Creature Catalogue Overhaul Project Revisited

[Erdrick Dragin]

That's pretty close to the version we're already working on if its size were increased to Gargantuan, except its Con is higher and its bite is weaker - the current "enworld conversion" version has a 3d8 Bite at Huge, so it would have a 6d8 bite if it was Gargantuan with Improved Natural Attack (bite).

We try to stick to feats that are in the SRD, which excludes Improved Toughness. You can always throw another point in Con instead.

Also, Improved Natural Attack is not really necessary - you can just arbitrarily give it a 3d8 bite and use that feat for something else too.

I like Icewalking though, I think we'd better pinch that idea.

I used the Monster Manual's suggesting that a Gargantuan creature's bite is at 2d8. Seeing as how its bite is its main attack, and it hunts, and it needs to contend with other larger monsters, I gave it INA for its bite and so it increased to 3d8.

Yeah I realized Improved Toughness is not SRD, so it'd have to be replaced with another feat.

As for Icewalking, it's based off the white dragon and a few other cold creatures in 3.5e. In the description of the tirichik, it specifically states it can move about ice as if it were walking on solid ground, so if that wasn't a nod to Icewalking ability, I dunno what is.

Yeah it's Gargantuan only because that was it's size in 2e. I should've compared its average width and height to the 3e version of sizes, it was probably meant to be a Huge creature in 3E. I'll have to check it.

 

[Erdrick Dragin]

One more note I should've added.

The 2E version allowed you to attack the tentacles. So, I suggest adding in the description to go for the tentacles. Not sure on AC and hp, but once severed, they'll lose their blindsight and tremorsense. Perfect getaway plan from these beasts, if one needed to hide away. The tentacles do grow back, as stated in their ecology I think.

But then they lose two of their attacks, leaving them with just the bite once again. Hmmm....maybe scratch the tentacle attacking idea.

 

[Cleon]

I used the Monster Manual's suggesting that a Gargantuan creature's bite is at 2d8. Seeing as how its bite is its main attack, and it hunts, and it needs to contend with other larger monsters, I gave it INA for its bite and so it increased to 3d8.

True enough, but those suggestions are only, well, suggestions so we're free to stick in whatever bite damage we consider appropriate.

Thus, you don't need to use Improved Natural Attack, you can just say it bites for 3d8 and use the feat for something else.

Now there are a few monsters in the SRD that use Improved Natural Attack (mostly tigers for some reason), but there's a fair argument that they were just wasting those feats and should have just given them better damage in the first place.

As for Icewalking, it's based off the white dragon and a few other cold creatures in 3.5e. In the description of the tirichik, it specifically states it can move about ice as if it were walking on solid ground, so if that wasn't a nod to Icewalking ability, I dunno what is.

I know were it comes from, and it's an obvious fit to the Tirichek.

Yeah it's Gargantuan only because that was it's size in 2e. I should've compared its average width and height to the 3e version of sizes, it was probably meant to be a Huge creature in 3E. I'll have to check it.

We reckoned it's similar in shape to a Behir but 75% as long, so it ought to be Huge like the SRD Behir.

 

[Cleon]

One more note I should've added.

The 2E version allowed you to attack the tentacles. So, I suggest adding in the description to go for the tentacles. Not sure on AC and hp, but once severed, they'll lose their blindsight and tremorsense. Perfect getaway plan from these beasts, if one needed to hide away. The tentacles do grow back, as stated in their ecology I think.

But then they lose two of their attacks, leaving them with just the bite once again. Hmmm....maybe scratch the tentacle attacking idea.

The version we're working on is going to allow for attacking the tentacles separately and have severed tentacles hamper its scent SQ.

I'm thinking we'll probably put the tentacle attacking info in the tactics' entry under Combat, like the SRD Giant Octopus, Giant Squid and Kraken (whose tentacle combat info we'll probably adapt).

 

[Shade]

Icewalking is an excellent suggestion.

Have we decided to boost the bite to 3d8?

I think the tentacle-severing text fits best in the tactics area as well.

 

[Cleon]

Icewalking is an excellent suggestion.

Have we decided to boost the bite to 3d8?

Not only did we decide it, you've put a 3d8+8 bite in the current Update.

I think the tentacle-severing text fits best in the tactics area as well.

Yes, something like:

Combat
A tirichek often attacks from ambush, by bursting from beneath a snowdrift. Its first attack is usually a bite using its elongate neck ability, after which it uses its tentacles and normal bite attack.

An opponent can attack a tirichek's tentacles with sunder attempts as if they were weapons. Each tentacle has 10 hit points, and severing a tentacles deals 5 points of damage to the tirichek. The creature regrows severed tentacles in 2d10+20 days.
​

I used 2d10+20 for the regrowing time since the writeup says "The tirichik grows a new tentacle in about a month."

 

[Shade]

Looks good.

Updated.

Challenge Rating: 8-9?

Advancement: 14-16 HD (Huge); 17-39 HD (Gargantuan)?

A tirichik is 30 feet long and weighs x pounds.

Tirichik speak/don't speak/understand x.

 

[Cleon]

Challenge Rating: 8-9?

I'm thinking strong 8.

It may have 4 more HD than a Behir but Behir have much nastier special attacks - just look at their Constrict plus Rake damage!

Advancement: 14-16 HD (Huge); 17-39 HD (Gargantuan)?

That suits me.

A tirichik is 30 feet long and weighs x pounds.

4,000 pounds like a Behir - shorter but wider.

Tirichik speak/don't speak/understand x.

"Tirickek cannot speak" would be my preference. With Int 3 they wouldn't be great conversationalists, anyway.

 

[Erdrick Dragin]

Any particular reason it doesn't have blindsense or tremorsense? If we're comparing it to the behir, yeah, I think those special qualities are necessary since it lacks Special Attacks.

I vote strongly for tremorsense, considering it is an ambusher and hunter, how will it detect prey if it's burrowed? (which it usually is) As for blindsense, it'd make sense if the description said the tentacles helped it detect odors, but if we're to stay true to the original design, the description actually says the tentacles are extremely sensitive to its environment.

Though the tentacles are primarily used as sense organs,
capable of sensing motion, scents, and body heat, they can also
be used as piercing weapons.

The tirichik prefers to ambush its prey by lurking in-
side a crevasse, hiding among hills of snow, or otherwise con-
cealing itself. Its tentacles enable it to sense prey up to 100 yards
away when the prey approaches, the tirichik reveals itself, scut-
tling from its crevasse or charging from the snow.

What's the harm in it having blindsense?

 

[Shade]

Updated.

I could support blindsense, as long as it was limited to the tentacles like the scent.

Rename "olfactory tentacles" to "sensory tentacles", and add blindsense 150 ft. to the writeup?