Monster Harvesting

Brief Step-by-Step Harvesting Guide

Identify Component The GM identifies the available components based on the creature type.
Create a Harvest List
The party decides on the order of components to harvest.
Determine Harvest DCs
Calculate cumulative DCs for each component in the harvest list.
Assessment Check
The Assessing Harvester makes an Intelligence-based check based on the creature type.
Carving Check
The Carving Harvester makes a Dexterity or Strength-based check, adding proficiency if applicable.
Combine Results Add the results of the Assessment and Carving checks to create a combined total.
Success or Failure For each component in the harvest list, compare the combined total to the cumulative DC, reducing the cumulative DC as each component is successfully harvested in order.
Essence harvesting Attempt to harvest Essence by making a final check with the remaining total meeting or exceeding the Essence DC.

Expanded Step-By-Step Harvesting guide

I. Identify Component

When a creature is slain, the GM consults the relevant harvest table based on the creature’s type. The table lists the components (e.g., eyes, bones, blood, …) available to harvest.

Special components like Essence are listed separately, typically for powerful or magical creatures.

II. Create a Harvest List

The party discusses and decides which components to harvest and in what order. This is crucial, as each additional component increases the cumulative difficulty and determines how the checks will be resolved in sequence.

Example: Harvest two toes (bones) and five nails

III. Determine Harvest DCs

For each component, the GM sets a base DC (Difficulty Class) based on its difficulty to extract.

The Harvest DCs accumulate sequentially in the order listed by the party. For example, if you’re harvesting two toes (DC 10 each) and five nails (DC 5 each), the cumulative DCs would be:

Toe 1 (DC 10) → Cumulative DC 10
Toe 2 (DC 10) → Cumulative DC 20
Nail 1 (DC 5) → Cumulative DC 25
Nail 2 (DC 5) → Cumulative DC 30
Nail 3 (DC 5) → Cumulative DC 35
Nail 4 (DC 5) → Cumulative DC 40
Nail 5 (DC 5) → Cumulative DC 45

IV. Assessment Check

The Assessing Harvester makes an Intelligence-based skill check that is suitable for the creature type being harvested. For instance:

Aberrations, Dragons, Elementals, Monstrosities: Arcana
Beasts, Plants: Nature
Celestials, Fiends, Undead: Religion
Constructs, Oozes: Investigation
Fey, Giants, Humanoids: Medicine

The GM determines the appropriate skill based on the creature type. The goal is to evaluate the quality and integrity of the components before attempting to extract them.

V. Carving Check

The Carving Harvester makes a Butchery skill check to carefully extract the components.

If the material is particularly tough or difficult, the GM may call for a Strength-based check instead.

If the Carving Harvester has proficiency in skill used for the Assessment Check, the can add their proficiency bonus to this Carving Check

VI. Combine Results

Add the results of the Assessment Check and Carving Check to get a combined total.

VII. Success or Failure

Go down the harvest list in order. For each component, compare the combined total to the cumulative DC.

If the combined total meets or exceeds the cumulative DC of a component, that component is harvested successfully. Subtract the DC of the successfully harvested component from the combined total and continue down the list.

Continue this process until your combined total cannot meet the DC of the next component in the list, at which point the harvesting attempt fails for that component onward.

VIII. Essence Harvesting

Essence is a special type of component harvested from powerful or magical creatures. It is often placed at the end of the harvest list with the highest DC.

To harvest Essence, follow these steps:

The Carving Harvester makes a check with the combined result of the Assessment and Carving checks.
The result must meet or exceed the Essence’s specific DC, which is based on the rarity and power of the creature.
Essence harvesting is delicate and requires precision. The GM may impose additional requirements such as disadvantage or specific proficiency. If the check fails, the Essence is lost, as its magical properties dissipate rapidly.

Essence turns into an essence stone once gathered, its power and look dependent on the essence gathered