The Swamp Kraken tell me what you think. [Archive] - Wizards Community

The Swamp Kraken tell me what you think. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
korcheck
07-07-07, 08:52 PM SWAMP KRAKEN
Huge Magical Beast (Amphibian)
Hit Dice: 10d10+50 (105)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 20 ft., Swim 40 ft., Burrow 15 ft.
Armor Class: 18 (-2 size, +8 natural, +2 Dex) touch 10, flat-footed 18
Base Attack/Grapple: 18/13, 28
Attack: Tentacle 18 melee (1d8+8/ 20)
Full Attack: 2 tentacles + 18 (1d8+8/ 20), 6 arms +11(1d4+4) or bite 2d6+4)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft. (40 ft. with tentacle, 20ft. with arms)
SpecialAttacks: Improved grab
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60ft., jet, low-light vision, spell like ability
Saves: Fort 12, Ref 5, Will 5
Abilities: STR 26, Dex 14, Con 20, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 10
Skills: Concentration 9, Hide 10, Listen 8, Spot 8, swim 24
Feats: Alertness, Combat Expertise, Improved trip, Stealthy
Environment: Warm Marshes
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 6 ???
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually chaotic evil
]Advancement: 11-20 HD (Huge), 21-30 HD (Gargantuan).
Level Adjustment:[/B] --

This creature resembles a large dark squid, with a body that seems somehow deformed or unnatural.

Combat
Swamp Kraken often attack in a flurry erupting from the water from concealment in the fog they have created to attack the unwary with a grabbing attack that pulls the opponent underwater and into their waiting jaws. As with the ocean kraken an opponent may attempt a sunder attack on a tentacle or arm as if these were weapons. A tentacle has 15hp and an arm has 7hp all other rules apply as shown in the monster manual p. 162.

Improved Grab: To use this ability, the swamp kraken must hit with an arm or tentacle attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can bring the opponent to it's mouth.

Burrow: In a swamp or marsh area the swamp kraken has developed the ability to burrow through the mud and loam with surpising quickness. Due to the somewhat flexible body a swamp kraken can only Brrow in muddy or very soft loose earth.

Spell-Like ability: at will-control weather, lesser caster level 6th.
(this ability works as the spell but may control and call only fog, this works like a more powerful version of fog cloud.

Skills: A swamp kraken has a +8 racial bonus on any swim check to perform some special action or avoid hazards. It can always take ten on a swim check, even if distracted or endangered. it can use the run action while swimming provided it swims in a straight line. Although their size would be considered a hinderence in most environments the swamp kraken has become quite an addept ambush preditor in the mud and fog granting a +8 bonus to hide checks.

I'm am also Contemplating having this creature keep part of his body in the etherial plane like a bag of holding which leads to great hunts for this beast in the making of said bags or something like this. as opposed to it having a land speed or something.
Rerecros
07-07-07, 09:07 PM Swamp water isn't deep, a huge creature wouldn't have enough room to swim.
And even if it's reduced to large, medium or even small, it should have some sort of land speed.
Manyfist
07-07-07, 09:45 PM Swamp water isn't deep, a huge creature wouldn't have enough room to swim.
And even if it's reduced to large, medium or even small, it should have some sort of land speed.

I agree, theres not enough deep water in a swamp for such large creatures. Black Dragons live both in land and water, so space isn't a problem especially when they can "build" a cave in the swamp.
korcheck
07-07-07, 10:11 PM OK I made it an amphibian and gave it a land speed of 20ft. Anything else?
Rerecros
07-07-07, 10:23 PM Lllaaannndd sssqqquuuiiiddd hhhoooeee :D
You'll get better answers on the monster boards, they'd know more about stating these things.
korcheck
07-07-07, 10:44 PM Lllaaannndd sssqqquuuiiiddd hhhoooeee :D
You'll get better answers on the monster boards, they'd know more about stating these things.

I'll post there as well I posted here due to it's connection to a thread I started in People & places about an eldeen reaches mini campaign.
korcheck
07-07-07, 10:53 PM I'm am also Contemplating having this creature keep part of his body in the etherial plane like a bag of holding which leads to great hunts for this beast in the making of said bags or something like this. as opposed to it having a land speed or something.
stone_dog
07-08-07, 02:48 AM OK I made it an amphibian and gave it a land speed of 20ft. Anything else?

Burrow. The water might not be deep, but the loam and mud might be. Give it burrow.

Alternately, Awaken a giant octopus. They don't have the problem that squid have of having a rigid cartilage and can fit into all sorts of places without much problem.

Don't forget that swamps are full of rivers and lakes that could well support a Huge creature as well as the fact that Huge in this case is mainly horizontal. A huge giant might be able to wade around waist deep in a swamp, but it might be able to swim under water about as well as a adult human can swim at the bottom of the shallow end of a pool.
korcheck
07-08-07, 01:43 PM Ok I changed out jet which isn't as useful in a swamp for a specialized form of burrow.
Euangelion
07-08-07, 02:10 PM Amphibian isn't a valid subtype. I think you're looking for "Aquatic." There is the Amphibious extraordinary ability, as in "Amphibious (Ex): Although swamp krakens are aquatic, they can survive indefinitely on land."

In fact, you could pretty much just use the stats for the giant octopus and simply replace the jet ability with the amphibious ability, and give it an Int score of 3 or higher, plus a spell-like ability.

I'd also recommend that instead of control weather that you give it control water 3/day as a spell-like ability (CL 10).
FenrysStar
07-11-07, 02:05 PM I seem to remember something somewhat similar in Dragonlance for 2nd Edition. I forget what the name was but the tentacles had thorns and it was an octopus and not a squid. Nice idea though, if I were you I might look into recreating that critter. Some older illustrations of the Kraken actually depict the monster as a titanic octopus instead of a squid like monster we know and loathe today. Just some suggestions, but it is a way cool concept.
Ront Iron-Roar
07-11-07, 07:20 PM Why do I see a bunch of barbarians in Q'barra or the Shadow Marches worshipping a giant member of this species. All the while thier fighting off the advances of House Cannieth whom is trying to build some facility inside of the swamp.

Cookie to anyone who gets this reference.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
korcheck 07-07-07, 08:52 PM	SWAMP KRAKEN Huge Magical Beast (Amphibian) Hit Dice: 10d10+50 (105) Initiative: +2 Speed: 20 ft., Swim 40 ft., Burrow 15 ft. Armor Class: 18 (-2 size, +8 natural, +2 Dex) touch 10, flat-footed 18 Base Attack/Grapple: 18/13, 28 Attack: Tentacle 18 melee (1d8+8/ 20) Full Attack: 2 tentacles + 18 (1d8+8/ 20), 6 arms +11(1d4+4) or bite 2d6+4) Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft. (40 ft. with tentacle, 20ft. with arms) SpecialAttacks: Improved grab Special Qualities: Darkvision 60ft., jet, low-light vision, spell like ability Saves: Fort 12, Ref 5, Will 5 Abilities: STR 26, Dex 14, Con 20, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 10 Skills: Concentration 9, Hide 10, Listen 8, Spot 8, swim 24 Feats: Alertness, Combat Expertise, Improved trip, Stealthy Environment: Warm Marshes Organization: Solitary Challenge Rating: 6 ??? Treasure: Standard Alignment: Usually chaotic evil ]Advancement: 11-20 HD (Huge), 21-30 HD (Gargantuan). Level Adjustment:[/B] -- This creature resembles a large dark squid, with a body that seems somehow deformed or unnatural. Combat Swamp Kraken often attack in a flurry erupting from the water from concealment in the fog they have created to attack the unwary with a grabbing attack that pulls the opponent underwater and into their waiting jaws. As with the ocean kraken an opponent may attempt a sunder attack on a tentacle or arm as if these were weapons. A tentacle has 15hp and an arm has 7hp all other rules apply as shown in the monster manual p. 162. Improved Grab: To use this ability, the swamp kraken must hit with an arm or tentacle attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can bring the opponent to it's mouth. Burrow: In a swamp or marsh area the swamp kraken has developed the ability to burrow through the mud and loam with surpising quickness. Due to the somewhat flexible body a swamp kraken can only Brrow in muddy or very soft loose earth. Spell-Like ability: at will-control weather, lesser caster level 6th. (this ability works as the spell but may control and call only fog, this works like a more powerful version of fog cloud. Skills: A swamp kraken has a +8 racial bonus on any swim check to perform some special action or avoid hazards. It can always take ten on a swim check, even if distracted or endangered. it can use the run action while swimming provided it swims in a straight line. Although their size would be considered a hinderence in most environments the swamp kraken has become quite an addept ambush preditor in the mud and fog granting a +8 bonus to hide checks. I'm am also Contemplating having this creature keep part of his body in the etherial plane like a bag of holding which leads to great hunts for this beast in the making of said bags or something like this. as opposed to it having a land speed or something.
Rerecros 07-07-07, 09:07 PM	Swamp water isn't deep, a huge creature wouldn't have enough room to swim. And even if it's reduced to large, medium or even small, it should have some sort of land speed.
Manyfist 07-07-07, 09:45 PM	Swamp water isn't deep, a huge creature wouldn't have enough room to swim. And even if it's reduced to large, medium or even small, it should have some sort of land speed. I agree, theres not enough deep water in a swamp for such large creatures. Black Dragons live both in land and water, so space isn't a problem especially when they can "build" a cave in the swamp.
korcheck 07-07-07, 10:11 PM	OK I made it an amphibian and gave it a land speed of 20ft. Anything else?
Rerecros 07-07-07, 10:23 PM	Lllaaannndd sssqqquuuiiiddd hhhoooeee :D You'll get better answers on the monster boards, they'd know more about stating these things.
korcheck 07-07-07, 10:44 PM	Lllaaannndd sssqqquuuiiiddd hhhoooeee :D You'll get better answers on the monster boards, they'd know more about stating these things. I'll post there as well I posted here due to it's connection to a thread I started in People & places about an eldeen reaches mini campaign.
korcheck 07-07-07, 10:53 PM	I'm am also Contemplating having this creature keep part of his body in the etherial plane like a bag of holding which leads to great hunts for this beast in the making of said bags or something like this. as opposed to it having a land speed or something.
stone_dog 07-08-07, 02:48 AM	OK I made it an amphibian and gave it a land speed of 20ft. Anything else? Burrow. The water might not be deep, but the loam and mud might be. Give it burrow. Alternately, Awaken a giant octopus. They don't have the problem that squid have of having a rigid cartilage and can fit into all sorts of places without much problem. Don't forget that swamps are full of rivers and lakes that could well support a Huge creature as well as the fact that Huge in this case is mainly horizontal. A huge giant might be able to wade around waist deep in a swamp, but it might be able to swim under water about as well as a adult human can swim at the bottom of the shallow end of a pool.
korcheck 07-08-07, 01:43 PM	Ok I changed out jet which isn't as useful in a swamp for a specialized form of burrow.
Euangelion 07-08-07, 02:10 PM	Amphibian isn't a valid subtype. I think you're looking for "Aquatic." There is the Amphibious extraordinary ability, as in "Amphibious (Ex): Although swamp krakens are aquatic, they can survive indefinitely on land." In fact, you could pretty much just use the stats for the giant octopus and simply replace the jet ability with the amphibious ability, and give it an Int score of 3 or higher, plus a spell-like ability. I'd also recommend that instead of control weather that you give it control water 3/day as a spell-like ability (CL 10).
FenrysStar 07-11-07, 02:05 PM	I seem to remember something somewhat similar in Dragonlance for 2nd Edition. I forget what the name was but the tentacles had thorns and it was an octopus and not a squid. Nice idea though, if I were you I might look into recreating that critter. Some older illustrations of the Kraken actually depict the monster as a titanic octopus instead of a squid like monster we know and loathe today. Just some suggestions, but it is a way cool concept.
Ront Iron-Roar 07-11-07, 07:20 PM	Why do I see a bunch of barbarians in Q'barra or the Shadow Marches worshipping a giant member of this species. All the while thier fighting off the advances of House Cannieth whom is trying to build some facility inside of the swamp. Cookie to anyone who gets this reference.