Re: Illithid PC responses

In our last episode, Forest T Pavel said:
>Well, I'm glad to see so many comments on my illithid PCs, so I guess
>I'll comment back.  This is a good thing, don't be afraid, all (good)
>writers like constructive criticism.
>And since I have the sj-digest, I'll comment on everyone's at once.

[Snip]

>>>Ability score            Min/Max                               Adj.
>>>Strength                    3/18
>>-2
>>
>>	I'd make it a -4 penalty.  After all, they're not know for
>>their physical prowess, as someone already said.
>
>Simply because they're not know for physical prowess doesn't
>automatically mean they are weak.  Illithids just tend to use their
>brains more than their brawn.  Think of vulcans.  (I lnow, I know, no
>Star Trek, but it fit.)

	I'm not sure that vulcans are a good example, but I see your
point.  I think of illithid as they were presented in Dragon #159 (?),
the issue that focused on them and their world (Sunset World).  In the
article it states, pretty explicitly if I remember, that illithid are
weak due to the low energy biosphere (not enough energy in the food, etc.),
which is why they all float around.  It made them out to look like a
psionicist race.

>>>Constitution             3/17                                    -2
>>
>>	I like the -2.
>
>Yeah, me too, that's why I put it there. : )

	I thought you changed it to -1?

>>>Charisma                 3/16                                    -2
>>
>>	Only a -2!?!?  Maybe to each other, but I'd make it more like
>>- -5 or -6 towards non-Illithid.
>
>Ok, how 'bout this.  It's only -2 towards illithids.  For all other races
>it would be -5.  I believe I saw this in the Dragon article for the
>ecology of the neogi (can't remember the issue though), but the idea was
>sound.

	Cool.

>>>	2)Can attack with tentacle per once per round (2 points damage
>>>for each successful attack), each successful hit latches one tentacle to
>>>the skull of the victim.  If all four tentacles attach, then the victim
>>>dies in 1d4 rounds, unless they can break the illithid's grip.  A
>>>tentacle can be torn from a skull with a successful bend bars/ lift gates
>>>roll (accomplishing this does 1d6+Str adj. damage to the illithid, and
>>>any damage over 15 points to a single tentacle rips that tentacle from
>>>the ilithid's face).
>>
>>	This is a bit silly.  Though AD&D combat is abstract, I'd still
>>require the Illithid to somehow have their victim immobilized.  At least
>>make them wrestle.  The tentacles aren't long enough for anything but
>>>short range (unless the individual is extremely well endowed), and a good
>>helmet would completely nullify their usefullness.  Also the damage that
>>an Illithid takes when a tentacle is pulled of the skull seems reather
>>large.  Maybe 1d6 (or 1d8) + damage bonus.
>
>Well, I always assumed the illithid would only use these attacks after
>immobilizing their prey with a mind blast.  So that wouldn't seem to
>absurd.

	Then why do they have to hit with a successful attack?  That's the
part that confused me...

[Snip]

>And as for the damage of ripping off a tentacle, try imaging your arm or
>hand being pulled off, now tell me if that wouldn't hurt you severely.

	Oops.  I read the damage line as 1d6 + Str.  Sorry.  (:

[Snip]

>>>Natural Armor Class: 5
>>
>>	Does their armor cost more?  In the SJ novels, Estriss was
>>described as having weird shoulders, which may affect their shape.
>
>Yes.  I'd say x5 as much as normal.  But I've personally never heard of
>an illithid wearing armour.

	But these are *PC* illithid, and they'll try anything... (:

>>>Illithid have no sex.
>>
>>	Bummer.
>
>I know, isn't it though.  They're hermaphroditic and can each produce one
>larva in their lives.

	Only *one*?  So for every one that dies that's *it*?  One less
illithid *forever*?  Make it 1d6.

-Static

ps.  Check out Dragon #150.  It's mostly about illithid and their world
(their *real* world, not that Atromundi place... )

--
 Static,     |  "Life isn't one damn thing after another.  It's the same
  of the     |   damn thing over and over again."  -SOLOMON SHORT
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