Re: Neogi and Umber Hulks - air breathing?

In <URL:news:local.spelljam> on Sat 08 Jul, Rian A. McMurtry wrote:
> OK, it says that.  mea culpa.  Since it's not in the monster description, 
> though... should we rule it "space myth"?  "not need to breathe", IMO,
> should be  reflected in an immunity or reduced vulnerability to gas attacks;
> since that's  never been done, I'm inclined to think it was something that
> got left in by  one of the authors and not caught in editing.

Hmm.

How about we say it is a non-combat effect, such as the neogi
being able to put themselves (and maybe even their umber hulk
servants?) into a death-like suspended animation trance that
reduces their air consumption to almost nothing?  Maybe a side-
effect of their (Slow inducing) poison?

How would that suit people?

Could they also do this to slaves?

(Presumably such a trance would also greatly reduce food and
water use.)

If they can do this then they can probably wake themselves, and
their umber hulks, pretty fast.


On the other hand, neogi have the ability to Charm Monster,
probably at will, on Umber Hulks, and the ability to cast spells
needing gestures (somatic), even though they don't have hands,
and these are abilities only mentioned in the text.  I could
imagine someone missing what they might think a minor ability. 
The monster description (on LotV, pg.36-37) does not say anything
about them not needing to breathe, though.


It is also interesting that the rules say in one place that neogi
use paired Lifejammer Helms (CoAS, pg.39), and in another that
they use Major (SJ) Helms (LotV, pg.37) for the Mindspider.

Maybe they use either, depending on which neogi group it is?

-- 
Dreamer
dreamer@??????.?????.??.uk
http://www.romsys.demon.co.uk/