D&D 3E/3.5 Kraken Variants

[freyar]

Hmmm. Proposed description: A massive kraken-like being

Background: Khalk'ru the Dissolver is a terrifying extraplanar entity whose only interest in the Material Plane is its destruction. ....

I also just noticed in the Aspect's background that we need to change "who's"" as in "who is" to "whose" possessive.

 

[Cleon]

Hmmm. Proposed description: A massive kraken-like being

I think we can make that a bit more colourful:

A titanic octopoidal horror with a dozen tentacles as long as ships and a globular body the size of a building. The creature floats in the air as if it were in water. Its skin is blacker than black, its only colour is the red of its unfathomably malevolent eyes whose piercing gaze seems to see your every sin and weakness.

Background: Khalk'ru the Dissolver is a terrifying extraplanar entity whose only interest in the Material Plane is its destruction. ....

Khalk'ru is a terrifying extraplanar entity whose only interest in the Material Plane is its annihilation. It is known by many titles, including The Dissolver, The Eater-Up of Life, The End-Without-End, The Living Nothingness and The Lightless Timeless Void. The Dissolver is able to subtly influence mortals on the Prime Material Plane, creating insane cults who call upon Khalk'ru to destroy sacrifices or enemies and beg it to spare them. The worst of these cultists dream of summoning their lord to destroy all of creation, but fortunately most cults of The Dissolver are only able to summon an aspect of Khalk'ru (as detailed below). There are several magical items associated with The Living Nothingness, relics of a lost civilization of Khalk'ru worshippers whose nihilism destroyed them.

Khalk'ru is roughly 150 feet across, from tentacle-tip to tentacle-tip.

I also just noticed in the Aspect's background that we need to change "who's"" as in "who is" to "whose" possessive.

Updating the Khalk'ru Working Draft.

Fixed.

 

[freyar]

That all looks great to me! Are we done in that case?

 

[Cleon]

That all looks great to me! Are we done in that case?

I think we're done, but I'll do a quick check just to be sure…

Well I found a couple of typos (a UK spelling of "colour" and a "Disollver" that should be "Dissolver" but the only technical error I could find was I forgot to include "quickened" in their four 3/day quickened SLAs.

Updating the Khalk'ru Working Draft.

Anyway that's done, so we're ready to proceed with the next Kraken!

 

[Cleon]

If we continue to follow the order of the Krakens in post #1 of this thread, the next one is the Mystaran Kraken. This is basically a stupider larger Kraken.

I'll post the original stats.

 

[Cleon]

Mystaran Kraken Original Stats

KRAKEN

Armor Class:	0	Save As:	Fighter: 36
Hit Dice:	64* (plus tentacles)	Morale:	10
Move (Swimming):	240′ (80′)	Treasure Type:	G + H
Attacks:	1-10 tentacles/1 bite	Intelligence:	5
Damage:	7-42 per tentacle/8-80	Alignment:	Chaotic
No. Appearing:	0 (1-4)	XP Value:	26,000

The kraken is one of the largest of all creatures; the body is over 150′ long, and each of its 10 huge tentacles can reach up to a range of 750′. It usually remain, deep under the sea, reaching up from the depths to attack large prey, passing ships, and even low-flying creatures. It is greenish-blue, and when it floats on the surface (a rare occasion), it appears identical to a mass of kelp.

When a kraken attacks a ship, it wraps six of its tentacles around the craft and attacks crew members with the remaining four. Each tentacle inflicts 7-42 points of damage (half damage, in hull points, to the vessel). The six tentacles hold on to the ship, automatically inflicting 7d6 points of constriction damage each round. Once the boat has been crushed, the kraken attacks the survivors with all tentacles. The victims are drawn to the monster's cavernous mouth in 2-8 rounds. Any victim caught has a -4 penalty to all Hit Rolls, hut may attack the tentacle (60 hit points each, in addition to the body's 64 Hit Dice) to attempt to escape.

If the kraken loses 5 or more tentacles, it releases all its victims and flees, releasing a 1000′ x 1000′ cloud of ink for obscurement. This cloud blinds all creatures for as long as they remain within it.

 

[Cleon]

KRAKEN

Okay this looks fairly straightforward.

It is basically a SRD Giant Octopus or Giant Squid magnified to Colossal++ size and with a 3-point boost to its Intelligence.

I've also remembered there's another giant cephalopod that probably belongs in this thread - the Leviathan of Nehwon, which is pretty much a 40 HD Giant Octopus. I think I'll add it to the list.

Anyhow, getting back to the Mystaran Kraken should we make it an Animal or a Magical Beast? The description doesn't give it any supernatural abilities unless you count its extraordinary size or the ability to imitate kelp but it IS in the "Monsters and Other Fantastical Creatures" section of AC9 rather than the Animals: Mundane, Extinct and Giant" section.

Then again, that section does include a few extinct animals like the Phororhacus and Grangeri - which are pretty obviously Phorusrhacos and Paraceratherium (previously known as the Baluchitherium and Indricotherium, under which name they have AD&D and 3E stats).

So do you prefer Animal (Aquatic) or Magical Beast (Aquatic) for the Mystaran Kraken's type?

I'm inclined to give it a Size/Reach larger than the standard 30/30 for a Colossal creature considering the original's ridiculous dimensions, which also suggests we should bump up the Strength and Constitution to impressive numbers.

 

[freyar]

Colossal+ is fun!
If we're keeping Int 5, it has to be a magical beast. So that's my vote.
We should definitely give it bigger space/reach, and I also certainly agree to increasing Str and Con. Did you have thoughts on that?

 

[Cleon]

Colossal+ is fun!
If we're keeping Int 5, it has to be a magical beast. So that's my vote.
We should definitely give it bigger space/reach, and I also certainly agree to increasing Str and Con. Did you have thoughts on that?

Agreed. Magical Beast it is then.

We should definitely give it bigger space/reach, and I also certainly agree to increasing Str and Con. Did you have thoughts on that?

I'd go whole hog and honour the original's 150-yard long tentacles with a Reach of 750 ft. with tentacles.

The beastie's body is "over 150′ long" so I fancy a hefty 150 ft. Space. Now the SRD Giant Squid has a body "more than 20 feet long" and has a 15 ft. Space so it could have a 120 ft. Space but that seems a bit small in proportion to the tentacle reach. Even 150 feet is one-fifth the tentacle reach, which is a ratio significantly higher than the standard giant cephalopods - the Giant Octopus and Giant Squid are both 2:1 (10 ft. vs. 20 ft. tentacle reach or 15 ft. vs. 30 ft.), while the Kraken is 3:1 (20 ft. vs. 60 ft.).

Actually… I'd be game making the Space larger than 150 ft. if you prefer. A 3:1 ratio like the Kraken's would give a 250 ft. Space.

Anyhow, for the sake of argument I'll proceed with a Space/Reach of 150 ft./50 ft. (750 ft. with tentacle).

Now the Mystaran Kraken has a Space 7.5 times wider than a Kraken. That suggests its roughly the equivalent of three "size categories" bigger (or eight times wide) since the dimensions double with each size increase.

Normal size advancement for three size categories is +24 Str and +12 Con, which would make it Str 58, Con 41 if applied to the Kraken's Str 34, Con 29.

However, its tentacles 12.5 longer than a regular Kraken so it may be more like 3½ size-doublings, giving it Str 62, Con 42.

Compared to a Giant Octopus, it's 15 times wider and has tentacles 32.5 longer, suggesting either four to five "dimension doublings" for somewhere between +32 Str, +16 Con and +40 Str, +20 Con to the Giant Octopus's Str 20, Con 13, resulting in Str 52-60, Con 29-33.

A Giant Squid is inbetween, being 10 times wider with tentacles 25 times longer is something like 3¼ to 4½ "doublings". Let's call it as between +26 Str, +13 Con and +36 Str, +18 Con to the Giant Squid's Str 26, Con 13, resulting in Str 52-62, Con 26-31.

I'm inclined to be conservative and go for the lowest figures in that range and make it Str 52-53, Con 30-31.

Dexterity 13 like a Gargantuan+ Giant Squid seems appropriate.

Intelligence 5 has already been decided.

For Charisma and Wisdom how about averaging a Kraken's 20 with a Giant Squid/Octopus's Wis 12, Cha 3 or 2?

That'd be Wisdom 16, Charisma 11-12.

Put together that's Str 52, Dex 13, Con 31, Int 5, Wis 16, Cha 12

I think I'll start a Working Draft.

 

[Cleon]

Kraken, Mystaran
Colossal Magical Beast (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 64d10+640 (992 hp)
Initiative: +9
Speed: Swim 80 ft. (16 squares)
Armor Class: 40 (–8 size, +1 Dex, +37 natural), touch 3, flat-footed 39
Base Attack/Grapple: +64/+101
Attack: Tentacle +78 melee (6d6+21/19-20)
Full Attack: Ten tentacles +78 melee (6d6+21/19-20) and bite +78 melee (8d8+10/19-20)
Space/Reach: 150 ft./ 50 ft. (750 ft. with tentacle)
Special Attacks: Constrict 6d6+21, expert grappler, improved grab, shipcrusher
Special Qualities: Camouflage, darkvision 750 ft., ink cloud, jet, superior low-light vision
Saves: Fort +46, Ref +37, Will +30
Abilities: Str 52, Dex 13, Con 31, Int 5, Wis 16, Cha 12
Skills: Escape Artist +13, Hide –11, Intimidate +16, Listen +30, Spot +30, Swim +29
Feats: Alertness, Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Dire Charge, Diehard, Endurance, Epic Will, Great Cleave, Great Fortitude, Improved Critical (bite, tentacle), Improved Initiative, Improved Trip, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Multiattack, Improved Multiattack, Power Attack, Superior Initiative, Weapon Focus (bite, tentacle)
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 25
Treasure: Double Standard (mostly in lair, only useful magic items will be carried)
Alignment: Usually chaotic evil
Advancement: 65-128 HD (Colossal)
Level Adjustment: —

A vast mass floats in the water. The mass's greenish-blue colour and frilled surface closely resembles seaweed but then it moves, revealing it to be a living creature of unthinkable size. Piecing together what portions of it can be made out reveal the mass to be an squid-like beast of truly titanic size. Its body is bigger than all but the largest ships and its ten tentacles stretch longer than many city streets.

Mystaran kraken are dim-witted relatives of the common kraken. They are almost unfathomably large, and may be one of the biggest creatures alive. They spend most of their lives in the abyssal depths they call home, but when the hunger or anger of the kraken wakes they can be as devastating as a hurricane, rising to the surface and crushing large ships into splinters with casual ease.

Mystaran kraken are carnivores. They usually hunt by simply reaching out their furlong-length tentacles to snag passing creatures. An immobile Mystaran kraken resembles a floating mass of kelp, and it normally uses this disguise will waiting for unfortunate prey to wander past.

A typical Mystaran kraken has a body 150 feet long and tentacles up to 750 feet long, giving it an "armspan" of 1,600 feet or so.

Languages. [EITHER Mystaran kraken can speak Abyssal and Aquan but almost never talk OR Mystaran kraken understand Abyssal and Aquan but never speak. Particularly old or intelligent specimens may know additional languages.]

Combat
A Mystaran kraken strikes with its tentacles, trying to constrict its opponents and drag them close enough to make bite attacks. If it's seriously injured or loses five or more tentacles it uses its ink cloud and flees the battlefield.

A Mystaran kraken can attack with all its tentacles simultaneously, dividing its attacks among as many opponents as it likes. The kraken can bring all ten tentacle attacks to bear against a Colossal opponent, it can attack a Gargantuan creature with up to 4 tentacles, a Huge creature with 2 tentacles, and Large or smaller opponents with only one tentacle.

An opponent can make sunder attempts against a Mystaran kraken’s tentacles as if they were weapons. A Mystaran kraken’s tentacles have 60 hit points. If a kraken is currently grappling a target with one tentacle or arm, it usually uses another limb to make its attack of opportunity against the sunder attempt. Severing a kraken’s tentacle deals damage to the kraken equal to half the limb’s full normal hit points. A Mystaran kraken usually withdraws from combat if it loses five of its tentacles. A kraken regrows severed limbs in 1d10+10 days.

Constrict (Ex): A Mystaran kraken deals automatic tentacle damage with a successful grapple check.

Expert Grappler (Ex): If a Mystaran kraken chooses to grapple an opponent but remain ungrappled itself it only takes a –10 penalty on its grapple checks instead of the normal –20 penalty. It may then make tentacle attacks as normal.

Jet (Ex): A Mystaran kraken can jet backward once per round as a full-round action, at a speed of 320 feet. It must move in a straight line, but does not provoke attacks of opportunity while jetting.

Ink Cloud (Ex): A Mystaran kraken can emit a cloud of jet-black ink in an 1000-foot spread once per minute as a free action. The cloud provides total concealment, which the kraken normally uses to escape a fight that is going badly. Creatures within the cloud are considered to be in darkness.

Camouflage (Ex): A Mystaran kraken can rest motionless and almost perfectly mimic a floating mass of kelp. It takes a DC 30 Spot check to distinguish a camouflaged Mystaran kraken before it moves. Unfortunate creatures may already be within reach of the kraken's tentacles before they see it. Creatures with ranks in Knowledge (arcana) or Survival may use one of those skills instead of Spot to notice the monster.

Shipcrusher (Ex): A Mystaran kraken can constrict a colossal creature or object with more than one tentacle. The constriction damage increases by 1d6 for each additional tentacle.

Superior Low-Light Vision (Ex): A Mystaran kraken can see ten times as far as a human can in dim light.

Skills: A Mystaran kraken can slightly change its color and shape, giving it a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks. A Mystaran kraken also can squeeze and contort its body, giving it a +10 racial bonus on Escape Artist checks.

A kraken has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.

Originally appeared in AC9 - Creature Catalogue (1986)

Skill Ranks (67): Escape Artist 2 (+1Dex+10racial), Hide 0 (+1Dex+4racial– 16size), Intimidate 15 (+1Cha), Listen 25 (+3Wis+2feat), Spot 25 (+3Wis+2feat), Swim 0 (+21Str+8racial)