Because it's funny: Help me design a Grue. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Because it's funny: Help me design a Grue. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Prator_the_Legendary
03-27-07, 08:59 PM For those of you who haven't played games such as Zork and other text RPGs where the grues come from, here's a link to the source of all wisdom regarding Grues: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grue_(monster)

I want to make a Grue monster myself. So far I haven't been able to determine much about it... Except that it should be a monster of roughly CR 20, suffer blindness when exposed to bright illumination, and have bite and claw attacks...
Dead_Weasel
03-27-07, 09:20 PM As a former Zork player I was extremely dissapointed to see that the "Elemental Grue" creatures had nothing whatsoever to do with Grues.

CR 20 seems appropriate, since there are almost no examples of grues being defeated in combat.

Severe light sensitivity is a must; anything other than perfect darkness should panic them. After 5 rounds of daylight-strength exposure they should be making Fort saves vs. death. Hide and Move Silently are things grues won't bother with; they should see normally in darkness and magical darkness for at least 120'. They need to move very quickly in order to get to adventurers who neglect to carry a light source. A minotaur's natural cunning is also a good fit, since a grue is always wandering dungeons and shouldn't be flatfooted.
Prator_the_Legendary
03-28-07, 11:16 AM Okay... That's fine for special abilities, but I'm thinking along the lines of base stats. See, that's hard to figure, because you're not supposed to actually FIGHT grues, and no one lives long enough to study one. I'm guessing high strength, dexterity, and constitution scores, with enough intelligence and wisdom to make one sentient without being smart. Charisma can be 1 for all I care. It probably is, too...
tripleee69
03-28-07, 02:57 PM Grue

exist in pure darkness and does not exist in the light*

feed off creatures and fear*

intelligent very

naturally invisible, AC 14(see invisible,true seeing let's you see a phatom like form but no true shape)
if you can't see it you can't hit it and you are consider flat footed when fighting it.

when it bites it deals a automatic 30 damage no reflex, remove body part(rend, fort DC 30).

a will save disbeleve DC 30 to banish a grue if you fail you can never try again.

*(if a grue's meal/s is isolated or traped it will try to scare it's meal feeding it making it stronger against the light giving it the abilty to push into the light (happend on the second day for me) if it get's fully into the light it is uneffected by light)
that's all i can remember i'll ask my DM when i see him next #editing in progress#
Prator_the_Legendary
03-28-07, 09:39 PM Hmmm... Maybe...

STR 20
DEX 18
CON 18
INT 16
WIS 10
CHA 1

HD 20d12 (144 HP)?
Sleepwalker13666
03-29-07, 05:00 AM I has some thoughts of this at work, I figure make it a large creature. I own a pixie bull frog and it's stomach defies physics so we can simply say there is no limit to the number of medium creatures in can store in it's stomach. Give it the swallow whole on a crit for free, and maybe as a free action it can make an opposed grapple check with a bite to swallow whole. Have it count as colossal for the purpose of opposed grapple checks. Last I was thinking of creatures with darkvision, they could make things less interesting so we can say like a shadow dragon it is invisible in poorly illuminated areas.
Prator_the_Legendary
03-29-07, 07:15 PM Okay, here's what we've got so far:

Grue (Huge Abberation)
HD 20d12 (144 HP)
AC 35 (+4 Dexterity, +23 natural, -2 size)
Strength: 20
Dexterity: 18
Constitution: 18
Intelligence: 16
Wisdom: 10
Charisma: 1

Fortitude: 12
Will: 8
Reflex: 10

Attacks:
2 claws +25 (1d12+4 slashing)
Bite +25 (1d20+4 piercing)

Skills:
Hide: 10
Move Silently: 10

Special Attacks:
Swallow Whole (Ex.): When a Grue makes a successful bite attack, it can automatically make a grapple check. If it succeeds on the grapple, the target is swallowed. The target suffers 4d6 acid and 2d6 bludgeoning damage for every round spent in the creatures stomach. It can cut its way out by dealing 10 points of damage to the stomache wall, using a small piercing weapon. Muscle reflex will close the hole after it exits. An infinite number of small or medium creatures can be in the Grue's stomach at once.

Rend (Ex): When the Grue hits with all its claw attacks, it automatically deals double damage.

Super-improved Grapple (Ex): The Grue counts as collossal for the purpose of making opposed grapple checks.

Special Qualities:
Creature of Darkness (Su): The Grue is treated as invisible in illumination that is poor or darker. Attacking the Grue in the dark has a 50% miss chance if you are attacking the right area. It also gains a +12 bonus to Hide and move silently checks when moving in darkness (not included in above stat block).

Fear of Light (Su): When exposed to bright illumination, a Grue is automatically blinded and panicked with no saving throw. If it spends 4 consecutive rounds in bright illumination, it must make a fortitude save (DC 24) or die. It must make this save again for each round in the light, with the DC increasing by 1 for each round after the first four.

Fear-feeder (Su): When a Grue is made visible, all targets who can see it must make a will save (DC 30). If they succeed, the Grue is Banished (as the spell) to whatever dark place Grues come from.

Darkvision (Ex): The Grue has darkvision up to 120 ft.

Dread Aura (Su): If a Grue is within 100 ft. of any creature, that creature will be able to sense the Grue's presence and must make a will save (DC 24) or be frightened.

Anyone want to add anything else?
fiendish_platypus
03-29-07, 07:32 PM Ummm... there's elemental grues in Complete Arcane, but they're like CR 2 or something.
420
03-29-07, 07:33 PM Anyone want to add anything else?
Well, if I remember correctly, when the lamp was out, there were a couple rounds of warning about the grue coming to get you. What about some kind of aura of dread or something that lets you know that, without light, something unstoppable and unspeakably hideous is approaching.

-420
Millennium
03-29-07, 09:16 PM I always figured that a gray render must be something like a grue.

"You are in Soviet Russia. It is dark. Grue is likely to be eaten by YOU!"
Prator_the_Legendary
03-30-07, 07:40 AM Edited to include Dread Aura.
PhaedrusXY
03-30-07, 11:53 AM "You are in Soviet Russia. It is dark. Grue is likely to be eaten by YOU!":rofl:
Khalarak Ironclaw
03-30-07, 11:33 PM The Elemental Grues in Complete Arcane have nothing to do with the Grue you're discussing, because they're intended to be updated versions of the Elemental Grues in the Planescape setting. They're pretty similar in form and abilities to those creatures, so I'd say Wizards did okay on 'em....just thought I'd point this out, carry on.
Prator_the_Legendary
03-31-07, 04:24 PM How, I wonder, did the Planescape Grues get their name then? I know of no Grues save for the ones from Zork and other text games...
feartheinvinceblehamster
03-31-07, 04:31 PM Hmmm... Maybe...

STR 20
DEX 18
CON 18
INT 16
WIS 10
CHA 1

HD 20d12 (144 HP)?

No, to few hitpoints, I think. A 20th level fighter could finish it off in a round.

How, I wonder, did the Planescape Grues get their name then? I know of no Grues save for the ones from Zork and other text games...

Read the wikipedia article. It's a predator in some of (or maybe just 1) Jack Vance's books.
Ltheb Liadon
03-31-07, 04:56 PM Quick and simple Grue in 2 easy steps:
1 - Take Grayrender (Or other big-but-not-too-big bruiser/grappler)
2 - Apply Shade Template (Forgotten realms)

Instant Grue. Lives in darkness (And is stronger within it). Pretty much kills any adventurer it wants.
Morrowner
04-01-07, 06:55 AM Instead of 20d12 it should have something like 32d8. Aberrations have d8s and a TON of HP.
272, not bad, but by no means great for a CR 20 creature. Maybe take the scores, make them non-standard array(add +3,+2+1+0-1-2), elite them, give him a few size increases and go from there.
Reyemile
04-01-07, 02:18 PM While I can't think of anything that does Charisma damage off the top of my head, a Charisma score of 1 makes the Grue really vulnerable; remember, when an ability score hits zero, you go into a coma.
Morrowner
04-02-07, 11:43 AM Yeah, that is why ego whip is the BOMB. Because creatures with lousy Charisma scores usually tend to have base poor will saves and low wisdoms, too. The Grue is an aberration, should have a killer will save, and most likely some Spell/Power Resistance.
Werebat
04-04-07, 05:47 PM For those of you who haven't played games such as Zork and other text RPGs where the grues come from, here's a link to the source of all wisdom regarding Grues: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grue_(monster)

I want to make a Grue monster myself. So far I haven't been able to determine much about it... Except that it should be a monster of roughly CR 20, suffer blindness when exposed to bright illumination, and have bite and claw attacks...

I like Grues a lot too... But I'm not sure they need to be CR 20. Yeah, they weren't defeated in Zork but then neither were dragons or many other monsters (a troll is killed in the first game and I can't think of any other real combats). Remember that whenever they fight anything, their prey is effectively blind, which makes the combat a lot easier for them.

I've always pictured them as pitch-black creatures with claws and (slavering) fangs. Size Medium, although and advanced one might possibly be Large (then again they might advance by character class, probably fighter and/or rogue). Grues are described as being "sharp" (clawed and fanged) but not overlarge. Superior Darkvision, Vulnerability to light, the usual.

They do need some sort of Shadowjump ability because they never seem to get caught in dead ends by people wandering about with lamps.

- Ron ^*^
SpoonyBard
04-05-07, 06:19 PM Grue should have Sneak Attack +a lot. They pounce you in the dark, and then you just die.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Prator_the_Legendary 03-27-07, 08:59 PM	For those of you who haven't played games such as Zork and other text RPGs where the grues come from, here's a link to the source of all wisdom regarding Grues: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grue_(monster) I want to make a Grue monster myself. So far I haven't been able to determine much about it... Except that it should be a monster of roughly CR 20, suffer blindness when exposed to bright illumination, and have bite and claw attacks...
Dead_Weasel 03-27-07, 09:20 PM	As a former Zork player I was extremely dissapointed to see that the "Elemental Grue" creatures had nothing whatsoever to do with Grues. CR 20 seems appropriate, since there are almost no examples of grues being defeated in combat. Severe light sensitivity is a must; anything other than perfect darkness should panic them. After 5 rounds of daylight-strength exposure they should be making Fort saves vs. death. Hide and Move Silently are things grues won't bother with; they should see normally in darkness and magical darkness for at least 120'. They need to move very quickly in order to get to adventurers who neglect to carry a light source. A minotaur's natural cunning is also a good fit, since a grue is always wandering dungeons and shouldn't be flatfooted.
Prator_the_Legendary 03-28-07, 11:16 AM	Okay... That's fine for special abilities, but I'm thinking along the lines of base stats. See, that's hard to figure, because you're not supposed to actually FIGHT grues, and no one lives long enough to study one. I'm guessing high strength, dexterity, and constitution scores, with enough intelligence and wisdom to make one sentient without being smart. Charisma can be 1 for all I care. It probably is, too...
tripleee69 03-28-07, 02:57 PM	Grue exist in pure darkness and does not exist in the light* feed off creatures and fear* intelligent very naturally invisible, AC 14(see invisible,true seeing let's you see a phatom like form but no true shape) if you can't see it you can't hit it and you are consider flat footed when fighting it. when it bites it deals a automatic 30 damage no reflex, remove body part(rend, fort DC 30). a will save disbeleve DC 30 to banish a grue if you fail you can never try again. *(if a grue's meal/s is isolated or traped it will try to scare it's meal feeding it making it stronger against the light giving it the abilty to push into the light (happend on the second day for me) if it get's fully into the light it is uneffected by light) that's all i can remember i'll ask my DM when i see him next #editing in progress#
Prator_the_Legendary 03-28-07, 09:39 PM	Hmmm... Maybe... STR 20 DEX 18 CON 18 INT 16 WIS 10 CHA 1 HD 20d12 (144 HP)?
Sleepwalker13666 03-29-07, 05:00 AM	I has some thoughts of this at work, I figure make it a large creature. I own a pixie bull frog and it's stomach defies physics so we can simply say there is no limit to the number of medium creatures in can store in it's stomach. Give it the swallow whole on a crit for free, and maybe as a free action it can make an opposed grapple check with a bite to swallow whole. Have it count as colossal for the purpose of opposed grapple checks. Last I was thinking of creatures with darkvision, they could make things less interesting so we can say like a shadow dragon it is invisible in poorly illuminated areas.
Prator_the_Legendary 03-29-07, 07:15 PM	Okay, here's what we've got so far: Grue (Huge Abberation) HD 20d12 (144 HP) AC 35 (+4 Dexterity, +23 natural, -2 size) Strength: 20 Dexterity: 18 Constitution: 18 Intelligence: 16 Wisdom: 10 Charisma: 1 Fortitude: 12 Will: 8 Reflex: 10 Attacks: 2 claws +25 (1d12+4 slashing) Bite +25 (1d20+4 piercing) Skills: Hide: 10 Move Silently: 10 Special Attacks: Swallow Whole (Ex.): When a Grue makes a successful bite attack, it can automatically make a grapple check. If it succeeds on the grapple, the target is swallowed. The target suffers 4d6 acid and 2d6 bludgeoning damage for every round spent in the creatures stomach. It can cut its way out by dealing 10 points of damage to the stomache wall, using a small piercing weapon. Muscle reflex will close the hole after it exits. An infinite number of small or medium creatures can be in the Grue's stomach at once. Rend (Ex): When the Grue hits with all its claw attacks, it automatically deals double damage. Super-improved Grapple (Ex): The Grue counts as collossal for the purpose of making opposed grapple checks. Special Qualities: Creature of Darkness (Su): The Grue is treated as invisible in illumination that is poor or darker. Attacking the Grue in the dark has a 50% miss chance if you are attacking the right area. It also gains a +12 bonus to Hide and move silently checks when moving in darkness (not included in above stat block). Fear of Light (Su): When exposed to bright illumination, a Grue is automatically blinded and panicked with no saving throw. If it spends 4 consecutive rounds in bright illumination, it must make a fortitude save (DC 24) or die. It must make this save again for each round in the light, with the DC increasing by 1 for each round after the first four. Fear-feeder (Su): When a Grue is made visible, all targets who can see it must make a will save (DC 30). If they succeed, the Grue is Banished (as the spell) to whatever dark place Grues come from. Darkvision (Ex): The Grue has darkvision up to 120 ft. Dread Aura (Su): If a Grue is within 100 ft. of any creature, that creature will be able to sense the Grue's presence and must make a will save (DC 24) or be frightened. Anyone want to add anything else?
fiendish_platypus 03-29-07, 07:32 PM	Ummm... there's elemental grues in Complete Arcane, but they're like CR 2 or something.
420 03-29-07, 07:33 PM	Anyone want to add anything else? Well, if I remember correctly, when the lamp was out, there were a couple rounds of warning about the grue coming to get you. What about some kind of aura of dread or something that lets you know that, without light, something unstoppable and unspeakably hideous is approaching. -420
Millennium 03-29-07, 09:16 PM	I always figured that a gray render must be something like a grue. "You are in Soviet Russia. It is dark. Grue is likely to be eaten by YOU!"
Prator_the_Legendary 03-30-07, 07:40 AM	Edited to include Dread Aura.
PhaedrusXY 03-30-07, 11:53 AM	"You are in Soviet Russia. It is dark. Grue is likely to be eaten by YOU!":rofl:
Khalarak Ironclaw 03-30-07, 11:33 PM	The Elemental Grues in Complete Arcane have nothing to do with the Grue you're discussing, because they're intended to be updated versions of the Elemental Grues in the Planescape setting. They're pretty similar in form and abilities to those creatures, so I'd say Wizards did okay on 'em....just thought I'd point this out, carry on.
Prator_the_Legendary 03-31-07, 04:24 PM	How, I wonder, did the Planescape Grues get their name then? I know of no Grues save for the ones from Zork and other text games...
feartheinvinceblehamster 03-31-07, 04:31 PM	Hmmm... Maybe... STR 20 DEX 18 CON 18 INT 16 WIS 10 CHA 1 HD 20d12 (144 HP)? No, to few hitpoints, I think. A 20th level fighter could finish it off in a round. How, I wonder, did the Planescape Grues get their name then? I know of no Grues save for the ones from Zork and other text games... Read the wikipedia article. It's a predator in some of (or maybe just 1) Jack Vance's books.
Ltheb Liadon 03-31-07, 04:56 PM	Quick and simple Grue in 2 easy steps: 1 - Take Grayrender (Or other big-but-not-too-big bruiser/grappler) 2 - Apply Shade Template (Forgotten realms) Instant Grue. Lives in darkness (And is stronger within it). Pretty much kills any adventurer it wants.
Morrowner 04-01-07, 06:55 AM	Instead of 20d12 it should have something like 32d8. Aberrations have d8s and a TON of HP. 272, not bad, but by no means great for a CR 20 creature. Maybe take the scores, make them non-standard array(add +3,+2+1+0-1-2), elite them, give him a few size increases and go from there.
Reyemile 04-01-07, 02:18 PM	While I can't think of anything that does Charisma damage off the top of my head, a Charisma score of 1 makes the Grue really vulnerable; remember, when an ability score hits zero, you go into a coma.
Morrowner 04-02-07, 11:43 AM	Yeah, that is why ego whip is the BOMB. Because creatures with lousy Charisma scores usually tend to have base poor will saves and low wisdoms, too. The Grue is an aberration, should have a killer will save, and most likely some Spell/Power Resistance.
Werebat 04-04-07, 05:47 PM	For those of you who haven't played games such as Zork and other text RPGs where the grues come from, here's a link to the source of all wisdom regarding Grues: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grue_(monster) I want to make a Grue monster myself. So far I haven't been able to determine much about it... Except that it should be a monster of roughly CR 20, suffer blindness when exposed to bright illumination, and have bite and claw attacks... I like Grues a lot too... But I'm not sure they need to be CR 20. Yeah, they weren't defeated in Zork but then neither were dragons or many other monsters (a troll is killed in the first game and I can't think of any other real combats). Remember that whenever they fight anything, their prey is effectively blind, which makes the combat a lot easier for them. I've always pictured them as pitch-black creatures with claws and (slavering) fangs. Size Medium, although and advanced one might possibly be Large (then again they might advance by character class, probably fighter and/or rogue). Grues are described as being "sharp" (clawed and fanged) but not overlarge. Superior Darkvision, Vulnerability to light, the usual. They do need some sort of Shadowjump ability because they never seem to get caught in dead ends by people wandering about with lamps. - Ron ^*^
SpoonyBard 04-05-07, 06:19 PM	Grue should have Sneak Attack +a lot. They pounce you in the dark, and then you just die.