d20 slake-moths? (Warning! Getting into major Perdido Street Station Spoilers!)

[RSKennan]

From Perdido Street Station? Great, nasty monsters, and I'm thinking about using them in a d20 CoC game. So it's OK if they're really deadly; I'm thinking these babies should be up near CR 10 anyway. At least.

D'oh! I'm Reading the book currently, and I just got to the point where the clerk redirected the caterpillar to Isaac. I guess I know what the significance of the little thing is. Oh well, hopefully it's a minor spoiler.

 

[Desdichado]

D'oh! I'm Reading the book currently, and I just got to the point where the clerk redirected the caterpillar to Isaac. I guess I know what the significance of the little thing is. Oh well, hopefully it's a minor spoiler.

Errr... yeah, it really isn't that big a deal.

 

[Tav_Behemoth]

Didn't I see a news item that Mieville had talked about growing up playing D&D in an interview with the BBC? Maybe he had them statted up even before he started writing the novel

 

[Piratecat]

You can find such a reference in this interview. He gamed only when he was 12-13, so it's unlikely that he statted them up.

http://www.strangehorizons.com/2001/20011001/china.shtml

Interesting stuff in there.

 

[nopantsyet]

Didn't I see a news item that Mieville had talked about growing up playing D&D in an interview with the BBC? Maybe he had them statted up even before he started writing the novel

Another nasty thing was, no chymical (sic.) or bio-thaumaturgical means could be found to affect recovery of any kind. Once the consciousness was eaten, it was gone forever, its remains to be shat upon the world in the form of nasty dreams, which have the unforunate side effect of dulling one's mind and senses, making them easier prey. That's going to bump up the DC as well.

Can only be healed by a miracle or a wish?

I agree--the psychology of these creatures was what made them truly terrifying to me. That they were so grand and terrible, and even intriguing. So close-knit and socially supportive. With the minor downside they exist by destroying sentient beings.


What I always wanted to know was: Where did they get the larva in the first place? And who obtained them? Yikes!!!

I don't know how widespread the appeal would be, but I'd really like to see a PSS RPG (d20?). At least once Mieville gets the world filled out a bit more. The Scar added some pretty interesting dimensions. Just picked up The Iron Council, courtesy of the local library.

But can you imagine the wacky stats the Weaver would have?

 

[nopantsyet]

Oh, yeah: And the ambassador of Hell is frightened by the slake moths? That's some seriously powerful bugs!

 

[Pants]

What I always wanted to know was: Where did they get the larva in the first place? And who obtained them? Yikes!!!

I always thought it was weird that it would be so easy for someone to filch the larvae of something so destructive and dangerous.

 

[demiurge1138]

Well, they were being shipped covertly, so I could see how security would be breached for secrecy.

I'd say that the tongue attack would drain Wisdom, based on the behavior of partially drained characters. And yes, miracle and wish only sounds about right. And I'd say that creatures caught by the wings (a gaze attack, of course) would only be fascinated, since the slake moths have to grapple them before they can start draining. I'd also suggest that creatures that don't dream, like elves and kalashtar in Eberron, would be immune to the patterns on the wings.

Fast healing is a must, and I'd say that they'd have a 50% miss chance (from being multiplanar) and DR, either low number/- or higher number/magic (since magic weapons are rare in New Crobuzon).

Demiurge out.

 

[Kelleris]

I'd do about 10/- myself. If I remember correctly, the adventurer in the book got a shot off on a slake-moth, but it didn't do much. His gun was specifically described as enchanted, too. Incidentally, I was thinking CR 17-18 when I read the book, based partly on the description of the moths' battle with the Weaver, which struck me as low epic in power.

Hmm, I was kinda irked at the ineffectiveness of the adventurers myself. Bias maybe?

What I'd really like to see, though, would be stats for the Weaver. Now that's one epic nasty! Or goodie. Or, uhm... Yeah.

 

[humble minion]

It's a while since I've read Perdido Street Station, but the slake-moths still have a very special place in my nightmares. Wonderful creations.

Once we've finished d20-ising them, anyone want to have a go at the afanc?

I'm pretty sure that the mercenary group towards the end of PSS are a nod to D&D. The ones who 'would do anything for enough gold and experience'...