[URBIS] A new way of looking at ghouls

[Jürgen Hubert]

Here is an excerpt from the world I have developed for the setting search:

Ghoul

The transformation into a ghoul is a traumatic experience. When a new ghoul awakens, it usually remembers little of its previous life - it must succeed in a Will save (DC 20) to retain any class levels it had before it was infected. All it can concentrate on is a ravening hunger for the flesh of sapient beings. However, after a period of several months (less so if it is taken care of by older, more experienced ghouls), it gains enough self-control not to think about eating flesh constantly. Most ghouls then realize that their transformation has made them smarter, tougher, and faster than they were in their old life (in game terms, they gain Str +2, Dex +4, Int +2, Wis +2, and Cha +6), and they often start to gain character classes at this point.
Over the years, as the ghouls eat more and more sapient flesh, they become tougher. On average, they gain one Hit Die every five years. They gain this Hit Die as an "undead" - this is independent from any class levels they gain. Once they reach 4 HD, they become ghasts. Once they reach 7 HD, they start to become larger and grow one size category. They gain yet another size category when they reach 13 HD. It is possible that larger specimens exist, but there are no confirmed reports of them. Larger ghouls tend to be the leaders of their communities.
The large amounts of flesh that the ghouls require usually means that they congregate in the cities. The population of most rural communities is so small that missing bodies - or people - are usually noticed soon. In large cities, on the other hand, there are enough bodies or poor people who nobody misses that large numbers of ghouls can live there. They tend to live in the poorest neigborhoods or in the sewers, and organize themselves loosely for mutual support. Sometimes they have especially depraved human agents who bring them new bodies in exchange for money, protection, and secrets that the ghouls uncover. Sometimes the ghouls start entire "cults" around them, where initiation into the higher ranks means transformation into a ghoul! Frequently, humans embrace this fate willingly, since it means an escape from the poverty of the slums in one way or another...

I have always thought that ghouls in D&D are underappreciated. Everyone thinkgs vampires are "cool", and that it's always nice to throw in more mad liches... but ghouls are too often overlooked, which is even more strange if you consider how dangerous they can be with their high intelligence!

 

[boothbey]

I like Wights...Party I ran for hated my Wights. In one adventure they found one wight wizard and a wight fighter in plate armor.

I do like the ghoul idea. Not necessarily the growth in size. But the HD gain is a nice addition.

 

[Xarlen]

YOUCH!

I like the aspect, sort've a 'Tough guy' aspect, certainly gives them a hard edge. I always thought ghouls had something going for them. Heck, I could see the 'Ghoul' being like the alternate vampires in 'Blade II'. They were very ghoulish, to me.

Interesting, atleast (I'm definetly using this if I ever get a city campaign going). Though, two things I don't like; The size changing, and the upgrading. The stench of a Ghast, although powerful, is an Obvious sign you're dealing with a Ghast. If I were a ghoul, I wouldn't want it because it would give my presence away (Especially rogues and spellcasters). Though, I do like the HD raise, based on years.

Them's some Harsh Ability increases. Better then the vampire! Maybe offer, with time, other abilities accessable for the ghoul (Sort've like how vampirse are in Ravenloft).

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Them's some Harsh Ability increases. Better then the vampire!

This is actually D&D canon - look at the MM stats for an "average" ghoul...

Oh, and if you like that, wait until you see what I have in mind for yuan-ti!

 

[s/LaSH]

Ooh, I did some extrapolation from the basic ghoul too, although it's not quite what you're thinking of. Check this out. It's even illustrated. And the scary thing is, this was online before Blade II even came out.

I think that undead, not having a metabolism, will probably be able to survive without food. In fact, they may well be able to convert everything they eat into body mass, or a good chunk of it. This would allow undead hiding in ancient ruins. At least, that's the way I see it. Requiring them to feed changes the whole dynamic.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Ooh, I did some extrapolation from the basic ghoul too, although it's not quite what you're thinking of. Check this out. It's even illustrated.

I wish I could daw like that...

And the scary thing is, this was online before Blade II even came out.

I couldn't say - I have yet to see either movie...

I think that undead, not having a metabolism, will probably be able to survive without food. In fact, they may well be able to convert everything they eat into body mass, or a good chunk of it. This would allow undead hiding in ancient ruins. At least, that's the way I see it. Requiring them to feed changes the whole dynamic.

Perhaps I should rewrite it and mention that ghouls don't need any flesh - they just desire it.

And what happens to ghouls who don't get any flesh? They shrink. "Ghoul in a bottle", anyone?

 

[Piratecat]

Shameless plug: chock full of ghouls!

 

[Tonguez]

I like the idea and do something similar (but different) imc.

IMC Ghouls are the Soulless, those who are 'born dead'. These creatures (not quite undead, but not living either) dwell in the shadows of cities and feast upon the living around them.

Most are mindless feeders and form packs which stalk through the sewers and steal children from their beds.

More powerful Ghouls become Ghast and in addition to their stench also gain a 'Contangion' type ability whereby their body fluids carry disease, if they spit in your water tank you will get sick, if you are scratched by their claws you are infected with disease.

Even more powerful Ghouls develop into Rippers - they gain the ability to climb sheer surfaces as though with a spider climb spell Fast Healing (2 points of damage/round) and also the ability to Blend in Shadows effectively becoming invisible (Spot DC 25)

imc Jack the Ripper is a Ghoul (so would Mike Myers, Jason, Freddy Kruegerand IT the clown be). The most famous Ghoul is the Bogeyman

 

[Tonguez]

Shameless plug: chock full of ghouls!

Actually Mr PC Sir did you see the Bone Worm at the Wizards OTC site?

When I saw it I couldn't help but think that someone had ripped you off...

 

[Xarlen]

I like the sound of the Rippers (That's what I was thinking too). But, Jason and Mike Myers are actually Revenants. They're undead with a grudge, that 'live' for one soul purpose. Freddy is more... uh... I'd call him a 'Dream Elemental'. Or some form of Nightmare Warper. Sounds cool, tho.

What's the Ripper's CR?

I'm in a non-D&D game that's pretty much 25 years from now. But there's lots of freaky stuff in the campaign world. Vampires (Although vampires are actually the result of an alchemical mix, instead of the real live vampire boohoo).

Anyways, Ghouls in that campaign are actually souls that are linked to a dead body. You generally have to obliterate the body to kill it. They feel no pain, can't be knocked unconcious, and taking them down is Seriously hard. Not to mention that if they eat raw flesh (Hamburger usually), they regenerate any damage.

I hit a ghoul with a grenade, but we had to run out've there. Turns out he lived (He was in no condition to get away though). He was, for a time, my bounty.