Alpha creature template (PEACH) - bigger, badder, better [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alpha creature template (PEACH) - bigger, badder, better [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Prime32
08-18-06, 05:33 PM Again, from the Metroid games (MP2)

http://img.gamespot.com/gamespot/images/2004/reviews/589573_20041210_embed011.jpg
Example of an alpha creature

“Alpha creature” is an inherited template that can be applied to any living creature (though animals, magical beasts and vermin possess this template more than any other type). An alpha creature uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

Size and Type: Increase the base creature’s size category by one or to the largest size listed in its advancement range, whichever is greater.
Hit Dice and Hit Points: Advance HD to maximum
Speed: Speed increases by 5 ft. in all movement modes.
Armour Class: Natural armour improves by +2 (this stacks with any natural armour bonus the creature already has).
Special Qualities: An alpha creature has all the special qualities of the base creature and gains tremorsense to a range of 30 ft. If the base creature already has tremorsense, its range is increased by 30 ft.
Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Str +4, Dex +4, Con +2, Int +2. The creature’s intelligence cannot rise beyond the normal range for its type (e.g. an animal cannot have an Intelligence score above 2).
Challenge Rating:

An alpha creature is the pinnacle of its race, the biggest and strongest around. Much rarer than normal varieties, alpha creatures may represent “queen” varieties of insectoid creatures or mutant leaders of primitive humanoids. Alpha creatures are extremely rare among creatures with an Intelligence score of 8 or higher.
Prime32
10-17-06, 05:38 PM :bump:
Lord_Canius
10-17-06, 06:33 PM Sort of a lesser version of the epic Paragon template. Its been done, but its nice to have around, I suppose. Looks fairly balanced to me. Good job.
Tower_of_Pain
10-18-06, 09:01 AM What is the CR and LA?
dok
10-18-06, 10:01 AM Not for nothing, but this template is really unnecessary and doesn't function within the rules well...

"Templates" are a different processes than "Racial Advancement". They do different things, work in different ways, and are, well, different.

Writing a template that says "advance the creature to its maximum HD" is like writing a template that says "add six levels of Sorcerer to the creature". It's a non-sequitor.

So this template should work in one of two ways. Either it can
a.) only be applied to creatures that can advance by racial HD, and have already been advanced to their maximum HD
or
b.) only be applied to creatures that cannot advance by racial HD, and need a power boost that isn't related to class levels.

Taking out the "advance to max HD, collect $200" element, the rest of the template is also fairly unnecessary. Any creature that gains 3 or more feats from advancement can get +2 natural amor & +5' movement via feats. The ability score modifiers you listed can be gained by applying the Elite array, and frankly, a creature advanced to maximum HD usually has +8 strength, +4 constitution, and -2 dexterity from the size-category change.

Which means the only thing this template really grants that isn't already covered by the existing rules is Tremorsense. So why do all these creatures have Tremorsense?
Prime32
10-18-06, 11:08 AM I did this template a while ago, but it didn't get any responses. The dire template already advances creatures to maximum HD. The adjustments given are in addition to those from a size increase.
MrAdam
10-19-06, 10:50 AM I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the "alpha creature" template has been done (In a third party book: Privateer Press' Monsternomicon- Praised be cthulhu I love that book) Now, I know NOBODY but me, incorperates third party matereals into D+D ("If it ain't WOTC, It ain't for me") but I just figured you should know
Derren S.
10-19-06, 11:11 AM Imo this template is too powerfull and very hard to balance with its variable benefits.

Imagine a wyrmling dragon with this template. Use fixed values instead "maximum of advancment".
Talisman
10-19-06, 03:26 PM Now, I know NOBODY but me, incorperates third party matereals into D+D ("If it ain't WOTC, It ain't for me") but I just figured you should know

Au contraire, MrAdam. Monsternomicon is cool, but Green Ronin reigns supreme as the producer of quality d20 products. Sword and Sorcery is interesting, if a little hit-or-miss.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Prime32 08-18-06, 05:33 PM	Again, from the Metroid games (MP2) http://img.gamespot.com/gamespot/images/2004/reviews/589573_20041210_embed011.jpg Example of an alpha creature “Alpha creature” is an inherited template that can be applied to any living creature (though animals, magical beasts and vermin possess this template more than any other type). An alpha creature uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here. Size and Type: Increase the base creature’s size category by one or to the largest size listed in its advancement range, whichever is greater. Hit Dice and Hit Points: Advance HD to maximum Speed: Speed increases by 5 ft. in all movement modes. Armour Class: Natural armour improves by +2 (this stacks with any natural armour bonus the creature already has). Special Qualities: An alpha creature has all the special qualities of the base creature and gains tremorsense to a range of 30 ft. If the base creature already has tremorsense, its range is increased by 30 ft. Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Str +4, Dex +4, Con +2, Int +2. The creature’s intelligence cannot rise beyond the normal range for its type (e.g. an animal cannot have an Intelligence score above 2). Challenge Rating: An alpha creature is the pinnacle of its race, the biggest and strongest around. Much rarer than normal varieties, alpha creatures may represent “queen” varieties of insectoid creatures or mutant leaders of primitive humanoids. Alpha creatures are extremely rare among creatures with an Intelligence score of 8 or higher.
Prime32 10-17-06, 05:38 PM	:bump:
Lord_Canius 10-17-06, 06:33 PM	Sort of a lesser version of the epic Paragon template. Its been done, but its nice to have around, I suppose. Looks fairly balanced to me. Good job.
Tower_of_Pain 10-18-06, 09:01 AM	What is the CR and LA?
dok 10-18-06, 10:01 AM	Not for nothing, but this template is really unnecessary and doesn't function within the rules well... "Templates" are a different processes than "Racial Advancement". They do different things, work in different ways, and are, well, different. Writing a template that says "advance the creature to its maximum HD" is like writing a template that says "add six levels of Sorcerer to the creature". It's a non-sequitor. So this template should work in one of two ways. Either it can a.) only be applied to creatures that can advance by racial HD, and have already been advanced to their maximum HD or b.) only be applied to creatures that cannot advance by racial HD, and need a power boost that isn't related to class levels. Taking out the "advance to max HD, collect $200" element, the rest of the template is also fairly unnecessary. Any creature that gains 3 or more feats from advancement can get +2 natural amor & +5' movement via feats. The ability score modifiers you listed can be gained by applying the Elite array, and frankly, a creature advanced to maximum HD usually has +8 strength, +4 constitution, and -2 dexterity from the size-category change. Which means the only thing this template really grants that isn't already covered by the existing rules is Tremorsense. So why do all these creatures have Tremorsense?
Prime32 10-18-06, 11:08 AM	I did this template a while ago, but it didn't get any responses. The dire template already advances creatures to maximum HD. The adjustments given are in addition to those from a size increase.
MrAdam 10-19-06, 10:50 AM	I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the "alpha creature" template has been done (In a third party book: Privateer Press' Monsternomicon- Praised be cthulhu I love that book) Now, I know NOBODY but me, incorperates third party matereals into D+D ("If it ain't WOTC, It ain't for me") but I just figured you should know
Derren S. 10-19-06, 11:11 AM	Imo this template is too powerfull and very hard to balance with its variable benefits. Imagine a wyrmling dragon with this template. Use fixed values instead "maximum of advancment".
Talisman 10-19-06, 03:26 PM	Now, I know NOBODY but me, incorperates third party matereals into D+D ("If it ain't WOTC, It ain't for me") but I just figured you should know Au contraire, MrAdam. Monsternomicon is cool, but Green Ronin reigns supreme as the producer of quality d20 products. Sword and Sorcery is interesting, if a little hit-or-miss.