Mindflayer PC rules - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Mindflayer PC rules

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
matthewstryker
Jul 18, 2009 0:42:10 It's been over a year. I can't believe I'm still waiting on rules for playing a mindflayer.

Anyone know if WotC is releasing rules on this anytime soon? Maybe it'll be a preview for PHB3 to coincide with the Psionic power source?

In the meantime, what would you recommend for mindflayer stats?
#2
MrCelsius
Jul 18, 2009 0:56:38 Int/Cha. Makes them great Telepaths and also allows for Wiz/Sorc like back in the old days. Bonuses to Dungeoneering and Arcana, darkvision, speed 6, Common and Deep Speech, and maybe a +2 to grab attacks if you're feeling really simulationist. For a racial, give them the dragonborn close blast with psychic damage, call it Mind Blast. Done.
#3
ekluag
Jul 19, 2009 15:00:52 Me and a friend actually did what we think is a pretty good stat up of Illithids for a race, with feats and two PPs. I can post it if you want. Yes, it is Int./Cha. We did give it a drow-type racial deal between mind blast and an eat you brain power. One feats lets you do both, again like the drow.
#4
ranadiel
Jul 19, 2009 15:06:38
Anyone know if WotC is releasing rules on this anytime soon? Maybe it'll be a preview for PHB3 to coincide with the Psionic power source?

Considering they were in MM1 and didn't get NPC stats, I'd guess that they will probably not be releasing rules any time soon.
#5
doctorhook
Jul 19, 2009 16:41:43
It's been over a year. I can't believe I'm still waiting on rules for playing a mindflayer.

Anyone know if WotC is releasing rules on this anytime soon? Maybe it'll be a preview for PHB3 to coincide with the Psionic power source?

You must be out of your mind!
#6
MrCelsius
Jul 19, 2009 17:07:42
You must be out of your mind!

Assuming you weren't simply trying for a pun, why? What's so absurd about a mindflayer PC? Sure, my 3e-brain (it's like the primitive lizard brain, only less evolved) screams at the notion of a player using a race of such power, but 4e has fixed that. Monstrous races are just more races when players have their hands on them. Look at the minotaur write-up for an example of this.

I, for one, would love a write-up for Illithids to coincide with the PH3. It'd be fun to play one some time, even if I'd sooner like to play in a rrakma party which hunts the buggers down.
#7
Arcane_Guyver
Jul 19, 2009 17:13:53
Assuming you weren't simply trying for a pun, why?

Perhaps...what in our collective experience with official WotC products would lead one to believe that they are interested in making Mind Flayers playable? They aren't even player-friendly in Eberron, one of the few official settings with monster PC love.
#8
thax
Jul 19, 2009 18:54:00 No.

Just No.
#9
princemercia
Jul 19, 2009 23:28:22
Assuming you weren't simply trying for a pun, why? What's so absurd about a mindflayer PC? Sure, my 3e-brain (it's like the primitive lizard brain, only less evolved) screams at the notion of a player using a race of such power, but 4e has fixed that. Monstrous races are just more races when players have their hands on them. Look at the minotaur write-up for an example of this.

I, for one, would love a write-up for Illithids to coincide with the PH3. It'd be fun to play one some time, even if I'd sooner like to play in a rrakma party which hunts the buggers down.

I, for one, would absolutely hate it. So much that I believe I would disown D&D, tell everyone that knew anything about D&D and they would laugh at it like a joke. Why you might ask?

Because Mindflayers have been around from the beginning and they don't play well with anyone. They eat brains and work as a collective or rogue crazies running around. That's it.

For WOTC to make Illithids a playable race would be them sanctioning Mindflayers to be played. You would have to house rule that your players could not play mindflayers. If you want to play a mindflayer in your game, that's great...it's your game. But if you do, it should be a house rule you have to instate. What's next? A Beholder PC? I mean c'mon this is still an RPG right? How about looking at a Monster and ask...could this guy be a PC? If you think so, explain it thematically not mechanically. If you can't explain it thematically, then he shouldn't be a PC.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 matthewstryker Jul 18, 2009 0:42:10	It's been over a year. I can't believe I'm still waiting on rules for playing a mindflayer. Anyone know if WotC is releasing rules on this anytime soon? Maybe it'll be a preview for PHB3 to coincide with the Psionic power source? In the meantime, what would you recommend for mindflayer stats?
#2 MrCelsius Jul 18, 2009 0:56:38	Int/Cha. Makes them great Telepaths and also allows for Wiz/Sorc like back in the old days. Bonuses to Dungeoneering and Arcana, darkvision, speed 6, Common and Deep Speech, and maybe a +2 to grab attacks if you're feeling really simulationist. For a racial, give them the dragonborn close blast with psychic damage, call it Mind Blast. Done.
#3 ekluag Jul 19, 2009 15:00:52	Me and a friend actually did what we think is a pretty good stat up of Illithids for a race, with feats and two PPs. I can post it if you want. Yes, it is Int./Cha. We did give it a drow-type racial deal between mind blast and an eat you brain power. One feats lets you do both, again like the drow.
#4 ranadiel Jul 19, 2009 15:06:38	Anyone know if WotC is releasing rules on this anytime soon? Maybe it'll be a preview for PHB3 to coincide with the Psionic power source? Considering they were in MM1 and didn't get NPC stats, I'd guess that they will probably not be releasing rules any time soon.
#5 doctorhook Jul 19, 2009 16:41:43	It's been over a year. I can't believe I'm still waiting on rules for playing a mindflayer. Anyone know if WotC is releasing rules on this anytime soon? Maybe it'll be a preview for PHB3 to coincide with the Psionic power source? You must be out of your mind!
#6 MrCelsius Jul 19, 2009 17:07:42	You must be out of your mind! Assuming you weren't simply trying for a pun, why? What's so absurd about a mindflayer PC? Sure, my 3e-brain (it's like the primitive lizard brain, only less evolved) screams at the notion of a player using a race of such power, but 4e has fixed that. Monstrous races are just more races when players have their hands on them. Look at the minotaur write-up for an example of this. I, for one, would love a write-up for Illithids to coincide with the PH3. It'd be fun to play one some time, even if I'd sooner like to play in a rrakma party which hunts the buggers down.
#7 Arcane_Guyver Jul 19, 2009 17:13:53	Assuming you weren't simply trying for a pun, why? Perhaps...what in our collective experience with official WotC products would lead one to believe that they are interested in making Mind Flayers playable? They aren't even player-friendly in Eberron, one of the few official settings with monster PC love.
#8 thax Jul 19, 2009 18:54:00	No. Just No.
#9 princemercia Jul 19, 2009 23:28:22	Assuming you weren't simply trying for a pun, why? What's so absurd about a mindflayer PC? Sure, my 3e-brain (it's like the primitive lizard brain, only less evolved) screams at the notion of a player using a race of such power, but 4e has fixed that. Monstrous races are just more races when players have their hands on them. Look at the minotaur write-up for an example of this. I, for one, would love a write-up for Illithids to coincide with the PH3. It'd be fun to play one some time, even if I'd sooner like to play in a rrakma party which hunts the buggers down. I, for one, would absolutely hate it. So much that I believe I would disown D&D, tell everyone that knew anything about D&D and they would laugh at it like a joke. Why you might ask? Because Mindflayers have been around from the beginning and they don't play well with anyone. They eat brains and work as a collective or rogue crazies running around. That's it. For WOTC to make Illithids a playable race would be them sanctioning Mindflayers to be played. You would have to house rule that your players could not play mindflayers. If you want to play a mindflayer in your game, that's great...it's your game. But if you do, it should be a house rule you have to instate. What's next? A Beholder PC? I mean c'mon this is still an RPG right? How about looking at a Monster and ask...could this guy be a PC? If you think so, explain it thematically not mechanically. If you can't explain it thematically, then he shouldn't be a PC.