Vote Up a Monster (3.X) #3: For a Few Votes More (Monster Complete, PEACH)

[Zeta Kai]

Vote Up a Monster (3.X) #3: For a Few Votes More

Vote Up a Monster (3.X) #1
#1 Monster: the Gatekeeper

Vote Up a Monster (3.X) #2
#2 Monster: the Deus ex Machina

Vote Up a Monster (4E) #1 by Shadow_Elf

Well, here we are again. I've been having a lot of fun with making these new monsters that, I had to start the next contest right away. I know I said I start this over the weekend, but you know me. I just can't wait to do another one of these.

The categories have changed slightly. I've broken up Type & Subtype, so you can vote for them separately now. Also, I've eliminated the Environment listing, as it is largely unnecessary; however it may become a "bonus" vote if it again becomes relevant.

I am, again, soliciting votes on a number of aspects on this next creature. Here are the aspects, in order:


Type: Ooze

{table=head]Type|Votes
Aberration|0
Animal|0
Construct|0
Dragon|6
Elemental|0
Fey|0
Giant|0
Humanoid|0
Magical Beast|0
Monstrous Humanoid|1
Ooze|7
Outsider|0
Plant|0
Undead|0
Vermin|2
[/table]
Subtype: Incorporeal & Swarm

{table=head]Subtype|Votes
Air|4
Aquatic|0
Augmented|0
Chaotic|0
Cold|0
Earth|0
Evil|0
Extraplanar|0
Fire|0
Good|0
Incorporeal|7
Lawful|0
Native|0
Shapechanger|2
Swarm|7
Water|0
NONE|0
[/table]
Size: Large

{table=head]Size|Votes
Fine|0
Diminutive|1
Tiny|0
Small|0
Medium|0
Large|10
Huge|3
Gargantuan|0
Colossal|8[/table]
Alignment: True Neutral

{table=head]Alignment|Votes|Alignment|Votes|Alignment|Votes
Lawful Good|1|Neutral Good|1|Chaotic Good|0
Lawful Neutral|0|True Neutral|14|Chaotic Neutral|0
Lawful Evil|0|Neutral Evil|1|Chaotic Evil|2
[/table]
Challenge Rating: 12

{table=head]CR|Votes
3|0
4|0
5|0
6|0
7|0
8|0
9|0
10|0
11|0
12|12
13|2
14|1
15|0
16|0
17|0
18|0
19|0
20|0
[/table]
Special Abilities: Ability Damage, Engulf, & Implant

{table=head]Special Ability|Votes
Ability Damage|9
Ability Drain|2
Alternate Form|0
Antimagic|3
Blindsight/Blindsense|1
Breath Weapon|0
Change Shape|0
Charm/Compulsion|2
Cold Immunity|0
Constrict|0
Damage Reduction|0
Darkvision|0
Death Attacks|0
Disease|0
Energy Drain/Negative Levels|0
Engulf|8
Etherealness|0
Evasion/Improved Evasion|0
Fast Healing|1
Fear Aura (Su)|0
Fear Cones (Sp)/Rays (Su)|0
Frightful Presence (Ex)|0
Fire Immunity|0
Gaseous Form|0
Gaze Attacks|0
Improved Grab|0
Incorporeality|1
Invisibility|0
Level Loss|0
Low-Light Vision|0
Manufactured Weapons|1
Movement Modes (Burrow/Climb/Fly/Swim)|0
Natural Weapons (Bite/Claw/Gore/etc)|0
Nonabilities|0
Paralysis|1
Poison|1
Polymorph|0
Pounce|0
Powerful Charge|0
Psionics|0
Rake|0
Rays|0
Regeneration|0
Resistance To Energy|0
Scent|0
Sonic Attacks|0
Spell Immunity|0
Spell Resistance|0
Spells/SLAs|0
Summon|0
Swallow Whole|0
Telepathy|0
Trample|1
Tremorsense|0
Turn Resistance|0
Vulnerability to Energy|0
Implant (NEW!)|10[/table]

All votes have been tallied. Voting is concluded at this point. The resultant creature, the Ectoplasmic Swarm has been posted. Thanks to everyone who voted.

[Adumbration]

Dragon. I want to see an unusual dragon.

[Xallace]

Count another one for Dragon.

[vegetalss4]

i join he dragon team

[afroakuma]

Dragon is a pretty clear runaway.

[Pronounceable]

What the? You people sound like there isn't enough dragons to go around!

Ooze I say...

[Lord_Gareth]

Dragon, definitely.

And I'm gonna vote for the Shapeshifter subtype later. You know you want to.

[Xallace]

Dragon, definitely.

And I'm gonna vote for the Shapeshifter subtype later. You know you want to.

I was hoping for Shapeshifter-Swarm, myself. But that's for later.

[afroakuma]

What is with you people and Swarms?

[Maroon]

I'm voting Monstrous Humanoid again, if you don't mind.

[Lord_Gareth]

I don't like swarms; they're complicated and annoying, not to mention kinda lame anyway.

[streakster]

One more for Monstrous Humanoid.

We've got enough dragons.

[darth pikachu]

I think I'm gonna have to go with a dragon. Athough a half dragon-half ooze would be cool (if not pretty screwed up.)

[Xallace]

What is with you people and Swarms?

I've never seen a Dragon [Swarm] creature, I thought it'd be neat.
Well, we'll see what happens when we get to that part of the voting.

[Lord_Gareth]

I voted for dragons because I think Zeta will end up making a unique dragon instead of the endless re-treads we've seen - that's also why I'm gonna vote for shapeshifter.

[MammonAzrael]

Well, it's pretty clear who the winner is going to be this round, but regardless I'm throwing my vote in for Ooze!

((Also Zeta, I'd like to thank you for the inspiration behind my Nessian Housecat. :smallsmile:))

[RTGoodman]

I don't like dragons - lets see a Vermin.

[Shadow_Elf]

Yay! I can vote! Ooze for me!

[Owrtho]

I'm going to vote ooze. There aren't enough unique ones.

Owrtho

[shadowxknight]

I'd say vermin.
There's not enough high CR vermin around :smallwink:

[arguskos]

Ooze! The world needs more Darkness-Given-Hunger style oozes!!

-argus

[Knaight]

Another vote for Ooze.

[streakster]

Changing my vote to Ooze from Monstrous Humanoid.

[Zeta Kai]

Alright, the votes are completely tallied, & the winner is:
Ooze!

So, the creature is going to be an Ooze. This already sounds like it's going to be an interesting one. So next, I need you guys (& girls) to vote on the creature's Subtype (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#subtypes). Votes will be tallied regularly. If you later decide to change your vote, please let me know that you are doing so, & what your original vote was. As always, please only vote for 1 subtype, thank you.

[Adumbration]

My vote is for an Ooze Shapechanger.

[afroakuma]

Zeta, I'm thinking this new Subtype thing is flawed. This would require us to choose an element/energy trait or an alignment or descriptor.

That said, if I can only, pick one, I'll give Air some love.

[Ascension]

ooze Swarm! Ooze Swarm!

I didn't capitalize it that way...:smallconfused:

[streakster]

Seconding Ooze Shapechanger

[Pronounceable]

Yes! Finally, we got an ooze!

For subtype; alignment ones get old after a while, anyone can slap them on anything. So I say we go with elemental: AIR.

[Kellus]

Incorporeal. Can't touch this!

[Shadow_Elf]

Please, no more Shapechangers (The Gatekeeper and 4e Vote Up were/are going to both be shapechangers)

I'm going with Air.

[shadowxknight]

Incorporeal...
Ghost Ooze!

[RTGoodman]

Please, no more Shapechangers (The Gatekeeper and 4e Vote Up were/are going to both be shapechangers)

Indeed.

I know it's not on that list, but how 'bout the Psionic subtype (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/monsters/overview.htm#thePsionicSubtype)?



If that's not cool, I'm gonna go with Swarm because swarms are awesome.

[vegetalss4]

psionic subtybe if thats OK
else swarm

[MammonAzrael]

I'm going to vote for Swarm! ^_^

Lets make these suckers as unusual as possible!

[Heliomance]

What happened to the Angel subtype? My vote goes there.

If that's not allowed, then swarm sounds most fun.

[afroakuma]

The rules changed, I'm afraid.

[Heliomance]

Sad face. The old rules were more fun.

[Knaight]

Incorporeal, just because it is awesome.

[insecure]

I'm also with swarm.

[Owrtho]

What happened to all the other subtypes? Well, I'll vote for reptilian, and if I can't do that, then incorpreal.

Owrtho

[Lyndworm]

I vote Air.

Zack

[arguskos]

OOZES!!! YAY!!!

Also, Ooze Swarm FOR THE WIN!!

-argus

[streakster]

Bah. If shapechanger can't win, then my allegiance shall change to Incorporeal.

[Xallace]

Let's hear it for Incorporeal!

[_Puppetmaster_]

I concur. Let's make it Incorporeal.

[Tuataralad]

Definitely swarm. A swarm of oozes is about as awesome as it gets.

[pondshadow]

I'll vote for shapechanger, wereooze FTW!

[afroakuma]

Again, what is with the swarm? There's already an ooze swarm. Heck, the published monster manuals for 3.5 had far too many swarms for my liking. I am thins close to changing my vote just to kill the Swarm votes once and for all, but I doubt it will work.

[Zeta Kai]

I'm sorry, everyone, about the new rules for voting, but I feel that it will improve the end product. Not all creatures have subtypes, & subtypes don't automatically make for an interesting creature, but voting for NONE is rarely an appealing option. This is why I'm limiting the votes to only 1 subtype. In case of a tie, I'd be fair & include both subtypes.

As for the removal of certain subtypes, that's something that should've been done in the first 2 VUAM contests. Some subtypes just don't make sense with all types, like a Goblinoid Ooze (Goblin Goo? WTF?), so they've been removed. The Deus ex Machina was pretty cool, IMHO, but there were complaints about it being against the rules. For fair results, I'm eliminating the possibilities that would cause major conflicts. If counter-complaints continue, I may allow non-standard sub-types. Judging from the cruelty being displayed over at the VUAM 4E thread, I think that it's for the best.

Lastly, I'm not terribly familiar with psionics (I've read XPH, but its been awhile), & they're not, strictly speaking, core material, so I didn't include them. I may add psionics to a future VUAM, but for now, they're not in.

BTW, all votes are tallied.

[Xallace]

Again, what is with the swarm? There's already an ooze swarm.

Is there? I have never heard of this creature.

[streakster]

Goblin Goo? WTF?

Best. Monster. EVAR.

[Knaight]

Plus an ooze should be able to break apart anyways, meaning that the swarm subtype could be put under a special sort of splitting ability anyways, so incorporeal makes this more interesting.

[_Puppetmaster_]

Is there? I have never heard of this creature.

Bloodbloater

http://www.iwozhere.com/SRD/images/50178.jpg

[Xallace]

Bloodbloater

http://www.iwozhere.com/SRD/images/50178.jpg

Huh, I remember that picture, but I do not remember the monster. Pray tell, what book is it?

And I agree with Knaight's sentiment.

[_Puppetmaster_]

It's in the Fiend Folio.

[Xallace]

Aha! Fiend Folio indeed, one book I never had. Thanks, that would have been bugging me to figure it out.

[_Puppetmaster_]

I had nightmares when I first saw that picture.

[Ascension]

Hey, if no one else votes we'll have a tie and we can have an Incorporeal Ooze Swarm. I betcha that bloodbloater ain't ghostly!

[Zeta Kai]

Alright, the votes are completely tallied, & it IS a tie! The winner is:
Ooze (Incorporeal, Swarm)!

So, the creature is going to be an Ooze, with the Incorporeal & Swarm subtypes. You guys are so cruel. So next, I need you guys (& girls) to vote on the creature's Size (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/movementPositionAndDistance.htm#bigandLittleCreatu resInCombat). Votes will be tallied regularly. If you later decide to change your vote, please let me know that you are doing so, & what your original vote was. Please only vote for 1 size, thank you.

[Xallace]

Neato! Wait, since it's a swarm, do we vote twice? For how big the creature is as a whole in addition to how big it is individually? If I recall, the size of each individual creature plays an important role in its abilities.

But if not, I say Large.

[afroakuma]

Large swarm of Diminutive creatures.

And I never want to see the word Swarm from any of you after this one's done. /running gag

[Zeta Kai]

For the record, I'm asking for the swarm's total size. The creatures' individual size is assumed to be ~3 categories smaller. And yeah, I'm already hoping that this will sate everyone's desire for swarms. I knew that I'd have to do one eventually.

[Xallace]

Thanks for the clarification!

And yeah, I think an incorporeal ooze swarm will keep people sated for a while. It will for me, one's enough.

[pondshadow]

I'll say huge incorperal ooze swarm

[Adumbration]

Huge seconded. I can think of almost no swarms that big. Nor incorporeal ooze swarms.

All the ghosts of the oozes you've slain are returning... As a swarm!

[Shadow_Elf]

If we vote for the swarm as a whole to be Diminutive, what are the individual sizes going to be?
However, to repay you for your not-cruel voting over at the 4e thread, I'll vote for Large

[Shades of Gray]

How about the creature is a curse from the gods. After an evil person dies by a swarm and comes back as a ghost, ghost swarms attack them until they fade from existence.

[Pronounceable]

I'd vote collosal, but that'd be overkill... Bah, why not? Collosal

[streakster]

I'd vote collosal, but that'd be overkill... Bah, why not? Collosal

I see your colossal, and raise you...crap. OK, one more for Colossal.

[Virgo]

Colossal

"That's no lake, it's a... well, I have no idea what that it!"

[RTGoodman]

I'm gonna at least give you a little slack, Zeta, and throw in another vote for Large. :smalltongue:

[shadowxknight]

Colossal.

This is going to be...interesting to say the least.

[afroakuma]

That would mean Large swarmlets... I think that may be defeating the purpose. Just a bit.


I see your colossal, and raise you...crap.

ELH: Colossal+

[Knaight]

Large swarm.

[Mr.Bookworm]

Colossal.

If Colossal/other ridiculous size gets the vote, Zeta Kai, do you think you could also stat up an individual?

[_Puppetmaster_]

Colossal.


...

[arguskos]

"I am mighty, I am COLOSSUS!"

Sorry, Colossal gets my vote.

-argus

[Ascension]

Huge. Colossal is just a wee bit too big.

Ectoplasm swarm, perhaps? I'm thinking ectoplasm would fit the "incorporeal ooze" criteria...

[Owrtho]

collosal

Owrtho

[afroakuma]

If it's Colossal he's going to have to. Those are Large, Medium at best individually.

This better be the sum total of a lot of silliness, guys and gals.

[paddyfool]

Since I was cruel visavis size on the other thread, on this one I'll be kind, and vote for Large.

[Kellus]

Let's not be too mean. I vote for Large.

[MammonAzrael]

I don't want the individual creatures to by too large, so my vote will be for Large.

[Heliomance]

Diminuitive

[Colt]

Large, it just would be more usable.

[Magnor Criol]

Incorporeal and swarm? Man, this thing's gonna be impossible to kill. =p

I vote for Large, too. Colossal seems a couple steps too far...though it would be kinda funny.

[Heliomance]

Course, the most deadly monster ever would be a swarm of Fine iron golems. Swarm+fine means they're immune to physical damage, iron golem means they're immune to magic.

[Owrtho]

I don't see why it can't be a colossal swarm with fine or diminutive components. After all, who doesn't wanna see something like:
DM:After traveling through the fog X distance you are attacked *sets up board for encounter*
Player: Um, where's the monster's piece?
DM: Oh right *puts label on board*

Owrtho

[Zeta Kai]

Alright, the votes for Size are tallied, & the winner is: Large!

So, the creature is going to be an Ooze, with the Incorporeal & Swarm subtypes. It's Size is going to be Large. This sounds like it's going to be a very interesting one. So next, I need you guys (& girls) to vote on the creature's Alignment (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/description.htm#theNineAlignments). Votes will be tallied regularly. If you later decide to change your vote, please let me know that you are doing so, & what your original vote was. Please only vote for only 1 alignment, & please don't debate alignments, thank you. Also remember that most oozes are non-intelligent (INT--), & therefore are True Neutral.

[afroakuma]

It's an Ooze made up of smaller Oozes, that don't physically exist. That thing's too brain-dead to have an alignment. True Neutral

[Mr.Bookworm]

Lawful Good.

You know it's awesome.

[Owrtho]

I'll go with chaotic evil, cuz it's fun.

Owrtho

[Lord_Gareth]

True Nuetral

[Magnor Criol]

True Neutral, definitely. Having this incorporeal swarm be mindless & emotionless as well adds a nice degree of creepiness.


Course, the most deadly monster ever would be a swarm of Fine iron golems. Swarm+fine means they're immune to physical damage, iron golem means they're immune to magic.

Plus, one of the few things that can damage Fine or Diminutive creature-based swarms - a torch or lantern swung around - actually heals them...

Argh. That's just nightmarish.

[Lord_Gareth]

And that is why I always have at least one Bag of Holding on hand to turn inside-out; my party will live even if I do not!

[Ascension]

I'd like to say lawful good and make them the oozified ghosts of the unjustly slain, but that'd be a little bit too silly even for a competition that's birthed a cathedral that turns into a giant killer worm and a robot angel.

True Neutral.

[afroakuma]

What, like a Caller in Lightness?

[MammonAzrael]

True Neutral

Having it be mindless will be far creepier than having it be intelligent.

[Ascension]

What, like a Caller in Lightness?

I've never heard of a Caller in Lightness, but I doubt it's both an ooze and a swarm.

I can see an LG ooze, I can see an LG swarm, it's an LG ooze-swarm I have a problem with.

[afroakuma]

Joke... Caller in Darkness is an aggregate of evil spirits, making an oozelike undead. It's neither an ooze nor a swarm, but is essentially a swarm of evil ghosts stuck into an ooze. And psionic.

hence the bad pun.

[streakster]

True Neutral

Goin' with the flow.

Though seriously, we need to make an evil monster sometime...

[Pronounceable]

Yeah, we really should've voted something evil by now. CE

[RTGoodman]

I'm going with True Neutral, too.

[Shadow_Elf]

I'm going to make this easy and say True Neutral

[kopout]

No brain, no nerve system at all ,True Neutral

[Heliomance]

Lawful Chaotic. Srsly.

[shadowxknight]

True Neutral

It's dominating the vote already so why not :smallsigh:

[afroakuma]

@ Heliomance: Is that a TN then?

[_Puppetmaster_]

True Neutral.

[pondshadow]

Mindless, invisible, and a swarm!
definitely True Neutral

[Zeta Kai]

Lawful Chaotic. Srsly.

Unfortunately, that is an invalid choice, & therefore cannot be tallied. You may vote for a valid choice, if you wish.

All other votes are tallied. Thank you all for your benevolent voting. You will be rewarded with a good monster, if I'm up to the task of crafting an incorporeal ooze-swarm. Wish me luck.

Voting will continue on this aspect until tomorrow morning.

[Fako]

I vote for True Neutral as well.

[afroakuma]

Thank you all for your benevolent voting.

That's like, "Thanks for not setting my ankle on fire along with the rest of me." Barn. Closed door. Lateness thereof.

[Ascension]

That's like, "Thanks for not setting my ankle on fire along with the rest of me." Barn. Closed door. Lateness thereof.

But aren't interesting monsters the whole point of this exercise?

[afroakuma]

Sure. But that blasted Swarm subtype...

[streakster]

Sure. But that blasted Swarm subtype...

Don't worry, Afro. Surely this will satisfy them, and no one will vote for it ever again.

Though a succubi swarm would be worth voting up...

[afroakuma]

Well if they do, I'll have a Large Incorporeal Ooze Swarm to remove them.

[Ascension]

I don't get the vitriol. It's not like either of the previous monsters have been swarms. Why begrudge us swarm-fans even one swarm?

[Magnor Criol]

I don't get the vitriol. It's not like either of the previous monsters have been swarms. Why begrudge us swarm-fans even one swarm?

Because they're swarms. [Indiana Jones] I hate swarms. Why did it have to be swarms? [/Indiana Jones]

In seriousness, I really just don't like swarms. The concept's understandable, but they're mechanically difficult, they're damnably difficult - particularly at lower levels, and they're confusing - some of the rules just plain don't make sense.

Swarms have been the result of two of the three of the near-TPKs I've ever had in the games I've played. They're frustrating; they made the entire party feel so useless and doomed, and I think we only survived thanks to DM fudging. The other, non-swarm near-TPK was actually somewhat satisfying, even as we were losing, because at least we were losing a struggle; the swarms were just killing us, with no chance of even a struggle on our part.

tl;dr I hate swarms, and so can you. The end.

[streakster]

I don't get the vitriol. It's not like either of the previous monsters have been swarms. Why begrudge us swarm-fans even one swarm?

It is solely humorous! It is a joke! A hilarious thread-derailing! Do not worry your tiny head about it!

Durn Swarm Lovers, votin' for swarms, little buzzy nonsense, back in my day "monster" was singular, none of this swarm nonsense, GIT OFFA MAH PROPITTY, stinkin' swarms, just too lazy to make one thousand Dimunitive monsters is all, razzafrazzin'....

[afroakuma]

Magnor got some of it, but for me it was this:

(I hope I'm allowed to do this)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_W2BfQMQ1JYk/SP05wAF0kUI/AAAAAAAAAAU/-wv7hih_zUA/s400/Swarms.png

Swarmed by them. Aberration, Animal, Construct, Elemental, Fey, Magical Beast, Ooze, Outsider, Plant, Vermin. They're all there. There are a lot of them. That was just the MMs and the Fiend Folio. There are far more than I need. Far more than I will ever use. They bore me. I have well enough. The only ones missing are Dragon, Giant, Humanoid, Monstrous Humanoid and Undead. I don't need them.

[Colt]

neutral good would be fun.

[Kellus]

True Neutral is only sensible for this.

[Adumbration]

Neutral Evil is my vote.

[Ascension]

Magnor got some of it, but for me it was this:

(I hope I'm allowed to do this)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_W2BfQMQ1JYk/SP05wAF0kUI/AAAAAAAAAAU/-wv7hih_zUA/s400/Swarms.png

Swarmed by them. Aberration, Animal, Construct, Elemental, Fey, Magical Beast, Ooze, Outsider, Plant, Vermin. They're all there. There are a lot of them. That was just the MMs and the Fiend Folio. There are far more than I need. Far more than I will ever use. They bore me. I have well enough. The only ones missing are Dragon, Giant, Humanoid, Monstrous Humanoid and Undead. I don't need them.

See, it looks to me like the bulk of those are in the Fiend Folio and MMII, so I never had any clue any of them existed. Not everybody has every book, y'know. I can safely say that I voted swarm without the knowledge that there are, in fact, a pretty good number of them.

[afroakuma]

See, it looks to me like the bulk of those are in the Fiend Folio and MMII, so I never had any clue any of them existed. Not everybody has every book, y'know.

Of course, but again, it's a matter of personal taste. Or distaste, if you prefer. I find no use for the ones in the MM, and I have all of these others taking up room.

[Zeta Kai]

Alright, the votes for Alignment are tallied, & the winner is (by a landslide): True Neutral!

So, the creature is going to be an Ooze, with the Incorporeal & Swarm subtypes. It's Size is going to be Large. It's Alignment is good to be True Neutral. This sounds like it's going to be a very, very interesting critter. So next, I need you guys (& girls) to vote on the creature's Challenge Rating (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/intro.htm#challengeRating). Votes will be tallied regularly. If you later decide to change your vote, please let me know that you are doing so, & what your original vote was. Please only vote for only 1 CR, & please don't vote for epic CR's (IE, CR>20) or CR's lower than 3 (the creature is an incorporeal Ooze swarm, after all), thank you.

[Lord_Gareth]

CR 12, folks!

[streakster]

CR 12, folks!

Sure. CR 12

[Xallace]

Yeah, why not? CR12!

[Ascension]

CR 12 is a number I can get behind.

[Pronounceable]

The bandwagonary is alarming...

I say 14.

[streakster]

The bandwagonary is alarming...

I say 14.

Heretic! Shun the nonbeliever!

[Lord_Gareth]

It isn't necessarily bandwagoning, cnsvnc. The idea of a vote is to submit many ideas and see what one comes out on top; in this case, people thought 12 would be a good CR.

[Fako]

I vote CR 12, as I believe in the bandwagon :smallbiggrin:


Heretic! Shun the nonbeliever!

Shun the nonbeliever! Shuuuun!

[Adumbration]

CR 12 sounds good. Not too high, not too low.

[afroakuma]

High for a swarm and high for an ooze. But why not? A top-tier ooze swarm.

CR 12 it is.

[RTGoodman]

I'm not even jumping on the bandwagon - I was planning on CR 12 anyway! It's a nice, round number for an ooze swarm monstrosity.

[Owrtho]

I'll say CR 13, let it be a nice unlucky number for the PCs.

Owrtho

[vegetalss4]

the 12 train is getting ready anyone who want to join enter for FREE in band wagon number 12.

can you guess what i vote for:smallwink:

twelve in chase the answers "no"

[Mr.Bookworm]

I would love to make it CR 3, but there's no chance of that getting by.

So, I'll go with CR 12.

[kopout]

Cr 12 you cant realy hit it or do anything to kill it. it just keeps coming and is mindles

[_Puppetmaster_]

CR 12White Text

[pondshadow]

What's with CR 12 bandwagning? Is it just because people are too lazy? I'll go with orwitho and do CR 13

[Shadow_Elf]

I'd vote for CR 13 also, but as CR 12 is doubtlessly going to win by a land slide, and there isn't much difference, CR 12 it is.
I love being able to vote, even if I can't use the wonderful resultant creatures.

[Owrtho]

Thats flawed thinking. Just vote for what you want and ignor what is already leading. I'd say 12 being ahead is all the more reason to vote for something else.

Owrtho

[Zeta Kai]

Alright, the votes for Challenge Rating are tallied, & the winner is: 12!

So, the creature is going to be an Ooze, with the Incorporeal & Swarm subtypes. It's Size is going to be Large. It's Alignment is going to be True Neutral. It's CR is going to be 12. This sounds like it's going to be a crazy interesting critter. So lastly, I need you guys (& girls) to vote on the creature's Special Abilities (http://www.d20srd.org/indexes/specialAbilities.htm). Votes will be tallied regularly. If you later decide to change your vote, please let me know that you are doing so, & what your original vote was. Please only vote for 2 Special Abilities maximum, thank you.

[afroakuma]

Ability Damage and a gelatinous cube's Engulf ability.

If Engulf is forbidden then I'll take Constrict.

[Owrtho]

I'll go for Antimagic and Invisibility.

Owrtho

[_Puppetmaster_]

Engulf and Ability Damage

[Keler]

Paralysis and Ability Damage

[Knaight]

Paralyzing Touch, and Fast Healing.

[streakster]

Manufactured Weapons and Charm/Compulsion

[Knaight]

Actually are we allowed to make up new abilities for this guy? Since if we are, I change my vote to:
Implant: The ooze can fire off little oozes into a target. Each little ooze costs 3 hit points, and no more than 4 can be shot simultaneously. This is a ranged attack, if it hits an ooze is embedded in the target. All the implants can be activated simultaneously, at which point all the little oozes in a target turn corporeal instantaneously, forcing a fortitude save of 10+half hd+charisma for each embedded little ooze. On a failure the ooze does 1d4 constitution damage, and 1d10 normal damage as it gets pulled back out of the body towards the main ooze.

My original vote was Paralyzing Touch and Fast Healing. Fast Healing Stays.

[afroakuma]

Oh, not again. Two of them?


Manufactured Weapons

:smalleek:

It's an ooze! And it's incorporeal! What... brains... gahh...

[streakster]

Oh, not again. Two of them?



:smalleek:

It's an ooze! And it's incorporeal! What... brains... gahh...

That's the reaction I was going for!

Seriously, you know its awesome.

(My second vote was gonna be trample but I couldn't bring myself to do it...)

[Lord_Gareth]

Engulf and Manufactured Weapons.

[afroakuma]

Ouch. There they are again.

Zeta, this is the single silliest iteration of this contest ever. First it was the Swarm, then the attempted Colossal and now this.

This had better be the awesomest thingy ever.

[Mr.Bookworm]

Antimagic and Manufactured Weapons.

[Lord_Gareth]

Just remember Afro, those manufactured weapons could be anything. As a matter of fact, the ooze could be a semi-sentient collection of the half-spirits of near-sentient weapons - an ooze made of the ghosts of broken magical weapons.

And how cool would THAT be?

[Fako]

Manufactured Weapons and Implant... the combination screams 'WIN!'! :smallbiggrin:

[afroakuma]

an ooze made of the ghosts of broken magical weapons.

What, an undead Shrapnyl?

[Zeta Kai]

Yeah, Streakster's voting record has been... interesting, to be sure. But, hey, people vote for Nader year after year, so I say "To each his own."

As for Engulf, that is an acceptable ability, & has been added to the list of votable options. Thank you, Afro, for the suggestion.

Knaight, your original abilities have been added to the list. Those look good.

All votes are tallied.

[Lord_Gareth]

Shrapnyls are made of fully functional metallic items that have gained collective awareness; I'm talking about the ghost of a +1 sword that was starting to develop empathy, or a half-corrupted Holy Avenger that was snapped in half; things that were, by nature, unintelligent, but were getting there.

[afroakuma]

So... baby Shrapnyl ghosts.

Edit: And you're welcome for the Engulf. I felt an ooze should have the option, at least.

[Owrtho]

but being an ooze would mean it would likely need to have been melted down...
Also, I'm changing my vote for invisibility to implant (so it would be antimagic & implant)

Owrtho

[Lord_Gareth]

Bah, you don't get it, Afro.

@Owr - Au contraire - look at the Bone Ooze. Plus, y'know, the incoporeality can help make it more ooze-y

[afroakuma]

Bah, you don't get it, Afro.

Sure I do! :smallbiggrin: I am messing with you. It's fun.

And he's right, they certainly wouldn't have to be melted down. Even a gelatinous cube is ... somewhat ... solid.

[Zeta Kai]

Zeta, this is the single silliest iteration of this contest ever. First it was the Swarm, then the attempted Colossal and now this.

This had better be the awesomest thingy ever.

I go where the votes take me. If I didn't want to be surprised, I wouldn't make it an open contest. The resultant monster will only be as good as I can make it.

[Lord_Gareth]

Everyone, VOTE FOR MANUFACTURED WEAPONS! Make the bladed blob! Do it do it do it do it!

[Pronounceable]

Manufactured weapons because the name Bladed Blob is awesome. Bladed is a cozy, likeable word and "Bladed X" is a always winning combination. I want it.

Also, can we add trample? For hot ooze on PCs action...

[afroakuma]

Firstly: Engulf would accomplish that... disturbing... image.

Secondly, it's not hot, it's incorporeal. :smalltongue:

[Kellus]

Antimagic and Engulf.

[Xallace]

I'm gonna say Charm/Compulsion and Ability Damage.

[Juhn]

Assuming I can get in on this, I'm going to vote for the two newly-created abilities. I like the idea of implant, especially for an ooze swarm, and corporeal flicker is more or less necessary for implant to actually do anything. Unless, of course, the implanted oozes are wielding tiny manufactured weapons as they enter, but that kind of defeats the purpose of the monster being incorporeal.

I'm assuming that as a swarm it gets distraction automatically?

Being engulfed by a swarm of oozes would quite rightly cause the nausea associated with distraction, so one of my votes may change. Unfortunately implant for this creature seems tied to corporeal flicker in order for it to actually do something.

[afroakuma]

I would reccomend that the two "new" abilities suggested be melded into one; otherwise they take up both voting slots to function together.

[RTGoodman]

Anti-magic is just TOO mean to use for an incorporeal ooze. I'm gonna go with Ability Damage and Engulf.

[afroakuma]

Well, with antimagic it would likely transcend its CR, since it's also a swarm.

Psionic ooze-killing ftw?

[kopout]

Blind sight and Manufactured weapons it needs blind sight because it has no eyes and manufactured weapons is just cool. :smallbiggrin: especily if the weapons are crossbows with unlimited ammo

[Owrtho]

looking back at it, cr should be the last thing voted for. Otherwise it could to easily be seen as a limit on the special abilities.

Owrtho

[Ascension]

Engulf and Ability Damage.

[afroakuma]

looking back at it, cr should be the last thing voted for. Otherwise it could to easily be seen as a limit on the special abilities.

Generally I disagree - but in this instance, the combination of Incorporeal, Ooze and Swarm means it's already too hard to kill without stacking Antimagic on it.

[Shadow_Elf]

Has anyone here played MP3 Corruption? In the Xenolad, at the part with the creepy music, and the gelatinous Metroids phasing through the wall...

I'd like it to have Phasing and Ability Drain. Phasing just lets it go thru walls and stuff + displacer beast's style displacement. Ghost ooze that can go thru walls and go out of phaze to dodge attacks...

Good luck Zeta.

[arguskos]

Impant and Manufactured Weapons. Because I want to see an ooze that fires mini-oozes that each have their own swords!

-argus

[Reptilius]

Poison and Ability Damage. Ooze Swarm makes me think "germs," and the incorporeality would make for an interesting poison (victim slowly fades from reality?)

[Zeta Kai]

Okay, I'm going to beg those that voted for Manufactured Weapons to change their votes. These are people that I am imploring:

Streakster
Lord Gareth
Mr. Bookworm
Fako
Kopout
Arguskos

I've been racking my brain trying to think of a way to pull it off, & I'm at a loss. This monster is at risk of being very, very stupid. I tried to be impartial, but I have to say something. I'm not fishing for suggestions (far from it). I'm merely asking once that those who made that choice please un-make it. If you decide not too, then I will do what I can with what I have. Thank you.

[Mr.Bookworm]

Sure.

Ability Damage to replace Manufactured Weapons.

[Knaight]

So have implant and corporeal flicker been merged then, since its kind of necessary?

[afroakuma]

Knaight, I'd say if you stripped the bold tags, nobody would even notice.

[Knaight]

Probably, but they are both on the table, and corporeal flicker has two votes. Although if we just added the two of them together...it would tie with manufactured weapons, and be extremely interesting. The ooze crawls up, splits up into a floating swarm, fires off a bunch of oozlets, which then burst out, as they form a sword and cut their enemy in half. Of course to do this we need more votes for implant/corporeal flicker.

Actually we need that for the firing of little oozes into enemies with crossbows too, and without merging them its not going to happen.

[Fako]

I'd hate to have my vote ruin an attempt at a monster...I'll gladly change my vote from Manufactured Weapons to Ability Drain.

[Knaight]

Hmm, implant and ability drain. As in stick in implants, which then drain abilities, at which point people start stabbing themselves with torches to kill the little implants as they siphon life away. I like your vote Fako, this could be interesting.

[afroakuma]

Knaight, did you miss the part where manufactured weapons is very much off the table?

[Knaight]

"If you decide not to, then I will do what I can with what I have."
Its still an option, and still on the table on page 1, as are both implant and corporeal flicker, which seriously need to be merged. Although I'm personally hoping for implant and ability drain, just because that could be really awesome.

[afroakuma]

Pretty sure that meant that he would just ignore those votes.

[streakster]

Zeta, you don't need to beg or implore. This is your show, after all. I did it solely for the fun value, and to see if something awesome would happen. If it's a problem, it's gone.

Consider my earlier vote for Manufactured Weapons to now be a vote for Implant.

[Xallace]

When I saw Manufactured Weapons, I got the image of this big blob of ectoplasm scrounging battlefields and absorbing weaponry; only to spit them back out at high velocity at unsuspecting adventurers! Little bits of the blobby swarm go along for the ride, make an attack or two by spinning the flying weapon, then floating on back to the whole with their mission accomplished.

A full-attack action was a maelstrom of ectoplasm-covered weapons like death.
I guess that won't be happening, though.

EDIT: Typing that up made the image seem cuter to me than it was initially, primarily because I heard the little blobs scream "FOR THE MOTHER BLOB!" in high-pitched voices.

[arguskos]

Eh, I was sorta envisioning the same thing as Xallace, but sure thing Zeta.

Change Manufactured Weapons to... uh... Ability Damage. (Not something I like, really, but it'll win, so meh.)

-argus

[afroakuma]

Um, argus, did you mean Ability Drain or Ability Damage? Damage is leading.

I wonder if people not knowing the distinction has skewed the voting. :smalleek:

[arguskos]

Ah. I misread! Post Edited! This is why we keep you around afroakuma, you make the smart suggestions. :smallbiggrin:

-argus

[afroakuma]

It's... er... great to know that my existence relies wholly on my creativity. :smalleek:

[Zeta Kai]

Thank you all for your sanity. Voting will continue until tomorrow morning.

BTW, Manufactured Weapons is officially off the table & Implant/Corporeal Flicker has been merged. Enjoy.

[Knaight]

Alright. If implant/corporeal flicker and ability drain are close(right now its 9 to 7) is there any chance the monster could have both, or some combination(implants do ability drain)?

[afroakuma]

Now that sanity has been restored, let's just remind everyone:

If you voted for Manufactured Weapons, you now have an extra vote. Cast it wisely.

If you voted for both of Implant and Corporeal Flicker, you now have an extra vote. Cast it wisely.

If you voted for Ability Damage, you have voted for temporary ability damage that returns at a rate of 1/day and can be healed with lesser restoration.

If you voted for Ability Drain, you have voted for permanent ability damage that may allow a Fortitude save and may impart temporary hit points to the draining creature. Only restoration or equivalent can restore this damage.

And Knaight: You get two votes.

[arguskos]

It's... er... great to know that my existence relies wholly on my creativity. :smalleek:
Joke. That was a joke. *sigh* Humor clearly doesn't translate into Canadian well. :smalltongue:

Also, Zeta, I'd still like to see whatever you can come up with that involves oozes and manufactured weapons. I believe in you! :smallbiggrin:

-argus

[Knaight]

Yeah, I merged them together, and the wording is slightly changed to merge more seamlessly. Its the same thing though. By the way I brought back fast healing for my other vote, which I mentioned in the edited post.

[afroakuma]

Joke. That was a joke. *sigh* Humor clearly doesn't translate into Canadian well.

Oh, we know jokes. We import jokes and export wry observational sarcasm.

[Knaight]

Also, Zeta, I'd still like to see whatever you can come up with that involves oozes and manufactured weapons. I believe in you! :smallbiggrin:


Honestly that wouldn't be that hard, the ooze would just have to be able to harden parts of its body into weapon shapes, and then fire it out. Incorporeal keeps this so that it is still fairly easy, at which point swarm complicates things.

[arguskos]

Oh, we know jokes. We import jokes and export wry observational sarcasm.
So, could I be imported under the heading: "Humanoid Joke Machine"? :smallwink:

-argus

[afroakuma]

Those we export. You'll be aware of some run-down ones... Mike Myers, for instance. We apologize for any inconvenience, but the warranty on said machine has expired.

And those are the only humanoid machines we export. You want a Canadian girl, you come get one and stay for the beer.

[Ascension]

I'd like to change my vote for Ability Damage into a vote for Implant. Engulf stays.

[arguskos]

Those we export. You'll be aware of some run-down ones... Mike Myers, for instance. We apologize for any inconvenience, but the warranty on said machine has expired.

And those are the only humanoid machines we export. You want a Canadian girl, you come get one and stay for the beer.
Damn, I was sincerely hoping to get an import. Also, DAMN YOU FOR MIKE MYERS!!

Ok then, time to leave Zeta's thread in peace. :smallbiggrin:

-argus

[Pronounceable]

But, but, but I wanted a Bladed Blob...

Sigh. OK then, implant and trample? If trample don't count (or if there isn't such an ability and it's something from somewhere else), engulf.

[vegetalss4]

Implant and Engulf

[Lord_Gareth]

Oh, fine, ya punks. I vote for Ability Damage.

You could have done a bladed blob T_T

[afroakuma]

Alright, you lot, I'll cut you a deal: When I do my Acheron project, I'll make a bladed blob.

Satisfied?

[Lord_Gareth]

YAY!

*WHOMPHUGGLES Afro*

[afroakuma]

BAHHH!

*Is WHOMPHUGGLED*

[Zeta Kai]

Honestly that wouldn't be that hard, the ooze would just have to be able to harden parts of its body into weapon shapes, and then fire it out. Incorporeal keeps this so that it is still fairly easy, at which point swarm complicates things.

I had a similar idea, & I really would have liked to use that approach, but I could not. Those would still be technically natural weapons. A manufactured weapon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#manufacturedWeapons) would be more akin to this ghost-blob-swarm (NOTE: not actual name) picking up a sword or crossbow. That's been making me weep for the last 2 days, trying to come up with a cool way to do that.


Alright, you lot, I'll cut you a deal: When I do my Acheron project, I'll make a bladed blob.

Satisfied?

You have my vote, & my sincere thanks.

[Lord_Gareth]

It is quite possible to creatively reinterpret things, Zeta. For example, if we all voted for Manufactured Weapons – which we did – you could take that and say, “How does it wield such weapons?” and come up with something like this –

Dominate Blade (Su) – has a dark harmony with the weapons like those that compose it. Whenever it is struck by a manufactured weapon, that weapon must make a Will save (DC 15) or animate and attack its owner using the [Incorporeal Ooze Swarm]’s base attack bonus. It fights until it or the ooze is destroyed, and otherwise acts as an [i]animated object. A typical [Incorporeal Ooze Swarm] is usually found with 2d6 weapons animated in this manner already, most of which will be magical.

See what I mean?

[Xallace]

Even without manufactured weapons, it's shaping up to be pretty neat. How many special abilities do you generally decide to use, Zeta? All those with a lot of votes?

[afroakuma]

Lord_Gareth, he did ask that we not do that.

[DracoDei]

Engulf
Because a certain amount of normality is needed as a foil to throw the weirdness into sharper relief.

[Zeta Kai]

It is quite possible to creatively reinterpret things, Zeta. For example, if we all voted for Manufactured Weapons – which we did – you could take that and say, “How does it wield such weapons?” and come up with something like this –

Dominate Blade (Su) – has a dark harmony with the weapons like those that compose it. Whenever it is struck by a manufactured weapon, that weapon must make a Will save (DC 15) or animate and attack its owner using the [Incorporeal Ooze Swarm]’s base attack bonus. It fights until it or the ooze is destroyed, and otherwise acts as an [i]animated object. A typical [Incorporeal Ooze Swarm] is usually found with 2d6 weapons animated in this manner already, most of which will be magical.

See what I mean?

That's a great idea, one that I would much rather use one a different monster. Thank you again for changing your vote. You didn't have to, so I appreciate it all the more.

[Lord_Gareth]

^_^ Thanks for the compliment, Zeta. I just figured I'd toss an example of subverting an ability out there; nothing says you MUST use it as presented, after all.

[Zeta Kai]

Alright, the votes for Special Abilities are tallied, & the winner is: Ability Damage, Engulf, & Implant!

So, the creature is going to be an Ooze, with the Incorporeal & Swarm subtypes. It's Size is going to be Large. It's Alignment is going to be True Neutral. It's CR is going to be 12. It's Special Abilities are going to be Ability Damage, Engulf, & Implant. This sounds like it's going to be an insanely interesting critter. I hope that I am up to the task.

Voting is concluded at this point. The resultant creature is being crafted, & will be posted on Tuesday, October 28th. Thanks to everyone who voted (& re-voted).

[Owrtho]

lol, engulf and implant. So either you end up in it or it ends up in you.

Owrtho

[Fako]

So, one week of wait before we get hit with Awesome? I can handle that :smallbiggrin:


lol, engulf and inmpant. So either you end up in it or it ends up in you.

...did you mean for that to sound horribly wrong, Owrtho? :smalleek:

[afroakuma]

Most likely.

Well, we got this one back on the rails. But only after DM pleading. Remember kids, silliness is fun, but only when it's serious silliness.

[Pronounceable]

Alright, you lot, I'll cut you a deal: When I do my Acheron project, I'll make a bladed blob.

Satisfied?

Sure. As long as it's named Bladed Blob, it could be a goblin subrace for all I care.

[streakster]

Alright, you lot, I'll cut you a deal: When I do my Acheron project, I'll make a bladed blob.

Satisfied?

Yay! The Bladed Blob lives!

[Owrtho]

...did you mean for that to sound horribly wrong, Owrtho? :smalleek:

It doesn't sound that bad... If I realy wanted to make it sound horrible I'd have used "penatrate" instead of "end up in".

Owrtho

[afroakuma]

Sure. As long as it's named Bladed Blob, it could be a goblin subrace for all I care.

Is that so? :smallamused:

[Lord_Gareth]

Bump, with great fury!

[afroakuma]

? This didn't need a bump. What schemes are you plotting, Gareth?

[Zeta Kai]

“Well, this is great. If the ionization-rate is constant for all ectoplasmic entities, we can really bust some heads... in a spiritual sense, of course.”
- Dr. Ray Stantz, 1984

Ectoplasmic Swarm

http://www.bulldogtours.com/images/charleston%20ghost%20tour%20walk%20ghosts%20charle ston%20www.bulldogtours.com.jpg
A close-up picture of an Ectoplasmic Swarm, showing the individual Ectoplasms.

Fine Ooze (Incorporeal, Swarm)
Hit Dice: 12d10 (66HP)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 20’ (4 squares), Fly 20’ (4 squares, perfect maneuverability)
Armor Class: 16 (-1 size, +6 Dex, +1 deflection); touch 16; flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/--
Attack: Swarm (3d6)
Full Attack: Swarm (3d6)
Space/Reach: 10’/0’
Special Attacks: Constitution Damage, Engulf, Implant
Special Qualities: Incorporeal traits, Ooze traits, Swarm traits
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +10, Will +4
Abilities: Str -- (+0), Dex 22 (+6), Con 11 (+0), Int -- (+0), Wis 10 (+0), Cha 2 (-4)
Skills: N/A
Feats: N/A
Environment: Any
Organization: solitary, pair, or cluster (3-6 swarms)
Challenge Rating: 12
Treasure: N/A
Alignment: always Neutral
Advancement: N/A
Level Adjustment: N/A

What at first appeared to be a small patch of smoke or fog drifts slowly towards you. As it approaches, the individual particles of the cloud can be resolved. These floating specks look like tiny orbs of translucent gel, each about the size of a fingernail. A chill in the air & a whisper of wind is barely noticeable as the cloud closes in.

Often mistaken for a ghost or some other spirit, this cloud-like horde of minute blobs is known as an Ectoplasmic Swarm. Most commonly found at the edges of civilized lands, like the outskirts of a town or village, these swarms can quickly incapacitate a victim, sapping their vitality & life.

No one really knows where Ectoplasmic Swarms come from or what created them, but many scholarly theories abound. One hypothesis is that they hail from the Ethereal Plane, & that they are some predatory embodiment of the plane itself. Another conjecture is that they are a manifestation of spent arcane energy, a kind of magical vestige left by used &/or failed spells. The most popular theory, though, is that they are a remnant left behind when ghosts & other undead pass on to their final resting places, a gathering of spiritual energy that forms into a mindless mass of vaporous slime. These various concepts fail to explain, however, exactly why these swarms gather together & why they are drawn to living creatures.

An Ectoplasmic Swarm is about 10’ across & is weightless, having no real mass. It is composed of around 10,000 individual creatures, each of which are only about ½” long. The swarm speaks no language, as it is mindless (& also does not have any mouths).

Combat
An Ectoplasmic Swarm is a mindless entity, so its pattern of behavior is fairly consistent. They almost always move toward the closest living creature & attempt to Engulf it. They usually ignore Constructs, Plants, & Undead; all other types of creatures seem to be fair game. Opponents that stay out of contact range for more than 2 rounds are typically subject to an Implant attack. Being mindless, they will continue to attack until slain/dispersed, but they are easily distracted by living creatures that are closer.

Constitution Damage (Su): Contact with an Ectoplasmic Swarm can sap an opponent’s agility. Each round that a creature comes into contact with an Ectoplasmic Swarm, it must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC16) or take 1d3 points of Constitution damage; the save DC is Strength-based.

Engulf (Ex): Although it moves slowly, an Ectoplasmic Swarm can simply mow down Large or smaller creatures as a standard action. It cannot make another action during a round in which it engulfs. The Ectoplasmic Swarm merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as many as it can cover. Opponents can make opportunity attacks against the cube, but if they do so they are not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not attempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex save (DC23) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed back or aside (opponent’s choice) as the swarm moves forward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the swarm’s Constitution Damage, and are considered to be grappled & trapped within its body. The save DC is Dexterity-based, & includes a +1 racial bonus.

Implant (Ex): An Ectoplasmic Swarm can fire off individual ectoplasms into a target creature. Each ectoplasm costs 1HP, & no more than 8 can be shot at a time. This attack is a standard action with a range of 40’. If an ectoplasm hits, then it is embedded in the target. Implants can be activated as a free action, at which point all the ectoplasms in a target turn corporeal instantaneously, forcing a Fortitude save (DC16) for each embedded little ooze; the save DC is Strength-based. On a failed save, an ectoplasmic implant gets pulled back out of the body into the swarm, dealing 1 point of Constitution damage & 1d4 points of slashing damage as it does so.

Incorporeal traits
An incorporeal creature has no physical body. It can be harmed only by other incorporeal creatures, magic weapons or creatures that strike as magic weapons, and spells, spell-like abilities, or supernatural abilities. It is immune to all non-magical attack forms. Even when hit by spells or magic weapons, it has a 50% chance to ignore any damage from a corporeal source (except for positive energy, negative energy, force effects such as magic missile, or attacks made with ghost touch weapons). Although it is not a magical attack, holy water can affect incorporeal undead, but a hit with holy water has a 50% chance of not affecting an incorporeal creature.

An incorporeal creature has no natural armor bonus but has a deflection bonus equal to its Charisma bonus (always at least +1, even if the creature’s Charisma score does not normally provide a bonus).

An incorporeal creature can enter or pass through solid objects, but must remain adjacent to the object’s exterior, and so cannot pass entirely through an object whose space is larger than its own. It can sense the presence of creatures or objects within a square adjacent to its current location, but enemies have total concealment (50% miss chance) from an incorporeal creature that is inside an object. In order to see farther from the object it is in and attack normally, the incorporeal creature must emerge. An incorporeal creature inside an object has total cover, but when it attacks a creature outside the object it only has cover, so a creature outside with a readied action could strike at it as it attacks. An incorporeal creature cannot pass through a force effect.

An incorporeal creature’s attacks pass through (ignore) natural armor, armor, and shields, although deflection bonuses and force effects (such as mage armor) work normally against it. Incorporeal creatures pass through and operate in water as easily as they do in air. Incorporeal creatures cannot fall or take falling damage. Incorporeal creatures cannot make trip or grapple attacks, nor can they be tripped or grappled. In fact, they cannot take any physical action that would move or manipulate an opponent or its equipment, nor are they subject to such actions. Incorporeal creatures have no weight and do not set off traps that are triggered by weight.

An incorporeal creature moves silently and cannot be heard with Listen checks if it doesn’t wish to be. It has no Strength score, so its Dexterity modifier applies to both its melee attacks & its ranged attacks. Non-visual senses, such as scent and blindsight, are either ineffective or only partly effective with regard to incorporeal creatures. Incorporeal creatures have an innate sense of direction and can move at full speed even when they cannot see.

Ooze traits
All creatures with the Ooze type possess the following traits:

Mindless: No Intelligence score, & immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, & morale effects).
Blind (but have the blindsight special quality), with immunity to gaze attacks, visual effects, illusions, & other attack forms that rely on sight.
Immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, polymorph, & stunning.
Some oozes have the ability to deal acid damage to objects. In such a case, the amount of damage is equal to 10 + ½ ooze’s HD + ooze’s Con modifier per full round of contact.
Not subject to critical hits or flanking.
Proficient with its natural weapons only.
Proficient with no armor.
Oozes eat & breathe, but do not sleep.


Swarm Traits
A swarm has no clear front or back and no discernable anatomy, so it is not subject to critical hits or flanking. A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons. A swarm composed of Fine or Diminutive creatures is immune to all weapon damage. Reducing a swarm to 0 hit points or lower causes it to break up, though damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. Swarms are never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, they cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed, & they cannot grapple an opponent.

A swarm is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate), with the exception of mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects) if the swarm has an Intelligence score and a hive mind. A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons and many evocation spells.

Swarms made up of Diminutive or Fine creatures are susceptible to high winds such as that created by a gust of wind spell. For purposes of determining the effects of wind on a swarm, treat the swarm as a creature of the same size as its constituent creatures. A swarm rendered unconscious by means of nonlethal damage becomes disorganized and dispersed, and does not reform until its hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.

Swarm Attack: Creatures with the swarm subtype don’t make standard melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to any creature whose space they occupy at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed. Swarm attacks are not subject to a miss chance for concealment or cover. A swarm’s statistics block has “swarm” in the Attack & Full Attack entries, with no attack bonus given. The amount of damage a swarm deals is based on its Hit Dice, as shown in the table.

A swarm’s attacks are non-magical, unless the swarm’s description states otherwise. Damage reduction sufficient to reduce a swarm attack’s damage to 0, being incorporeal, and other special abilities usually give a creature immunity (or at least resistance) to damage from a swarm. Some swarms also have acid, poison, blood drain, or other special attacks in addition to normal damage.

Swarms do not threaten creatures in their square, and do not make attacks of opportunity with their swarm attack. However, they distract foes whose squares they occupy, as described below.

Distraction (Ex): Any living creature vulnerable to a swarm’s damage that begins its turn with a swarm in its square is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 10 + ½ swarm’s HD + swarm’s Con modifier; the exact DC is given in a swarm’s description) negates the effect. Spellcasting or concentrating on spells within the area of a swarm requires a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level). Using skills that involve patience and concentration requires a DC 20 Concentration check.

Ectoplasmic Swarm Lore
Characters that have ranks in Knowledge (Dungeoneering) or Knowledge (Religion) can learn more about Ectoplasmic Swarms. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DC’s.

DC17: “At the edge of some settlements there is a killing fog.”
DC22: “This cloud of deadly slime is known as an Ectoplasmic Swarm, & it can drain a victim’s vigor.”
DC27: “An Ectoplasmic Swarm moves slowly, but it can engulf victims, & even shoot out particles at faster targets.”
DC32: Characters who succeed this Knowledge check know an Ectoplasmic Swarm’s attack patterns & traits, as well as the specifics of Engulf & Implant.


http://www.mysticalblaze.com/ChurchGhost2.jpg
An Ectoplasmic Swarm appearing in front of an abandoned church.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Cropped_Chromatic_aberration_with_cats_eye_effect. jpg
An extreme close-up of a single Ectoplasm, showing its structure & detail (artificially illuminated for clarity).

[Mr.Bookworm]

Very nice.

Incidentally, you put their size as Fine.

[streakster]

<Awesomeness>

Very, very nice. You pulled it off after all!

[Zeta Kai]

Very nice.

Incidentally, you put their size as Fine.

Technically, swarm creatures (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#swarmSubtype) have to be Fine, Diminutive, or Tiny. Since they still fill a 10' cube, the swarm as a whole is Large, but the individual creatures must be a lot smaller.

[arguskos]

Wonderfully awesome Zeta, just great. Only nitpick I see though, is that you listed the swarm as being weightless, but the individual members as 1/20th of a pound. Just a friendly note there. :smallwink:

-argus

[Shadow_Elf]

Awesome job Zeta.

Coincidentally, the 4e Vote Up a Monster (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93935&page=5) is complete [/self advertising]

[afroakuma]

Well done, Zeta.

Look for my own diabolical cribbing of your project.

[Zeta Kai]

Wonderfully awesome Zeta, just great. Only nitpick I see though, is that you listed the swarm as being weightless, but the individual members as 1/20th of a pound. Just a friendly note there. :smallwink:

Thanks for the catch, Argus. That has been fixed. I was in a hurry to post, since it was getting late in the day. My computer died on Thursday, & I had to scramble to buy a brand new tower (which was way overdue anyway). Now, all is well.


Awesome job Zeta.

Coincidentally, the 4e Vote Up a Monster (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93935&page=5) is complete [/self advertising]

I saw that, SE. I like the Songbird Spirit. Great job.


Well done, Zeta.

Look for my own diabolical cribbing of your project.

I also saw your new project, & I endorse it. That should direct your wrath nicely.

[afroakuma]

That should direct your wrath nicely.

:smallamused: Oddly enough, this project's a delay of game for direction of my wrath. Busy week means I need a slowball project to float my way. By the weekend I'll be back on Pandemonium, which I expect to close by early next week.

[Zeta Kai]

Yeah, I have to say that this is the hardest monster that I've ever had to design. The combined abilities, immunities, & other attributes were mind-boggling. I deliberately made it slow & slightly weak in terms of sheer damage output, because of it's many special attacks/defenses. If it were any stronger/faster/smarter, then it would be far too tough for it's CR; as it is, it's pushing the boundaries of what I'd expect the average 12th-level should be capable of defeating.

I'm glad that this turned out so well, & I hope to never have to make something so bizarre again. :smallwink: