration and IKEA minimalism – so get weird with your designs. Monsters don’t have to be hyper-realistic, and instead they should feel like storybook horrors that lurk on the edges of a child’s imagination.

Don’t forget about the monster’s concept, features and Critical Attacks, and determine how you can convey that quickly within the illustration!

Learn more about how to go from sketch to final product!

Step 7: Put the Monster Into a Layout

You have all the information, stats, and image you need, and now you need to make a PDF and upload it to Itch.io! We have created an InDesign template to give you a path to follow, which you can learn more about here:

Learn more about the Monster Templates here!