Dont worry about trying to find the “most optimal” build or path, though.

I wasn't worried about optimization so much as just picking a starting class that I'm going to have fun with. Though it seems variable enough that I won't have to worry.

Fanged Lizard seems fun, but I'm probably going to go Goblin. I have an idea for a character arc that might be kind of fun and interesting.

How's this for a monster suggestion?

Insect: They’re the most fragile of all monsters, possessing very very low amounts of HP and defense. The only reason most of them are able to survive is that their small size combined with their high speed and reflexes help them avoid attacks. Their small size also helps them at remaining unseen, making them good at hit and run tactics. When they transform they can gain the ability to raise their defense by developing an exoskeleton, create traps and be able to reach objects far away by being able to shoot web, spit poison, etc.

Skills:
Crawl I: Insects are able to move in walls and ceilings for a small amount of time.

Some kind of undead creature could be useful. Make it an alternative tank to the slime, only with resistance to magic or status effects.

I think Goblins are able to progress into Ghouls which would probs branch off to other undead beasties.

@Knox
I had considered insectoid monsters during my original design phase, and like you suggested thought about making them some kind of "trap master" type of character. But the most common abilities for most insects involving paralyzing or poisonous stings, fangs, etc. which the Fanged Lizard already does. Building traps out of webbing, or digging out pitfalls in the ground, could be an interesting form of combat but it seemed like it would force the players to be too passive--they build the trap, then sit and wait for something to fall into it, and I didn't think players would enjoy waiting around like that. Being speedster types, using guerrilla tactics, could work but then they would be another form of DPS like the Dire Rat, and I tried to avoid having the starter monster roles overlap as much as possible.

Not to mention most "mook level" insects would be things like giant ants, or *Projared voice* BEES, and these creatures are hive-minds controlled by a Queen. Players already have to stand out among their monstrous peers to survive, but when doing so goes against the nature of the monster itself it just seemed like it wouldn't work out.

By all means though let's hear some more thoughts on the subject, maybe someone can help fix the issues I've pointed out.

@King Cosmos@Gobby
The thing about becoming Undead is that one has to die first. ;)

I actually decided on that as a sort of "mercy" system just in case--if a player gets in over their heads and bites the big one for a second time, they immediately get the choice of becoming certain types of Undead. But a Zombie has to have a body, and a Ghost has nothing left if it gets destroyed again, and of course the Demon King won't be so kind as to reincarnate you a third time...

@Zeroth well color me interested in this one! Also, can slimes fully envelop small enemies from the get-go?

I think I'm done. Unless I missed something, then I'm not and I had lied.

@Zeroth Interested - I am debating between a wisp or a Fanged Lizard

Im gonna be a wisp i guess. But how could i get to a gazer. In dnd if we go by challenge rating theyre about equal to a hobgoblin. Theyre like small weak beholders. take a look here forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Gazer I once had these as a familiar theyre very fun.

@UltraCraftGames, just as a guess but since Gazers are aberrations wouldn't the closest starting class be a slime?

I think it might be wisps or something magical as they rely on magical rays.

@Guy0fV4lor
They can't just immediately absorb something or stretch themselves out so much as to consume something whole, the way the protagonist of That Time I Reincarnated as a Slime / Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken does. But yes, given enough time, room, and if the prey has been beaten down enough that it can't struggle, they could potentially envelop and consume something of roughly equal size. Digesting it would probably take a long time, though, and leave the slime slow, fat, and vulnerable in the meantime.

@Gobby
All the essentials are there, once the IC/OOC/Character topic is up you can go ahead and add Mr. McPufferston to the appropriate tab. You were spot-on with the description of a Pixie, which I was hoping would be the case since the six starters I picked are either very easy to envision or popularly known monsters.

@Tatsu
The Wisp and Fanged Lizard both have ranged attacks, but the lizard is closer to a middle ground--it's not as strong in direct combat as Goblins or Dire Rats, but it isn't a leaf in the breeze like the Wisp either. However, the Wisp's magic is more directly damaging than the Lizard's status attacks--a Lizard would have to wear an enemy down with poison, or immobilize them with paralysis over time. The Wisp could, if it had enough energy, simply blast something a few good times and be done with them. Another limit to consider, however, is ammunition--the Wisp will not be able to cast spells endlessly, as just like in most games spells use up Magic Power, MP. The Lizard may exhaust its stamina over time, but very rarely would it actually have to wait for its poison sacs to refill.

@UltraCraftGames
I actually had not thought of this monster, so sure it can be one of the Wisp's evolutions, or possibly somehow a slime if I could make that overlap work. The requirements for unlocking it will probably be things themed around the general behavior of the Beholders and what passes for their "culture" throughout the lore of D&D--learning more about magic, specifically any eye-themed abilities, adapting to dark and underground environments, learning at least two different magics and then learning to cast more than one spell at a time...maybe developing split personality syndrome and then becoming paranoid, insane, and xeno-genocidal, etc (maybe just kidding on that last group).

To those who are also working on characters, I am going to wait until we have most characters in the Character Tab of a main thread before I examine your Past Lives in detail and award some carry-over skills or bonuses. This way people won't be able to predict what I'm looking for to qualify for certain skills. I've got a long workday today so I will make a VERY tentative statement that the IC will be up sometime tomorrow evening. Thanks for bearing with me thus far.

Hmm i think it would be easier to become a gazer if you had vivid dreams in your past life as the whole beholder thing is about dreams. They were made from dreams even. And the cast multiple spells at once shouldnt be a requirement as they usually use one ray at a time.

And i will probably try to make a past life as fitting to this because i just want to be a gazer.

@Zeroth one other question, as slimes devour creatures, do they adopt traits from said devoured creatures?

i made us a little discord discord.gg/gqdEFF

@Zeroth Many thanks. Hopefully Puck makes the Demon King proud.

@Guy0fV4lor
What you eat may factor into some things like any other adaptive behaviors in an environment, but you can’t copy or absorb skills from the creatures you eat. That would be a form of “cheat” under most circumstances, and the Demon King isn’t fond of that. ;)

Hey zeroth join the discord i made

(This will become a CS at some point)