In this Remastered Episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we summon the horrors that make your players ask, ‘Can I roll to nope?’

In this episode, the RPGBOT.Podcast team delves into the weird, the squishy, and the utterly incomprehensible world of Aberrations—those delightful horrors that break the rules of reality and challenge players’ expectations. From Mind Flayers to Gibbering Mouthers, the hosts explore how these creatures can be used to discomfort, disorient, and delight your game table. Whether you’re looking to run a horror campaign, design a disturbing encounter, or just want to terrify your players with something that doesn’t have a front or back, this episode will help you lean into the madness.

• Meeting an Ancient Aboleth – dScryb (affiliate link)
• RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes
• RPGBOT.Podcast Episode 10 – Horror
• Kobold Press Tome of Heroes: the Wit and Wisdom of Brian Suskind – RPGBOT.News S2E53
• Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel – RPGBOT.News S2E57
• Dice Math – RPGBOT.Podcast S2E92
• Keith Baker on Eberron – RPGBOT.Masterclass S3E3
• Keys from the Golden Vault – RPGBOT.News S3E17
• The Undead – A Guide to Incorporating Undead Creatures in TTRPGs – RPGBOT.Podcast S3E28
• The Undead II: A Guide for Role Playing Undead Creatures in TTRPGs – RPGBOT.Podcast S3E30
• Content from RPGBOT.net
• Call of Cthulhu Starter Set – A Review
• Other Stuff
• Baldur’s Gate
• Chaosium
• Basic Roleplaying System (affiliate link)
• Monstrous Races (affiliate link)

Key Takeaways

• Aberrations thrive on unpredictability: Their alien logic and bizarre abilities create dynamic and disorienting encounters that force players to think outside the stat block.
• They are story tools, not just combatants: Aberrations can shape entire arcs, create cults, distort time and space, and redefine a campaign’s tone.
• Use description and mechanics together: Emphasize the unnatural—describe how a Beholder’s eye twitches in impossible ways, or how an Aboleth speaks directly into a PC’s nightmares.
• Madness and corruption are your allies: Aberrations are best when they leave a lingering mark, be it psychic scars, corrupted NPCs, or twisted reality.
• Players should come prepared to counter tricks, not just tank hits: Aberrations reward clever tactics, good preparation, and understanding of their lore.

Suggested Resources

• Volo’s Guide to Monsters – Excellent for Mind Flayer and Beholder lore.
• Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything – Optional rules for madness and tone setting.
• Spelljammer: Adventures in Space – For space aberrations and bizarre origin stories.
• Call of Cthulhu RPG – If you want to go full horror inspiration.

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How to Find Us:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

Tyler Kamstra

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

Ash Ely

• Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
• BlueSky: @GravenAshes
• YouTube: @ashravenmedia

Randall James

• BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG
• Amateurjack.com
• Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link)

Producer Dan

• @Lzr_illuminati