Handbook of Erotic Fantasy: Black Tentacles (Patreon)

There’s something special about black tentacles. Nothing says “alien and unnatural” quite like a suckered appendage sliming its way across the floor and towards your unsuspecting grapple check. You’ll find similar rubbery limbs attached to illithids, chuuls, otyughs, and even high-end BBEGs like krakens and Cthulhu. In my mind, such monsters are shorthand for “aberrant weirdo,” and (for me at least) they have a way of inspiring all manner of unreasoning dread. 

As Magus so ably demonstrates however, what frightens me is BY NO MEANS universal. Other players might cringe at critters with compound eyes, multiple mouths, weeping sores, or any of the stuff that appears on the hesper’s mutating touch table. Individual players have individual buttons to push. That’s why, regardless of the actual body parts in play, it pays to know the details that will inspire dread in your players. 

Figuring that out is no easy task. It’s a long, slow process of trial and error over many campaigns and sessions. It’s worth the effort though, because zeroing in on your players’ weak points is an amazing opportunity as a GM. That’s the difference between what we do as game masters and what authors or filmmakers or video game developers have to put up with. The ability to tailor a campaign to your audience is what makes this hobby so special. Make sure that you’re taking full advantage of that fact. If your players are anything like my favorite catgirl, they’ll probably thank you for the experience.