Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xiuhcoatl 01-07-08, 01:48 PM	http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/obrysii/cloverfieldPart2.jpg Edit: found the source (http://dougblot.blogspot.com/search?q=cloverfield) The Quedaelor ("Whalesquids") History: Strange creatures from a strange world, of ancient origin, the Quedaelor are a largely mysterious race of unknown origin. Some claim that ancient Aboleth wizards worked potent magics on the whales and other ocean-faring species that populated the primordial seas to produce a servant race that shared their aberrant stylings. Personality: Though of ancient, alien origins, the Quedaelor possess strangely human personalities: they long for adventure, for exceeding the boundary that fate had decree, and to become some master of their domain. They are aware of their mutant history, and their lack of any real home; they are aware that their forms give sickness to some, but they strive to surpass this. Physical Description: A strange combination of whale, lobster, and squid, the Quedaelor are a striking definition of aberration. Their bodies are like that of a whale, with a long serpentine tail ending in a small fluke, with muscular, clawed arms like those of a dragon just behind their undersized pectoral fins. Further along their muscular, blackish body, are two pairs of large fins, like oversized swimmerets of a lobster. Sprouting from their back, just above and behind the rear set of fins, are two long and slender tentacles—like those main attack tentacles of a squid. All along their undersides, thin hair-like growths cover them, helping to lubricate their movements while on land—which is decidedly clumsy. Alignment: Quedaelor have no particular alignment; each population favors some alignment, however. The magics that created them in service to the Aboleths have lended them a lawful tendency, but this is not universal. Relations: Seen as monsters or at best freaks of nature, the Quedaelor live a largely lonely life when outside of their pods. Some creatures—other more neutral aberrations—see pity to them, but most are prejudice against them. As a mutant combination of several species, these beings often keep to the shadows or hide their forms with magic. Religion: The Quedaelor typically worship the Aboleth gods, but as with their alignment, there is no universal religion. Names: These beings speak in a deep song, and so their names are hard to render in a humanoid tongue. Most are given nicknames by their traveling companion. Language: Quedaelor are blessed with a whale’s talent of vocalization, and speak in a deep, resonating language known as Quedae. Adventurers: Quedaelor can be found in any occupation, although their physique often renders them unable to wield humanoid weapons. Whathasquas Racial Traits *Str +4, Dex –2, Con +2. Quedaelor are strong and durable, but not very dexterious. *Size: Medium. They have no advantage or disadvantage due to their size. *Speed: 10ft., Swim 60ft. Quedaelor must drag themselves on the ground as they move, making them slow on land. As a result of their swim speed, they have a +8 racial bonus on Swim checks. *Aberration-type. *Natural Armor +4. Their naturally tough, carapace-like outer skin grants them considerable protection. *Natural Attacks: Quedaelor have two claw attacks, dealing 1d6 plus their strength score. These are its primary attacks. They also have two tentacle attacks, which have a ten-foot reach and deal 1d4 plus half their strength score. These are secondary attacks. *Sonar (ex): While in water, Quedaelor have sound-based blindsense out to 60ft. *Water breathing (ex): Quedaelor can breath water as well as they can breath air. *Pressure Immunity (ex): Quedaelor do not take pressure damage due to water depth. *Racial HD: Quedaelor have two racial HD, providing them 2d8 hit points, and all of the other benefits associated with hit dice. Its racial skills are Listen, Hide, Spot, Survival, and Swim. *Level Adjustment +2
Xiuhcoatl 01-09-08, 08:51 AM	I suppose this was too alien to be widely accepted?
Japan_the_cougar 01-10-08, 03:47 AM	Hey. I'd wanted to make the Cloverfield monster as the actual, skyscraper-sized thing that it is, but you took it in a direction that I hadn't expected. Kudos for that alone. Now, let us look at the beast: First, it has four attacks, far more than a 2nd level fighter. +1 LA Second, unbalanced ability scores. Maybe if it had an Int penalty, there would be no need for a level adjustment in that part, but for now: +1 Now, virtually immobile: that is easily worth -1 to the LA. The swim speed isn't worth an adjustment by itself. +4 nat armor is also a +1 sonar, water breathing, and pressure immunity are all relatively minor abilities not worth adjusting the ECL. The description also said that they aren't able to wield humanoid weapons very well. That, along with the non-humanoid body, puts them at a disadvantage when trying to get equipment. I usually reason that is worth a -1 to a LA. ```` So, if you skipped all that jumbled text-thinking, I see the level adjustment being pretty good right now. If it had a -2 Int penalty, though, that would knock another -1 to the LA. I would play one of these, if not simply for the WTF factor. Give one of these a level of barbarian and it turns into a killing machine at halfling speed. Nice work, Xiuhcoutl.
bhu 01-10-08, 04:27 AM	I actually prefer to play freaky non humanoid pc's. Kudos.
Xiuhcoatl 01-10-08, 08:54 AM	It does have 2 racial HD, so it is technically ECL 4 before class levels... I thank you both for your feedback. Bhu, I too (of course), love freaky nonhumanoid races - I was very disappointed when Stormwrack didn't have a more whaleish race in it ... and when I saw this picture, I thought: wouldn't it be a neat twist to make this human-sized?
Orenmir 01-10-08, 09:56 AM	I gotta ask... How'd you come up with that name? When I saw it first, I thought: "What has quas?" What is quas?
Xiuhcoatl 01-10-08, 10:33 AM	:P It was an amalgam of Whale-Serpent-Squid, I guess ... I suck at naming things (I played a Vanara named Dr. Zaius, for crying out loud!). If you could come up with a better name, I'd be very thankful.
Devigod 01-10-08, 05:35 PM	Okay, here's what I'd name them: Kethoreth Or: Gugnir Or: Quedaelor(r) -One or two Rs I dunno, just some stabs in the dark. I like the concept and creature. Kudos.
Xiuhcoatl 01-10-08, 06:10 PM	Those are much better. I'll edit my first post. Thank you. :D
Avolakian 01-10-08, 06:43 PM	Dude this thing is awsome. This is just the kind of weird thing I would love to sick on my PCs. My head is swimming in all the possibilities, it could be an Elder Evil cultist or a Underdark horror, I also love how it doesn't have a Int penalty so weird wizard thing is a possibility to. The only thing I think I should note is that you don't have what skills it has as class skills for it's racial skill points. Swim is an obvious one, and you only need two or three so I would also say Hide and Spot should be class skills to. Overall nice job.
Devigod 01-10-08, 07:03 PM	Awright!! My stab in the dark seems to have struck it's mark. (<- That even rhymed) Cool, glad to provide a name. Two questions: One, is it immune to crits and stunning as an aberration? Two: Can it use manufactured weapons? Does it use it's tentacles and count them as secondary? Just checking. Can I put this in my sig. under 'cool things others have done?'
Xiuhcoatl 01-10-08, 07:35 PM	Dude this thing is awsome. This is just the kind of weird thing I would love to sick on my PCs. My head is swimming in all the possibilities, it could be an Elder Evil cultist or a Underdark horror, I also love how it doesn't have a Int penalty so weird wizard thing is a possibility to. The only thing I think I should note is that you don't have what skills it has as class skills for it's racial skill points. Swim is an obvious one, and you only need two or three so I would also say Hide and Spot should be class skills to. Overall nice job. Thank you for pointing that out. I have since edited my first post and provided racial skills for it. I hope they are appropriate. I, too, am using these for an Underdark-like horror, for in my campaign there is a massive inland sea that the PCs will have to explore at some point. The Aboleths are the principle power in the deeper parts, where most monsters cannot dwell, and so these are their servants. Two questions: One, is it immune to crits and stunning as an aberration? Aberrations are not immune to critical hits and stunning...so neither is the Quedaelor. Two: Can it use manufactured weapons? Does it use it's tentacles and count them as secondary? My first instinct is to say no, they can't use normal manufactured weapons. I do not know if they would be balanced otherwise. The natural attack description lists its tentacles as having reach (10ft) and dealing 1d4 damage. They are considered secondary attacks. Can I put this in my sig. under 'cool things others have done?' Certainly. :)
Xiuhcoatl 01-13-08, 02:34 PM	Does anyone else have any opinion of this?
Bihlbo 01-14-08, 12:05 PM	I have a difficult time wrapping my head around this being a PC race. Why isn't it just an intelligent Aberration and statted out like any other monster? They are unable to wield tools, much less weapons, so it's not very realistic that they would develop ways to make armor or weapons. They can't write with those appendages either. So that means they have no reason to advance as a barbarian, cleric, fighter, paladin, ranger, rogue, or wizard. And if they did advance as a bard, druid, or sorcerer they would gain no benefit from the weapon and armor proficiencies. I just don't see a reason for this being a "race" instead of a monster.
Xiuhcoatl 01-14-08, 12:47 PM	I just don't see a reason for this being a "race" instead of a monster. I just don't see a reason why it cannot be both.
Clem-Da-Squig 01-16-08, 12:28 AM	I'm gonna start an all Quedaelor party!