2/16/2015 EliteOpponents:TheTarrasque

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EliteOpponents 11/09/2005

TheTarrasqueCreatureIncarnationsByRobertWiese

WelcometoEliteOpponents:CreatureIncarnations,acolumnallaboutmonstersandstrange,variantmonstersatthat!TheD&DFightClubcolumnpresentsonemonsteratthreedifferentpowerlevels,sothatyoucaninserttheappropriateversionintoyourcampaign.Thiscolumn,ontheotherhand,examinesdifferentversionsofagivencreatureforuseindifferenttypesofcampaigns.ThoughmostversionsfitbestintoD&Dcampaigns,oneversioninthisinstallmentisforthed20Moderngame,soyoucanusethecreatureinyourmoderndayorfuturecampaignstoo.

Thisinstallmentbeginsbylookingatthebiggest(andsomesaythebaddest)creatureinthewholeD&Dgamethetarrasque.Whileothermonstersmayhavehigherchallengeratings,noneisasdifficulttokillasthetarrasque.But,youmaywonder,ifthetarrasqueisunique,howcananyvariantsexist?Well,it'struethatonlyonetarrasqueexistsoneintheForgottenRealmsCampaignSetting,oneintheEberronCampaignSetting,oneintheWorldofGreyhawk,andoneinyourcampaignworld.Thus,theoneinyourcampaignmaywellbedifferentthanthestandardversion,especiallyifyouhaveanunusualcampaignworld.

Sothismonth,weconsidersomevarianttarrasquesoneofwhichyoumightfindinterestingenoughtoplaceinyourcampaignworld.Actuallytryingtokillthetarrasqueconstitutesanepicadventure(orseriesofadventures),butlegendsofthiscreaturepermeatetheworld,andyourNPCsshouldknowsomethingaboutthetarrasqueeveniftheyhaveneverseenit.

VariantTarrasques

Eachofthefollowingtarrasquesis70feetlongand50feettall,anditweighsabout130tons,justlikethestandardone.Noneofthetemplatesusedhereincreaseitssize,andindeed,thetarrasquedoesn'tneedtobeanybiggertopackameanpunch.

Youmightwonderhowthetarrasquegotaninheritedtemplatewhenonlyonehaseverexisted,anditneverdies.Well,whosaysitneverdies?Noonehaseverseenitreproduce,butperhapsitgoesdormantandreproducesasexuallymaybeevendyingandbeingrebornanew,likethelegendaryphoenix.Infact,thehollowedoutbodyofalongdeadtarrasquecouldbeaninterestingadventuresiteinitsownright.ButI'llleavethedesignofthatlocationtoyou.

TarrasqueofLegend(d20ModernGame)

I'dliketocallthisversionGodzilla,butanybreathweaponitcouldhaveaccordingtotherulesisprettyshortrangecomparedtothe100footradioactivefirebreaththatthemonsterusedinthemovies.ButwhenthetarrasqueoflegendisstandingoverTokyo,I'llbetyourplayerswon'tquibblemuchaboutthelengthofitsbreathweapon.

AssigningthemonsteroflegendtemplatefromMonsterManualIItoauniqueandlegendarycreaturemayseemstrangetoyouespeciallysincethetemplatesaysthatthecreaturehasspecialpowersbecauseitwasselectedbythegods,andthed20Moderngamedoesn'thavegodsinthesamewaythatD&Ddoes.Ifyoucangetpastthelogistics,however,you'llfindthatthistemplatestillproducesaninterestingvariantwithalittleextrapunch.

TarrasqueofLegend:CR22Colossaloutsider(native)HD48d10+816hp1,088Mas45Init+10Spd40ft.Defense44(8size,+6Dex,+35natural,+1haste),touch9,flatfooted38BAB+48Grp+86Atk+63melee(8d6+22/1820/x3,bite)FullAtk+63melee(8d6+22/1820/x3,2bites)and+61melee(2d8+11,2horns)and+61melee(4d6+11,2claws)and+61melee(6d6+11,tailslap)FS/Reach30ft./20ft.SQaugmentedcritical,breathweapon,carapace,damagereduction15/epic,darkvision60ft.,frightfulpresence,

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2/16/2015 EliteOpponents:TheTarrasque

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greaterdamage,haste,immunities(abilitydamage,disease,energydrain,fire,poison),improvedgrab,lowlightvision,regeneration40,rush,scent,spellresistance32,swallowwholeALnoneSVFort+46,Ref+35,Will+24AP0Rep+0Str55,Dex22,Con45,Int5,Wis16,Cha18.

Skills:Hide10,Jump+26,Listen+26,Search+10,Spot+26,Survival+15.

Feats:Alertness,AwesomeBlow,BlindFight,Cleave,CombatReflexes,Dodge,EnlargeBreath,GreatCleave,ImprovedBullRush,ImprovedInitiativeB,IronWill,MultiattackB,PowerAttack,Toughness(6).

AugmentedCritical(Ex):Thetarrasqueoflegend'sbitethreatensacriticalhitonanaturalattackrollof1820anddealstripledamageonasuccessfulcriticalhit.

BreathWeapon(Su):Every1d4+1rounds,thetarrasqueoflegendcanbreathea22footlongconeoffirethatdeals3d6pointsoffiredamage.AsuccessfulDC51Reflexsavehalvesthedamage.ThesaveDCisConstitutionbased.

Carapace(Ex):Thetarrasque'sarmorlikecarapaceissotoughandreflectivethatitcandeflectallrays,lines,cones,andevenmagicmissilespells.Anysucheffecthasa30%chanceofreflectingbackatthecasterotherwise,itismerelynegated.Checkforreflectionbeforerollingtoovercomethecreature'sspellresistance.

FrightfulPresence(Su):Thetarrasquecaninspireterrorbychargingorattacking.EachaffectedcreaturemustsucceedonaDC36Willsaveorbecomeshaken,andthatconditionlastsaslongasitremainswithin60feetofthetarrasque.ThesaveDCisCharismabased.

GreaterDamage(Ex):Thedamagediceforeachofthetarrasqueoflegend'snaturalattacksincreasebyonedietype.

Haste(Su):Thetarrasqueoflegendalwaysactsasifaffectedbyahastespell(+1bonustoACandonattackrolls,+20feetofmovement,andoneextraattackduringafullattacksequence).

ImprovedGrab(Ex):Tousethisability,thetarrasqueoflegendmusthitaHugeorsmalleropponentwithitsbiteattack.Itcanthenattempttostartagrappleasafreeactionwithoutprovokinganattackofopportunity.Ifitwinsthegrapplecheck,itestablishesaholdandcantrytoswallowthefoethefollowinground.

Regeneration(Ex):Noformofattackdealslethaldamagetothetarrasqueoflegend.Itregeneratesevenifitfailsasavingthrowagainstadisintegratespelloradeatheffect.Ifthetarrasquefailsitssaveagainstaspelloreffectthatwouldkillitinstantly(suchasthosementionedabove),thespelloreffectinsteaddealsnonlethaldamageequaltothecreature'sfullnormalhitpoints+10(or1,098hp).Thetarrasqueoflegendisimmunetoeffectsthatproduceincurableorbleedingwounds,suchasmummyrot,aswordwiththewoundingspecialability,oraclaygolem'scursedwoundability.Thetarrasqueoflegendcanbeslainonlybyraisingitsnonlethaldamagetotaltoitsfullnormalhitpoints+10(or1,098hitpoints)andusingawishormiraclespelltokeepitdead.

Ifthetarrasqueoflegendlosesalimborbodypart,thelostportionregrowsin1d6minutes.(Thedetachedpiecediesanddecaysnormally.)Thecreaturecanreattachtheseveredmemberinstantlybyholdingittothestump.

Rush(Ex):Onceperminute,thetarrasqueoflegendcanmoveataspeedof180feet.

SwallowWhole(Ex):ThetarrasqueoflegendcantrytoswallowagrabbedopponentofHugeorsmallersizebymakingasuccessfulgrapplecheck.Onceinsidethetarrasque,theopponenttakes2d8+8pointsofcrushingdamageplus2d8+6pointsofaciddamageperroundfromthecreature'sdigestivejuices.Aswallowedcreaturecancutitswayoutbydealing50pointsofdamagetothetarrasque'sdigestivetract(AC25).Oncethecreatureexits,muscularactionclosestheholeanotherswallowedopponentmustcutitsownwayout.Thetarrasqueoflegend'sgulletcanhold2Huge,8Large,32Medium,128Small,or512Tinyorsmallercreatures.

Skills:Thetarrasqueoflegendhasa+8racialbonusonListenandSpotchecks.

FiveHeadedPyrotarrasque(D&DGame)

Imagineatarrasquewithfiveheads!Notonlywouldithavefivetimesthebitingpower,butitcouldalsobringfivefierybreathweaponstobearonitsopponents!Ifirsttinkeredwithathirtyheadedversion(whichthetemplatedoesallow),butsuchacreatureisreallytoonastyforitschallengerating,soIdon'trecommendyoumakeone.Fiveheadsareplenty.

Thefiveheadedpyrotarrasqueusesthemultiheadedtemplate(pyroversion)fromSavageSpecies.TheendproductfitsespeciallywellintoacampaignworldbasedonGreekmythology,oranyoneinwhichhydrasarecommon.It'salsologicalforacampaigninwhichwizardsfrequentlycreatemonstrousabominationsandleavedangerousmagicsubstanceslyingaroundinthewoods.

FiveHeadedPyrotarrasqueCR25NeutralColossalmagicalbeast(fire)Init+7SensesListen+35,Spot+35darkvision90ft.,lowlightvision,scentAC39,touch5,flatfooted36Dodge

2/16/2015 EliteOpponents:TheTarrasque

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hp1,212(56HD)DR15/epic,regeneration40,Toughness(6)Immuneabilitydamage,disease,energydrain,fire,poisonResistSR32Fort+46,Ref+33,Will+22WeaknessvulnerabilitytocoldSpeed20ft.(4squares)Meleebite+65(6d8+17/1820/x3)or5bites+65(6d8+17/1820/x3)and10horns+65melee(1d8+10)and2claws+65melee(1d12+8)andtailslap+65melee(3d8+8)Space30ft.Reach20ft.BaseAtk+56Grp+89AtkOptionsaugmentedcritical,AwesomeBlow,BlindFight,Cleave,CombatReflexes,EnlargeBreath,GreatCleave,ImprovedBullRush,Multigrab,PowerAttackSpecialActionsbreathweapon(30ft.coneoffire),frightfulpresence,improvedgrab,rush,swallowwholeAbilitiesStr45,Dex16,Con43,Int3,Wis14,Cha14SQcarapace,greaterdamage,haste,multiheadedFeatsAlertness,AwesomeBlow,BlindFight,Cleave,CombatReflexes,Dodge,GreatCleave,ImprovedBullRush,ImprovedInitiative,ImprovedMultiattackB,ImprovedNaturalAttack(bite),IronWill,Multigrab,PowerAttack,Toughness(6)SkillsHide13,Jump+9,Listen+35,Search+19,Spot+35,Survival+16AugmentedCritical(Ex):Thefiveheadedpyrotarrasque'sbitethreatensacriticalhitonanaturalattackrollof1820anddealstripledamageonasuccessfulcriticalhit.

BreathWeapon(Su):Every1d4rounds,eachofthefiveheadedpyrotarrasque'sheadscanbreatheajetoffire10feethigh,10feetwide,and20feetlongthatdeals3d6pointsoffiredamage.Allheadsbreatheonthesameround.AsuccessfulDC28Reflexsavehalvesthedamage.

Carapace(Ex):Thefiveheadedpyrotarrasque'sarmorlikecarapaceissotoughandreflectivethatitcandeflectallrays,lines,cones,andevenmagicmissilespells.Anysucheffecthasa30%chanceofreflectingbackatthecasterotherwise,itismerelynegated.Checkforreflectionbeforerollingtoovercomethecreature'sspellresistance.

FrightfulPresence(Su):Thefiveheadedpyrotarrasquecaninspireterrorbychargingorattacking.EachaffectedcreaturemustsucceedonaDC40Willsaveorbecomeshaken,andthatconditionlastsaslongasitremainswithin60feetofthetarrasque.ThesaveDCisCharismabased.

ImprovedGrab(Ex):Tousethisability,thefiveheadedpyrotarrasquemusthitaHugeorsmalleropponentwithitsbiteattack.Itcanthenattempttostartagrappleasafreeactionwithoutprovokinganattackofopportunity.Ifitwinsthegrapplecheck,itestablishesaholdandcantrytoswallowthefoethefollowinground.

Multiheaded(Ex):Cuttingoffoneofthefiveheadedpyrotarrasque'sheadsdoesnotkillitallheadsmustbeseveredtodisableit.Thefiveheadedpyrotarrasquefunctionsnormallyaslongasatleastoneheadremains.

Regeneration(Ex):Noformofattackdealslethaldamagetothefiveheadedpyrotarrasque.Itregeneratesevenifitfailsasavingthrowagainstadisintegratespelloradeatheffect.Ifthetarrasquefailsitssaveagainstaspelloreffectthatwouldkillitinstantly(suchasthosementionedabove),thespelloreffectinsteaddealsnonlethaldamageequaltothecreature'sfullnormalhitpoints+10(or1,222hp).Thefiveheadedpyrotarrasqueisimmunetoeffectsthatproduceincurableorbleedingwounds,suchasmummyrot,aswordwiththewoundingspecialability,oraclaygolem'scursedwoundability.Thefiveheadedpyrotarrasquecanbeslainonlybyraisingitsnonlethaldamagetotaltoitsfullnormalhitpoints+10(or1,222hitpoints)andusingawishormiraclespelltokeepitdead.

Ifthefiveheadedpyrotarrasquelosesalimborbodypart,thelostportionregrowsin1d6minutes.(Thedetachedpiecediesanddecaysnormally.)Thecreaturecanreattachtheseveredmemberinstantlybyholdingittothestump.

Rush(Ex):Onceperminute,thefiveheadedpyrotarrasquecanmoveataspeedof150feet.

SwallowWhole(Ex):ThefiveheadedpyrotarrasquecantrytoswallowagrabbedopponentofHugeorsmallersizebymakingasuccessfulgrapplecheck.Onceinsidethetarrasque,theopponenttakes2d8+8pointsofcrushingdamageplus2d8+6pointsofaciddamageperroundfromthecreature'sdigestivejuices.Aswallowedcreaturecancutitswayoutbydealing50pointsofdamagetothetarrasque'sdigestivetract(AC25).Oncethecreatureexits,muscularactionclosestheholeanotherswallowedopponentmustcutitsownwayout.Thefiveheadedpyrotarrasque'sgulletcanhold2Huge,8Large,32Medium,128Small,or512Tinyorsmallercreatures.

Skills:Thefiveheadedpyrotarrasquehasa+8racialbonusonListenandSpotchecks.

SpellwarpedWoodlingTarrasque(D&DGame)

2/16/2015 EliteOpponents:TheTarrasque

http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Feo%2F20051109a 4/5

OurlasttarrasqueusesthespellwarpedandwoodlingtemplatesfromMonsterManualIII.Thisversionisideallysuitedforaforestedworld,sinceitisactuallypartplant.Becauseofitsplantlikenatureandappearance,thistarrasquecouldlivedeepinthewoods,perhapsresemblinganancienttreewhendormant.Treantsandsimilarintelligentplantcreatureswithintheforestmightevenconsideritagodlikebeing.Thespellwarpedtemplateindicatesthatitprobablylivesnearsomesinkholeofmagic,suchasanexus,oranysimilarconcentrationofmagicalenergyinyourcampaignworld.

SpellwarpedWoodlingTarrasqueCR24NeutralEvilColossalaberration(augmentedmagicalbeast)Init+7SensesListen+25,Spot+25darkvision60ft.,lowlightvision,scentAC44,touch5,flatfooted41Dodgehp944(48HD)DR15/epicand5/slashing,regeneration40,Toughness(6)Immuneabilitydamage,criticalhits,disease,energydrain,fire,mindaffectingeffects,paralysis,poison,polymorph,sleep,stunningResistSR59Fort+40,Ref+30,Will+20WeaknessvulnerabilitytofireSpeed20ft.(4squares)Meleebite+59(4d8+19/1820/x3)orbite+59(4d8+19/1820/x3)and2horns+54melee(1d10+9)and2claws+54melee(1d12+9)andtailslap+54melee(3d8+9)Space30ft.Reach20ft.BaseAtk+48Grp+83AtkOptionsaugmentedcritical,AwesomeBlow,BlindFight,Cleave,CombatReflexes,EnlargeBreath,GreatCleave,ImprovedBullRush,Multigrab,PowerAttackSpecialActionsfrightfulpresence,improvedgrab,rush,swallowwholeSpellLikeAbilities(CL48th):3/dayspeakwithplants1/dayanimateplants,commandplants,controlplants,entangle,summonnature'sallyII,summonnature'sallyIV,summonnature'sallyVI,summonnature'sallyVIII,summonnature'sallyIXAbilitiesStr49,Dex18,Con39,Int7,Wis14,Cha14SQcarapace,planttraits,spellabsorptionFeatsAlertness,AwesomeBlow,BlindFight,Cleave,CombatReflexes,Dodge,GreatCleave,ImprovedBullRush,ImprovedInitiative,IronWill,PowerAttack,Toughness(6)SkillsHide12,Jump+13,Listen+25,Search+11,Spot+25,Survival+14

AugmentedCritical(Ex):Thespellwarpedwoodlingtarrasque'sbitethreatensacriticalhitonanaturalattackrollof1820anddealstripledamageonasuccessfulcriticalhit.

Carapace(Ex):Thespellwarpedwoodlingtarrasque'sarmorlikecarapaceissotoughandreflectivethatitcandeflectallrays,lines,cones,andevenmagicmissilespells.Anysucheffecthasa30%chanceofreflectingbackatthecasterotherwise,itismerelynegated.Checkforreflectionbeforerollingtoovercomethecreature'sspellresistance.

FrightfulPresence(Su):Thespellwarpedwoodlingtarrasquecaninspireterrorbychargingorattacking.EachaffectedcreaturemustsucceedonaDC36Willsaveorbecomeshaken,andthatconditionlastsaslongasitremainswithin60feetofthetarrasque.ThesaveDCisCharismabased.

ImprovedGrab(Ex):Tousethisability,thespellwarpedwoodlingtarrasquemusthitaHugeorsmalleropponentwithitsbiteattack.Itcanthenattempttostartagrappleasafreeactionwithoutprovokinganattackofopportunity.Ifitwinsthegrapplecheck,itestablishesaholdandcantrytoswallowthefoethefollowinground.

PlantTraits:Thespellwarpedwoodlingtarrasqueisimmunetoparalysis,poison,polymorph,sleep,andstunning.Itisnotsubjecttocriticalhitsormindaffectingeffects.Thecreaturehaslowlightvision.

Regeneration(Ex):Noformofattackdealslethaldamagetothespellwarpedwoodlingtarrasque.Itregeneratesevenifitfailsasavingthrowagainstadisintegratespelloradeatheffect.Ifthetarrasquefailsitssaveagainstaspelloreffectthatwouldkillitinstantly(suchasthosementionedabove),thespelloreffectinsteaddealsnonlethaldamageequaltothecreature'sfullnormalhitpoints+10(or954hp).Thespellwarpedwoodlingtarrasqueisimmunetoeffectsthatproduceincurableorbleedingwounds,suchasmummyrot,aswordwiththewoundingspecialability,oraclaygolem'scursedwoundability.Thespellwarpedwoodlingtarrasquecanbeslainonlybyraisingitsnonlethaldamagetotaltoitsfullnormalhitpoints+10(or954hitpoints)andusingawishormiraclespelltokeepitdead.

Ifthespellwarpedwoodlingtarrasquelosesalimborbodypart,thelostportionregrowsin1d6minutes.(Thedetachedpiecediesanddecaysnormally.)Thecreaturecanreattachtheseveredmemberinstantlybyholdingittothestump.

Rush(Ex):Onceperminute,thespellwarpedwoodlingtarrasquecanmoveataspeedof150feet.

SwallowWhole(Ex):ThespellwarpedwoodlingtarrasquecantrytoswallowagrabbedopponentofHugeorsmallersizebymakingasuccessfulgrapplecheck.Onceinsidethetarrasque,theopponenttakes2d8+8

2/16/2015 EliteOpponents:TheTarrasque

http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Feo%2F20051109a 5/5

pointsofcrushingdamageplus2d8+6pointsofaciddamageperroundfromthecreature'sdigestivejuices.Aswallowedcreaturecancutitswayoutbydealing50pointsofdamagetothetarrasque'sdigestivetract(AC25).Oncethecreatureexits,muscularactionclosestheholeanotherswallowedopponentmustcutitsownwayout.Thespellwarpedwoodlingtarrasque'sgulletcanhold2Huge,8Large,32Medium,128Small,or512Tinyorsmallercreatures.

Skills:Thespellwarpedwoodlingtarrasquehasa+8racialbonusonListenandSpotchecks.

Nextmonth,we'lltakealookatgolemvariantsandseewhatyoucandowhenyoustretchtherulesabitallinthenameoffunforyourplayers,ofcourse.Y'allcomebacknow,hear?

AdditionalFeats

ThefollowingfeatsarefrombooksotherthanthePlayer'sHandbookandtheMonsterManual.

EnlargeBreath(fromDraconomicon):Thelengthofyourbreathweaponincreasesby50%(roundeddowntothenearestmultipleof5).Forexample,anoldsilverdragonbreathinganenlargedconeofcoldproducesa75footconeinsteadofa50footcone.Coneshapedbreathweaponsgetwiderwhentheygetlonger,butlineshapedbreathweaponsdonot.Whenyouusethisfeat,add+1tothenumberofroundsyoumustwaitbeforeusingyourbreathweaponagain.

Multigrab(fromSavageSpecies):Whengrapplinganopponentwiththepartofyourbodythatmadetheattack,youtakeonlya10penaltyongrapplechecksmadetomaintainthehold.

AbouttheAuthor

RobertWieseenteredthegaminghobbythroughtheBoyScoutsandprogressedfromgreenrecruittoheadofthemostpowerfulgamingfanorganizationintheworld.HeservedasheadoftheRPGANetworkforalmostsevenyears,overseeingthecreationoftheLivingGreyhawkandLivingForcecampaigns,amongotherachievements.Eventually,hereturnedtoprivatelifeinReno,Nevada,whereheisstillinvolvedinwriting,organizingconventions,andplaying.HealsomodelsproteinsfortheBiochemistryDepartmentoftheUniversityofNevada,Reno,andspendsasmuchtimeaspossiblewithhiswifeandmanypets.Heexpectstoenlargehisfamilybyonebeforetheendoftheyear.

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