D&D Omnitrix?

[Presto2112]

I don't know how many ENWorlders are fans of - or even familiar with - the cartoon called Ben 10; it's about a young boy who finds an alien watch-like device that allows him to temporarily change his form into any one of ten alien creatures. They include:

- a humanoid that can create and project fire
- a massive four armed, four eyed humanoid
- a crystalline creature
- a tiny, froglike humanoid who is quite intelligent
- a creature that can emulate various technoligies, or "possess" technologies and operate them
- a savage merfolk-like creature
- a ghost-like alien that can become intangible at will
- a large flying insect-like creature that can spit projectile acid
- a small bipedal lizard like humanoid that's super-fast
- a blind feral alien beast that walks on all fours and has amazing senses, complemented by heat-sensing gill shaped organs on he sides of its head

I was thinking about creating something similar to this device for my D&D game, and making it at least a minor artifact. The way the device works on the show is that the change only lasts for a limited time (exact time undetermined by the show) and then is rendered inert for another period of time until it's able to be used again. That's easily emulated, but what I'm trying to figure out is what monsters to use as the forms in the item. That's where y'all come in.

I'd want to keep the group of 10 fairly close to what the device on the show has, and all creatures should be relatve close in CR.

Or would this type of item simply be entirely too unbalancing in a D&D game?

 

[frankthedm]

Shapechange into the appropriate critter for 5 minutes. Inactive for 10 minutes after the effect ends. The balance all depends on the critter’s chosen.

Do note, In the actual show, there was an episode that estabishes, the watch has 1000's of forms and some day there will be a way to operate it without a cool down time.

 

[Ed_Laprade]

Shapechange into the appropriate critter for 5 minutes. Inactive for 10 minutes after the effect ends. The balance all depends on the critter’s chosen.

Do note, In the actual show, there was an episode that estabishes, the watch has 1000's of forms and some day there will be a way to operate it without a cool down time.

This sounds like the old DC Comic: Dial H for Hero. Other than that useless comment, I have nothing worthwhile to add.

 

[megamania]

- a humanoid that can create and project fire
- a massive four armed, four eyed humanoid [Darksun's B'rogue]
- a crystalline creature [med Ice elemental?]
- a tiny, froglike humanoid who is quite intelligent [FR Bullywogs]
- a creature that can emulate various technoligies, or "possess" technologies and operate them [limited amount of magic spells]
- a savage merfolk-like creature [Sahuagin]
- a ghost-like alien that can become intangible at will [ghost]
- a large flying insect-like creature that can spit projectile acid [Large Dragonfly]
- a small bipedal lizard like humanoid that's super-fast [lizardfolk.... spec DEX bonus]
- a blind feral alien beast that walks on all fours and has amazing senses, complemented by heat-sensing gill shaped organs on he sides of its head [farrealms on a dog?!?]

I'd want to keep the group of 10 fairly close to what the device on the show has, and all creatures should be relatve close in CR.

Or would this type of item simply be entirely too unbalancing in a D&D game?

Yes.... I would put in somesort of leech effect.... eats magic to be fueled or Psionic energy or outright HP / CON drain to operate.

 

[cougent]

Shapechange into the appropriate critter for 5 minutes. Inactive for 10 minutes after the effect ends. The balance all depends on the critter’s chosen.

Do note, In the actual show, there was an episode that estabishes, the watch has 1000's of forms and some day there will be a way to operate it without a cool down time.

Shapechange was my initial thought also. At some point in the show it was established that he got 10 minutes with the alien DNA. With that in mind, and that 5 minutes in D&D is like forever, I would go with 10 rounds instead. Also Ben does not always get the alien he wants, which could be very troublesome in D&D combat. That's just if you want to stick to the comic variety. If it were an artifact, I would think it would be self-powered, but if it is just a rare magic item then you could use temporary HP / stat drain. It could also be handled like the after effects of a barbarian rage and limited to use like that ability as well.

Interesting idea worth pursuing further, consider it officially borrowed.

 

[Arkhandus]

I don't know how many ENWorlders are fans of - or even familiar with - the cartoon called Ben 10; it's about a young boy who finds an alien watch-like device that allows him to temporarily change his form into any one of ten alien creatures. They include:

- a humanoid that can create and project fire
- a massive four armed, four eyed humanoid
- a crystalline creature
- a tiny, froglike humanoid who is quite intelligent
- a creature that can emulate various technoligies, or "possess" technologies and operate them
- a savage merfolk-like creature
- a ghost-like alien that can become intangible at will
- a large flying insect-like creature that can spit projectile acid
- a small bipedal lizard like humanoid that's super-fast
- a blind feral alien beast that walks on all fours and has amazing senses, complemented by heat-sensing gill shaped organs on he sides of its head

I was thinking about creating something similar to this device for my D&D game, and making it at least a minor artifact. The way the device works on the show is that the change only lasts for a limited time (exact time undetermined by the show) and then is rendered inert for another period of time until it's able to be used again. That's easily emulated, but what I'm trying to figure out is what monsters to use as the forms in the item. That's where y'all come in.

I'd want to keep the group of 10 fairly close to what the device on the show has, and all creatures should be relatve close in CR.

Or would this type of item simply be entirely too unbalancing in a D&D game?

I think I remember seeing someone make write-ups of the aliens in the Creature Catalog forum, or something.

Hrm.
1) Use a Salamander probably, maybe a half-fire-elemental (Manual of the Planes) ogre; I think the half-elemental template would give him a spell-like ability or two to unleash blasts of fire (like burning hands or fireball or something).

2) Gorillon, definitely. Maybe throw on the Insectile template from Savage Species, for extra eyes. Probably throw on something more too to increase its Strength, since the four-armed alien seems to be the strongest, physically.

3) I think the closest match I can find is the Kalareem, in the Nerra entry of the Fiend Folio. They can launch a spray of shards a few times per day, they're fairly tough, and I just can't find anything else quite fitting. Maybe throw on the half-earth-elemental template along with some extra levels or something so they can create spike stones or walls of stone. Nerra look like they're covered in mirrored surfaces, but it can easily be tweaked in description to look like crystal instead.

4) Grippli or something might've worked, except those little frog-folk were never updated to 3rd Edition I think. Maybe a Grig with changed appearance? Maybe a shocker lizard with boosted Intelligence or something. Kinda stumped on this one.

5) I suppose I'd handle Upgrade as a phasm or mimic, I dunno.

6) Perhaps a Yurian from the Fiend Folio or a Morkoth from Monster Manual II. I dunno.

7) Probably a Wraith for the ghostly alien.

8) Hrm. A Spider Eater perhaps. Or an Adult Arrowhawk with the Insectile template from Savage Species. I dunno. The Magical Beast template or whatever from Savage Species might be able to give it some kind of gooey or acidic spit attack, but I dunno.

9) Closest thing I can really thing of is a ti-khana deinonychus or just a regular deinonychus (ti-khanas are in the Fiend Folio I think, or maybe it was the Monster Manual II). Not sure what I'd add to make it even faster (that alien has a tail and claws, as I recall, so a deinonychus shouldn't be too far off).

10) Not sure what monstrous quadruped would best fit the last alien.

 

[Thurbane]

I don't know how many ENWorlders are fans of - or even familiar with - the cartoon called Ben 10; it's about a young boy who finds an alien watch-like device that allows him to temporarily change his form into any one of ten alien creatures. They include:

First, let me just say this is an awesome idea for D&D!

I've only caught one or two eps of Ben 10, but based on your list, and what Arkhandus already posted:

- a humanoid that can create and project fire
~ advanced mephit?

- a massive four armed, four eyed humanoid
~ gorillon, or xill

- a creature that can emulate various technoligies, or "possess" technologies and operate them
~ this one is very tough, let me check my books at home and get back to you

- a savage merfolk-like creature
~ merfolk with the feral template?

- a large flying insect-like creature that can spit projectile acid
~ ankheg with the winged template

- a blind feral alien beast that walks on all fours and has amazing senses, complemented by heat-sensing gill shaped organs on he sides of its head
~ steel predator

 

[Thurbane]

---

 

[Thurbane]

I think I remember seeing someone make write-ups of the aliens in the Creature Catalog forum, or something.

Now that you mention it, I also remember seeing this somewhere.

 

[Nifft]

I'd probably make it a class instead of a device; the device would just be his "focus", like a Sorcerer or Wizard's spell component pouch, or a Barbarian's greatsword.

If you do want to make it a class, what would the other parameters be? Highly skilled? Combat-oriented? What was the dude like when he was NOT transformed?

Cheers, -- N