I don’t know if ACKS invented dynamic lairs (a raison d'etre for the otherwise ancient % In
Lair), but ACKS is the first game in which I actually used % In Lair. I love dynamic lairs! In one of my earliest ACKS games, I created a
“dynamic dungeon” consisting of a series of prepared encounters in a sprawling cavern
complex. It worked fantastically well.
For some time now, I’ve wanted a list of all
Autarch-published ACKS monsters.
Compiling that list, I noticed a lot of monsters with “% In Lair: None”
(see below). “Nooooooooooo!” I thought. I want “lairs” for all my monsters.
Many if not most of the % In Lair values are likely
legacy values. Although I can see the
logic of some monsters not “lair-ing”, I don’t agree with all of the list
below. (Yellow Mold never appears in its
lair, only as a wandering monster. Wait,
what?) It may be the creative Judge in
me, but I want prepared encounters with every monster that are more than “a
monster appears.”
Therefore, I am now running “% In Lair: None” as “% In
Lair: 5%.” The number of monsters in the
prepared encounter will be the same as for a wandering monster encounter. At least to start with – more monsters may
make sense for some monsters, perhaps even being the reason for the prepared
encounter, e.g. a spot favorable for finding the monster’s food, bringing more
than usual.
Monsters with “% In Lair: None” often have “Treasure
Type: None.” However, not all. Most of those that do have treasure have
“Incidental” treasure types (C, I, M, or P), often said to be found in their
bellies. I think similar incidental
treasure may be appropriate for any monster capable of swallowing (or killing
in place) a human, such as a Tyrannosaurus Rex or Yellow Mold. Also, Treasure Type Q seems as appropriate
for a Djinn or Efreet as a Frost or Fire Salamander.
Core rulebook monsters with "% In Lair: None"
Black Pudding
Boar, ordinary
Boar, giant
Camel
Crocodile, ordinary
Crocodile, large
Crocodile, giant
Djinni
Efreeti
Elemental, air
Elemental, earth
Elemental, fire
Elemental, water
Elephant Treasure
Type: Special
Fish, giant, catfish
Fish, giant, piranha
Fish, giant, rockfish
Fish, giant, sturgeon
Treasure Type: I
Gelatinous cube
Treasure Type: C
Golem, amber
Golem, bone
Golem, bronze
Golem, wood
Gray ooze
Green slime
Herd animal
Horse, light
Horse, medium
Horse, heavy
Invisible stalker
Leech, giant
Mastodon Treasure
Type: Special
Men, merchant
Treasure Type: J (per 10 wagons)
Mule
Ochre jelly
Octopus, giant
Pterodactyl, pterodactyl
Pterodactyl, pteranodon
Purple worm
Treasure Type: P x2
Rhinoceros, ordinary
Rhinoceros, woolly
Rot grub
Sea serpent
Treasure Type: M, I
Shark, bull
Shark, mako
Shark, great white
Shrieker
Snake, spitting cobra
Snake, pit viper
Snake, sea snake
Snake, giant python
Snake, giant rattler
Squid, giant
Statue, animated, crystal
Statue, animated, stone
Statue, animated, iron
Stegosaurus
Titanothere
Toad, giant
Treasure Type: C
Triceratops
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Whale, killer
Treasure Type: M
Whale, narwhal
Treasure Type: Special
Whale, sperm
Treasure Type: P
Yellow Mold
