Ever use Sleestaks in your campaign?

Griffith Dragonlake · Dec 4, 2006

Throughout the years playing Grymwurld,™ I've alluded to a primordial sentient race of saurian humanoids. Children of Ophion and ancestors of the Yuan-ti and Lizardfolk. Off the record, I've told my players that this primordial race is heavily influenced by the Sleestak (and their Altrusian ancestors) from the TV show Land of the Lost as well as the HP Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard writings. Many of you may recall that these creatures resembled the theoretical descendent of dinosaurs once proposed on Nova back in the '70s. The Altrusians were a highly advanced race employing what we might call psionics. They certainly did a lot with crystals.

Has anyone ever used Sleestaks and/or Altrusians? What was your experience? I'm thinking about designing a 'lost world' adventure that pays homage to Land of the Lost.

Any thoughts?

Whizbang Dustyboots · Dec 4, 2006

I haven't, but that's a heck of a fun idea. Frankly, I'm surprised that WotC didn't make a nod in that direction in XPH.

Nightfall · Dec 4, 2006

Eh. I'll settle for less psionic reptiles in my D&D worlds. But that's just me.

Aaron L · Dec 4, 2006

Hell yes I did! I even had PCs find an ancient psionic "control room" with a viewscreen and crystal control panel! It was full of old reptilian eggs. They never encountered live specimens.

They didn't get the reference, of course.

I was planning on having them attacked at some point by sleestacks. The game ended before I could, though.

I feel bad. I outgeeked my whole gaming group.

Dang, I feel vindicated now that someone else thought of it, too.

Umbran · Dec 4, 2006

Hm... Psionically advanced kobolds....

diaglo · Dec 4, 2006

yes. they became trogs in my OD&D campaign.

but OD&D is heavily influenced by H.P Lovecraft and Howard and a bunch of others.

Psion · Dec 4, 2006

Mmmm... sleestaks...
(click me for teh funny)

Mmmm... psionic lizardfolk.

There was an article with such on the Wizards website... let's see if I can find...
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psb/20021227b (3.0, but it wouldn't be hard to brush up...)

Mystery Man · Dec 4, 2006

Aaron L said:
Hell yes I did! I even had PCs find an ancient psionic "control room" with a viewscreen and crystal control panel! It was full of old reptilian eggs. They never encountered live specimens.

They didn't get the reference, of course.

I was planning on having them attacked at some point by sleestacks. The game ended before I could, though.

I feel bad. I outgeeked my whole gaming group.

Dang, I feel vindicated now that someone else thought of it, too.

Unless your gaming group is in their mid 30's they probably wouldn't get it. If they are they should be ashamed of themselves. It would have been the first thing to pop into mind for me.

Whizbang Dustyboots · Dec 4, 2006

WoW has a portion of the game world modelled on Land of the Lost. Most folks over 30 do seem to get the joke about crystal pylons and so on.

Driddle · Dec 4, 2006

And after discovering the Sleestak, they stumble upon room in which a small group of prisoners are held: A fair-featured ranger named Hank, a dark-skinned 'acrobat' Diana, some thief chick with red hair, an egotistical cavalier, a pointy-hatted wizard they call "Presto" (sheesh!), and a rambunctious little kid in a horned helmet. The Sleestak are about to perform some sort of ceremony on a baby unicorn...