Illithocyte

[BOZ]

here is the original text for this monster:

Illithocyte
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Subpenumbra: The Nethermost
FREQUENCY: Common
ORGANIZATION: Mass
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Psychosphere radiation
INTELLIGENCE: Animal (1)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: N

NO. APPEARING: 3d10
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVEMENT: 6
HIT DICE: 4
THAC0: 17
NO. OF ATTACKS: 4 (tentacles)
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1 x 4
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: 1/4 x damage from acid
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 25%
SIZE: S (4' long)
MORALE: Elite (14)
XP VALUE:

Illithocytes are squirming subpenumbran lifeforms that subsist on random psychic energy alone, but whose lashing tentacles are capable of delivering painful stings to those that encounter them.

Mucous-coated eyeless slugs, illithocytes are mottled violet and brown, pushing their way through darkness with four long tentacles. Illithocytes are four feet long with tentacles comprising one fourth of that length, but they generally move only in groups of 3 to 30 individuals, entwining bodies and tentacles in an undifferentiated mass of squalid flesh, leaving behind a wide track of slowly drying mucous.

Though only of animal intelligence and lacking any language, illithocytes are able to telepathically sense living creatures within a 30-foot radius, and other illithocytes within a 100 foot radius.

Combat: Though not a carnivorous species, illithocytes are quite aggressive. Because they are the chief source of nutrition for ravening neothelids, illithocytes attack before being attacked, attempting to drive off all possible threats. Though not always successful, sometimes these aggressive tendencies cause a predator neothelid to move on in search of smaller illithocyte masses on which to dine. Though it hasn't happened yet, its possible that enough illithocyte masses could bring down a neothelid.

In melee, illithocytes work together against a single target. Seeking to swarm a foe, illithocytes flail with their tentacles, inflicting only 1 hp of damage with each successful hit. Singly, illithocytes are not too dangerous , but in their customary masses, these size S creatures can concentrate on a single foe, to deadly effect (up to eight of the creatures can simultaneously attack a foe of size M).

Illithocytes have developed some resistance to the neothelid flesh-dissolving breath weapon, and as such are equally resistant to more common acids, taking 1/4 damage from all such exposure. Unfortunately, their bodies prove particularly susceptible to fire, suffering double normal damage from flame.

Due to their ancient illithid kinship, illithocytes possess a residual 25% magic resistance.

Habitat/Society: Since the fall of the illithid empire, what were once tadpoles have evolved into an entirely self-contained species. Forced to adapt or die, a minuscule population of bereaved illithid tadpoles managed the former. Illithocytes divorced themselves from the need to swim through liquid, and instead squirm in family masses across the bare substare. In fact, these family masses are made up of members that have budded from other members: illithocytes are not illithid tadpoles, but in fact are an entirely new species able to reproduce in their own limited fashion.

An illithocyte is ready to bud once it has achieved its full length of four feet. Then, after entering a 24-hour period of torpor in which the illithocyte gorges itself on psychospheric radiations, it begins to bud off a new illithocyte. The actual budding process takes 48 hours, at the end of which time the "parent" illithocyte has lost about 25% of its mass, while the "daughter" illithocyte is only 1 foot long. With sufficient nutrition, the new illithocyte can expect to reach full length in about 360 sleep periods (approximately one Penumbran year).

Ecology: Forced by the extremity of starvation, illithocytes feed from the penumbran "psychosphere" just like the more primitive mosses do, turning the undirected energy into nutrition for growth and development. In turn, illithocytes serve as the only food source for the few neothelids living within the disc of Penumbra.

Because the intensity of psychosphere radiations wax and wane according to several random factors, illithocyte masses constantly migrate through the bare tunnels of Penumbra's Nethermost passages. No natural access exists between the Penumbra's two surfaces and the realm of the creatures that were once illithid tadpoles; illithocytes are fated to remain forever within the moist darks of the Nethermost.

 

[Shade]

Hmmm...the text almost indicates that they should be a swarm. Thoughts?

 

[BOZ]

i have to disagree. the individual creatures are too big for the swarm subtype (4 feet long, size Small), and they don't appear in great enough numbers (3-30). instead, they could have some sort of "swarm fighting" ability or something like that. a stat block will arrive later today.

 

[Shade]

Sounds reasonable. I look forward to the stat block so we can get rollin' on these critters.

 

[BOZ]

For Str, I’m thinking it should be low, perhaps 8. Dex and Con could be higher than 11, but not necessarily.

OK, let’s go through all the text which is not specifically flavor text (should be fairly simple):

“Mucous-coated eyeless slugs”

so, blindsight maybe? Certainly no darkvision

“Illithocytes are four feet long with tentacles comprising one fourth of that length”

no reach on the tentacles, since each one is only a foot long

“Though only of animal intelligence and lacking any language, illithocytes are able to telepathically sense living creatures within a 30-foot radius, and other illithocytes within a 100 foot radius.”

so… some sort of life sense? Or is there a better thing for that?

“In melee, illithocytes work together against a single target. Seeking to swarm a foe, illithocytes flail with their tentacles, inflicting only 1 hp of damage with each successful hit. Singly, illithocytes are not too dangerous , but in their customary masses, these size S creatures can concentrate on a single foe, to deadly effect (up to eight of the creatures can simultaneously attack a foe of size M).”

“Illithocytes have developed some resistance to the neothelid flesh-dissolving breath weapon, and as such are equally resistant to more common acids, taking 1/4 damage from all such exposure. Unfortunately, their bodies prove particularly susceptible to fire, suffering double normal damage from flame.”

Acid resistance 5, and vulnerability to fire?

“Due to their ancient illithid kinship, illithocytes possess a residual 25% magic resistance.”

SR wouldn’t be much. Mind flayers had 90% in 2E, and have 25 now. 25% calculates to be SR 16, but they might have even lower than that (90% calculates to be SR 29)

Don’t know if we want to make the reproduction and feeding on psychic radiation part into combat text or flavor text…

 

[Shade]

For Str, I’m thinking it should be low, perhaps 8. Dex and Con could be higher than 11, but not necessarily.

I could see Str going even lower. Dex maybe 13. Con 11 should be fine.

“Mucous-coated eyeless slugs”

so, blindsight maybe? Certainly no darkvision

Agreed. Either blindsight or blindsense.

“Illithocytes are four feet long with tentacles comprising one fourth of that length”

no reach on the tentacles, since each one is only a foot long

True.

“Though only of animal intelligence and lacking any language, illithocytes are able to telepathically sense living creatures within a 30-foot radius, and other illithocytes within a 100 foot radius.”

so… some sort of life sense? Or is there a better thing for that?

This ability from MM3 might help with part of it:

Telepathic Link (Ex): Creatures with this ability share a communal consciousness, enabling them to communicate telepathically with other creatures of their kind. A group of such creatures within a certain distance of each other (specified in the creature's entry) are in constant contact. If one is aware of a particular danger, they all are. If one in the group is not flat-footed, none of them are. No creature in the group is considered flanked unless all are.

“In melee, illithocytes work together against a single target. Seeking to swarm a foe, illithocytes flail with their tentacles, inflicting only 1 hp of damage with each successful hit. Singly, illithocytes are not too dangerous , but in their customary masses, these size S creatures can concentrate on a single foe, to deadly effect (up to eight of the creatures can simultaneously attack a foe of size M).”

This could probably be flavor text now, since up to eight Small creatures can attack a Medium creature within the regular rules.

“Illithocytes have developed some resistance to the neothelid flesh-dissolving breath weapon, and as such are equally resistant to more common acids, taking 1/4 damage from all such exposure. Unfortunately, their bodies prove particularly susceptible to fire, suffering double normal damage from flame.”

Acid resistance 5, and vulnerability to fire?

Maybe higher acid resistance, but definitely vulnerability to fire.

“Due to their ancient illithid kinship, illithocytes possess a residual 25% magic resistance.”

SR wouldn’t be much. Mind flayers had 90% in 2E, and have 25 now. 25% calculates to be SR 16, but they might have even lower than that (90% calculates to be SR 29)

I'd go with at least CR + 11, whatever that turns out to be.

Don’t know if we want to make the reproduction and feeding on psychic radiation part into combat text or flavor text…

Probably flavor text.

 

[BOZ]

some preliminary stats for the illithocyte:

Illithocyte
Small Aberration
Hit Dice: 4d8 (18 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 20 ft (4 squares)
Armor Class: 14 (+1 size, +1 Dex, +2 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+X
Attack: Tentacle +X melee (1d2-X)
Full Attack: 4 tentacles +X melee (1d2-X)
Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft
Special Attacks:
Special Qualities: blindsight? 60 ft, resistance to acid 10?, spell resistance 16 (or less?), telepathic link, vulnerability to fire
Saves: Fort +X Ref +X Will +X
Abilities: Str X, Dex 13, Con 11, Int 1, Wis X, Cha X
Skills: 7 (Escape Artist?)
Feats: 2

Environment: Underground
Organization: Mass (3-30)
Challenge Rating: X
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 5-12 HD (Small)
Level Adjustment: ---

An individual illithocyte is 4 feet long, and weighs X pounds.

COMBAT

Dawn of the Overmind (1998, Bruce R. Cordell)

I could see Str going even lower.

perhaps, but 8 might be low enough. After all, their main defense is their aggressiveness and their only real attack form is slapping with tentacles.

Agreed. Either blindsight or blindsense.

I think it ought to be the weaker one, since they would be using their ability to sense other creatures for the most part.

This ability from MM3 might help with part of it:

Telepathic Link (Ex): Creatures with this ability share a communal consciousness, enabling them to communicate telepathically with other creatures of their kind. A group of such creatures within a certain distance of each other (specified in the creature's entry) are in constant contact. If one is aware of a particular danger, they all are. If one in the group is not flat-footed, none of them are. No creature in the group is considered flanked unless all are.

I’m cool with that, but that doesn’t cover this part: “illithocytes are able to telepathically sense living creatures within a 30-foot radius”

“In melee, illithocytes work together against a single target. Seeking to swarm a foe, illithocytes flail with their tentacles, inflicting only 1 hp of damage with each successful hit. Singly, illithocytes are not too dangerous , but in their customary masses, these size S creatures can concentrate on a single foe, to deadly effect (up to eight of the creatures can simultaneously attack a foe of size M).”

This could probably be flavor text now, since up to eight Small creatures can attack a Medium creature within the regular rules.

that part works out perfectly then. I’d say though, that they kind of move over each other, so that more than once can be in the same space. Sort of a “swarm fighting” ability. I’m posting a picture of them so you’ll see what I mean. Maybe this would also make them harder to attack too. Is there anything like this in the rules anywhere, or should we just keep it simple?

Maybe higher acid resistance, but definitely vulnerability to fire.

that ought to teach me to comprehend what I read – I was thinking that resist ¼ of acid damage, not that they only take ¼ acid damage. how about acid resistance 10 then?

I'd go with at least CR + 11, whatever that turns out to be.

probably the best way to go.

 

[Shade]

perhaps, but 8 might be low enough. After all, their main defense is their aggressiveness and their only real attack form is slapping with tentacles.

Point taken. Go with 8.

I think it ought to be the weaker one, since they would be using their ability to sense other creatures for the most part.

Cool.

I’m cool with that, but that doesn’t cover this part: “illithocytes are able to telepathically sense living creatures within a 30-foot radius”

Didn't we come up with a lifesense ability for another conversion recently? Perhaps the Hand?

that part works out perfectly then. I’d say though, that they kind of move over each other, so that more than once can be in the same space. Sort of a “swarm fighting” ability. I’m posting a picture of them so you’ll see what I mean. Maybe this would also make them harder to attack too. Is there anything like this in the rules anywhere, or should we just keep it simple?

There is the swarmfighting feat from, most recently, Complete Warrior:

Swarmfighting [General]
You and allies with this feat can coordinate melee attacks against a single target and are adept at fighting side by side in close quarters.
Prerequisites: Small size, Dex 13, base attack bonus +1.
Benefit: You can occupy the same 5-foot square in combat with any other allied Small creature that also possesses the Swarmfighting feat at no penalty. When you engage a Medium or larger creature in melee, and at least one other ally with the Swarfighting feat threatens the target, you gain a +1 morale bonus on the attack roll. This bonus increases by +1 for each additional ally beyond the first with the Swarmfighting feat that threatens the same target. The total morale bonus imparted to your attack roll cannot exceed your Dexterity bonus.

that ought to teach me to comprehend what I read – I was thinking that resist ¼ of acid damage, not that they only take ¼ acid damage. how about acid resistance 10 then?

10 sounds good.

 

[BOZ]

hmm, so I was sure that I had written up a response to Shade and left it at work, which I could post this morning. Guess not, or I deleted it by accident. so then, here is my newly-written response which is very similar!

For Cha and Wis, how about what animals with a similar Int score have, like Wis 12 and Cha 6 or something? And maybe bump the Int up to 2 to put them on par with predatory animals?

Didn't we come up with a lifesense ability for another conversion recently? Perhaps the Hand?

For the Hand, and/or the presence…

There is the swarmfighting feat from, most recently, Complete Warrior:

Swarmfighting [General]
You and allies with this feat can coordinate melee attacks against a single target and are adept at fighting side by side in close quarters.
Prerequisites: Small size, Dex 13, base attack bonus +1.
Benefit: You can occupy the same 5-foot square in combat with any other allied Small creature that also possesses the Swarmfighting feat at no penalty. When you engage a Medium or larger creature in melee, and at least one other ally with the Swarfighting feat threatens the target, you gain a +1 morale bonus on the attack roll. This bonus increases by +1 for each additional ally beyond the first with the Swarmfighting feat that threatens the same target. The total morale bonus imparted to your attack roll cannot exceed your Dexterity bonus.

that is so ridiculously close to what I wanted, it’s just crazy.

Swarmfighting (Ex): Illithocytes can coordinate melee attacks against a single target and are adept at fighting side by side in close quarters. An illithocyte can occupy the same 5-foot square in combat with any other illithocyte at no penalty. When an illithocyte engages a Medium or larger creature in melee, and at least one other illithocyte threatens the target, it gains a +1 morale bonus on the attack roll. This bonus increases by +1 for each additional illithocyte beyond the first that threatens the same target. The total morale bonus imparted to its attack roll cannot exceed the illithocyte’s Dexterity bonus.

Although, given that it has a Dex of 13, perhaps those last two sentences should be nixed.

 

[Shade]

hmm, so I was sure that I had written up a response to Shade and left it at work, which I could post this morning. Guess not, or I deleted it by accident. so then, here is my newly-written response which is very similar!

For Cha and Wis, how about what animals with a similar Int score have, like Wis 12 and Cha 6 or something? And maybe bump the Int up to 2 to put them on par with predatory animals?

I like.

For the Hand, and/or the presence…

I thought I had a deja vu-ey feeling.

that is so ridiculously close to what I wanted, it’s just crazy.

Don't you love it when that happens?

Swarmfighting (Ex): Illithocytes can coordinate melee attacks against a single target and are adept at fighting side by side in close quarters. An illithocyte can occupy the same 5-foot square in combat with any other illithocyte at no penalty. When an illithocyte engages a Medium or larger creature in melee, and at least one other illithocyte threatens the target, it gains a +1 morale bonus on the attack roll. This bonus increases by +1 for each additional illithocyte beyond the first that threatens the same target. The total morale bonus imparted to its attack roll cannot exceed the illithocyte’s Dexterity bonus.

Although, given that it has a Dex of 13, perhaps those last two sentences should be nixed.

I'd just ditch the last sentence, not limiting it to a +1 total bonus. A bunch of those rascals should get a bigger benefit.