origional threadputting this here for more opinions...
This started as a funny/terrifying idea(a octopus that floats with a large lighter then air gas bag in its head), and evolved from there.
I basically advanced a giant octopus 2 HD, 2CR, made it a magical beast, gave it the cold sub type, granted a flight speed, and added a variable use set of SLAs fluffed as extraordinary uses of ink. Don't know if it will actually threaten a 8-10th level party of four, but I thought it might be cool.
Thoughts? Would you use this in a game? Would you want to mod some part of it? Is it overly complex?
Skytopus:Large Magical Beast (Cold)Hit Dice: 10d10+13 (68 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), fly 15ft (perfect)
Armor Class: 18 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +7 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +10/+19
Attack: Tentacle +15 melee (1d4+5)
Full Attack: 8 tentacles +15 melee (1d4+5) and bite +13 melee (1d8+2)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft. (20 ft. with tentacle)
Special Attacks: constrict, Death throws, Improved grab, Ink.
Special Qualities: Dark vision 60ft, immunity to cold, jet, low-light vision, vulnerability to fire.
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +9, Will +4
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 3
Skills: Escape Artist +12, Hide +12, Listen +5, Spot +7, Move silently +13
Feats: Alertness, Multiattack, Skill Focus (Hide), Toughness.
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 10
Advancement: 11-12 HD (Large); 13-24 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: -
A skytopus looks like a pale giant flying octopus. Scholars suggest wizards are to blame for their existence, but there is no evidence to support this. Research has shown that the actual ability to float is caused by the large amount of lighter than air gasses in air sacs in its head. Sadly research has yet to show how they generate ink in mere moments.
These creatures are aggressive and territorial hunters, with arms reaching 10 feet or more in length. Their tentacles are studded with barbs and sharp-edged suckers. The ability breath fire just adds to the horror of these creatures. Even druids are known to kill them on sight.
Combat:An opponent can attack a skytopus’s tentacles with a sunder attempt as if they were weapons. A skytopus’s tentacles have 10 hit points each. If a skytopus is currently grappling a target with the tentacle that is being attacked, it usually uses another limb to make its attack of opportunity against the opponent making the sunder attempt. Severing one of a skytopus’s tentacles deals 5 points of damage to the creature. A skytopus usually withdraws from combat if it loses four tentacles. The creature regrows severed limbs in 1d10+10 days.
Constrict (Ex):A skytopus deals 2d8+6 points of damage with a successful grapple check.
Death Throes (Ex): When a skytopus is killed, it erupts in a fiery explosion that deals 10d6 points of fire damage to anyone within 40 feet. A successful Reflex save (DC 16) halves the damage. The save is Constitution-based.
Improved Grab (Ex):To use this ability, a skytopus must hit an opponent of any size with a tentacle attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict.
Ink (Ex): A skytopus can emit flammable ink in a variety of ways. Whichever way it uses this ability, it can't use ink again for 1d4 rounds.
Cloud: As part of its jet ability (see below), a skytopus can emit cloud of jet-black ink 20 feet high by 20 feet wide by 20 feet long around its point of origin. The cloud provides total concealment. All vision within the cloud is obscured. A moderate wind (11+ mph) disperses the cloud in 6 rounds; a strong wind (21+ mph) disperses the cloud in 3 round.
If the cloud takes fire damage, it ignites and deals 2d6 points of fire damage to anything in the area and sets them on fire. This destroys the cloud.
Grease: As a standard action, a skytopus can spray ink on the ground in a 30-foot radius from up to . Any creature in the area where the ink is sprayed must make a successful Reflex save (DC 16) or fall. This save is repeated on your turn each round that the creature remains within the area. A creature can walk within or through the area of grease at half normal speed with a DC 10 Balance check. Failure means it can’t move that round, and must then make a Reflex save (DC 16) or fall, while failure by 5 or more means it falls without a save(see the Balance skill for details). The saves are Constitution-based.
If any part of the area covered in ink takes any amount of fire damage, the ink ignites. Anything in the area takes 2d6 points of fire damage and catches on fire. The ink burns out after 4 rounds.
Blind: As a standard action, a skytopus makes a ranged touch attack against a target creature within 60 feet. If the attack hits, the target is blinded until it takes a full round action to clean off its face or other visual sensory organ. If the target takes at least one point of fire damage within the next five rounds, it catches fire.
Breath Weapon: As a standard action, a skytopus can breathe a 40-foot cone of flaming ink causing 10d4 points of fire damage, and catches anything in the area on fire. A successful Reflex save (DC 16) halves the damage and negates the ignition. The save is Constitution-based.
Once per round as a full-round action, a skytopus can jet at a speed of 200 feet. It must move in a straight line, but does not provoke attacks of opportunity while jetting. It also cannot attack as part of this movement. Just before jetting, as a free action, a skytopus can release an ink cloud (see above)
Skills: A skytopus can change colors, giving it a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks. A giant octopus also can squeeze and contort its body, giving it a +10 racial bonus on Escape Artist checks.
