Homebrew critters, One-eyed one horned flying purple people eaters! Options

[DamHawke]

I'm getting a chance to GM for the first time sometime in a couple of weeks and in the midst of preparing some runs our group hasn't tried out before.

Can't really spill the beans about it more than that there will be heavy vegetation involved (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) but I'm in need of experimental critters (weird is good, humanoid is better!) to throw at the party. I already built a couple myself but I think the team would shred through them quite fast as they're merely adapted critters from Parazoology.

Basically what I need has to be able to handle being hammered by the PCs for at least 3 rounds without going down or being ridiculously large.

I've also prepared a small swarm of these little guys:

B 4
A 4
R 3
S 5
C 1
I 2
L 1
W 2
Ed -
Ess 6
M 0
Init 4
IP 1

Movement: 35/80
Skills: Climbing 4(9), Perception 3 (Scent 5)(7), Running 3(_8 ), Unarmed Combat 4(9), Infiltration 4 (6)
Abilities: Movement, Natural Weapon (Horns: DV 4P, AP –1), Natural Weapon (Bite/Claw: DV 6P, AP 0)

Any recommendations or insights are very appreciated (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Manunancy]

If the critters are experimental, metacritters aren't likely - metagenetics expériences in the 2070 are still a very hit-or miss (with a heavy bias toward 'miss') proposition. Maybe you can add some cheap cyberware suites (mostly armor, sense boost and enhanced natural weapons). With the evolution of drones in the 2070 you want your critters be either better than drones or cheaper to mass-produce. Whatever can't be obtained through reproduction (in vivo or in vitro) should be cheap and quick.

Though a bit of experimentation to replace the most troublesome cyberware with inbuilt capcity - wether normal or paranormal could be good. I'd start with something already relatively big and nasty, say a baboon (nasty-tempered bugger by themselves), enlarged to human size and with some attempts at metagenes doping for armor. Maybe pull some toxic features as side effects of the interaction of metagenes and the lab's background count (I'd expect a lab experimenting on turning animals into weapons to have some)/

[DeathStrobe]

An army of drop bears.

[tasti man LH]

...and I will continue to wonder what the original author was high on to come up with THAT monstrosity...

[Pepsi Jedi]

...and I will continue to wonder what the original author was high on to come up with THAT monstrosity...

The original Shadowrun author, or the origin of "Drop Bears" In Australia? One predates the other by a number of years.

[tasti man LH]

Specifically the mofo who thought it would be a good idea to have drop bear's claws be infected with HMHVV.

...how could one dramatically change the image of what used to be such a sweet, gentle creature?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

[Pepsi Jedi]

Specifically the mofo who thought it would be a good idea to have drop bear's claws be infected with HMHVV.

...how could one dramatically change the image of what used to be such a sweet, gentle creature?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

lol I think it just adds a great incentive to check "up" when you're playing. Soo many people forget "up".

[Novocrane]

They're only a little bit worse than the real thing.

[Grinder]

An army of drop bears.

TPK incoming! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[hermit]

Well, why not just use local legends? Those are often good for creepy stuff. And polynesian mythology is quite scary.

some ideas:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abere -> local HMHVV variant with plant control. Kind of like Poison Ivy meets a proper vampire. The controlled girls can easily be done using Renfield (poor girls).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaro_%28mythology%29 -> Shark-Man. Proteus AG produces these, use genetech + SURGE rules. Image
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makemake_%28mythology%29 -> The birdman (which also features in Cambodia, canonically) probably uses Harpy or Siren stats.

[Kesendeja]

www.pantheon.org is also a good site for mythological inspiration.

Also if you can get your hands on them there is a series of books called Mythology A to Z.

[thorya]

If you want something that will last a while against the PC's and be experimental and creepy, might I suggest something with regeneration capability and some natural armor? That way even if they blast it several times it will probably last a few rounds. Healing 4 or 5 boxes a round would be about right. That way, after soaking damage they can recover from a shot or two each round.

Or for a creep factor, have the regeneration be slowed down and the creatures play dead. Maybe they only recover a box or two every few rounds. So that the team thinks they've blasted through them and when they prepared to move out, they're suddenly swarmed again.

Maybe these were some creatures bred specifically for their meat, like a pig you could cut pork chops out of everyday for its entire life and they've gotten loose in the forest and become feral. Or it could be humanoids developed specifically for organ harvesting, but they got loose.

[hermit]

The poor pig shapeshifters.

B 4
A 4
R 3
S 5
C 1
I 2
L 1
W 2
Ed -
Ess 6
M 0
Init 4
IP 1

Movement: 35/80
Skills: Climbing 4(9), Perception 3 (Scent 5)(7), Running 3(_8 ), Unarmed Combat 4(9), Infiltration 4 (6)
Abilities: Movement, Natural Weapon (Horns: DV 4P, AP –1), Natural Weapon (Bite/Claw: DV 6P, AP 0)

Any recommendations or insights are very appreciated

Hm. weak by themselves, but swarming does take away dice, so they might do something. I doubt they'll do any damage to the Brick, but might hurt the others. Consider armour and/or regeneration, maybe concealment.

If it was more bitey, I'd say they read a bit like squig ...

[DamHawke]

Though a bit of experimentation to replace the most troublesome cyberware with inbuilt capcity - wether normal or paranormal could be good. I'd start with something already relatively big and nasty, say a baboon (nasty-tempered bugger by themselves), ennlarged to human size and with someattempts at metagenes doping for armor. Maybe pull some toxic features as side effects of the interaction of metagenes nd the lab's background count (I'd expect a lab experimenting on turing animals into weapons to have some)/

Noted. A troupe of angry mutant cyber baboons would totally give the PCs a run for their money

lol I think it just adds a great incentive to check "up" when you're playing. Soo many people forget "up".

Yes, too many people forget up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) one of the critter types I'm building is very big on climbing and lofty places (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Well, why not just use local legends? Those are often good for creepy stuff. And polynesian mythology is quite scary.

Majority of the local faire are mostly undead blood drinkers of some kind (as far as I remember) I like the idea of the shark-men though (cheap security measure perhaps?)

If you want something that will last a while against the PC's and be experimental and creepy, might I suggest something with regeneration capability and some natural armor? That way even if they blast it several times it will probably last a few rounds. Healing 4 or 5 boxes a round would be about right. That way, after soaking damage they can recover from a shot or two each round.

Or for a creep factor, have the regeneration be slowed down and the creatures play dead. Maybe they only recover a box or two every few rounds. So that the team thinks they've blasted through them and when they prepared to move out, they're suddenly swarmed again.

Maybe these were some creatures bred specifically for their meat, like a pig you could cut pork chops out of everyday for its entire life and they've gotten loose in the forest and become feral. Or it could be humanoids developed specifically for organ harvesting, but they got loose.

Ooh, these are some great ideas! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) pity the poor pigs though. Makes me think of of the Sæhrímnir boar that gets eaten everyday in Valhalla. Would make an apt name for them too hmm....

Hm. weak by themselves, but swarming does take away dice, so they might do something. I doubt they'll do any damage to the Brick, but might hurt the others. Consider armour and/or regeneration, maybe concealment.

If it was more bitey, I'd say they read a bit like squig ...

I'm hoping I can try to overwhelm the two Bricks at least (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif) I'm considering regeneration and concealment for one of the bigger critters (it would have been following around the PCs at a distance since they entered the area) while extra armor would be more for the swarm (and maybe a bite attack too, since they're already squiggish anyway (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) )

I'm also thinking of large bioluminescent nighthawks that combust horribly when they're shot at. But this is more to see which itchy trigger-fingered player would be first to alert all the local wildlife to their presence (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Mach_Ten]

TPK incoming! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

I was a non-believer until today when it finally happened .. I reached the end of the internet ! and there waiting for me ......