Ever looked at a monster stat block and thought, “That’s cool… but what if it was full of wasp parasites, haunted by Victorian metaphors, and could bend reality like a jaded demigod?” Well, buckle in, because Keith Ammann, monster maestro and author of Making Enemies, is back to teach us how to create RPG nightmares smarter than your party’s wizard, sneakier than a rogue with reliable talent, and more layered than a Dark Souls boss.
Buy Keith’s Books
Keith Ammann’s books, including The Monsters Know What They’re Doing, Live to Tell the Tale, How to Defend Your Lair, and now Making Enemies, are all available through your friendly local game store or online via your favorite bookseller. Find more at themonstersknow.com—and level up every system at your table. Get your own copy of Making Enemies and start building smarter monsters today!
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Show Notes
The Monsters Know author Keith Ammann returns for his third masterclass to discuss his new book, Making Enemies. We explore everything from designing creatures with realistic biological traits, to metaphorical monsters rooted in culture, to how to mess with your most OP players using quirks and weaknesses. Keith breaks down monster creation for five game systems: D&D 5e, Pathfinder 2e, Cypher System, Call of Cthulhu, and Shadowdark—and why your eldritch beast might benefit from wasp logic or a cursed Victorian metaphor.
Materials References in This Episode
- Making Enemies (affiliate link)
- Keith Ammann
- RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes
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Tyler Kamstra
Ash Ely
- Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
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- Bluesky: GravenAshes
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Randall James
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- Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale
