29 replies to this topic

[Linaze]

General about Olthid
Hello there fellas, I am in need of your suggestions. I am currently working on an NPC mod that is a Mindflayer, and the race will ofcourse be [MINDFLAYER] but as you should know that one dosen't show up on the Character Record's screen, that's fair in my opinion, not like I care about that. But there is a class known as mindflayer as well and that one does not show up neither, nor do I know what abilities it has or whatsoever. So I thought making a KIT for my NPC, which can learn certain spells from the magebook. A few examples of those would be spells such as: Domination, Stoneskin, Mislead and Deathspell. Those spells are in my opinion a few good choises, Domination because of the mind powers of the Mindflayer, Stoneskin simply because it is an important spell, though I will make an innate of it instead which will be called Mind Barrier, for example, which is the Mind Flayer using his brain to manipulate the targets that he actually has a barrier around himself, but he dosen't, something like an illusion. Mislead also for messing with the other's brain, and Deathspell simply unleashes his full mindpower and kills most lesser enemies aroung him. More spells to come, of course.

Quick Info
Name - Olthid, formerly Ondrov
Alignment - Lawful Evil
Gender - Male
Age - 62
Class - Still in planning stages.

Attributes:
Strength: 12 - 12 is just above average, he's neither really strong nor extreamly weak.
Intelligence: 19 - Mindflayers use their mind as their primary weapon, therefore the high intelligence.
Wisdom: 14 - Whilst not extremely wise, they atleast are above-average wise.
Dexterity: 14 - Quite some flexability, some over the normal perhaps, nothing special though.
Constituation: 12 - The Mindflayer's aren't that sturdy, but they aren't to weak either.
Charisma: 17 - This might seem high, but mindflayers actually have good charisma seeing that they can talk people into stuff by using their brain powers.
Total: 88

Biography:
Many had sought the riches of the Underdark, but fewer had succeeded. The human expedition led by the rogue Falthir entered the Underdark in hope of valuable artifacts they sought to claim. His companion, the female-archer Vanessa, and the ever so loyal wizard, Ondrov. After many months in the dark, Vanessa and Falthir said to return back to the surface to gather more more supplies, food and the like, seeing that they had found nothing that was worth even a gold. But something made Ondrov interested in doing one last expedition, into a cave which he thought was special in some way. When entering it, they found out it resembled nothing they've seen before in the Underdark. Tiled floors, furniture, though the entire place was creepy, they moved further in until they saw three tentacle-covered beings, who seemed to be channeling spells at them! Falthir ordered to open fire, and Vanessa fired several fire arrows at their enemies who didn't seem to care about the arrows. Suddenly two purple bolts of psyonic energy was thrown at the expedition, both Vanessa and Falthier we're hit and the spell cast at them turned them into nothing but flesh, leaving only their clothes left in a pile of blood and meat, which was the remnatns of Ondrov's former companions. The wizard fell to his knees, crying, when suddenly a Mind Flayer came forth to him, and striked him down with his tentacles. Ondrov fainted, for now.

Ondrov woke up what he thought was like weeks later, but his appearance had changed, he was now one of the psionic illithid who had slewn two of his companions, but he did not care about any of this, he had the power now. Still he wanted more, and just knew he could gain power by absorbing brains, years passed, and Ondrov had recieved the new name Olthid, he had absorbed many brains and his powers had greatly increased. But he wanted much more and with the great numbers of flayers in the Underdark they didn't get many brains each, he left his home to travel to the surface, in hope of finding many more brains, many, many more. By leaving the Underdark, his kind saw it as betrayal, and he became an outcast, no longed cared for by ane other ilithid, not like they care about each other anyway but now he will even seem like an hostile to them.

Likes:

• Consumable power, for example victims brains.
  
• The look of an enemies face just before it dies.
  
• Chaos

Dislikes:

• Mages, because they resemble the past Olthid.
  
• Githyanki
  
• Order

Other Things:
Olthid starts out with some magic resistance, 25% to be exat, and he shapeshifts into human whilst in cities so you won't be seen traveling with a mind flayer. What I need your help with is suggestions for the mod about spells, bio or anything else. I also need help with how to do the shapeshift in cities thing. See this topic for more information.

Thanks in advance everyone, byebye, for now!

[EDIT 18 / 2 - 08] - Added some more information, such as the likes/dislikes section.
[EDIT 18 / 2 - 08] - Changed Stats and did a new biography.

Edited by Linaze, 18 February 2008 - 12:14 PM.

[WizWom]

I'd say look at giving him as special abilities the Mind flayer spells which are used in the scripts for mind flayers and ulithilrids. this would be a lot better than just arbitrarily adding mage spells.

Some mind flayers can learn mage spells, just like a mage, to - so it seems reasonable to extend that to whatever class you choose.

unfortunately, it being a monster, you won't get avatar/paperdoll changes for armor and weapons, which would be cool.

[Daulmakan]

I'd say look at giving him as special abilities the Mind flayer spells which are used in the scripts for mind flayers and ulithilrids. this would be a lot better than just arbitrarily adding mage spells.

I agree. Checking their stats in the Monster Manual can also be useful.

Some mind flayers can learn mage spells, just like a mage, to - so it seems reasonable to extend that to whatever class you choose. unfortunately, it being a monster, you won't get avatar/paperdoll changes for armor and weapons, which would be cool.

Illithids shun physical weapons, those are for inferior races. Their mind powers and spell-like abilities are more than enough. In this case, I think that not being able to see weapon/armor in the paperdoll doesn't really constitute a hindrance. Plus, the paperdoll for Illithid is there, thanks to the Shapechange spell. A mage Illithid could be a fine idea if it's well implemented. I'd give that a try. Thing is, how do you justify having someone in your party following your orders who basically thinks of you as food?

[Kaeloree]

Er, I don't know if mindflayers would have a paradise island; it might be worth doing some more research on mindflayer culture and where they appear in the original game, and working from that as a base.

He seems rather powerful; what disadvantages are you going to give him to prevent him from being overpowered in comparison to the other NPCs?

I'm also not entirely sure a mindflayer would risk his life to save his son; they are completely evil, and you make them sound rather good. I'd be interested to see the explanation behind that, I think

[VIIIofSwords]

If memory serves, Illithid only study magic to get a better idea of what their enemies use. Relying on them more than their own psionic abilities is some sort of taboo for them, making most mind flayer mages outcast. I have the 3rd ed book that goes in depth into Illithid civilization lying around somewhere. I'll look it up a little later for reference.

[Tassadar88]

I removed the excerpts so as not to violate any copyrights, and hope they had served their purpose

Edited by Tassadar88, 19 February 2008 - 09:40 AM.

[Daulmakan]

If memory serves, Illithid only study magic to get a better idea of what their enemies use. Relying on them more than their own psionic abilities is some sort of taboo for them, making most mind flayer mages outcast.

If the Illithid is gonna be a joinable NPC, then it has to have a class. I believe wizards are probably the most suitable class (and they are in 3E, according to the page Tassadar posted).

[VIIIofSwords]

If the Illithid is gonna be a joinable NPC, then it has to have a class.

Noted.

Also, I've found the book. Don't recall if this was published before or after the manual Tassadar posted, but I've always taken The Illithiad book as the most accurate source of Illithid lore.

Quote from page 17 of said book, regarding Alhoons (Illithid lichs):

Mind flayers that stray furthest from illithid ideology in search of personal power sometimes ignore their mental development in favor of the more chaotic rewards of magical study. Of course, illithids frown on arcane experimentation in general. Those illithids found secretly practicing sorcery are turned out of the illithid community, forever barred from
uniting with the elder brain at their lives' end.

and

Psionically speaking, alhoons possess the limited psionic powers of a young adult illithid not yet at the peak of its powers.

Interestingly, I agree that mage would be a plausible class. Perhaps even the most likely. It might also provide the NPC with a viable reason for being so far away (relatively speaking) from other mind flayers: he's on the run from them. The caveat is that he sacrifices psionic abilities.

There are other options, of course. Like a Cleric of Ilsensine, the illithid god. This has the advantage of them still retaining their full psionic power and having limited clerical spells

Specifications: Illithid priests have access to the Spheres of All, Astral, Charm. Divination, Law, Numbers, Sun (reverse). Thought, and Time. Illithid clerics cannot turn undead and cannot advance past 1 2 t h level,

but there are disadvantages

First, the illithid loses its right to join the elder brain. Secondly, but more immediately, the priest loses most of its magical resistance so that it can effectively channel the godly power of Ilsensine! This reduction of magic resistance occurs through a simple act of will on the part of Ilsensine. The mucousal integrity of illithid priests remains unbreached; however, their ability to negate magical effects decreases to 18%.

The Illithiad also contains mention of some illithid gaining combat skills like fighters, but no specifics are given.

To the OP: I can quote relevant sections from the book itself, if you want to use it as reference. Sadly, I don't have a scanner.

Edited by VIIIofSwords, 17 February 2008 - 01:33 AM.

[Daulmakan]

Also, I've found the book. Don't recall if this was published before or after the manual Tassadar posted, but I've always taken The Illithiad book as the most accurate source of Illithid lore.

Before. Illithiad is from 2E, the other stuff is for 3E. And I too would favor the Illithiad as the main reference.

Priest of Ilsensine might work, but I don't see one of those venturing outside the Underdark, it sounds odd. It's too far from the usual place of interest, and it doesn't seem like promoting the faith in the surface is gonna win a lot of followers.

Ideally, a psicionist would be best, but I believe that's really not workable within the engine.

Regarding the OP, I agree with K'aeloree, they're evil to their cores, I don't think they develop any meaningful family attachments.

[VIIIofSwords]

I always thought Illithid didn't have families. Both The Illithiad and wiki say that adults generate tadpoles, which are then placed in the same pool of fluid as the Elder Brain of a given illithid community. They're gradually eaten to sustain the Elder Brain, but the 1 in 1000 that survive are allowed to enter the process of becoming adults. Though they might have changed this for 3rd ed.

Priest of Ilsensine might work, but I don't see one of those venturing outside the Underdark, it sounds odd. It's too far from the usual place of interest, and it doesn't seem like promoting the faith in the surface is gonna win a lot of followers.

Or among the Illithid, from what I've read. They seem more interested in personal power than anything else, though the Illithiad mentions that most Illithid cities have a few Ilsensine clerics.

I'm not at home right now and I can't quote the relevant text, but the wiki on the Illithid may make a good reference.

Edited by VIIIofSwords, 17 February 2008 - 04:16 PM.

[Linaze]

I have read trough that on Wikipedia, and I must agree that I understood this all wrong, and will rewrite the biography entirely. Also, Priest of Ilsensine is what? Sounds cool with a Mind Flayer priest, since there aren't any (what I know) in game. Suggestions for spells for the priest would be appreciated since I don't really know what the class is. I have also edited the stats according to the scanned book pages that was posted, so they should be okay now. Keep the suggestions and/or critics coming, I appreciate it, thanks. Also, did I understand the wiki right that they inplant larvaes into for example orc that "turn" the orc into a mindflayer?

Edited by Linaze, 18 February 2008 - 12:57 AM.

[VIIIofSwords]

Also, Priest of Ilsensine is what?

Ilsensine is a god, who represents pretty much the overall Illithid mentality. It believes the illithid are meant to reign over all races, but despite this, isn't actively worshiped by most flayers. The book specifies what spell spheres are covered by Ilsensine's priesthood, but there's a limit. I've quoted the included spheres above. They can't gain spells past their 12th level, so that means that anything beyond 3rd (not quite sure, memory's fuzzy) level spells in the clerical spellbook are out. I think healing spells would be, too. Again, my memory on what spells are covered by which spheres is rusty.

And no, there are no illithid priests in-game. They don't even mention illithid religion in the game, but you'd better come up with a damn good reason for a Priest of Ilsensine (or any illithid) to be so far from the Underdark, let alone wandering about on the surface (which is lethal to them). Unless you're going with an outcast, but those are primarily mages trying to become lichs.

Also, did I understand the wiki right that they inplant larvaes into for example orc that "turn" the orc into a mindflayer?

Not quite. The Illithiad states that, primarily, breeding stock (the ones tadpoles are implanted into) are human. For some reason, human hosts have proven the most compatible, but it has never stopped Illithid from experimenting. It just doesn't work too often. In the event that it does, the illithid is still an illithid, but the book doesn't mention whether physical characteristics like orcish bulk would be retained.

Edit:
*reads through revised background*

Sounds much more plausible, but I doubt an illithid with a human mind would end up being a Priest of Ilsensine. The way you describe what happened to his companions seems unusual, since I'd think illithid would be more likely to try and capture rather than kill, especially if they don't pose that much of a threat. You seem to be setting Olthid up as being a sort of "Adversary" figure (an illithid that retains the memories of the host and does not have an illithid personality), which is fine. However, remember that consuming a sentient brain would mean that the illithid personality takes control of the body, eliminating the host's personality.

Edited by VIIIofSwords, 18 February 2008 - 04:36 AM.

[Linaze]

I think you're right that a priest of ilsensine wouldn't be fiting, and i'd rather go for some kind of non-pc mage kit of some kind. What you said about the Adversary thing, well I think i'm gonna make it like he has flashbacks of his human personality, but dosen't remember really anything of it. About his companions being slain and not taken as prisoner was the fact that they we're not strong compared to their wizard companion, and they wouldn't bother caring about an archer and/or a thief, but simply killed them which left the wizard a vulnerable target.

Suggestions for the kit would be very appreciated, first of all a decent name, and ofcourse spell suggestions, thanks all for replying so far.

[Azkyroth]

Will there be a romance?

[Rodman49]

Oh cool, I was asking about this over at PPG and Kulyok suggested I look over here. Pretty awesome that all this stuff is so recent. Anyway I was wondering what kind of limitations are you going to have implementing this? I'm not really familiar with modding the IE engine, and was just wondering.

So far I've heard you can't:

1. Make the race show up in the Record screen.
2. Have wield weapon animations.
3. Changeable color palette.

Is that right?

I was thinking of a making a Mindflayer mod where you ended up more like enslaving a Mindflayer and he'd cause most humans to flee or go hostile with you in towns, if you dragged him around in town.

*I was looking at the 3ed monster manual and Mindflayer characters get some insane modifiers - like +8 intelligence, +8 Charisma, +4 Constitution and some other stuff . . .

[Rodman49]

Does anyone have SporeBoy's image of a mindflayer, the one without the eyepiece? That would make the perfect portrait.

[Daulmakan]

That 17 Charisma is out of place, IMO. I assume they react to mind smarts among themselves, and outside their society, I bet not a single being will feel awe/respect/sympathy towards a walking octopus. What's worse, I don't think the illithid in question would care, nor would it do anything to change that fact, since they basically see them as fodder.

Having psionic powers that mimic Charm/Domination/Enthrall effects just does exactly that. It doesn't say anything about their charisma.

[Azkyroth]

That 17 Charisma is out of place, IMO. I assume they react to mind smarts among themselves, and outside their society, I bet not a single being will feel awe/respect/sympathy towards a walking octopus. What's worse, I don't think the illithid in question would care, nor would it do anything to change that fact, since they basically see them as fodder.

Having psionic powers that mimic Charm/Domination/Enthrall effects just does exactly that. It doesn't say anything about their charisma.

I seem to recall hearing about some bizarre interpretations of stats that place "Strength of will" under Charisma (perhaps in feat lists?), though I think my brain rejected the idea like a bad transplant and I don't recall any of the details.

[Rodman49]

I seem to recall hearing about some bizarre interpretations of stats that place "Strength of will" under Charisma (perhaps in feat lists?), though I think my brain rejected the idea like a bad transplant and I don't recall any of the details.

Well Mindflayer characters in the 3rd Edition Monster Manual have +8 bonus to charisma and intelligence. I think like +4 to wisdom, strength, and constitution, and like +2 to dex also.

[Daulmakan]

I seem to recall hearing about some bizarre interpretations of stats that place "Strength of will" under Charisma (perhaps in feat lists?), though I think my brain rejected the idea like a bad transplant and I don't recall any of the details.

The immunity system can work wonders.

Well Mindflayer characters in the 3rd Edition Monster Manual have +8 bonus to charisma and intelligence. I think like +4 to wisdom, strength, and constitution, and like +2 to dex also.

That doesn't surprise me in the least. 3E is totally out of whack in regards to attributes compared with 2E, which is the main base for BG2.