"Any way of making a good oni would be contrived." "Female oni often try and send their sons away to safe places." I would say it would be easier to make a backstory for a good oni who was sent away as a baby by their mother to a safer place (maybe a settlement of halflings) than making a backstory for why a drow would be good. I would imagine a Hellboy sort of character for an oni would work really well. And it seems female onis have even more potential, perhaps becoming good out of spite or being drawn in to not being beaten every thirty seconds.
Even if they were raised out of the influence of their people they are gonna have some natural tendencies. So as long as this is accounted for I don't see why one couldn't raise a relatively well adjusted oni. Like a tendency towards being hot headed or to enjoy mean spirited pranks a bit too much.
@@jacobfreeman5444 Or use their inner Ogre violent tendency in combat. I can think of them working as Barbarians or Monks. In Eberron, although most Oni are mostly evil, the setting allows non fiends/celestials to allow evil tended races to become good, or at least not as evil as we seen in the video.
@@AJPickett a friend of mine is playing a Rakshasa kinda like this. He's an absolute bastard, but he's straight up fighting with and helping a paladin order just to spite his former master and current antagonist of the campaign.
Lock the door, blow out the light. The hungry oni haunts the night. Hide and tremble, little one The oni wants to have some fun. Hear it scratching on the door. See its shadow cross the floor. The sun wont rise for quite a while. Till then, beware the oni's smile.
Oni, Ogre Mages, are a monster I often used and were active and almost always a "friend" and mission giver, insidious to the core, often an enemy to good-aligned parties that found out they were made to be agents of evil of the Ogre Mage mayor. I always got brutal with my intrigue. My veteran players always got good at spotting plots within plots within plots leading to a trap... and finding a way to avoid the trap. Kudos to them. I had to tone that down with each new player group, I had to restructure how I played the bad guys as if it was a mere game and not how the evil bad guys would work it in a realistic way. Silly me.
According to what I've read - Oni in some lore are known to have different Skin Tones - like Chromatic Dragons - (White, Black, Green, Purple, etc,) the Skin Colors conferring to different Attributes in Oni; Elemental Powers, Breath Weapons, Strengths, Weaknesses, Languages, etc, just like Dragons, (some Oni can even Speak Draconic) Oni are OBSESSED with Alcoholic Drinks, particularly Sake, and prettymuch stay drunk on it, even hold Drunkin Revelries (where ANY sort of violence is forbidden, during an Oni Drinking Party, it's considered Neutral Ground) Evil Aligned Oni - yes, this Video covers that well and all, but even in Traditional Folklore, Oni, like any other Beings, are capable of both Good, Evil, and Neutrality; depending on the Lore. In fact - I even dug up a couple of D&D 3.5th, 4th, and even 5th Ed Character Wikis - outlining Oni as a viable Character, same as any other Race, (Human, Elf, Dwarf, etc) As Playable Characters, Oni can be any Alignment - and possess a wealth of Attributes and Abilities that make them seem like a more disciplined Ogre. (Alcohol being one of the Oni's ... "Special... Feautures") In this Video, I can see why Oni wouldn't make convincing "Good Guys," but a Hell Boy inspired Story would make a helluva Campaign - given said "Good Aligned" Oni would be like runaway Shinobi - always having a target on their backs - hunted fervently by their angered Oni kin, due to the "blasphemous nature" of a "benevolent Oni," whilst being loathed by non Oni Races. Like Teiflings, Giants and Orcs trying to play Hero - but with a pack of rabid wolves at their heels. Half Oni Casts are also mentioned in Wikias. Also, Soy Beans, Roasted Beans, Sardine Heads, Silver..., are noted to be Traditional Oni Weaknesses. Funny, the Oni are considered to be Honest by nature - but the act of planting a garden of Roasted Beans and such, are considered to be an act of dishonesty to an Oni - as Rosted Beans do no grow as intended in a Garden - the dishonest act is apparently appalling to the Honest Oni. Oni are also simple minded and prone to foolishness, and are even easy to dupe, given the right bribes, in the right context. If anyone thinks I'm wrong here, or knows better then I do, feel to critique this comment, add to it, berate it, whatever - those are just things about Oni I read in Wikias.
I could see a "Redemption Story" in play - an Oni either raised to do what is right, or one who wants to break the chain of violence, or uncover the hidden truths behind the existence of Oni; only to discover a horrific truth; much like Sayans - Considering the sheer hell an Oni deciding to do good would go through - that would make a brutal and edgy Story in it's own right.
Amazing video man, thanks for following through with the request in a short time from asking for it. This video is awesome and gave me plenty to work with in my future campaigns involving Oni.
I cant believe I didn't leave a comment! So a year later, great video AJ. About 15.30 into the video the female oni is my favorite pick, well there all really good. I remember the Ogre Magi from my AD&D days. They where badazz then and they badazz now. Thanks AJ & have a great day.
AD&D2e " Complete Humanoid Hand Book," Ogre-mage was my favorite race. Multi-class fighter/rogue/wizard to max race class level cap could pass themselves off as a vampire. My game shop as a base template "kit" for players that wanted to play a vampire character. The lawful evil O'm in my shop could be played off as an ally to the local paladin and village protector. But if you try to raid the area's farms or act like Murder Hobos. O'm was a ruthless opponent, In 3e with out racial level cap abilities. I work it out where O'm can become Lich. Have stable family villages and take craft skills, with making their own magic items.
AJ, love your work and dedication, it’s been a great inspiration to me for my old school AD&D campaign. I have an Oni working for an evil Cloud Giant in a middle eastern style setting but the twist I put on it is that they are elemental spirits with corporeal forms. I applied some air / cold / electrical spell like abilities and some added magic resistance and hit dice to make it a higher level opponent.
Always love these videos and it really helps us that are just getting started in d&d so thank you. With that said you made two mistakes not in what you said but in the images at 3:36 and 6:06 those are Hannya masks there spirits of scorned women.
How and why they are lawful is beyond me, but they are so cool. My dm gave me this pleasure and detaily explained me spellbook of one, including ciphers and very horrifying riddles 🙏
This may seem perverse, but it is not some twisted hentai imagination thing. I have had a campaign that I allowed half-Onis. In that campaign, I had a bunch of rogue female Onis flee and create a village. They took on non-Oni husbands (they still dominated and ruled, a matriarchal village of a few thousand). They were a non-stupid twist on Half-Ogres that actually had a flexible balance based upon the Oni and the father race. Since Onis were usually shape-shifters and quite bright, even the most discriminating fathers were allowed. Player character Half-Oni's: Mountain Dwarf, High Elf, Human (most), Drow, and Orc. The Dwarf was Oni-sized and hulking... but a mage. The Elf was a very stealthy large rogue. Humans were a mixed bag of larger, enhanced Humans. The Drow looked like a large, hulking Drow and was a fighter with magical talents. The Orc looked like a larger Half-Orc and wore armor, but was a War Wizard (fighter weapon using mage kit with the armored wizard modification). They all dealt with their drawbacks with grace and roleplayed them well.
@@maximmees5005 I looked since I read the comment. It's been over a decade, so... lost. I was a 2nd Ed guy. I took the Humanoids Manual Half-Ogre as a base. They all had the Half-Ogre mass with their father's race determining height based on the racial build but all size L. I averaged the stats between Half-Ogre and the father's race (STR, DEX, etc). I gave the Oni a reduced version of the father's racial abilities, usually around 1/3 like Half-Elves to the Elves. I allowed custom DM-approved racial inheritances. The Oni side was a reduced shape-shifting. Nothing reducing their flexibility was taken into account, every joint was "double jointed". They can stop bleeding at the end of the round as a free action. They can do a cosmetic issue at any time as a declared action, only maintained as long as they can keep concentrating on it (not spellcasting, using psionics, getting hurt). However, using the Disguise proficiency needs nothing for the Oni's body and the disguise is kept the whole time until it is removed or changed. If the Oni is not using its shape-shifting, it can, at any time, get +5/+20% to any visible stealth check with a near-invisibility. They have the Human ability to be any class of any level save for Psionicist, which they are treated like Elves in that. Because of them being obviously unnerving in presence, all encounters were at a -2 to the reaction roll... including animals unless the class was animal-friendly (rangers, druids, priests of nature, etc). The Half-Oni were also forbidden from the Chaotic Good alignment as well as needed twice the food and drink of the father's race with at least half of the food consumed needed to be meat or animal byproducts (milk, blood, etc). In long games, at least one act of cruelty is to be done or get -10% EXP at the end of the mission. It did not need to be a big one, just one that would be seen to the people following the mission as cruel. Like, a Half-Oni Paladin could backhand (gauntlet gloved backhand smack) a child for defending their parents. Any brutal act in interrogation counts. A Half-Oni Ranger not at all holding back against a poacher would qualify. When compassion in news giving of a dead relative or other loved is needed but the Half-Oni is brutally factual about it, that counts too. Half-Oni breaking their word of honor (reluctantly given) or an agreed upon contract receive a role-playing penalty until they make up for it. Half-Oni would be great followers of Innendo.
I actually did play an Oni once in a one shot along side a non evil party, The reason for it was that the "Boss" that put the party together had stuck everyone together with a contract and we had to work together to achieve the "Boss's" goals. The reason I gave for my Oni character even agreeing in the first place was that he was on a personal quest of self improvement and power and the "Boss" had agreed to lend a hand on his quest
It would make more sense if clever Oni dealt with humans, however with the intent of causing war, famine and such. One would have to be very stupid to expect to archive their goal with iron alone. They have the most unrealistic goal in the entire setting.
On the whole monsters who can be bound be rules and contracts, in Norse mythology, everybody has to follow the rule of hospitality, so you could have it so Annam said all his grandchildren have to follow this rule, so if you invoke the rule of hospitality, they can't out right kill you, but they could "accidently" kill you with kindness, literally.
I could possibly see an Oni as a playable character if they were somehow tricked into subservience to a certain individual or god due to their insatiable lust for power. One of their primary goals throughout the campaign could be to find some sort of loophole in the deal they made in order to attain freedom and possibly kill the one that tricked them if they're one of the weaker mortal races. Though I'd only see this happening if a player really insisted on wanting to play an oni.
sephiose shit I would oni are agile tanks that are near god level.....and not to mention intimidating as heck....closest human to that level is baki father and Baki himself....yeah it’s an anime called Baki the grappler but I feel as if probably the most badass person alive
Yet D&D 5e doesn't allow for large PCs. But playable oni would be cool. If I could find a chance to get into D&D I would love to homebrew a setting that allows large PCs.
Its possable to play a half-oni far easier then it is to play a oni, you just play as a half ogre with some magical abilities playing an actual oni is way more hard to do since an oni's mindset is being as awful as possible to anything weaker then you.
In my homebrew setting I added them to this setting’s family of goblinoids. And much like goblins they come in large variety. With that culturally there more I can to orcs in my setting. One of my players is an Oni barbarian
I played one in AD&D as a fighter/theif/mage. This was a long haul, though I made it as the character was part of a ninja clan who was adopted into it. He was neutral evil too. It was quite fun to play.
Quick question AJ. Since they love to play and terrorize the 'civilized' peoples, would they take slaves for entertainment and use? and in that vein, would the possibility of half-oni happen, like a half-human oni, in your opinion? Thanks for all the info! Very thorough!
elvenhair3 in my view they would only do this as part of a bargain with an evil master or ally, or as a form of revenge (the daughter or wife of a hated enemy)
AJ Pickett Great to know. As a way to get back at some great enemy, huh? Okay. I plan to making a half-oni character for a campaign (with some help from the GM) and your information helped a lot in molding her image and backstory. Thanks a bunch!
Ok so a few days ago I was dming a fifth edition game with 3 of my friends, a paladin who I’ll call Dave, a wizard called Tom and a rogue called Trek. They were in a small town where kids seemed to just go missing I described how most of the people there were kids this was to keep up the population so the creature didn’t wipe them out. Dave seemed to force the party to come here and help them out the rogue who was a halfling who had an uncle who lived in smalltownsville gave us a place to stay and while the party were asleep they heard a loud *CRASH* as the oni broke into the house and grabbed two of the uncles youngest children killing the uncle in the process our rogue was pissed and dragged the wizard who was trying to get us to leave because he didn’t want to die today the paladin wanted to slay the beast because it was “The right thing to do” a couple hours of them tracking him through the woods they found the oni’s lair it grabbed the uncles young son as a club and slammed him into the paladin sending him flying and blah blah blah they ended up cutting the oni’s head off and returned to the town being lorded as hero’s but the rogue....the rogue was never the same after that he broke becoming more introverted and silent with waking nightmares of the oni slamming his nephew into him, the last time he smiled was when he jumped off a cliff that went into an endless abyss with the evil Lich that he had poisoned.
Please tell me you plan on crediting Chaotic Canine Culture for the music used in the start of the video? For anyone wondering, the song used was "You Can't Hide". Yes, it was distorted and looped on the chorus; however, it was still recognizable.
I'll most likely unlist the video, remaster it and not use that music at all. I have only used music from Epidemic Sound and Storyblocks (which I pay for) for years now.
Oni are synonymous with strong and/or cruel, kind of like how the word Devil is synonymous with deceitful and evil. "Her brother is an Oni, he'll beat you to death if you bother her." "That guy is the devil, don't have anything to do with him." An Oni with an iron club means something that is strong beyond strong. As an equivilent, "A Devil with a pitchfork" doesn't really drive it home. It would be more like "Satan with a bazooka" or something
Bob: "Don't go! That guy is an Oni, he'll beat you with an iron club" Idiot: "Yeah right, what's his name?" Bob: "Hiroshima" Idiot: ".......nvm im good."
I will have boss fights in my campaign, this will be 1 of them. My campaign is going to be called the Iron keep, and it will have an entire crafting system in it, and crafting will give experience points as well.
I had this campaign idea where the big bad was basically the backbone of a shadowy cult, a powerful oni sorcerer supported by a coven of night hags, supported by cult leader lieutenants, supported by cultists, and so on and so on, it was a big pyramid scheme, and the party would've been hired by a regional leader to investigate disappearances. I meant it to be a joke about economics and how adventuring was actually detrimental to the stability of a region, but it sorta turned out to be a series of shounen anime and samurai jack references by the time I finished writing up the outline.
@@AJPickett I made something along those lines but it was more for a one off with my friend and I cuz neither of us are very experienced with dnd me only slightly more so
My Campaign i am part of we have come across a couple Ogres, my character himself has an Ogre father (but my character doesnt know his father). We also currently have an Oni under a pact with us named Temples. I personally and my character can't help but think of a way our party can get rid of him soon because the more he hangs out with us the more he gets comfortable. The more I have noticed the rest of the party is listening to his ideas without question...
Funny that they’re considered lawful with such a dysfunctional society. Also these were some of the freakier enemies in the souls-like game, Nioh! Typically semi-invisible with a slight haze that gave them away but you could miss it. When you get close, they pop out with a flurry of blades.
Thank you for this video. I'm using an Oni as the arch villain in a campaign. He has taken control over a legion of Hobgoblins, goblinoids, Ogres and hired Orc clans and some random monster races like trolls as shock troops ect to sack a hill dwarf region. Hording all the magic items and loot along with enslaving all the villagers and keep residents for food appears to be the legions primary goals. Originally I had planed an allegiance with an invasion on the coast from a neighboring island Kingdom of humans (mind controlling necromancers) that has been something the party has become aware of. After watching your video I may have to further flush out why that allegiance would happen or alter it entirely as this is not a reality the party has uncovered yet. Had been toying with more Oni Lording over the humans in their island homeland as the ruling class, but now I see they may not be able to work so closely even if the humans are their food source and subjects.
Oni are smart and charismatic enough to actually be the big bads for low to mid level campaigns. I actually had a criminal organization in one of my Game that was basically the Yakuza that was lead by a clan of Oni.
this one version of the oni I've sort of created in my head they aren't evil they just really like fighting with pretty much every aspect of their culture being related to war or fighting in someway such as preferring to live on planets or such where war is common or constant, they usually have some sort of arena in their towns or cities which are almost always quite fortified, their arts are for example crafting weapons and armor that are both decorative but also usable, war songs, armor is considered normal clothing for them etc. they usually feel that specifically going after or targeting non combatants to at least be unsportsmanlike or dishonorable though they also don't shed any tears when it comes to collateral damage but they would usually let civilians leave from a besieged city unless its strategically unsound.they also feel those who use slaves are weak so slavery is rare among this variety of oni most of the time. they also have some skilled doctors (including for things that aren't battle injuries and such). a rare few among them are a variety called oni berzerkers which is more genetic then just a type of warrior and when they enter a berzerker frenzy gives them a considerable physical boost then what training would give to enter a similar state for example capable of breaking through a fortress's gate then any one who gets in their way inside. they also often have a fire/heat aura in this state which can make things uncomfortable to anyone near them without a fire/heat resistance especially if their is something that might melt or catch fire nearby plus unsurprisingly they are immune to most fire/heat attacks. one physically traits that usually differs them from normal oni other then size (average oni 12ft/4meters about berzerksers are usually 15 ft/5meters) is they usually have a 3rd eye in the middle of their forehead.
I Played a Oni Monk/Fighter got the Oni spells as my racial and was absolutely terrifying to almost anyone who wasn't the group's halfling wizard and the Half Orc Barbarian they particularly love me treating to eat the tiefling bard if he couldn't keep it in his pants because he was drawing to much attention and I preferred to not be seen Man I love playing monster races
I realize, but I just wondered why. I have people saying that I should have an intro on my channel. I just don't see the appeal. I realize your videos are longer than mine usually, so it's not such a big deal. I'm always trying to keep my videos about 3 minutes in length.
I just like playing around with intros and how they slowly get better and more whiz bang as the channel has matured :) Yeah, I try to keep my videos around 20 minutes or so, it is a rare thing that they are ever under 10 minutes, but, we serve different, though equally useful roles, our two channels, and I think we both have a lot to offer.
Question wouldn't doing the latter of bargaining with a Female Oni to take their son away open a path to playing an Oni on a "good" campaign with a more traditional party on a later campaign?
An oni female seeking to protect her offspring from a cruel new patriarch might hide their child away at a monastery or similar location. That is an easy origin story for an oni character. A child that grew up nurtured by a goodly race.
What about an Oni raised by Tieflings who don't know that they're an Oni but think they are just a really huge Tiefling
Big red oni vibes fam
It is very interesting.
Well, in that case, you'd have an Oni raised by Tieflings who don't know they're an Oni but think they are just a really huge Tiefling.
"Any way of making a good oni would be contrived."
"Female oni often try and send their sons away to safe places."
I would say it would be easier to make a backstory for a good oni who was sent away as a baby by their mother to a safer place (maybe a settlement of halflings) than making a backstory for why a drow would be good. I would imagine a Hellboy sort of character for an oni would work really well. And it seems female onis have even more potential, perhaps becoming good out of spite or being drawn in to not being beaten every thirty seconds.
Being good out of a sense of spite... that is quite an interesting idea.
Even if they were raised out of the influence of their people they are gonna have some natural tendencies. So as long as this is accounted for I don't see why one couldn't raise a relatively well adjusted oni. Like a tendency towards being hot headed or to enjoy mean spirited pranks a bit too much.
@@jacobfreeman5444 Or use their inner Ogre violent tendency in combat. I can think of them working as Barbarians or Monks. In Eberron, although most Oni are mostly evil, the setting allows non fiends/celestials to allow evil tended races to become good, or at least not as evil as we seen in the video.
@@AJPickett a friend of mine is playing a Rakshasa kinda like this. He's an absolute bastard, but he's straight up fighting with and helping a paladin order just to spite his former master and current antagonist of the campaign.
Lock the door, blow out the light.
The hungry oni haunts the night.
Hide and tremble, little one
The oni wants to have some fun.
Hear it scratching on the door.
See its shadow cross the floor.
The sun wont rise for quite a while.
Till then, beware the oni's smile.
Oni, Ogre Mages, are a monster I often used and were active and almost always a "friend" and mission giver, insidious to the core, often an enemy to good-aligned parties that found out they were made to be agents of evil of the Ogre Mage mayor. I always got brutal with my intrigue. My veteran players always got good at spotting plots within plots within plots leading to a trap... and finding a way to avoid the trap. Kudos to them.
I had to tone that down with each new player group, I had to restructure how I played the bad guys as if it was a mere game and not how the evil bad guys would work it in a realistic way. Silly me.
Some oni in Japanese myth have been known to be good but only if you appease them
What about the oni that just wanted to be friends with the villagers?
@@williethenerfherder2193 Careful there, I heard they eat Nerfs. Wouldn't want anything to happen to your flock.
I didn’t realize they came from Corellia 😏
In dnd terms I feel like that puts them more in the neutral camp
According to what I've read -
Oni in some lore are known to have different Skin Tones - like Chromatic Dragons - (White, Black, Green, Purple, etc,) the Skin Colors conferring to different Attributes in Oni; Elemental Powers, Breath Weapons, Strengths, Weaknesses, Languages, etc, just like Dragons, (some Oni can even Speak Draconic)
Oni are OBSESSED with Alcoholic Drinks, particularly Sake, and prettymuch stay drunk on it, even hold Drunkin Revelries (where ANY sort of violence is forbidden, during an Oni Drinking Party, it's considered Neutral Ground)
Evil Aligned Oni - yes, this Video covers that well and all, but even in Traditional Folklore, Oni, like any other Beings, are capable of both Good, Evil, and Neutrality; depending on the Lore. In fact - I even dug up a couple of D&D 3.5th, 4th, and even 5th Ed Character Wikis - outlining Oni as a viable Character, same as any other Race, (Human, Elf, Dwarf, etc)
As Playable Characters, Oni can be any Alignment - and possess a wealth of Attributes and Abilities that make them seem like a more disciplined Ogre. (Alcohol being one of the Oni's ... "Special... Feautures")
In this Video, I can see why Oni wouldn't make convincing "Good Guys," but a Hell Boy inspired Story would make a helluva Campaign - given said "Good Aligned" Oni would be like runaway Shinobi - always having a target on their backs - hunted fervently by their angered Oni kin, due to the "blasphemous nature" of a "benevolent Oni," whilst being loathed by non Oni Races. Like Teiflings, Giants and Orcs trying to play Hero - but with a pack of rabid wolves at their heels.
Half Oni Casts are also mentioned in Wikias.
Also, Soy Beans, Roasted Beans, Sardine Heads, Silver..., are noted to be Traditional Oni Weaknesses.
Funny, the Oni are considered to be Honest by nature - but the act of planting a garden of Roasted Beans and such, are considered to be an act of dishonesty to an Oni - as Rosted Beans do no grow as intended in a Garden - the dishonest act is apparently appalling to the Honest Oni.
Oni are also simple minded and prone to foolishness, and are even easy to dupe, given the right bribes, in the right context.
If anyone thinks I'm wrong here, or knows better then I do, feel to critique this comment, add to it, berate it, whatever - those are just things about Oni I read in Wikias.
Also, great Video
I could see a "Redemption Story" in play - an Oni either raised to do what is right, or one who wants to break the chain of violence, or uncover the hidden truths behind the existence of Oni; only to discover a horrific truth; much like Sayans - Considering the sheer hell an Oni deciding to do good would go through - that would make a brutal and edgy Story in it's own right.
3:53 It's more of a naginata than a glaive. I think the artist was trying to emphasize the creature's eastern heritage.
One of my characters had a naginata.
High ogre or Irda from dragonlance, a race you have yet to explore. Even a player rsce in some editions
Yeah, I don't cover much dragonlance stuff.
Amazing video man, thanks for following through with the request in a short time from asking for it. This video is awesome and gave me plenty to work with in my future campaigns involving Oni.
Strix Nebulosa most welcome!
Is it just me or are Oni a great starting spot for a krampus story arc
so basically "oni with an iron club" means "absolute unit" lol
the typical iron club like this is called a tetsubo. this weapon is far underrated and is very dangerous in the hands of a skilled wielder.
trenton maloney I can imagine!
Nah, looks like he was right. It's a kanabō. Just check the wikis.
Wait a moment. I recall some of my ancestors were beaten back with those things. A weapon that vikings fear is a mighty one indeed.
A tetsubo basically a softball bat with a bunch of spiked rivets, a kanabō is the shorter version.
I think they are suppose to smash armor and shatter swords
I cant believe I didn't leave a comment! So a year later, great video AJ. About 15.30 into the video the female oni is my favorite pick, well there all really good. I remember the Ogre Magi from my AD&D days. They where badazz then and they badazz now.
Thanks AJ & have a great day.
AD&D2e " Complete Humanoid Hand Book," Ogre-mage was my favorite race.
Multi-class fighter/rogue/wizard to max race class level cap could pass themselves off as a vampire. My game shop as a base template "kit" for players that wanted to play a vampire character.
The lawful evil O'm in my shop could be played off as an ally to the local paladin and village protector. But if you try to raid the area's farms or act like Murder Hobos. O'm was a ruthless opponent,
In 3e with out racial level cap abilities. I work it out where O'm can become Lich. Have stable family villages and take craft skills, with making their own magic items.
AJ, love your work and dedication, it’s been a great inspiration to me for my old school AD&D campaign. I have an Oni working for an evil Cloud Giant in a middle eastern style setting but the twist I put on it is that they are elemental spirits with corporeal forms. I applied some air / cold / electrical spell like abilities and some added magic resistance and hit dice to make it a higher level opponent.
They're deadly at higher levels with classes. Had a party I was in surprise attacked by a cone of cold from a bullfrog.
Odd considering they can’t turn into anything but humanoids and giants
Always love these videos and it really helps us that are just getting started in d&d so thank you. With that said you made two mistakes not in what you said but in the images at 3:36 and 6:06 those are Hannya masks there spirits of scorned women.
Adam Hane those damn Sembian villagers ripped me off! Thanks Adam.
*plays a lawful good Oni who worshipps a coffee god *
Oh, wow, so that 7.3ft, 435lb wrestler guy is basically a hairless bugbear!
Nice Intro and thanks for the video of Oni. Loved those in my Pathfinder and 5e games.
This is fantastic. I wish I had a way to find all of the images you use in one place.
Your videos are always so useful! Really really handy for planning stuff in my games, thanks man
Thank you!
Now THIS is a creature type I love! Thanks as always AJ :)
Great vid man, love the more adult ones
Oni as the antagonist in Stephen King's Needful Things. The shopkeeper your PCs never expect.
That's a great idea ,(and story)!
One version could be the Oni bestowing cursed objects - thier ' hearts desire '- in exchange for victims souls...
Subbed. Your monster lore videos are awesome, and full of information. Great for inspiring ideas. Thank you!
Fantastic work, as always, brother! Keep em coming, thank you.
What is that song in the beginning? It's fantastic!
Became a subscriber, GREAT stuff man.
Welcome, and thank you! :)
are you on Facebook? I am Under the same name , friend me, id realy like to chat with you.
Yes, there is a Mighty Gluestick page, and I also sent you a message on facebook :)
Have you done anything on the Shadowlands from Oriental Adventures? Oni always make me think of that. Keep up the great work!
How and why they are lawful is beyond me, but they are so cool. My dm gave me this pleasure and detaily explained me spellbook of one, including ciphers and very horrifying riddles 🙏
One were also supposed to have a third eye in the middle of their forehead that is turned sideways where the corners are point up and down
I love this version of you can't hide so much! What is that? I love that sound almost as much as the anguished screams of those villagers.
I love how dnd pulls inspiration from cultures all across the word , it enriches it to such a large extent
This may seem perverse, but it is not some twisted hentai imagination thing. I have had a campaign that I allowed half-Onis. In that campaign, I had a bunch of rogue female Onis flee and create a village. They took on non-Oni husbands (they still dominated and ruled, a matriarchal village of a few thousand). They were a non-stupid twist on Half-Ogres that actually had a flexible balance based upon the Oni and the father race. Since Onis were usually shape-shifters and quite bright, even the most discriminating fathers were allowed.
Player character Half-Oni's: Mountain Dwarf, High Elf, Human (most), Drow, and Orc. The Dwarf was Oni-sized and hulking... but a mage. The Elf was a very stealthy large rogue. Humans were a mixed bag of larger, enhanced Humans. The Drow looked like a large, hulking Drow and was a fighter with magical talents. The Orc looked like a larger Half-Orc and wore armor, but was a War Wizard (fighter weapon using mage kit with the armored wizard modification). They all dealt with their drawbacks with grace and roleplayed them well.
Question do you have player stats for those oni really wannna play a half oni after this video
@@maximmees5005 I looked since I read the comment. It's been over a decade, so... lost. I was a 2nd Ed guy. I took the Humanoids Manual Half-Ogre as a base. They all had the Half-Ogre mass with their father's race determining height based on the racial build but all size L. I averaged the stats between Half-Ogre and the father's race (STR, DEX, etc). I gave the Oni a reduced version of the father's racial abilities, usually around 1/3 like Half-Elves to the Elves. I allowed custom DM-approved racial inheritances. The Oni side was a reduced shape-shifting. Nothing reducing their flexibility was taken into account, every joint was "double jointed". They can stop bleeding at the end of the round as a free action. They can do a cosmetic issue at any time as a declared action, only maintained as long as they can keep concentrating on it (not spellcasting, using psionics, getting hurt). However, using the Disguise proficiency needs nothing for the Oni's body and the disguise is kept the whole time until it is removed or changed. If the Oni is not using its shape-shifting, it can, at any time, get +5/+20% to any visible stealth check with a near-invisibility. They have the Human ability to be any class of any level save for Psionicist, which they are treated like Elves in that. Because of them being obviously unnerving in presence, all encounters were at a -2 to the reaction roll... including animals unless the class was animal-friendly (rangers, druids, priests of nature, etc). The Half-Oni were also forbidden from the Chaotic Good alignment as well as needed twice the food and drink of the father's race with at least half of the food consumed needed to be meat or animal byproducts (milk, blood, etc). In long games, at least one act of cruelty is to be done or get -10% EXP at the end of the mission. It did not need to be a big one, just one that would be seen to the people following the mission as cruel. Like, a Half-Oni Paladin could backhand (gauntlet gloved backhand smack) a child for defending their parents. Any brutal act in interrogation counts. A Half-Oni Ranger not at all holding back against a poacher would qualify. When compassion in news giving of a dead relative or other loved is needed but the Half-Oni is brutally factual about it, that counts too. Half-Oni breaking their word of honor (reluctantly given) or an agreed upon contract receive a role-playing penalty until they make up for it. Half-Oni would be great followers of Innendo.
I like that you get into motivation, culture and history with these creatures.
i can imagine a bored oni who isnt effected by beans/holly and only avoids it as a recreational/fun challenge to itself
I actually did play an Oni once in a one shot along side a non evil party,
The reason for it was that the "Boss" that put the party together had stuck everyone together with a contract and we had to work together to achieve the "Boss's" goals. The reason I gave for my Oni character even agreeing in the first place was that he was on a personal quest of self improvement and power and the "Boss" had agreed to lend a hand on his quest
That black panther Rakshasa has a right hand on its left arm.
Their hands are reversed in lore
AJ, you said "Cave Parents"!!!
For some reason that got me rollin'.
It would make more sense if clever Oni dealt with humans, however with the intent of causing war, famine and such.
One would have to be very stupid to expect to archive their goal with iron alone. They have the most unrealistic goal in the entire setting.
On the whole monsters who can be bound be rules and contracts, in Norse mythology, everybody has to follow the rule of hospitality, so you could have it so Annam said all his grandchildren have to follow this rule, so if you invoke the rule of hospitality, they can't out right kill you, but they could "accidently" kill you with kindness, literally.
Maybe stepping on a soy bean is like bull nettle for them 😲😲😲
I could possibly see an Oni as a playable character if they were somehow tricked into subservience to a certain individual or god due to their insatiable lust for power. One of their primary goals throughout the campaign could be to find some sort of loophole in the deal they made in order to attain freedom and possibly kill the one that tricked them if they're one of the weaker mortal races. Though I'd only see this happening if a player really insisted on wanting to play an oni.
sephiose shit I would oni are agile tanks that are near god level.....and not to mention intimidating as heck....closest human to that level is baki father and Baki himself....yeah it’s an anime called Baki the grappler but I feel as if probably the most badass person alive
just run a lawfull evil campaign
Yet D&D 5e doesn't allow for large PCs. But playable oni would be cool. If I could find a chance to get into D&D I would love to homebrew a setting that allows large PCs.
Its possable to play a half-oni far easier then it is to play a oni, you just play as a half ogre with some magical abilities playing an actual oni is way more hard to do since an oni's mindset is being as awful as possible to anything weaker then you.
oh yeah I almost forgot about the Oni...They're like intelligent mystical Ogres right?
sugarjumper45 in a nutshell, yep :)
Ogre Teifling is a good one
I feel like this is the exact conversation had at Wizards HQ
WRONG!
Whats the song in the beginning? right before you talk? slick goes hard
Check out my playlist titles "The music used".
In my homebrew setting I added them to this setting’s family of goblinoids. And much like goblins they come in large variety. With that culturally there more I can to orcs in my setting.
One of my players is an Oni barbarian
I would like to tell you this I love your insight on monsters you give such a deep history. This is one of the best so far. #d20tavernaz
An Oni and a Hag would make a good team
I played one in AD&D as a fighter/theif/mage. This was a long haul, though I made it as the character was part of a ninja clan who was adopted into it. He was neutral evil too. It was quite fun to play.
Quick question AJ. Since they love to play and terrorize the 'civilized' peoples, would they take slaves for entertainment and use? and in that vein, would the possibility of half-oni happen, like a half-human oni, in your opinion? Thanks for all the info! Very thorough!
elvenhair3 in my view they would only do this as part of a bargain with an evil master or ally, or as a form of revenge (the daughter or wife of a hated enemy)
AJ Pickett Great to know. As a way to get back at some great enemy, huh? Okay. I plan to making a half-oni character for a campaign (with some help from the GM) and your information helped a lot in molding her image and backstory. Thanks a bunch!
Ok so a few days ago I was dming a fifth edition game with 3 of my friends, a paladin who I’ll call Dave, a wizard called Tom and a rogue called Trek. They were in a small town where kids seemed to just go missing I described how most of the people there were kids this was to keep up the population so the creature didn’t wipe them out. Dave seemed to force the party to come here and help them out the rogue who was a halfling who had an uncle who lived in smalltownsville gave us a place to stay and while the party were asleep they heard a loud *CRASH* as the oni broke into the house and grabbed two of the uncles youngest children killing the uncle in the process our rogue was pissed and dragged the wizard who was trying to get us to leave because he didn’t want to die today the paladin wanted to slay the beast because it was “The right thing to do” a couple hours of them tracking him through the woods they found the oni’s lair it grabbed the uncles young son as a club and slammed him into the paladin sending him flying and blah blah blah they ended up cutting the oni’s head off and returned to the town being lorded as hero’s but the rogue....the rogue was never the same after that he broke becoming more introverted and silent with waking nightmares of the oni slamming his nephew into him, the last time he smiled was when he jumped off a cliff that went into an endless abyss with the evil Lich that he had poisoned.
Well... that went to a dark place.
Yeah......yeah it did
How do you poison a lich?
@@mrapeaslee8003 In my group, you could mix holy water into poisons and bless it a second time to make them work against undead
dude what it's that intro song? its so cool
Matthew Merrell I add all the songs to a playlist called "The music used" on my channel home page.
AJ Pickett yea but which song was it?
I looked in that playlist and im 90% sure its not there
Problem solved
m.th-cam.com/video/eGyR9zwA6Ig/w-d-xo.html
Please tell me you plan on crediting Chaotic Canine Culture for the music used in the start of the video? For anyone wondering, the song used was "You Can't Hide". Yes, it was distorted and looped on the chorus; however, it was still recognizable.
I'll most likely unlist the video, remaster it and not use that music at all. I have only used music from Epidemic Sound and Storyblocks (which I pay for) for years now.
Oni are synonymous with strong and/or cruel, kind of like how the word Devil is synonymous with deceitful and evil.
"Her brother is an Oni, he'll beat you to death if you bother her."
"That guy is the devil, don't have anything to do with him."
An Oni with an iron club means something that is strong beyond strong. As an equivilent, "A Devil with a pitchfork" doesn't really drive it home. It would be more like "Satan with a bazooka" or something
Bob: "Don't go! That guy is an Oni, he'll beat you with an iron club"
Idiot: "Yeah right, what's his name?"
Bob: "Hiroshima"
Idiot: ".......nvm im good."
Onis in my DM's setting: Literally Lum.
So the only monster from Japanese folk lords in this universe
No there are plenty of them
I've been waiting for this one!!!
I will have boss fights in my campaign, this will be 1 of them. My campaign is going to be called the Iron keep, and it will have an entire crafting system in it, and crafting will give experience points as well.
What's the name of the psychic Onis? Hard to make out from listening.
I wanna know more about the female oni! Are they good? Neutral?
No, they are just as evil as the males.
They are just oni but female.
Just dont call them "sweetheart".....
I had this campaign idea where the big bad was basically the backbone of a shadowy cult, a powerful oni sorcerer supported by a coven of night hags, supported by cult leader lieutenants, supported by cultists, and so on and so on, it was a big pyramid scheme, and the party would've been hired by a regional leader to investigate disappearances. I meant it to be a joke about economics and how adventuring was actually detrimental to the stability of a region, but it sorta turned out to be a series of shounen anime and samurai jack references by the time I finished writing up the outline.
I heard that animals that live a long time can become oni is that a dnd thing? And if so would the be a netruel monster?
I always thought that was one of the reasons Dire Animals exist in the game.
Is there like a half oni race at all or somthing similar to tieflings?
Not officially as far as I know.
@@AJPickett I made something along those lines but it was more for a one off with my friend and I cuz neither of us are very experienced with dnd me only slightly more so
The Oni-Spawn or Hungerseed Tiefling.
I would like to see an half oni race for some reason
Along the Asian themes monster thread, I've been asked by a friend to request an ecology on the Buso, though I do not know if they've made it to 5e.
the beginning of this video with the song was so strange lol
what is the track name at the start of the video?
th-cam.com/video/eGyR9zwA6Ig/w-d-xo.html
cheers man, and ty for the uploads
I want more Oni info. Like how the masks hanging outside houses looked like beheaded Oni from the distance. And please tell us more about the women.
They also appeared in anime and manga series from Lum Those Annoying Invaders and to Zero Two from Darling in the Franxx.
I did not expect that intro song choice. Wonder if anyone here recognized it.
My Campaign i am part of we have come across a couple Ogres, my character himself has an Ogre father (but my character doesnt know his father). We also currently have an Oni under a pact with us named Temples. I personally and my character can't help but think of a way our party can get rid of him soon because the more he hangs out with us the more he gets comfortable. The more I have noticed the rest of the party is listening to his ideas without question...
What is that song for the oni intro?! I must know!
Check my playlist called "the music used"
@@AJPickett I dont see this playlist existing
@@nicholasgorbenko8464 Correct. Skynet was onto me and I had to throw it off the scent.
@@AJPickett Those crafty terminators, do you remember what song is in this video?
@@AJPickett hahahaha
*Player Makes Oni PC*
“I’m gonna do some BAD $H!T.”
Personally, if you were to do a video about a D&D location, I would be interested to learn about Limbo.
BliskFox added to the list
Funny that they’re considered lawful with such a dysfunctional society.
Also these were some of the freakier enemies in the souls-like game, Nioh! Typically semi-invisible with a slight haze that gave them away but you could miss it. When you get close, they pop out with a flurry of blades.
Scariest battle ever, as a player character...lol
IT is a psychic oni...
I am actually about to use the Oni in one of my homebrew games. I love them
I like the pic at 18:25
Yamaoka tesshu was called an oni with an iron rod by his kendo students.
What is the son gthat plays at the begining of hte video?
What was that song at the beginning? Sounded familiar...
Thank you for this video. I'm using an Oni as the arch villain in a campaign. He has taken control over a legion of Hobgoblins, goblinoids, Ogres and hired Orc clans and some random monster races like trolls as shock troops ect to sack a hill dwarf region. Hording all the magic items and loot along with enslaving all the villagers and keep residents for food appears to be the legions primary goals. Originally I had planed an allegiance with an invasion on the coast from a neighboring island Kingdom of humans (mind controlling necromancers) that has been something the party has become aware of. After watching your video I may have to further flush out why that allegiance would happen or alter it entirely as this is not a reality the party has uncovered yet. Had been toying with more Oni Lording over the humans in their island homeland as the ruling class, but now I see they may not be able to work so closely even if the humans are their food source and subjects.
Dude if oni existed I would kill to be one......badass creatures already but one with intelligence is nearly god level
They are pretty impressive, totally predatory and almost demonic in demeanor, but impressive none the less.
yes! yes! yes! my man A.J.! Thanks brotha!
so what kinda of creature would an oni work for?
Matthew Merrell Dragons, Blackguards, Hag's, Beholders, Fomorians, etc.
AJ Pickett thank you sir. I might use these as an opening mission for a campaign Im DMing... or trying to lol
Matthew Merrell
A Grindelwald
Oni are smart and charismatic enough to actually be the big bads for low to mid level campaigns. I actually had a criminal organization in one of my Game that was basically the Yakuza that was lead by a clan of Oni.
I just search it causes i saw this guy in mkx. And in russian "oni" means "they"
Is it spelled ogri or ogre maggi?or some other third thing?
Ogre Mage or Ogre Magi
this one version of the oni I've sort of created in my head they aren't evil they just really like fighting with pretty much every aspect of their culture being related to war or fighting in someway such as preferring to live on planets or such where war is common or constant, they usually have some sort of arena in their towns or cities which are almost always quite fortified, their arts are for example crafting weapons and armor that are both decorative but also usable, war songs, armor is considered normal clothing for them etc. they usually feel that specifically going after or targeting non combatants to at least be unsportsmanlike or dishonorable though they also don't shed any tears when it comes to collateral damage but they would usually let civilians leave from a besieged city unless its strategically unsound.they also feel those who use slaves are weak so slavery is rare among this variety of oni most of the time. they also have some skilled doctors (including for things that aren't battle injuries and such).
a rare few among them are a variety called oni berzerkers which is more genetic then just a type of warrior and when they enter a berzerker frenzy gives them a considerable physical boost then what training would give to enter a similar state for example capable of breaking through a fortress's gate then any one who gets in their way inside. they also often have a fire/heat aura in this state which can make things uncomfortable to anyone near them without a fire/heat resistance especially if their is something that might melt or catch fire nearby plus unsurprisingly they are immune to most fire/heat attacks. one physically traits that usually differs them from normal oni other then size (average oni 12ft/4meters about berzerksers are usually 15 ft/5meters) is they usually have a 3rd eye in the middle of their forehead.
0:28 DAMN that is one horrific looking ogre magi
I Played a Oni Monk/Fighter got the Oni spells as my racial and was absolutely terrifying to almost anyone who wasn't the group's halfling wizard and the Half Orc Barbarian they particularly love me treating to eat the tiefling bard if he couldn't keep it in his pants because he was drawing to much attention and I preferred to not be seen
Man I love playing monster races
I need to know what that opening song is
stoneman472 check my playlist "music used" on the channel home page. I list all the music there.
AJ Pickett cool beans. Thanks bro
You have an intro, surprised you did this.
howtod&d ?? l always did.
I realize, but I just wondered why. I have people saying that I should have an intro on my channel. I just don't see the appeal. I realize your videos are longer than mine usually, so it's not such a big deal. I'm always trying to keep my videos about 3 minutes in length.
I just like playing around with intros and how they slowly get better and more whiz bang as the channel has matured :) Yeah, I try to keep my videos around 20 minutes or so, it is a rare thing that they are ever under 10 minutes, but, we serve different, though equally useful roles, our two channels, and I think we both have a lot to offer.
I agree. I was just wanting to know why you did the intro's.
Is possible for a Oni to become a lich?
In theory they can, as long as they have high enough spellcasting
Yes it was in a module in 3.5
Question wouldn't doing the latter of bargaining with a Female Oni to take their son away open a path to playing an Oni on a "good" campaign with a more traditional party on a later campaign?
Yep, that it would.
Wait a minute!
So a Barbarian with the Oni totem has magical powers... from spirits ... bound to a diety who wants all player races extinct.
How do you spell those two Oni variants?
the Me-Zu and Go-Zu?
@@AJPickett No, the three syllable names for the psychic descendants of Anori and the shadowy descendants of Hakuni.
An oni female seeking to protect her offspring from a cruel new patriarch might hide their child away at a monastery or similar location. That is an easy origin story for an oni character. A child that grew up nurtured by a goodly race.
Female Oni sound nice. LoL!