Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bawitda 10-27-06, 10:50 PM	I was going to submit this for the UnCon contest, but I wasn't able to access it until today (my own fault for not backing it up). Anyhow, here it is. Figure I might as well show it here. Be gentle, it's my first monster. ---------------- Hyrak knew there was something different about the rocks. They were too angular, too regular to be natural. Some sort of structure? He had heard tales of old cults and strange tribes on these islands. He motioned to his fellow legionaires to stop. He stepped forward gingerly, wary of the loose rocks underfoot. He tapped the rocks with the butt of his spear. Instead of the expected knock of wood on rock, it gave a dull smack, as though he'd hit a slab of beef. The rocks quivered, and he jumped back with a curse. A fissure opened in the rock, and something stepped out. For a moment, Hyrak thought it might have been another legionaire. Its armor was of the same design as his own, but had the same dull brown color as the 'rock' it came from. It carried the same style of spear. Then it began to move, and he saw other differences. There was no break between armor and skin, if skin it had. The spear grew out of the hand. The face was almost identical to his own, but the lips didn't separate, and the nostrils were plugged by more of the same dull brown. Only the eyes gave some break in color. They were black, with red streaks running through them. It thrust its spear at him, and the battle was joined. Geminus Size/Type: Huge Aberration Hit Dice: 8d8+40 (76 hp) Initiative: 0 Speed: 0 ft. Armor Class: 21 (-2 size, -5 Dex, +10 natural, +8 Misc), touch 11, flatfooted 21 Base Attack/Grapple: +6/– Attack: – Full Attack: – Space/Reach: 15 ft./0 ft. Special Attacks: Psi-like Abilities, Unnatural Genesis Special Qualities: Damage reduction 5/adamantine, darkvision 60 ft., power resistance 19, Camouflage, Unnatural Physiology, Perverse Dodge, Greater Entropic Shield Saves: Fort +6, Ref +0, Will +8 Abilities: Str –, Dex –, Con 18, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 26 Skills: Concentration 15, Hide +3, Listen +2, Spot +2 Feats: Create Psionic Seal, Improved Toughness, Lightning Reflexes Environment: Any Temperate Organization: Solitary Challenge Rating: ? Treasure: None Alignment: Usually Chaotic Neutral Advancement: 8-12 HD (Huge), 13-17 HD (Gargantuan), 18 HD+ (Colossal) Level Adjustment: – The Geminus resembles a pile of rock, generally in the same color as the local stone. Close examination will show that its far too angular, almost crystalline. Hidden within this mass are crystalline eyes, small holes through which it breathes, and a large orifice that serves as both mouth and stomach. It can be found in any temperate climate. It is fixed in place, and would be nearly defenseless, if it wasn't able to create its own minions. These creatures, copied from those that come within view of the Geminus, are its primary means of defense, and its hunting tools. They attempt to capture anything that comes near the Geminus, tearing it to pieces and feeding them into the maw, before returning themselves. A geminus is not very intelligent, and tends not to be very far-thinking. Though it is possible to make a deal with one, it will usually go for quick gratification rather than hold off for the possibility of a larger meal later. They can understand, though not speak, terran. Camouflage (Ex): The Geminus is the same color as the native rock, whether brown, grey, or speckled. This gives the creature a +16 bonus to hide checks to remain unnoticed. Unnatural Genesis (Ex): The Geminus can copy any creature within sixty feet that's at least two size categories smaller than it, releasing an Aberrant Ectype from a fissure that appears on its surface. This is a full round action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The Geminus cannot create more than four times its hit dice in Aberrant Ectypes a day. It can choose to make ectypes with fewer hit dice than the original creature, but not more, nor more than the Geminus. It can direct the ectypes as a free action. Psi-like Abilities: 1/day--Fate Link(DC 21); 3/day-- Attraction(DC 19), Cloud Mind (DC 20), Swarm of Crystals; at will--Far Hand, Inertial Armor. Save DCs are charisma based. Manifester level is fifth. Unnatural Physiology (Ex): The Geminus is immune to critical hits. Perverse Dodge (Su): The Geminus can distract its foes, keeping blows aimed at it from landing straight. It adds its charisma to its AC. Greater Entropic Shield (Su): Ranged attacks against the Geminus suffer a 50% miss chance as unnatural harmonies around the creature cause them to go astray. Tactics A Geminus prefers to attack at night, when it can take full advantage of its darkvision. When presented with a group, the Geminus will generally copy the most physically intimidating creature it sees, choosing those with impressive weapons or armor (whether natural or manufactured). Once it has copied one, it will look for the next-most powerful creature, often choosing one with abilities different from the first (i.e. a fast, mobile creature after a slow-moving but physically powerful creature). If there is only one that appears physically powerful, it will simply copy that one over and over again. If there is apparent difference between targets, it will choose the closest. It generally will not make more copies than there are nearby creatures, unless the battle goes poorly. Once battle is fairly joined, it uses its psi-like abilities to support its creations. Aberrant Ectype Aberrant Ectypes are copies created by the Geminus. They can be copied from any corporeal creature at least two size categories smaller than the Geminus. They resemble the original creature, except that they are all in one piece. They are the same color as the Geminus that spawned them, save for their eyes, which are dark with red streaks running through them. They last for twenty-four hours before dying. They can travel only five hundred feet from the Geminus before they are no longer in mental contact, at which point they wander aimlessly and attack the closest creatures they see, including other ectypes. They are treated here as templates on the original creatures. Size and Type: The ectype's size is the same as the original creature. Its type is aberration. Hit Dice: The ectype's hit dice are d8, equal to or fewer than the base creature's. Speed: The ectype has all forms of movement as the base creature. Armor Class: The ectype gains the armor, shield and natural armor bonuses of the base creature, minus any enhancement bonuses. All bonuses are added into a new natural armor bonus Base Attack: The ectype has base attack bonus equal to its hit dice. Attacks: The ectype has any natural weapons of the base creatures had, as well as any weapons (which are then treated as natural weapons). Damage: All weapons deal damage normally. Special Attacks: The ectype does not gain any special attacks the base creature had (but see Preternatural Mimicry) Special Qualities: The ectype loses any special qualities of the base creature, gains darkvision 60', immunity to critical hits, immunity to mind-affecting spells and effects, and the following special qualitis: Preternatural Mimicry (Su): The ectype can use extraordinary abilities it sees used (for example, a monk's speed, feats such as power attack, evasion, or most maneuvers). It can only learn a certain number of abilities. It has a number of slots for new abilities equal to half its hit dice. When it learns an ability, that slot is filled. Psionic Seal (Ps): An ectype is created with a psionic seal possessed of the swarm of crystals power. It is triggered when the ectype reaches -10 hit points. Saves: Base save bonuses are Fort +1/3 Hit Dice, Ref +1/3 Hit Dice, Will +1/2 Hit Dice +2 Abilities: Physical abilities are the same as the base creature, minus any magical or psionic enhancements. It has no intelligence score. Its wisdom is 10, and its charisma is 1. Skills: An ectype has no skills Feats: An ectype has no feats of the original creature (but see Preternatural Mimicry) Environment:[/b] Any Temperate Organization: – Challenge Rating: Included in the Geminus Treasure: None Alignment: For all purposes relating to spells and effects, the same as the Geminus Advancement: – Level Adjustment: – The following Aberrant Ectype uses a fourth level human fighter as its base. Aberrant Ectype Size/Type: Medium Aberration Hit Dice: 4d8+8 (26 hp) Initiative: +1 Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares) Armor Class: 21 (+1 Dex, +10 natural armor), touch 11, flat-footed 20 Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+7 Attack: Masterwork Longsword +7 melee (1d8+3/19-20) Full Attack: Masterwork Longsword +7 melee (1d8+3/19-20) Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. Special Attacks: Power Attack Special Qualities: Darkvision 60' Immunity to Critical Hits Immunity to Mind-affecting Spells and Effects Preternatural Mimicry: The ectype can use extraordinary abilities it sees used (for example, a monk's speed, feats such as power attack, evasion, or most maneuvers). It can only learn two abilities, one for ever two hit dice it has. The example ecytpe has learned power attack, and can learn one other extraordinary ability. Saves: Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +4 Abilities: Str 16, Dex 13, Con 14, Int --, Wis 10, Cha 1 Skills: None Feats: None Environment: Any Temperate Organization: -- Challenge Rating: Included in Geminus Treasure: Standard [b]Alignment:[b] For all purposes related to spells and effects, chaotic neutral Advancement: -- Level Adjustment: --
Lord_Canius 10-27-06, 11:31 PM	Pretty damn cool, for a first monster! I like it mate, can't wait to see another!
Soel Griffin 10-28-06, 01:57 AM	Yessir this is good! I do indeed like this! My players will too, even as it is grinding them up! I suggest a CR of 12 as a starting point. The abberant ectypes is kinda tricky though.
Bawitda 10-28-06, 02:24 AM	Yeah, it's a bit like the undead. A party with a cleric and a paladin are going to have a much easier time against undead than one without. An all-caster party (cleric, wizard, beguiler, druid) is going to have a pretty easy time against the Geminus, since they have no extraordinary abilities for them to copy. One with, say, a monk, a fighter, and any martial adept, on the other hand...
Watchdog_of_Hades 10-28-06, 10:54 AM	What's an aberrant ectypes?
Bawitda 10-28-06, 04:40 PM	Scroll down. It's the last section of the post. They're copies created by the Geminus. If you're asking about the name, on the other hand... An ectype is a term related to archetype. The archetype is the most basic, most perfect form of a role. He's the example always brought forth of that ideal. Merlin the wise wizard, Gilgamesh the hero-king, Coyote the trickster, these are all archetypes from mythology. It's very difficult to create a character without hearkening back to some archetype or other. They resonate with us, and we tend to use them subconsciously. An ectype is a sort of copy of the archetype, but imperfect in some way. Perseus was the archetypal Greek hero. He finds a clever way to defeat the monster, beats the sea monster, and gets the girl. He gets the tools of the gods, ends up a king, and his form is placed up in the heavens. And he never succumbs to hubris. He's the ideal of what the ancient Greeks thought a hero should be. On the other hand, Theseus is an ectype. He's also a hero, a child of the gods. He defeats a monster, escapes a wicked king, all using his cunning and strength. But he comes up short. He abandons his new wife, causes his father's death, and then he challenges the gods themselves, which never ends well in Greek Mythology. He undergoes the same sort of journey as Perseus, but he never achieves quite as much. He fails to quite uphold the ideal the way Perseus does. This also puts him into a seperate archetype, but that's all right. Characters can fit more than one role at a time. In the role of hero, he fails, though he comes close. Given the archetypal nature of D&D, it seemed natural to use the name.
Watchdog_of_Hades 10-28-06, 04:49 PM	Ah. I was asking about stats. And I agree that they're difficult to stat.
Bawitda 10-28-06, 05:25 PM	Ah, they don't have default stats. They're treated as a template, not a specific creature.
Watchdog_of_Hades 10-28-06, 05:40 PM	I got that. I meant "figure into the CR." Come to think of it, that makes no sense. Don't read anything I type from now on.
Bawitda 10-28-06, 05:50 PM	Ah! I see what you're saying now. You meant what an aberrant ectype's CR was. The lack of an apostrophe threw me. Yes, they're the main factor in figuring out the CR of the Geminus. I'm just not much good at figuring CR.
Watchdog_of_Hades 10-28-06, 06:18 PM	I'd never be so vague and wrong as to leave out a possessive apostrophe and the thing... never mind. Edit: aha! Unnatural Genesis (Ex): The Geminus can copy any creature within sixty feet that's at least two size categories smaller than it, releasing an Aberrant Ectypes from a fissure that appears on its surface.I thought that "ectypes" was singular.
R.M.G.C.L.F. 10-29-06, 12:07 AM	I think the creature deserves the earth subtype. After all, it is a living rock formation. It might be clearer if you gave a sample creature for the ectype. Personally, I thought it was "ectype" because they were made from ectoplasm. PR stands for Power Resistance, not Psionic Resistance. A very intriguing creation. I think you should add in more description. You say the copies feed it, but we have no idea what it eats, what motivates it, what makes it tick. Flesh it out more, give us insight into the psychology and ecology of its cloning-rock world.
Bawitda 10-31-06, 03:14 AM	Okay, I've added a bit more information, as well as a sample ectype.
Bawitda 11-02-06, 08:15 PM	I made a minor mistake on the example Ectype's armor class. It's fixed now.
Bawitda 02-26-07, 02:32 AM	I'm once again bumping this thread because I'm once again DMing, and I'd like to use this creature eventually. Anyone have any further suggestions for improvement or CR?
Bawitda 02-28-07, 10:17 PM	Who do you need to bump to get a PEACH in this town?
drakkonflye 03-01-07, 03:11 AM	Instead of saying the aberrant ectype is LIKE a template, just make it a template and note what type of creatures it can be applied to. Use the templates in the SRD or MM as examples of how to write it up. Does the geminus use its ability to create aberrant ectypes of any corporeal creature? Or does it choose to ignore certain creature types such as undead, plant, aberration, etc.? CR 12 works for the geminus. For the ectype, I recommend CR equal to base creature +3 due to all the immunities it has. I do have one question though: I'm not really up to date on psionics; What is a "psionic seal"? More importantly, what does it do? *Note: I changed what I was going to say after rereading the original creature post. I apparently misread it the first time through (what can I say? late night! ;-)
drakkonflye 03-01-07, 03:22 AM	Oh yeah, almost forgot: I think, although I'm sure others can clarify for me, that Unnatural Genesis should be listed in the stats block under Special Attacks. Either that or under Special Qualities, although SA seems right to me.
Bawitda 03-01-07, 03:49 PM	The reason I say it's like a template is that a template modifies the original creature, generally, which would imply that the Geminus is actually changing the PC, which isn't happening here. But it's a good call on what creatures can be copied. I've added that in. And thanks for pointing out I'd missed Unnatural Genesis in the Special Attacks section. Because they're effectively a special ability of the Geminus, I don't think that Ectypes should have a CR of their own. Just like a marilith summoned by a balor doesn't figure into the CR of the encounter. The ectypes should be figured into the Geminus' CR. Psionic Seal is from Lords of Madness. It's a crafting feat, sort of like Craft Contingency for magic. It allows you to place powers on something to be triggered when the conditions you set are met. In this case, swarm of crystals when the ectypes reach -10 hit points.