Re: (TFT) Monster: Walktapi

[Matt Fraser <matt@chem.queensu.ca>]

Wow, I lurk for months and then two posts in on day!

>Walktapi
>
>ST:23
>DX:11
>IQ:6
>MA:10
>Armor:4 no dex adj
>Skills & abilities: Water breathing, Regeneration, poisonous inky gas cloud
>Weapons: Tentacle d6,
>constrict 2d6 with 2 tentacles(see note below),
>inky gas cloud 1d6
>
>This bipedal creature has a human body and the head of a large octapi. It 
>can attack up to 4 persons simultaneously and squirt an inky gas cloud that 
>has a radius of 3 meters. Once a minute it will regenerate a hit point. If 
>dismembered it will eventually creep back together (ala iron giant). Fire 
>will not permanently destroy it, only slow it down by a factor of 10. 
>Walktapi can be destroyed by strong magic or dissolution such as acid.
>
>If 2 or more tentacles strike its victims on the same round they will 
>constrict for aggregated damage. Armo i susefull till 6 times the damage 
>factor of the armor. So, 12 pts of damage will destroy leather, or 18pts to 
>fine leather. When the armor is over come, it considered broken for good, 
>and will no longer block any damage.
>
>All units within the 3 meter radius of the gas cloud attack must make a 4d 
>save vs ST. If it the unit(s) save they only take half damage.

A couple of comments on this creature.  It should have swimming ability.
The radius of the ink cloud is *very* large.  If one of these gets into
massed troups, it can hit 37 hexes (including its own) for 3.5 pts of
unblockable damage (with a tough save for half) every turn.  Is there a
limit on how many times it can use this ability?  Is it immune to its own
cloud (and presumably those of other walktapi?)  If so, three of these
working together could wipe out large sections of an attacking army in no
time by facing back to back and taking the 'defend' option.  There low IQ
would make them easily Controlled by a wizard.  I suggest having the ink
cloud affect only the creatures own megahex. 

>I havent figured out how much experience this is worth or the scorpion man, 
>or the jackobear. Your suggestions are welcome.

A while ago I developed a complex formula that I use for calculating the
experience for monsters.  I always found that the experience given in ITL
was way too low and didn't make much sense.  I can post the formula for
those who are intested, but it needs more playtesting, is somewhat
subjective and (unnecessarily?) complicated.  Here's what it gave me for
your creatures:

Walktapi: 170 xp

Broo warrior (14ST w/ cloth armor): 51 xp
Broo shaman (as above, all spells IQ 10): 93 xp

Jack-O-Bear (self powering freeze, Silent MA, Shadowing, chaos abilities
may add more): 149 xp

Scorpionman (Find, Remove & set traps, sting, multiple legs, chaos
abilities may add more): 53 xp
Scorpionman shaman (as above, all spells IQ 8): 85 xp

Let me know what you think.

Matt






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