Creature by Poll #6 - Discussing Jellyfishes!

[Gez]

It's not too late? ENworld has been acting grunky* these days...

OK, do you remember my idea of having people living on it?

Well, here's a new "ability" proposal that fit that theme.

Symbiosis: A creature or large or smaller size may enter inside the <creature name>, in its bulbous upper part. There, it may attune its mind with the <creature name>, effectively acquiring a parasitic control of the <creature name>.

The creature attempting to control must succeed at a Reflex save (standard DC for the jellyfish), in order to reach the proper part fast enough to seize control of the <creature name> before it may react and expel it. The jellyfish is then entitled a Will save to avoid control (DC 10+half the controlling creature's HD+controlling creature's Charisma modifier). If the jellyfish saves, it expels the creature.
Whatever the outcome of those two saves, the creature takes full acid damage, and the <creature name> is inflicted 2d8 hit points damage from the intrusion.

Once the symbiosis is achieved, the <creature name> use its controlling host's Will save and mental ability scores. The controlling host is effectively magically merged with the jellyfish and can't be targetted independantly as long as the <creature name> isn't killed, or as long as it don't exit the jellyfish. While the controlling host keeps all class abilities, some may not be usable with the jellyfish body, like casting spell. (Although spells without components, spell-like abilities, and psionics, work.)

This specificity is used by inhabitants of these jellyfish islands to navigate them as ships. The role of navigator is typically given to a psionic character if available, or otherwise the elder of the inhabitants.


(*Obscure slang. So obscure I just made it up right now.)

 

[Knight Otu]

Nope, not to late.

I didn't really forget it, I only somewhat forgot it, if you understand what I mean.

This this isn't dead yet, either, by the way.

 

[Gez]

This this isn't dead yet, either, by the way.

Well, it does seem it is...

 

[Krishnath]

Well, what did you expect? The spanish inquisition? I've been waiting for someone else to add their thoughts for weeks!

 

[Knight Otu]

Well, it does seem it is...

Unbeliever!
Krish, actually, I hoped you would have some input regarding the psionic abilities all the time...

XXX
Gargantuan Vermin
Hit Dice: 23d8+230 (333 hp)
Initiative: -5
Speed:
Armor Class: (-5 Dex, -4 size, +x natural)
Base Attack/Grapple: +17/+41
Attack: Tentacle +25 melee (2d8+12 plus 2d8 electricity plus poison)
Full Attack: 4 tentacles +25 melee (2d8+12 plus 2d8 electricity plus poison)
Space/Reach: 20 ft./15 ft. (100 ft. with tentacles)
Special Attacks: Digestive polyps, electricity, improved grab, poison, psionics
Special Qualities: Amorphous, blindsight 250 ft., damage reduction 15/-, humanoid symbiosis, levitate, vermin traits
Saves: Fort +23, Ref +2, Will +2
Abilities: Str 34, Dex 1, Con 31, Int -, Wis 1, Cha 14
Skills: Hide +13 (+3 if inhabited)*
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary, hive (1 plus 2 - 20 monstrous jellyfishes) or inhabited (1 plus 1 - 8 humanoids)
Challenge Rating: ???
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 24 - 31 HD (Gargantuan); 32 - 69 HD (Colossal)
The xxx is a colony of polyps living in close symbiosis, similar to the man-o-war, but reaches the size of a small island. As large as it is, it is hard to see since it is mostly transparent except for purple veins running through its body and its enormous tentacles. A/n xxx produces some strange effect that causes smaller jellyfish to congregate around it, sometimes forming a strange hivemind capable of creating psionic abilities. A side effect of the gathering is the appearance of the normally subterranean oddities known as flumphs around the xxxs. While normal creatures would propably be annoyed by the flumphs, the xxx found a simple and elegant solution to this dilemma. It considers flumphs to be a delicasy. A few XXXs seem to be able to bond with humanoid creatures, allowing themselves to be inhabited.
Combat
An opponent can make sunder attempts against a xxx’s tentacles as if they were weapons. A/n xxx’s tentacles have 40 hit points. If a/n xxx is currently grappling a target with one tentacle, it usually uses another limb to make its attack of opportunity against the sunder attempt. Severing a/n xxx’s tentacle deals damage to the xxx equal to half the limb’s full normal hit points. A/n xxx usually has 8 tentacles capable of attacking, but only four can do so in a normal situation. If it loses all but 2 tentacles, it withdraws from combat. A/n xxx regrows lost tentacles within 2d4 days.
Digestive Polyps (Ex): A/n xxx can try to convey a grabbed opponent of up to two sizes smaller into one of its digestive polyps by making a successful grapple check. The "swallowed" creature takes 2d8+12 points of bludgeoning damage and 16 points of acid damage per round from the xxx's digestive polyp. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 40 points of damage to the polyp (AC y). Once the creature exits, the polyp releases all other creatures it holds; an opponent held by a different polyp must cut its own way out.
A Gargantuan xxx's digestive polyp can hold 1 Large, 8 Medium, 32 Small, or 128 Tiny or smaller opponents. The number of digestive polyps a/n xxx has is limited, but in most cases can be treated as unlimited.
Electricity (Ex): The tentacle attacks of a/n XXX deal an additional 2d8 points of electricity damage with each successful hit.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a/n xxx must hit with its tentacle attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can attempt to convey the victim into its digestive polyps the following round.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude save DC 31, initial and secondary damage 1d6 points of temporary Strength damage.
Psionics (Sp): A/n XXX that is accompanied by monstrous jellyfishes (or similar creatures) can cannibalize the life force of these creatures to create some psionic abilities. As the XXX andthe jellyfishes form a very primitive hive mind, it can use the abilities somewhat appropriately (the actual Intelligence of the XXX and the jellyfishes does not change). The numbers in brackets before the save DC notes the number of Hit Dice the XXX must cannibalize (treat as negative levels) from the jellyfishes to manifest the power (note that monstrous jellyfishes, as found in the Tome of Horrors, page 172, have 3 HD). Cloudkill (10 HD, DC 17), Greater Magic Fang (self only, 6 HD), Ice Storm (8 HD, DC 16), Major Image (6 HD, DC 15). Caster level 23. Save DCs are Charisma-based.
Amorphous (Ex): As a being made up of a large number of comparably small creatures, a/n xxx is not subject to flanking and critical hits.
Humanoid Symbiosis (Ex): In a few rare cases, a/n XXX might form a symbiosis with humanoids or monstrous humanoids instead of jellyfishes, allowing a family to inhabit and harvest food from its body. A typical XXX can "feed" up to eight Medium humanoids. A/n XXX in a symbiosis with humanoids can utilize its psionic abilities, but instead of negative levels, it deals permanent Wisdom damage, distributed evenly among the inhabitants. Rumours persist about a whole city of inhabited XXXs, but if it exists, it has yet to be found.
Levitate (Su): By inflating its float, a/n XXX can continually levitate, as per the spell of the same name.
Vermin Traits: Immune to mind-affecting effects.
Skills: XXXs receive a +30 racial bonus to Hide checks, as they are highly transparent. Despite their size, they are extremely hard to spot. *An inhabited XXX is obviously easier to spot, and receives only a +20 bonus to Hide checks.

 

[Gez]

Well, what did you expect? The spanish inquisition? I've been waiting for someone else to add their thoughts for weeks!

What about mine (symbiosis) ?

 

[Krishnath]

What about mine (symbiosis) ?

O.K. someone besides Gez

Anyways, Knight Otu: Those psionic abilities do not exist. I suggest changing them to: Recall Agony (10 HD, DC 17), Crisis of Breath (6 HD, DC 15), Dissolving Touch (8 HD, DC 16), and Charm Monster (6 HD, DC 15).

Later,

 

[Knight Otu]

Anyways, Knight Otu: Those psionic abilities do not exist. I suggest changing them to: Recall Agony (10 HD, DC 17), Crisis of Breath (6 HD, DC 15), Dissolving Touch (8 HD, DC 16), and Charm Monster (6 HD, DC 15).

Abilities do not have to be from the PsiHB to be psionic. I'll think about using them, and I'll try to hurry towards the naming part.

 

[Krishnath]

Well, I felt that those fit the creature better.

 

[Knight Otu]

As I said, I'll think about it. Don't forget to state your opinion about the other things I've added.