Othesemo
2012-05-10, 02:57 AM
So, I normally don't write monsters (this is my first, as it were). However, I'm writing a sketch of my campaign world right now, and I decided that the Sea of Death required something more terrifying than Krakens. My biggest interest here is in reaching the appropriate CR (12). Any feedback on how I could get closer to that would be appreciated.
Name: Upoka
Size/Type: Gargantuan Magical Beast (Aquatic)
Hit Die: 14d10+112 (189)
Initiative: +1 (-3 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative)
Speed: Swim 40 ft.
AC: 17 (-4 Size, -3 Dex, +14 Natural)
BAB/Grapple: +14/+38
Attack: Tentacle +22 Melee (2d6+12+Poison/19-20)
Full Attack: Four Tentacles +22 Melee (2d6+12+Poison/19-20)
Space/Reach: 20 ft./15 ft. (60 ft. with Tentacles)
Special Attacks: Poison, Improved Grab, Crushing Force, Constrict 2d6+12, Forceful Grasp
Special Qualities: Translucent, Regeneration 2/Cold, Blindsight 100, Blindsense 500, Blind
Saves: Fort +17, Ref +4, Will +7
Abilities: Str 34, Dex 4, Con 26, Int 17, Wis 16, Cha 3
Skills: Swim +37, Knowledge (Nature) +20, Knowledge (Geography) +20, Hide +2*, Move Silently +14
Feats: Ability Focus (Poison), Improved Initiative, Improved Critical (Tentacle), Multigrab, Darkstalker
Environment: Temperate Aquatic
Organization: Solitary
CR: 12
Treasure: None
Alignment: N
LA: -
*+20 Underwater
A slight disturbance in the water before catches your eye. For a moment, you strain your eyes to distinguish what you are seeing, before a huge tentacle wraps around you, slowly crushing the air from your lungs. A strange calm descends over you, as you realize that this is how it should be; this is how you will die.
Upoka are enormous and deadly predators of the ocean resembling jellyfish. They are often at least one hundred feet tall when outstretched, but despite their bulk are nearly invisible against the water. Despite their primitive appearance, however, they possess great intelligence, and pose a threat to even the strongest of creatures that finds itself in their territory.
Upoka feed by enveloping their prey in their tentacles, simultaneously crushing the life from them while poisoning them with a sedate dispensed through a number of small needles along their tentacles. They are not evil in any philosophical sense, but will nonetheless devour anything they see. Lacking a mouth, it will force its dead prey through the membrane covering its head, inside of which they are rapidly digested.
Upoka speak Aquan, and understand Common, Undercommon and Terran
Combat
Upoka often attempt to begin combat by sneaking up on their prey silently. Once within the maximum range of their tentacles, they will strike out at spellcasters and other weak creatures first, hoping to subdue the greatest threats first. Once these creatures are either drowning or dead, they'll begin eliminating other threats.. Should it be close to unconsciousness, or at below half its health, it will swiftly sink to depths normally unreachable by humanoids.
Poison (Ex) Any creature damaged by the Upoka's tentacles is automatically affected by it's natural poison.
{table=head]
Poison |
Type |
Initial Damage |
Secondary Damage
Upoka Poison | Injury DC 27 | 1d8 Str, 1d4 Wis | 1d8 Str, 1d4 Con
[/table]
Creatures must save against this poison each time they take damage from the Upoka's tentacles or constrict. They cannot, however, suffer its initial damage more than once per round.
Improved Grab (Ex) After successfully hitting with a tentacle, the Upoka may immediately start a grapple as a free action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity.
Crushing Force (Ex) The Upoka crushes the air from the lungs of its prey, hastening its death. Any creature being grappled by an Upoka is treated as spending four rounds without air for each round, and risks drowning accordingly.
Constrict (Ex) All creatures pinned by the Upoka automatically take 2d8+15 Bludgeoning damage at the beginning of its turn, and are affected by Poison.
Forceful Grasp (Su) The Upoka has developed a tenacious magic of its own to aid in the death of the adventurers and heroes who venture into its territory. Any Freedom of Movement spell active on a creature hit by the Upoka's tentacle is affected by a targeted Dispel Magic, Caster Level equal to the Upoka's HD.
Translucent (Ex) The Upoka is naturally difficult to spot underwater, and is all but invisible. While surrounded by water, the Upoka gains a +20 circumstance bonus to hide checks.
Regeneration (Ex) The Upoka's body naturally repairs at fantastic speed- so long as the cells of its body live, they will tenaciously repair any wound. All damage dealt to the Upoka is automatically converted to non-lethal damage, which is healed at a rate of 2 per round. Only cold is able to entirely kill the Upoka; all cold damage is instead dealt as lethal damage.
Blind (Ex) Lacking eyes or ears, an Upoka relies entirely upon its blindsense and sight to 'see.' It is immune to gaze attacks, and is unaffected by intense light, loud noise, or similar.
Skills An Upoka has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
Change Log
1.1- Added Skills section, Changed Sting to a poison, removed Sense Motive and replaced it with Move Silently, removed Blindsight and gave Blindsight 100 and Blindsense 500
1.2- Changed 'Sting' to 'Poison,' removed Digestion, reduced str by 6, and noted that Upoka are blind.
1.2.1 Removed Acid Immunity
1.3 Changed INA out for IC, added size modifier to attack, fixed several typos
Name: Upoka
Size/Type: Gargantuan Magical Beast (Aquatic)
Hit Die: 14d10+112 (189)
Initiative: +1 (-3 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative)
Speed: Swim 40 ft.
AC: 17 (-4 Size, -3 Dex, +14 Natural)
BAB/Grapple: +14/+38
Attack: Tentacle +22 Melee (2d6+12+Poison/19-20)
Full Attack: Four Tentacles +22 Melee (2d6+12+Poison/19-20)
Space/Reach: 20 ft./15 ft. (60 ft. with Tentacles)
Special Attacks: Poison, Improved Grab, Crushing Force, Constrict 2d6+12, Forceful Grasp
Special Qualities: Translucent, Regeneration 2/Cold, Blindsight 100, Blindsense 500, Blind
Saves: Fort +17, Ref +4, Will +7
Abilities: Str 34, Dex 4, Con 26, Int 17, Wis 16, Cha 3
Skills: Swim +37, Knowledge (Nature) +20, Knowledge (Geography) +20, Hide +2*, Move Silently +14
Feats: Ability Focus (Poison), Improved Initiative, Improved Critical (Tentacle), Multigrab, Darkstalker
Environment: Temperate Aquatic
Organization: Solitary
CR: 12
Treasure: None
Alignment: N
LA: -
*+20 Underwater
A slight disturbance in the water before catches your eye. For a moment, you strain your eyes to distinguish what you are seeing, before a huge tentacle wraps around you, slowly crushing the air from your lungs. A strange calm descends over you, as you realize that this is how it should be; this is how you will die.
Upoka are enormous and deadly predators of the ocean resembling jellyfish. They are often at least one hundred feet tall when outstretched, but despite their bulk are nearly invisible against the water. Despite their primitive appearance, however, they possess great intelligence, and pose a threat to even the strongest of creatures that finds itself in their territory.
Upoka feed by enveloping their prey in their tentacles, simultaneously crushing the life from them while poisoning them with a sedate dispensed through a number of small needles along their tentacles. They are not evil in any philosophical sense, but will nonetheless devour anything they see. Lacking a mouth, it will force its dead prey through the membrane covering its head, inside of which they are rapidly digested.
Upoka speak Aquan, and understand Common, Undercommon and Terran
Combat
Upoka often attempt to begin combat by sneaking up on their prey silently. Once within the maximum range of their tentacles, they will strike out at spellcasters and other weak creatures first, hoping to subdue the greatest threats first. Once these creatures are either drowning or dead, they'll begin eliminating other threats.. Should it be close to unconsciousness, or at below half its health, it will swiftly sink to depths normally unreachable by humanoids.
Poison (Ex) Any creature damaged by the Upoka's tentacles is automatically affected by it's natural poison.
{table=head]
Poison |
Type |
Initial Damage |
Secondary Damage
Upoka Poison | Injury DC 27 | 1d8 Str, 1d4 Wis | 1d8 Str, 1d4 Con
[/table]
Creatures must save against this poison each time they take damage from the Upoka's tentacles or constrict. They cannot, however, suffer its initial damage more than once per round.
Improved Grab (Ex) After successfully hitting with a tentacle, the Upoka may immediately start a grapple as a free action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity.
Crushing Force (Ex) The Upoka crushes the air from the lungs of its prey, hastening its death. Any creature being grappled by an Upoka is treated as spending four rounds without air for each round, and risks drowning accordingly.
Constrict (Ex) All creatures pinned by the Upoka automatically take 2d8+15 Bludgeoning damage at the beginning of its turn, and are affected by Poison.
Forceful Grasp (Su) The Upoka has developed a tenacious magic of its own to aid in the death of the adventurers and heroes who venture into its territory. Any Freedom of Movement spell active on a creature hit by the Upoka's tentacle is affected by a targeted Dispel Magic, Caster Level equal to the Upoka's HD.
Translucent (Ex) The Upoka is naturally difficult to spot underwater, and is all but invisible. While surrounded by water, the Upoka gains a +20 circumstance bonus to hide checks.
Regeneration (Ex) The Upoka's body naturally repairs at fantastic speed- so long as the cells of its body live, they will tenaciously repair any wound. All damage dealt to the Upoka is automatically converted to non-lethal damage, which is healed at a rate of 2 per round. Only cold is able to entirely kill the Upoka; all cold damage is instead dealt as lethal damage.
Blind (Ex) Lacking eyes or ears, an Upoka relies entirely upon its blindsense and sight to 'see.' It is immune to gaze attacks, and is unaffected by intense light, loud noise, or similar.
Skills An Upoka has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
Change Log
1.1- Added Skills section, Changed Sting to a poison, removed Sense Motive and replaced it with Move Silently, removed Blindsight and gave Blindsight 100 and Blindsense 500
1.2- Changed 'Sting' to 'Poison,' removed Digestion, reduced str by 6, and noted that Upoka are blind.
1.2.1 Removed Acid Immunity
1.3 Changed INA out for IC, added size modifier to attack, fixed several typos