Tarrasque Adventure Ideas

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

A band of evil cultists are out to destroy the Tarrasque so they may retrieve the epic level McGuffin that a previous party of do gooders tossed down its throught. Now our heros must race against time to SAVE the Tarrasque to keep this great artifact out of evil hands, while keeping the locals population safe and discovering a way to put the ravening monster to sleep for another century or two.

 

[The_Universe]

I just want to know if anybody here has the slight idea where the myth of the Tarrasque comes from. Because, unlike the beholder, mimic, grell, or similar monsters, that were invented by TSR/WotC, the Tarrasque actually originates from legend. And in this case (believe or not), from a French legend!

and a very brave (and holy) catholic saint put the monster in its place!

I used to love the story when I was a kid. Indeed, the D&D tarasque has little to do with its mythic roots, other than being veguley reptilian!

 

[Tinner]

Hey now, give credit where credit is due...those ideas all rightly should go to the Gargantua (from the Monstrous Manual). They had reptilian, humanoid, and moth types, with powers right out of the movies. The reptilian one even noted that one was brought back to the Isle of Wa (from Kara-Tur) in a block of ice, which melted, and it went on a rampage there.

I used the gargantua a LOT back in the day, but AFAIK, the tarrasque appeared in print long before the gargantua. But to be fair, yeah it's pretty clear they were BOTH inspired by kaiju movies.

 

[demiurge1138]

Sure the Tarrasque originally came from an old french legend. But the beast in that legend seems a lot more like a wimpy drake, than the Tarrasque we know and love from the MM.
So instead of returning to that legend for plot ideas, why not go to the REAL source that inspired the MM Tarrasque?

Hey! You forgot the one where the PCs need to protect the tarrasque's hideous offspring from giant vermin! And the one where a child dreams of the tarrasque and learns valuable life lessons! And what of Tarrasque vs. Space Tarrasque?

Demiurge out.

 

[Thundering_Dragon]

The problem I have with the Tarrasque is the mechanics. Any party at or near it's CR will easily destroy it, and anything below that has no chance. How can you design an adventure around a monster that doesn't have any real social tie ins, whose ultimate purpose in the end will be combat, when it is either no threat, or unstoppable?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The problem I have with the Tarrasque is the mechanics. Any party at or near it's CR will easily destroy it, and anything below that has no chance. How can you design an adventure around a monster that doesn't have any real social tie ins, whose ultimate purpose in the end will be combat, when it is either no threat, or unstoppable?

How can you design an adventure around an unstoppable foe? Are you serious? That's the definition of some of the greatest adventure stories in the history of mankind.

 

[Brakkart]

Hey! You forgot the one where the PCs need to protect the tarrasque's hideous offspring from giant vermin!

Heh, Tarrasque vs Woolly Rupert anyone? PC's could have a hell of a time simply trying to get people out of the way as these two behemoths slugged it out!

For those who don't get the reference, Woolly Rupert is a legendary Giant Space Hamster from the old Spelljammer setting.

 

[DM-Rocco]

A sinister Epic mage crossed Tarrasque blood with Hydra blood creating a new breed of Tarrasque. When he is wounded, his blood spills creating another Tarrasque hybrid from each hit. Good luck

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

"You see a pie being guarded by a Tarrasque."

So, what is the Big T covering the pie while the orc takes a smoking break?

 

[reveal]

So, what is the Big T covering the pie while the orc takes a smoking break?

I'm picturing an Orc coming back into the room through a side door.

"Hey, T, I'm back. Thanks for watching the... Oh crap!"