I rarely use such monsters in my games, but it could be cool for detailing the Dimension of Nightmares and its denizens. Also, it would be interesting to see if any of the information could be used for expanding the concepts of Kopru, Brain Collectors and the like....
Håvard
I've been meaning to check this book out at the book store but haven't gotten around to it yet. Have you had a peek at it yet yourself? I'd be interested in hearing any thoughts on this too.
Very little on the Kopru or Brain Collectors. There are passing references to the two creatures as allies or affiliated with others that get better development.
Six aberrations get prime treatment. Mind Flayers, Aboleths, Beholders, Neogi, Grell and a new beastie called Tsochar.
The Tsochar are basically worm-like masses that wear the skin of others with which to disguise themselves while they hunt for magic for their own purposes.
Very little on the Kopru or Brain Collectors. There are passing references to the two creatures as allies or affiliated with others that get better development.
So Brain Collectors are actually mentioned? They haven't been officially converted to 3E yet have they?
Can any of the information in the book be used to flesh out the Mystaran Aberrations or is it too centered on the races you mention to be of any use unless we include these creatures into the Mystaran cosmology?
Håvard
I think a powerful version of the Brain Collector is in the Epic Level Handbook.
Ah, had forgotten about that! Haven't looked in that book for years(!)
Thanks for reminding me
Håvard
Brain Collector "Neh-Thalggu"
AC9, DMR2
Large Aberration (Incorporeal)
Hit Dice: 10d8+40 (85 hp)
Initiative: +3 (dex)
Speed: 60 ft. or via dimension door
Armor Class: 20 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +5 insight, +3 deflection), touch 20, flat-footed 17
Base Attack/Grapple: +7/+11
Attack: bite +15 melee (2d8+8 plus poison)
Full Attack: bite +15 melee (2d8+8 plus poison) and 3 head-tentacles +2 melee touch attack (1d8 plus ability drain)
Face/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Extract Brains, Poison, Spells, Ability Drain
Special Qualities: Dimensional travel, DR 10/magic, SR 18, darkvision 60 ft., incorporeal traits, amorphous physiology, manifest maw, telepathy
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +10
Abilities: Str -, Dex 17, Con 18, Int 18, Wis 16, Cha 16
Skills: Concentration +12, Hide +8, Knowledge (arcana) +10, Knowledge (planes) +10, Search +9, Spellcraft +10
Feats: Blind-fighting (b), combat casting, dodge, eschew materials, mobility
Climate/Terrain: Any
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 08
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually chaotic neutral, neutral evil, or chaotic evil
Advancement: 32 HD (adult, Huge)
Level Adjustment: ---
The adult Brain Collector is described fully in the Epic Level Handbook (p. 206). The juvenile version shares some (but not all) of its parent's abilities.
The Brain Collector is a creature that harvests humanoid brains and stores them in its cranium. The greater the number of brains stored, the more powerful the Brain Collector.
Combat
Dimensional Travel (Sp): A juvenile brain collector can use dimension door 1/round as a quickened action. It can also use teleport without error or plane shift at will as a move-equivalent action.
Extract Brains (Sp): A juvenile brain collector can extract the brain from a helpless victim as a full round action. Installing the freshly-harvested brain into the cranium requires another full round action. Brains belonging to creatures of less than 5th level are rejected.
A juvenile brain collector can hold a maximum of 8 brains in its cranium. For each brain slot empty, subtract 1 from all attack rolls, saves, skills, and ability checks. Unless otherwise stated, assume a juvenile brain collector has a full complement of 8 brains.
Ability Drain (Ex): A successful touch attack by a head-tentacle deals 1d8 points of dehydration damage plus permanently drains 1 point of Strength, 1 point of Dexterity, or 1 point of Constitution (roll randomly to determine which attribute affected).
Incorporeal: A brain collector can only be harmed by incorporeal creatures, +1 or better magic weapons, psionics, or magic, with a 50% chance to ignore any damage from a corporeal source. It can pass through solid objects at will. It always moves silently unless it chooses otherwise.
Manifest Maw (Sp): Although the brain collector is an incorporeal creature, it can manifest its mouth in corporeal form as a standard action. While so manifested, the mouth can deliver bite attacks against corporeal creatures or manipulate objects. The strength of the mouth is 27.
Poison (Ex): Bite injects poison (DC 19), primary damage 1d10 Dex, secondary damage 1d10 Dex. A creature with 0 Dex is paralyzed.
Spells (Sp): A juvenile brain collector can cast spells as a Sorcerer of Xth level, where X is the number of harvested brains in its cranium. The number of spells known is as a Sorcerer of Xth level. Brain collectors tend to prefer spells which incapacitate victims, such as hypnotic pattern and hold person.
Telepathy (Su): Can communicate telepathically with any creature within 100 ft that has a language.
Yep, Brain Collectors are in the Epic Level Handbook. You'll need the 3.5 ed update if you use those rules, but that's free so who's complaining. Kopru are also detailed in Monster Manual II. A little wimpier than the version we're used to, but serviceable nonetheless.
I noticed the Kopru over in MM2. Hmmm, if my Pirate Campaign goes in the direction of the Isle of Dread I might make these guys a major adversary....
Does anyone know if there is any material in LoM that can be used with the Kopru? Feats, spells, other setting nastiness?
Håvard