Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

[freyar]

I really don't want to use the marilith's multiweapon fighting. These are supposed to be pretty peaceful critters who only keep weapons around if they've had a lot of trouble recently. I say give them regular Multiweapon Fighting as a feat or just one shortspear.

I'm not fond of the per tentacle approach, though Cleon's hybrid base constrict plus per tentacle bonus is a little better. The giant octopi don't use this mechanic, and I prefer to keep it for "special" monsters. If we're that concerned with making constrict powerful enough, let's just boost the damage to 1d8 or 1d10 plus Str or even 1-1/2 Str.

 

[Shade]

Yeah, my concerns are that these will venture into the "awakened octopus monk" abuse arena.

Maybe we should refocus...these guys are supposed to be peaceful, as noted earlier. Maybe we should drop the tentacles as natural attacks (which would still leave room for the less desirable use of them for unarmed strikes), and fall back on the "arms" attack that then allows for constrict like the standard octopus. That would make them a bit more palatable as level-adjusted player characters.

 

[freyar]

That sounds like a great idea! Using "arms" or unarmed strikes for the tentacles makes the constrict and shortspear options more appealing, also.

 

[Cleon]

That sounds like a great idea! Using "arms" or unarmed strikes for the tentacles makes the constrict and shortspear options more appealing, also.

As you like, I'm flexible.

So, it would have something like Full Attack: Arms +3 melee (1d2+1) and bite -2 melee (1d6+1) or shortsword +3 melee (1d6+1), with Improved Grab and Constrict 1d6+1 as Special Attacks?

That seems consistent. I'd probably give it a +4 racial bonus to grapple, 'cause of all those suckers.

 

[freyar]

I believe arms would do no damage as attacks, just allow Imp Grab (like the regular octopus). They could, however, be used as unarmed strikes.

I will agree to a +4 bonus to grapple.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Is that what you had in mind?

 

[freyar]

That seems pretty good to me. It puts them better than par with an octopus.

 

[Shade]

Cleon, does that work for you?

 

[Cleon]

Cleon, does that work for you?

Sorry, I didn't think you were waiting for me.

A single arms attack is fine by me, it being one of the options I suggested earlier, although I'd prefer if it did some damage.

The more I think about it, the more I'm tempted to stat up a "Monster Deepwater Octopus" that's closer to the original with its loads of attacks, to go with the "PC/NPC Deepwater Octopus" that we seem to be working towards.

Aw, who am I kidding, I've already statted the thing up. I'm just waiting for us to finish the character-class version before posting it.

EDIT: Looking at the Updated write-up, there is one thing that puzzles me. Why is it given a shortsword attack? Surely the original description indicates shortspears.

 

[Shade]

The more I think about it, the more I'm tempted to stat up a "Monster Deepwater Octopus" that's closer to the original with its loads of attacks, to go with the "PC/NPC Deepwater Octopus" that we seem to be working towards.

I really wish they had just left these things mindless, rather than trying to create a deep-sea octohumanoid race.

Aw, who am I kidding, I've already statted the thing up. I'm just waiting for us to finish the character-class version before posting it.

You're not fooling anyone, you know.

EDIT: Looking at the Updated write-up, there is one thing that puzzles me. Why is it given a shortsword attack? Surely the original description indicates shortspears.

Good question. That shall be repaired.