Make a Toad a Killer

[Humble Master]

So here is a little challenge/experiment I came up with. Take a standard toad and turn it into the most powerful creature imaginable using nothing but templates who's total adjustment to the toad's CR does not exceed 20. Anything that is official 3.5 WoTC material is up for grabs.

For easy reference, here is the amazing, jaw dropping, OMG-DM-please-ban-this-OP-thing stats of the toad.


Size/Type: Diminutive Animal
Hit Dice: ¼ d8 (1 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 5 ft. (1 square)
Armor Class: 15 (+4 size, +1 Dex), touch 15, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-17
Attack: —
Full Attack: —
Space/Reach: 1 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Amphibious, low-light vision
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +2
Abilities: Str 1, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 1, Wis 14, Cha 4
Skills: Hide +21, Listen +4, Spot +4
Feats: Alertness
Environment: Temperate marshes
Organization: Swarm (10-100)
Challenge Rating: 1/10
Advancement: —
Level Adjustment: —

[elonin]

I'd say go with levels of psion (telepath).

[Humble Master]

I'd say go with levels of psion (telepath). Umm, that's a class not a template. Or did I make some huge stupid mistake?

[GoodbyeSoberDay]

I'm wondering how much of the Emerald Legion (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101587) you could use with toad as the base monster... At the very least you could probably get it immune to most forms of damage, and the offense could just be a mindflayer manifesting through the voidmind. But that may be against the intent.

[Calimehter]

Is "I'm the familiar of a 20th level Tier 1 caster" a template?

;)

Never mind, carry on with the (more) serious discussion.

[Rubik]

First, the titanic creature template. 25 HD and CR 13. Then Polymorph Any Object into a tree and Maximize/Empower Awaken it (for no CR adjustment). Then phrenic for CR 16.

Anyone have anything good to add for the extra +4? Any way to get T1 caster levels?

[One Step Two]

First, the titanic creature template. 25 HD and CR 13. Then Polymorph Any Object into a tree and Maximize/Empower Awaken it (for no CR adjustment). Then phrenic for CR 16.

Anyone have anything good to add for the extra +4? Any way to get T1 caster levels?

With +4 remaining, apply Woodling for +2 (MM3) and Monster of Legend for +2 (MM2) and gain silly amounts of immunities.

You can sprinkle Magebred on top for no increase to CR.

[Tim Proctor]

Chimeric MM206 Ti-Khana FF 178 Monster of Legend MM2 213 (Gains snake form) Elder Serpent DR313 p86 HD = 9 CR = 12

This gives them the ability to cast 5th level Cleric spells from the Protection, Strength, and War Domains.

Let it die... then make it a...

Spell Stitched CArc 162 Half-Illithid FF 90166 Shadow Creature MotP 190 Lich MM, CR = 19

Add another in for good measure.

This gives them access to level 6 sorcerer spells, huge intelligence, etc. I would take it against any none Tier 1 character level 20.

[Devronq]

Shouldn't you go paragon template (the epic.one) in there somewhere?

[Rubik]

Shouldn't you go paragon template (the epic.one) in there somewhere?And deal with +15 to the CR without any extra HD? No, thank you.

[Forrestfire]

How many half-dragon toads make a CR 20 encounter?

I have this mental image of a swamp full of toads that explode with fire once per day.

[Kuulvheysoon]

How many half-dragon toads make a CR 20 encounter?

I have this mental image of a swamp full of toads that explode with fire once per day.

Better yet, make them multi-headed and then give them the Dragon Breath feat - gives new meaning to the Fire Swamps. But I think that the dragon-toads ate all of the ROUSs...

[Captnq]

One day a Half-Fiendish Dragon got really drunk and saw this cute toad and with the help of some polymorph he got BIZ-ZAY!

Waking up the next morning, he immedately realized what he did, scooped up the toad, and dropped it in a bottomless pit. Alas, the bottomless pit had a bottom, and it landed in a Brain Pool where it laid its eggs. Said half-dragon/half-fiend toads were mutated by the elderbrain and crawled out as half-illithid. The Illithids were amused and experimented with summoning psudonatural versions of the critters. They seemed hungry, so they fed it parts of a troll they just kept hacking up for toad chow. Apparently eating so much troll mutated the little buggers. The Illithids were so impressed with these horrid critters they then turned them into guardian critters so they can watch over their city as hoping little armored toads of pure multi-tentacle horror from beyond the pale.


Corrupted, Horrid, Pseudonatural, Dire, Half-Fiendish/Dragon/Illithid/Troll Guardian Toad

Size/Type: Tiny Native Outsider Dragon
Hit Dice: 2d10+18 (29 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 20 ft. (4 square), Flight 20 ft (Avg)
Armor Class: 37 (+2 size, +3 Dex, +22 Natural), touch 15, flat-footed 34
Base Attack/Grapple: +11/+1
Attack: Claw 1d3+9 and 1d6 Acid
Full Attack: 4 Tentacle 1d4+9, 2 claw 1d4+9 and 1d6 acid, Rend 2d4+14
Space/Reach: 2 1/2 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Amphibious, low-light vision, Blindsense 60', Dark vision 120'
Saves: Fort +11, Ref +6, Will +8
Abilities: Str 28, Dex 16, Con 29, Int 10, Wis 20, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +16, Listen +16, Spot +16, Sense Motive +10, Climb: +14, Swim: +14, Profession (Security Guard) +10, Survival +10
Feats: Multiattack, Improved Natural Attack (All natural Attacks), Blind-Fighting
Environment: Underground, Arctic
Organization: Swarm (10 Max) or Cult (6-10 + 3-5 Mind Flayers)
Challenge Rating: 14
Advancement: Are you Mad???
Level Adjustment: 16
Alignment: Chaotic Evil.
Languages: Infernal

Attacks
A half-illithid loses its bite attack (if the base creature has one), but gains four tentacle attacks, in addition to the base creature’s attacks (except for a bite). A half-dragon has two claw attacks and a bite attack (Lost), and the claws are the primary natural weapon. It's primary weapon does an extra 1d6 points of acid damage on any successful attack.

POWERS
Mind Blast (Sp): A half-illithid can use this attack once per day. It is a cone 40 feet long. Anyone caught in this cone must succeed on a Will save (DC 13 + half-illithid’s Int modifier) or be stunned for 1d4 rounds.
Improved Grab (Ex): If a half-illithid hits an opponent that is its own size or smaller with a tentacle attack, it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it gets a hold, it attaches the tentacle to the opponent’s head. After a successful grab, the half-illithid can try to attach its remaining tentacles with a single grapple check. The opponent can escape with a single successful grapple check or Escape Artist check, but the half-illithid gets a +2 circumstance bonus for every tentacle that was attached at the beginning of the opponent’s turn.
Extract (Ex): A half-illithid that successfully maintains its hold with all four tentacles for 1 full round automatically extracts the opponent’s brain at the beginning of its next turn, instantly killing that creature.
Psionics (Sp): A half-illithid with Intelligence or Wisdom of 8 or higher (after the ability score adjustments noted below) gains psionic abilities. These abilities are as spells cast by an 8th-level sorcerer (save DC 13 + spell level). The table below lists the abilities available according to the Hit Dice of the half-illithid.
HD Psionic Abilities
1–2 Detect thoughts 3/day
Spell Resistance (Ex): A half-illithid has spell resistance equal to 10 + its HD. (12)
Telepathy (Su): A half-illithid can communicate with any creature within 100 feet that has a language.
True Strike (Su): Once per day, a pseudonatural creature can gain a +20 insight bonus on a single attack roll. In addition, the creature suffers no miss chance against a target that has concealment or total concealment when making this attack.
Alternate Form (Su): As a standard action, a pseudonatural creature can take the form of a grotesque, tentacled mass (or another appropriately gruesome form, as determined by the DM). Despite the alien appearance, its abilities remain unchanged. Other creatures receive a –1 morale penalty on their attack rolls against a pseudonatural creature when it is in this alternate form.
Breath Weapon (Ex): Gains a breath weapon based on the dragon variety (White), usable once per day. A half-dragon’s
breath weapon deals 6d8 points of damage. A successful Reflex
save (DC 10 + 1/2 half-dragon’s racial HD + half-dragon’s Con modifier) reduces damage by half. [30 foot cone of cold]
Low-Light (Ex): Gains low-light vision.
Skills: Gains skills as a Outsider equal to (8 + Int Modifier) x (3 + HD) = 40
Fast Healing (Ex): A half-troll heals 5 points of damage each round so long as it has at least 1 hit point. Fast healing does not restore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or suffocation, and it does not allow a half-troll to regrow or reattach lost body parts.
Scent (Ex): A half-troll can detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal to its HD (maximum of +20) against a good foe.
Spell-Like Abilities: A half-fiend with an Intelligence or Wisdom score of 8 or higher has spell-like abilities depending on its Hit Dice, as indicated on the table below. The abilities are cumulative; a half-fiend with 4 HD can use darkness as well as desecrate. Unless otherwise noted, an ability is usable once per day. Caster level equals the creature’s HD, and the save DC is Charisma-based.
HD Abilities
1–2 Darkness 3/day
Special Qualities: A half-fiend has all the special qualities of the base creature, plus the following special qualities.
—Immunity to poison.
—Resistance to acid 10, cold 10, electricity 10, and fire 10.
—Damage reduction: 5/magic (if HD 11 or less)
—A half-fiend’s natural weapons are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
Flight: A half-fiend has bat wings. Unless the base creature has a better fly speed, the creature can fly at the base creature’s base land speed (average maneuverability).
Special Qualities: Immunity to acid.
Illuminated Eyes (Ex): A guardian monster’s eyes glow strongly. While open, they illuminate a 60-foot-radius area around the monster.
Sleep Immunity: Guardian monsters do not need to sleep. They have immunity to magical sleep effects.
Mental Resistance: Guardian monsters have a +2 racial bonus on saves against mind-affecting spells or abilities.


Normally The CHPHFHDHIHTG Toad hides and depends on it's small size and amphibious nature to allow it to hide in almost any enviroment. Land, Sea, Air be it arctic cold or acidic pools, the CHPHFHDHIHTG Toad can hide anywhere. It does not move fast so it depends on enemies coming to it, using it's superior senses to get the drop on its enemies. If it thinks someone is close, it will use detect thoughts without hesitation to pin point an enemy.

It typically opens with a Mind Blast, hoping to drop on someone and eat the brain of a helpless victim. Failing that, or mass groupings of adventurers. It still opens with the mind blast, then Multiattacks hoping to just rip them into pieces, killing one at a time. It knows it's weakness is touch attack, considering most attacks just bounce right off it's massive natural armor, so it usually stands it's ground and gets right inside your square, trying to eat your brain by clawing it's way up through your stomach. It has been known to climb inside fallen foe's chests and take a round or two to enjoy some tasty internal organs before finishing off the rest of a party.

If the party can hit it, it typically then uses darkness and runs away. It may be a guardian, but it's chaotic nature makes it put it's own safety first. If cornered, it will try to spin a sob story, but they are horrible liars. They are much better at spotting lies then making them up. They will totally sell out their masters for a chance to save their own skins, but will betray you at first opportunity. If all else fails, they will breathe a cone of cold and fly away if possible, or go down fighting.

They love hanging out near acid to take advantage of their natural immunity. If given a choice, they like to float on the surface while mutated into psuedonatural form. With their wings spread out and all their eyes closed, they look like some sort of weird bubbling experiment and not a horrible mutated son of a toad (bleep)ing devil-dragon.

The toad does have one lawful trait, it likes filling out paperwork. It usually wants a clipboard and some parchment for it can constantly fill out charts and scheduals and check points for what it is guarding. It keeps all it's notes in the language of the lower planes, and also in "Security Guard Shorthand." You need to make a profession (Security Guard) check at DC 20 to figure out what all the notes mean. Typically the critter takes 10 to figure out his own notes. If you do make the check, you can easily figure out what's been going on in the area that the CHPHFHDHIHTG Toad patrols and other noteworthy information.

[Cirrylius]

I have this mental image of a swamp full of toads that explode with fire once per day.
Sounds like a Discworld swamp dragon to me :)

[Doorhandle]

So here is a little challenge/experiment I came up with. Take a standard toad and turn it into the most powerful creature imaginable using nothing but templates who's total adjustment to the toad's CR does not exceed 20. Anything that is official 3.5 WoTC material is up for grabs.

For easy reference, here is the amazing, jaw dropping, OMG-DM-please-ban-this-OP-thing stats of the toad.


Size/Type: Diminutive Animal
Hit Dice: ¼ d8 (1 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 5 ft. (1 square)
Armor Class: 15 (+4 size, +1 Dex), touch 15, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-17
Attack: —
Full Attack: —
Space/Reach: 1 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Amphibious, low-light vision
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +2
Abilities: Str 1, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 1, Wis 14, Cha 4
Skills: Hide +21, Listen +4, Spot +4
Feats: Alertness
Environment: Temperate marshes
Organization: Swarm (10-100)
Challenge Rating: 1/10
Advancement: —
Level Adjustment: —

Hmm... Can we apply one template multiple times/use pathfinder stuff?
Advanced template, 20 times, 80+ to all stats, massive A.C (even massive dodge bonus.)

Problem is, it would still only have one hitdie...

[georgie_leech]

Hmm... Can we apply one template multiple times/use pathfinder stuff?
Advanced template, 20 times, 80+ to all stats, massive A.C (even massive dodge bonus.)

Problem is, it would still only have one hitdie...

If a lucky commoner can kill it, it's not all that deadly.

[weckar]

Has mineral warrior been mentioned yet? I do believe a +1 CR is quite decent for a creature that can probably steamroll a party that isn't prepared for it...

I mean, a mineral toad, as is, is in theory a proper match for a level 1, 5 player party. Too bad they'll probably never even damage the thing until it gnaws their legs off.

[ben-zayb]

Voidmind is only CR+1 if I recall correctly. Saint is a CR+2 that can be great depending on HD or Wis. Unseelie Fey's winter court is CR+0, if you can pump its Cha.

[ShurikVch]

Dragon #289 have a Kaiju template.
Our toad will turn Colossal and gain +40 HD.
And it's only CR +15.
Unfortunately, this template cannot be applied to gargantuan creatures, so no Titanic Kaiju...

[ddude987]

Surprised to not see this pop up yet but the simbiote dread blossom swarm trick gives your toad +1 la for a permanent stun the plant type and 4 bonus feats iirc Here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=259833)

Edit: of couree it won't work unless you pump the size of your toad or the swarm up. I'm sure templates can do that or just simbiote toad and something else and then simbiote the new ubertoad and dread blossom swarm.

[mregecko]

Dragon #289 have a Kaiju template.
Our toad will turn Colossal and gain +40 HD.
And it's only CR +15.
Unfortunately, this template cannot be applied to gargantuan creatures, so no Titanic Kaiju...

Came here to say this.

[Vaz]

Toad swarm; Dark Speech, Hive Mind?

[Flickerdart]

Dragon #289 have a Kaiju template.
Our toad will turn Colossal and gain +40 HD.
And it's only CR +15.
Unfortunately, this template cannot be applied to gargantuan creatures, so no Titanic Kaiju...

PAO it into a Giant, spam Return to Nature.

[Ravens_cry]

Better yet, make them multi-headed and then give them the Dragon Breath feat - gives new meaning to the Fire Swamps. But I think that the dragon-toads ate all of the ROUSs...
No wonder no one thinks they exist.

[Rubik]

Dragon #289 have a Kaiju template.
Our toad will turn Colossal and gain +40 HD.
And it's only CR +15.
Unfortunately, this template cannot be applied to gargantuan creatures, so no Titanic Kaiju...You can't have a titanic kaiju toad anyway, since the CR is too high. We're limited to CR 20, remember?

Also, we should name him Magical (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au3-hk-pXsM) Trevor. (http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Trevor)

[kellbyb]

Well, we could always just give it 80 HD as per the guidelines for advancement in the back of Monster Manual.

[Kuulvheysoon]

No wonder no one thinks they exist.

You, friend, simply put, win.

[137beth]

Hmm... Can we apply one template multiple times/use pathfinder stuff?
Advanced template, 20 times, 80+ to all stats, massive A.C (even massive dodge bonus.)

Problem is, it would still only have one hitdie...

Someone suggested that on the Paizo boards at one point (actually they suggested adding 10 advanced templates to a rabbit) and kept claiming it was really powerful, because it would essentially negate....save-or-die spells:smallsigh:

By level 10, I'd be carrying around a wand of true strike (and some other 1st level spells) at all times (one-time cost of 750 gp, lasts most or all of your career, and awesome the few times you need it). So wand of true strike, plus pretty much any good spell with a ranged touch attack (enervation). Or wand of magic missile.
Or just any spell with a partial effect on a save.

If you're talking about advancing it all the way to CR 20, it's even worse. <Alignment> Word would instantly kill it, as would anything else that operates off of hit-dice. And by those levels anyone can easily have access at all times to at least a few low-level blast spells, even if they didn't prepare them (or even if they aren't a spellcaster at all), and plenty of blast spells do some damage on a save.

Also, it has no ranged attacks, and no flight, so any archer can shoot at it from far away/the air until you get a natural 20.

[Tim Proctor]

No, this could get really stupid with Skeleton and Zombie templates that remove CR from the creatures but keep them really really strong.

Titanic Monster of Legend Toad

Size/Type: Gargantuan / ‘Outsider (native)
Hit Dice: 25+325 d8 (437 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 5 ft. (1 square)
Armor Class: 35 (-4 size, -1 Dex, +25 Natural), touch 6, flat-footed 35
Base Attack/Grapple: +18 / +31
Attack: Bite +18 3d8+18
Full Attack: Slam +18 2d8+18 Bite +18 3d8+18
Space/Reach: 20 ft./15 ft.
Special Attacks: See Below
Special Qualities: Amphibious, low-light vision, Spell Resistance 10 + ½ HD, Damage Reduction 10 / magic
Saves: Fort +32, Ref +20, Will +22
Abilities: Str 47, Dex 8, Con 37, Int 3, Wis 16, Cha 6
Skills: Hide +21, Listen +4, Spot +4 + 28 skill points
Feats: Alertness, Great Fortitude, +9 more, I'd go for ubercharger feats after all Toad jump into combat/leap on people.
Challenge Rating: 20

Trample a creature of up to Huge-size.
Target takes 3d8 + 1 ½ Str modifier damage & may either a) take
an Attack of Opportunity with a –4 penalty or b) makes a Reflex
save of ½ damage (DC is 22 + Str modifier).

Spells: Casts spells a s a 5th level Cleric with Protection, Strength, & War Domain spells on its list.

If you now apply a Zombie template to the beat then note "If the base creature has more than 10 Hit Dice (not counting those gained with experience), it can’t be made into a zombie with the animate dead spell." but that doesn't mean other ways wouldn't work.

Titanic Monster of Legend Toad Zombie

Size/Type: Gargantuan / Undead
Hit Dice: 50 d12+3 (228 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 5 ft. (1 square)
Armor Class: 34 (-4 size, -2 Dex, +32 Natural), touch 5, flat-footed 42
Base Attack/Grapple: +18 / +31
Attack: Bite +19 3d8+19
Full Attack: Slam +19 2d8+19 Bite +19 3d8+19
Space/Reach: 20 ft./15 ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Amphibious, Darkvision, DR 5/slashing
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +27
Abilities: Str 49, Dex 6, Con -, Int -, Wis 10, Cha 1
Skills: -
Feats: -
Challenge Rating: 8 (its off the SRD charts but 8 seems appropriate with their system)

Damage Reduction (Ex)
A zombie has damage reduction 5/slashing. Zombies are lumbering masses of flesh.

Single Actions Only (Ex)
Zombies have poor reflexes and can perform only a single move action or attack action each round. A zombie can move up to its speed and attack in the same round, but only if it attempts a charge.

Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects).
Immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, stunning, disease, and death effects.

Not subject to critical hits, nonlethal damage, ability drain, or energy drain. Immune to damage to its physical ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution), as well as to fatigue and exhaustion effects.

From there you can go on and on with Spell stitched and such and get really crazy, and do stupid stuff. I'd either stick with the ubercharger toad or the spellcaster toad.

[Rubik]

How do bloodlines count for this, and can we use any way to nab spellcasting withough class levels?

[Forrestfire]

How many toads do you need to get Sorcerer 20 casting through dark speech?