Random Lower Planar Creature Generator

Sometimes the sudden appearance of an unrecognizable creature of evil from the planes of the Abyss, Carceri (Tarterus), Gray Waste (Hades), or Baator (Hell) is necessary. The following will assist in the creation of one or several unique creatures in but a few minutes. The format is similar to the one in the AD & D Monster Manual.

FREQUENCY: Uncommon, rare, or very rare (d6: 1, 2-3, 4-6)NO. APPEARING: 1 or 2-8 (circumstances must dictate)ARMOR CLASS: 2 to -3 (d6)MOVE: 6", 9", 12", 15", or 18" (d8: 6-8= roll d4 for move and creature also has burrowing, flying, or swimming ability; roll d6: 1=burrowing, 2-5= flying, 6=swimming and as a rule these speeds will be greater than land movement speed. Add 1-4 3" increments as determined randomly by the d4)HIT DICE: 7-10 (d4 + 6, roll a second d4, and on a 4 the creature has 1-4 additional hit points per hit die, as determined by another roll of the d4)% IN LAIR: Nil (circumstances must dictate)TREASURE TYPE: low value if any (circumstances must dictate)NO. OF ATTACKS: see APPEARANCE TABLE belowDAMAGE/ATTACK: see ATTACK TABLE belowSPECIAL ATTACK: see SPECIAL ATTACKS TABLE belowSPECIAL DEFENSE: see SPECIAL DEFENSES TABLE belowMAGIC RESISTANCE: 5% per hit dice (to vary use d6: 1= -10%, 2= -5%, 3= +5%, 4= +10%, 5= +15%, and 6= STANDARD magic resistance)INTELLIGENCE: low, average, very, or high (d4)ALIGNMENT: According to plane of originSIZE: S, M, or L (d8: 1, 2-4, 5-8)PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil (90%) or 96-115 (d20 + 95)   Attack/Defense Modes: A-D (d4) / F-H (d6: 1-2= F, 3-4= F & G, 5-6= F, G, & H)

APPEARANCE TABLE:

HEAD 1. Amphibian2. Bird-like* (see * chart below)3. Fish-like** (see ** chart below)4. Geometric-shaped*** (see *** chart below)5. Mammalian**** (see **** chart below)6. Multiple heads (d4 + 1)7. None apparent8. Reptilian*****

HEAD ADORNMENT 1. antennae2. antlers3. bald4. crest or peak5. feathers6. fins7. frills8. hairy 9. horns (d4)*10. horns, curved up11. knobs12. lumps13. mane14. none15. needles16. oozing holes17. ridges18. ruff19. spikes (2d4)**20. spines

*Attack 1-2/horn**Attack 1/spike

OVERALL VISAGE 1. gibbering-drooling2. glaring-menacing3. hanging-flaccid4. rotting-decaying5. skeletal6. twitching-bubbling7. wrinkled-stitched8. unraveling-tattered<

EYES (d6: 1= 1, 2-4= 2, 5-6= 3 or 4) 1. huge, flat2. huge, protruding3. large, multi-faceted4. large, round5. small, slitted6. small, stalked7. small, sunken8. swivel-socketed

EYE COLOR1. amber2. black, dull3. black, shiny4. maroon5. metallic6. multi-colored*7. opalescent8. red, fiery9. violet10. white, blank*changes with mood (ex. red= anger)

EARS (d4: 1= 1, 2-3= 2, 4= 3) 1. huge, humanoid2. human-like3. large, drooping4. large, fan-like5. large, pointed6. none, apparent*7. small, pointed8. trumpet-like*(concealed)

NOSE1. flat, mishappen2. huge, bulbous3. long, pointed4. narrow, beaked5. none6. slits only7. snouted8. trunk-like9. wide protruding10. tiny

NECK1. long, slithering2. long, thick3. none apparent4. rotational5. short, thick6. short, thin7. saw-toothed8. sucker-like

MOUTH (d6: 1= tiny, 2-3= average, 4-6= huge)1. crushing teeth2. fangs, curved in3. long canines4. mandibles5. out-thrust tusks6. ridges

* 1. duck-like2. eagle-like3. flamingo-like4. hawk-like5. heron-like6. hummingbird-like7. ostrich-like8. owl-like9. pelican-like10. raven-like11. stork-like12. turkey-like

**1. barracuda-like2. flounder-like3. moonfish-like4. hammerhead-like5. paddlefish-like6. right whale-like7. sea horse-like8. sperm whale-like9. trunkfish-like10. white shark-like

***1. conical2. cubical3. discoid4. ovoid5. spherical6. wedge-shaped

****1. armadillo-like2. bat-like3. bear-like4. elephant-like5. gorilla-like6. horse-like7. human-like8. platypus-like9. rat-like10. rhinoceros-like11. tiger-like12. walrus-like

*****1. alligator-like2. crocodilian3. dinosaur-like (* - see below)4. dragon-like5. gavial-like6. gila monster-like7. iguana-like8. snake-like9. snapping turtle-like10. tuatara-like

(*)1. ankylosaurus2. brontosaurus3. diplodocus4. pterodactyl5. triceratops6. tyrannosaurus rex

Body Attributes (d6: 1-4= bipedal, 5-6= quadrupedal, et al.)

BIPEDAL1. ape-like2. bear-like3. bird-like4. kangaroo-like5. human-like6. satyr-like7. fish-like8. lizard-like

QUADRUPEDAL or OTHER TORSO1. amoeba-like2. arachnid3. bison-like4. cat-like5. centaur-like6. crustacean7. dog-like8. flatworm-like9. formless-like10. frog-like11. insect-like12. jellyfish-like13. manta ray-like14. millipede-like15. pillbug-like16. reptilian17. rodent-like18. serpentine19. snail-like20. starfish-like

BODY ODOR (if necessary)1. bloody2. fecal3. fishy4. gangrenous5. moldy6. sweaty7. urine8. vomit

APPEARANCE of TORSO1. broad, wide2. fat3. muscled4. narrow, long5. rubbery6. short, thick7. stiff8. thin

TAIL (d6: 1-4= tail)1. feathered2. fin3. horse-like4. long, barbed5. long, clubbed6. long, forked7. long, prehensile8. long, stingered9. long10. lion-like11. short curled12. short

SKIN1. bald/smooth2. furred3. hairy/bristled4. leathery/leprous5. scaled/plated6. slimy/oozing7. warted/bumpy8. wrinkled/folded

PREDOMINANT COLOR1. black2. blue3. brown4. changing color*5. grey-white6. green7. orange-red8. pink9. purple10. roll again for two11. rust12. yellow-tan*camouflage

BACK1. bristle-maned2. humped3. hunched4. knob-maned5. normal6. ridged7. spiked8. spined

WINGS, if any1. bat-like2. bird-like3. insect-like4. membranous or fan-like

ARMS (2 or 4 if bipedal; 2-9 (d8 + 1) if otherwise)1. animal-like2. long, thin3. insect-like4. short, thick5. suctioned6. tentacles7. trunk-like; elastic*8. webbed; pectoral fin*reach is doubled

LEGS (as applicable)1. deformed, humanoid2. insect-like3. long, thin4. short, bowed5. short, massive6. snake-like*7. suctioned8. thick, elastic*can add 50% to normal height

HANDS (d6: 1-3= all alike, 4-6= all different)1. barbed2. clawed3. hooked4. huge, thick-fingered5. human-like6. knobbed7. pinchered8. taloned9. tentacle-fingered10. withered and/or bony

FEET (as applicable)1. clawed2. hooved3. hooked4. human-like5. insect-like6. prehensile toes, long7. suctioned8. taloned9. webbed; pelvic fin10. wide, circular

A bit of imaginative creation is helpful in using the tables above. For example, if the creature's body is amoeba-like, give it scores of tiny, bubbling sucker mouths over its entire body, and omit any mouth on the head; of course, body covering would have to be adjusted accordingly, and appendages selected to suit the monster. Or if the creature's body is a formless blob, then the creature's intelligence would dictate what kind of shape it is capable of assuming; low intelligence means the creature can only assume simple geometric forms (like a sphere, a cube, etc.), average means the creature can assume the likeness of inanimate objects (like a table, a bed, etc.) and so on; The primary focus of such a creature would be to transform into a form that further accentuates its main attributes. Likewise, feel at ease adding to or amending the tables as desired in order to arrive at still more diverse and unexpected lower planes creatures. After the creature's form and appearance has been developed, determine strength and necessary attack capabilities.

ATTACK TABLE- DAMAGE (Match with rolled characteristics)

HEAD ADORNMENTantler= 2-12 by a chargehorns= 2-10 by a chargehorns, curved up= 2-8 by head buttknobs= 1-2 by a chargeneedles= 1-12 needles/round with 1-4/needleoozing holes*= 3-8 if corrosivespikes= 2-8 by a chargespines= 1-6 by a charge

MOUTHcrushing teeth: avg.= 3-6, huge= 5-8fangs, curved in: avg.= 2-5, huge= 2-9long canines: avg.= 2-7, huge= 2-14mandibles*: avg.=4-7, huge= 4-13out-thrust tusks: avg.= 2-8, huge= 2-12saw toothed : avg.= 1-3 & 1-4/round thereafter, huge=1-4 & 1-6/round thereafterridges: avg.= 1-6, huge= 2-12sucker-like: avg.= 1-2 in blood drain damage, huge= 1- 3 in blood drain damage

TAILlong, barbed*= 1-4long, clubbed= 2-8long, stingered*= 1-2barbed= 2-7/round & held fast

HANDS and FEETclawed= 2-5hooves= 1-8 & strength bonus, stomping damagehooked= 1-8 & strength bonuspinchered= 1-4 & strength bonustaloned= 1-6huge, thick-fingered=1 blow: 1-4 plus strength bonus, 2 blows: 2-8 plus strength bonusknobbed= 2-6 & strength bonuswide circular= 1-4, 2-8, or 3-12 in. (^plus strength bonus)

*Optionally Poisoned (or 4 in 6 chance)1. + 1 on save2. normal3. - 1 on save4. - 2 on save5. insanity for 1-4 rounds6. weakness; 1 point per hit die permanently lost from Strength

SPECIAL ATTACKS TABLE (30% chance for 2 and a 10% chance for 3)1. ability drain2. acidic spittle missile, 10' range, 2-18 points of damage, once per turn3. breath equals small stinking cloud vs. 1 opponent in a 3' range4. double attacks for every other round, up to 6 rounds, once per day5. energy drain (cold)6. gaseous discharge or missile discharge7. gaze equals ray of enfeeblement spell vs. 1 opponent in a 5' range8. heat generation9. sound emanation equals fumble spell vs. 1 opponent in a 5' range10. spell-like abilities11. spell-use12. summon/gate

SPECIAL DEFENSES TABLE (30% chance for 2 and a 10% chance for 3)1. cold and electricity immunity2. fire and acid immunity3. gas and poison immunity4. illusion and mental paralysis (charm, hold) immunity5. metal immunity*6. regeneration**7. spell immunity***8. weapon immunity****

*metal immunity : iron, silver, steel, or other type, also including combinations but excluding magical weaponry**regeneration : base is 2-5 hit points per turn, with exceptional creatures having a maximum of 1 per round***spell immunity : must be limited to 1-4 pre-determined spells****weapon immunity : magical weapons of a certain value, ex. + 1, + 2, etc.

OTHER ABILITIES (40% chance for 1 and a 5% chance for 2)1. alternate breathing methods2. auditory superiority3. infravisual superiority4. olfactory superiority5. skin sensitivity6. ultravisual superiority

The above abilities are innate in the creatures who have them and are not considered spell-like abilities. The alternate breathing method allows the creature so bestowed to breath by other ways than the "normal" respiratory system. Some examples are: the creature may be able to chew on leaves to store oxygen, the creature may be able to "absorb" oxygen simply by submersion in water, etc. Just because oxygen is mentioned as what the creature breathes, does not mean that the creature can't thrive off of another element be it gaseous or otherwise. Examples include: the creature may sustain itself by sucking on a chunk of iron, the creature rejuvenates when hit by silver or wrought silver weapons, etc.

Auditory or visual superiority will tend to negate surprise and enable detection of creatures through sound or vision. Superior hearing allows the creature to detect a drop of a needle through 10' of solid wood, or like medium, provided there is total silence. Common sense would dictate that detecting a needle dropping amidst a battle/party just isn't possible. The creature with infrared or ultra-vision superiority can see the maximum distances and, in most cases, better than its normal vision.

Skin sensitivity allows the creature in question to "feel" the presence of other beings by way of sound vibrations, breathing patterns or body heat. This ability is 95% accurate for one being, 75% for two, 55% for three, and 35% for four or more. Olfactory superiority not only increases the creature's chance of detecting surprise and ambush situations by 75%, it enables the creature to track any being once the creature has picked up the scent.