| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 18 Mar 2011 : 00:08:27
I am seeking inspiration and mechanics for a 3.5 Wererat Necromancer Wizard that specializes in Contagion-type magics. I really like some of the "biological warfare" stuff to be found in Goodman Games Wererat book and I know that the 2e Necromancers HB has some good stuff on Thasmudyan and a God of Pestilence. Perhaps specialty priests of Talona? Has anybody used a similar concept? I don't mind novels, 3rd party books, even homebrew, whatever. Also any PrC's, spells, etc. that may be appropriate. I'm open to suggestions. Thanks. |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 07 Aug 2011 : 21:56:49
Ha ha! My DM is out of town. I'm finishing up stats on the Faceless (Deathmask Nezumi), Taken (Risen Fiend) and Advanced Plague-Carrier Lifeleech Gulguthydra. Anybody wana see? Any thoughts on this thread from the relative newcomers? |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 03 Apr 2011 : 06:11:23
Who? Sidetracked? Where? Me? Huh? |
| Galuf the Dwarf |
Posted - 03 Apr 2011 : 05:31:14
Happens to the best of us. I know that for a fact.  |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 03 Apr 2011 : 04:45:36
I have, Galuf. Nearly finished with the Faceless and the Taken. Thank you for asking. The Insect Mage is next on the list unless I get sidetracked (which happens fairly regularly.) |
| Galuf the Dwarf |
Posted - 03 Apr 2011 : 04:36:04
Had much success as far as this idea's concerned, Fellfire? |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 02 Apr 2011 : 18:29:04
Faces of Evil states that strong and arrogant baatezu generals often alter the physical form of all their least and lesser troops (a devilish sort of heraldry); rat-themed spinagons and barbazus could exist. Baatezu sometimes mutate in the pits, or are deliberately mutated (in small numbers) in breeding experiments; the physical appearance of such deviant spawn often (but not always) differs from the norm, they are invariable destroyed (because they're weaker, or worse, because they're seen as threats to baatezu order) though they are never wasted and individuals sometimes escape to planar exile. Baatezu might be altered into forms which please those who summon and bind them. They (at least the weaker and stupider types) are also susceptible to being reshaped by evil magics and influences in much the same manner as mortals (ie: Ravenloft's "gifts", etc). The dark of the matter is that baatezu with deviant forms do exist but tend to be written into the dead book real quick unless they have an advantage against others of their kind (even if that advantage is the support of a baatezu, magic, or mortal of more powerful station); those of the lowest stations (who are of no consequence) and of the highest stations (who can do whatever they want) are most likely to differ from the norm since nonconformity among the baatezu ranks brings endless challenges from ambitious peers.
Tanar'ri are highly variable in appearance and capabilities (increasingly so with greater power), the established types are better viewed as guidelines than normatives, it could be said that every single tanar'ri is a deviant. Yugoloths and gehreleths are, as usual, somewhere in the middle; they sometimes experiment with mutant breeds.
[Edit]
Ye should refer to APPENDIX D: RANDOM GENERATION OF CREATURES FROM THE LOWER PLANES within the 1E DMG; it allows for the Gygaxian creation of unique (or variant) monsters from the lower planes "in but a few minutes". Rat-like characteristics are included. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 02 Apr 2011 : 12:39:52
An imp using Alternate Form and assuming a rat-form is about the only thing that immediately comes to mind for rat-like baatezu. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 02 Apr 2011 : 10:39:32
So, I have nearly finished the faceless undead I've been working on and I'm getting ready to start another. The Taken. Basically they are trading off pieces of their souls for infernal power. My question is this, are there any rat-like baatezu? I know of the tanari uridezu. Any knowledgable Planescapers out there? Sage, Shemmy? Third party sources are fine, I'm just fishing for ideas. |
| Galuf the Dwarf |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 15:47:42
Well, there is at least the Defacer (an undead creature) in Monster Manual IV. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 04:47:15
"In fact, another of the MtG cards that inspired this den of evil, the Deathmask Nezumi, I have considered making into some type of monstrosity similar to the Quth-Maren from the City of the Spider Queen module. Transformed into hideous undead by having their faces flayed off, and wearing a mempo or noh mask to disguise themselves. What would the effect of this have on a lycanthrope?"
Has anyone ever heard of the mujina or noppera-bo? The translations I'm getting seem to vary. I'm looking for a monster known as the faceless. I'm wondering if there is something I may be able to use besides the name. I'm told there is a monster entry somewhere. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 04:32:56
Thanks for bringing it up, Fellfire ... worth a re-read after so many years. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 04:10:26
Good points. Inspired or inspirer, 'twas a pretty good yarn. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 03:38:12
Of course I've read it ... I'm well acquainted with classic literature (at least of those books translated into languages I can read). I'm not any sort of expert on culture, but I suspect the reverse is true in this instance: Kagero (the name of the venom-girl, yes?) was more likely drawn from legends of the orient which had some influence on Western literature. Though of course venomous serpents are symbolic of all sorts of things in many cultures; it seems to me that peoples outside the sphere of Western influence associated serpents with a much wider variety of meanings than just evil deception. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 03:26:53
Arik, have you read Rappacini's Daughter by Hawthorne? A delightful little short story that I suspect may have influenced the creation of Kagero. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 03:15:43
Ninja Scroll is a classic piece of anime. I don't generally find much appeal in the genre/style, but I'd still recommmend it. I admittedly have weakness for cheesy kung-fu flicks.
I recall a veneficent assassin girl from the film who might also serve as useful inspiration, though she would perhaps be better suited to some sort of cult of serpent worship than one of disease.
The only "natural" (basically non-fiend) organism from the lower planes that I know of is the razorvine which infests Sigil. Ravenloft, however, is filled with all manner of nasty (un)life; DMs were encouraged to invent any type of hungry lifesucking little nasties imaginable, much of the native ecosystem in Ravenloft is similar to that of other worlds but there's always something lurking in the wilderness which is far less innocuous than it seems. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 03:15:06
Lodoss War was very good. It's been years since I've seen that.
I have seen the Hellwasp swarm, but was unaware of the Demonets. Both will be helpful in developing my own bugs. I also seem to recall some type of frightening flea from Ravenloft, I think, but have been unable to find it again. |
| Galuf the Dwarf |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 02:59:38
quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
Darkenbeasts are a good suggestion.
Vermin Lord has some things that I can use for this character (Gnat Miser). I especially like the swarmform and hivemind special abilities. I've yet to pin down (sorry) the hellish insect that I want to use. I will probably have to create one to suit my needs. Also if you've seen Ninja Scroll the character, Mushizo, with the hornet's nest on his back was also a source of inspiration.
Thanks Scribes!
Ninja Scroll is nothing I've ever watched, honestly. Most of what I watch are police procedurals (ie: Law & Order, NCIS), Smallville, and any American 'Transformers' series. The only actual anime I can swear to ever watching with any passion would have to be Record of Lodoss War.
As far as a "hellish insect," I take it you've looked over the usual Hellwasp Swarm? Granted, there's also the Demonet Swarm from Monster Manual IV, at least. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 02:19:57
Darkenbeasts are a good suggestion.
Vermin Lord has some things that I can use for this character (Gnat Miser). I especially like the swarmform and hivemind special abilities. I've yet to pin down (sorry) the hellish insect that I want to use. I will probably have to create one to suit my needs. Also if you've seen Ninja Scroll the character, Mushizo, with the hornet's nest on his back was also a source of inspiration.
Thanks Scribes! |
| Galuf the Dwarf |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 01:43:13
quote:
Originally posted by Arik
Perhaps mummy rot is not the best example, ghoul touch might be better.
You mean ghoul fever? According to the spell description, ghoul touch only paralyzes and gives the target a carrion stench.
quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
a "Vermin Mage" (Gnat-Miser.) [...] I see the Vermin Mage as being a host for a swarm of (possibly) infernal insects that, in turn, are carriers of some other kind of insidious plague.
I might suggest the Vermin Lord PrC from BoVD for that. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 01:41:16
Darkenbeasts (and the spell which creates them) might be somewhat appropriate as well, though perhaps not.
One of the novel trilogies (Haunted Lands perhaps?) featured an unusual death/corruption sort of deity I can't recall. One of the first chapters describes a random poor nobody being led away from his home and consuming a potion which transforms him into zombie. The overall tone was that of horror genre, and the descriptions were very well done ... sadly I cannot recall exactly which novels or many other details about them (primarily, I think, because they were set in a part of the Realms that doesn't especially interest me). I recall a number of druids (including an alaghi) and aquatic elves, as well as an entertaining and lively (if slightly amateur and surprisingly permissive) protagonist ... alas, library books from years ago. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 01:21:08
Unpublished "Ecology of" articles...Monster Hunter's Association: Ecology of the Gulguthydra by (Jonathan) Richards
Also to be found there are the Elven Cat, Grey Render, Winter Wolf, and other fun monsters. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 00:45:23
Your detect evil spell is inconclusive; the strange DM creature appears to be unaligned, though you cannot be certain. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 00:35:43
Very true. And that is indeed quite horrifying. Not to just get sick and die, but to be trapped eternally, enslaved to some Necromancers dark will. That may be outside the scope of what I had planned, but I will ruminate on that idea. It sounds very much like something that a demon may have inspired (casts detect evil on Arik). Thanks. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 20 Mar 2011 : 00:25:13
Perhaps mummy rot is not the best example, ghoul touch might be better. I was thinking more in terms of any kind of contagious necrotic leprosy which ultimately decays the victim into a walking undead. The name doesn't matter as much as the horror it inspires. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 19 Mar 2011 : 23:52:14
From where do you get the idea that victims of mummy rot rise as undead? I think it is a great idea, very evil plague of undead, but that is not the description of mummy rot that I have. Which flavor of undead would victims rise as? Lowly zombies or something more formidable? |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 19 Mar 2011 : 22:29:57
Airborne mummy rot seems more insidious. Undeath is a far worse fate than lycanthropy in my mind. Actually, lycanthropy is kinda cool. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 19 Mar 2011 : 18:25:49
What about a strain of air-borne lycanthropy? This seems insidious in the extreme. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 19 Mar 2011 : 17:43:06
Variant Lifeleech Otyugh |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 19 Mar 2011 : 17:02:29
Whilst pondering monsters with which to populate my wererat ninja citadel, the Otyugh immedietly sprang to mind. Thumbing through some MM's I discovered both the the Lifeleech Otyugh and the Gulguthydra, a bizarre combination of Otyugh and Hydra (strangely enough I had already thought to use a Thessalhydra, but this is even better!). I thought, why not a Lifeleech Gulguthydra? Why not an Advanced Lifeleech Gulguthydra? Perhaps some type of Plague Carrier Template? Is there anything similar in any of the established lore? Some kind of Typhoid-Mary Template? Also which other types of monsters would be appropriate in a disease ridden stronghold? Since it is a Necromancer in control here, Undead are to be expected. In fact, another of the MtG cards that inspired this den of evil, the Deathmask Nezumi, I have considered making into some type of monstrosity similar to the Quth-Maren from the City of the Spider Queen module. Transformed into hideous undead by having their faces flayed off, and wearing a mempo or noh mask to disguise themselves. What would the effect of this have on a lycanthrope? Just musing aloud, so to speak, I know that is a lot of questions. As always, any creative input is appreciated.
edit: Ha ha! I found this Plague Carrier Template here |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 18 Mar 2011 : 23:41:32
There's no such thing as overdone villainy. More detail (and more complications) just adds to the evilness and develops respect for the ever industrious ranks of misguided and morally ambiguous madmen (madpersons I suppose, in these socially sensitive times). |
