Some standard DnD-style humanoids in GURPS

[Rupert]

If you stick to the core books it's actually quite a tight system.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

How does that matter? D&D 3rd+ is so internally inconsistant and errata laden as to render the concept of canon vs. non-canon a little silly.
It's a game. There is no such thing as canon.

... you know, there are about ten billion star trek fans that would argue with that train of logic. Just because the original source has no organizing central rhyme or reason, doesn't mean that a fan-written Spock/Kirk slashfic is cannonical.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Rupert

If you stick to the core books it's actually quite a tight system.

I'm not saying that they are as half-a**ed as White Wolf products, which I still enjoyed in a "pick and choose what I like, and disgard the rest" way.
:)

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Bruno

... you know, there are about ten billion star trek fans that would argue with that train of logic. Just because the original source has no organizing central rhyme or reason, doesn't mean that a fan-written Spock/Kirk slashfic is cannonical.

I could only enjoy ST by pretending that each episode was a seperate parallel universe with unique laws and histories.
Unless there is a single author, or unequivocal basis like what's on the screen is "true", the concept of canon just falls flat, in my opinion.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

I could only enjoy ST by pretending that each episode was a seperate parallel universe with unique laws and histories.
Unless there is a single author, or unequivocal basis like what's on the screen is "true", the concept of canon just falls flat, in my opinion.

There are, however, degrees of "cannon", if you will. There's seriously internally consistent stuff, "Hard cannon" if you like, then there's Star Trek level consistency ("soft cannon"), which is fuzzier, but still has borders.

Slashfic between two consistently unromantically involved characters who are consistently defined as being completely uninterested in each other falls well outside even the hazy borders of soft cannon. Perhaps a better example would be Spock/Bones slashfic... ;)

It's very very unusual that anyone ever considers 3rd party products produced in isolation and without consultation of the 'origin' material to be canonical in any sense whatsoever. Some items might get the 'cannon' blessing after the fact if the 'official' sources like it (I think Star Wars extended universe works a little like this) but it still takes special intervention.

[DieMunchkin]

Not strictly in topic here, but these vermin are DnD style. Actually, I whipped them up a while ago for a Temple of Apshai influenced dungeon crawl. I've cleaned them up a bit and put them here in case someone else can use them.


Giant Bombardier Beetle (-28 Points)

Attributes [-66]
ST 10; DX 10; IQ 1 [-180]; HT 12 [20]

Damage 1d-2/1d; Basic Lift 39 lbs.; HP 12 [4]; Will 10 [45]; Per 10 [45]; FP 12
Basic Speed 5.5; Basic Move 5; Ground Move 5; Water Move 1

Block 0; Dodge 8; Parry 0
DR: 2

Acid Spray (skill 12; 1d+1 Corrosion damage; 5 yard Cone; 1/2D 10; Range 100; Acc 3; RoF 1)
Bite (skill 10; 1d-3 cut)

Advantages [104]
Corrosion Attack (Acid Spray; 1d+1 damage; Partial Dice (+1); Cone (5 yards), +100%; Limited Use (4 times per day), -20%) [24]
Damage Resistance 4 (Limited Defense: Occasional (Bombardier Beetle acid spray), -60%; Can't Wear Armor, -40%) [4]
Damage Resistance 2 (Shell, Can't Wear Armor, -40%) [6]
Dark Vision [25]
Extra Legs (6 Legs, Cannot Kick, -50%) [5]
High Pain Threshold [10]
Injury Tolerance (No Vitals) [5]
Lifting ST (4) [12]
Resistant +8 (Disease, Common) [7]
Teeth (Sharp Teeth) [1]
Universal Digestion [5]

Disadvantages [-70]
Bestial [-10]
Cannot Speak [-15]
Hidebound [-5]
Horizontal [-10]
No Fine Manipulators [-30]
Taboo Trait (Fixed IQ) [0]

Skills [4]
Innate Attack (Breath) DX/E - DX+2 12 [4]

Stats [-66] Ads [104] Disads [-70] Quirks [0] Skills [4] = Total [-28]

Giant Bombardier Beetles are about 6 feet long and feed primarily on carrion and offal. If provoked it will attack with its Acid Spray or more rarely, its bite.




Giant Centipede (-54 points)

Attributes [-102]
ST 4 [-36]; DX 12 [24]; IQ 1 [-180]; HT 10

Damage 1d-5/1d-4; Basic Lift 7.2 lbs.; HP 4; Will 10 [45]; Per 10 [45]; FP 10; Siz Mod -3
Basic Speed 5.5; Basic Move 5; Ground Move 5; Water Move 1

Block 0; Dodge 8; Parry 0
DR: 2

Bite (skill 12; 1d-5 cut + Poison)
Poison (roll vs HT-1; causes Moderate Pain (pg 428) that lasts 30 minutes per point HT roll failed by; if HT roll is failed by more than 5, then Paralysis (pg 429) also occurs)

Advantages [118]
Affliction 2 (Poison Bite; Follow-Up (Teeth); Extended Duration (×30), +60%; Paralysis (Secondary), +30%; Moderate Pain, +20%) [42]
Clinging [20]
Dark Vision [25]
Extra Legs (100 legs; Cannot Kick, -50%) [8]
High Pain Threshold [10]
Injury Tolerance (No Vitals) [5]
Lifting ST 2 [6]
Striking ST 1 (One Attack Only (Bite), -60%; No Fine Manipulators, -40%) [1]
Teeth (Sharp Teeth) [1]

Disadvantages [-70]
Bestial [-10]
Cannot Speak [-15]
Hidebound [-5]
Horizontal [-10]
No Fine Manipulators [-30]
Taboo Trait (Fixed IQ) [0]

Stats [-102] Ads [118] Disads [-70] Quirks [0] Skills [0] = Total [-54]

Giant Centipedes are about 2 feet long and can be found in both subterrainean and dark, damp forest environments. They attack anything that they think might be food. Their bite won't penetrate armor but if they bite flesh, they will inject a painful venom that can cause paralysis.




Giant Fire Beetle (-144 Points)

Attributes [-114]
ST 6 [-24]; DX 10; IQ 1 [-180]; HT 10

Damage 1d-4/1d-3; Basic Lift 20 lbs.; HP 6; Will 10 [45]; Per 10 [45]; FP 10; Siz Mod -3
Basic Speed 5; Basic Move 5; Ground Move 5; Water Move 1

Block 0; Dodge 8; Parry 0
DR: 2

Bite (skill 10; 1d-1 cut)

Advantages [71]
Damage Resistance 2 (Shell; Can't Wear Armor, -40%) [6]
Dark Vision [25]
Extra Legs (6 Legs; Cannot Kick, -50%) [5]
High Pain Threshold [10]
Injury Tolerance (No Vitals) [5]
Lifting ST 4 [12]
Striking ST 7 (One Attack Only (Bite), -60%; No Fine Manipulators, -40%) [7]
Teeth (Sharp Teeth) [1]

Disadvantages [-70]
Bestial [-10]
Cannot Speak [-15]
Hidebound [-5]
Horizontal [-10]
No Fine Manipulators [-30]
Taboo Trait (Fixed IQ) [0]

Quirks [-1]
Glowing glands behind eyes (Incompetence - Stealth) [-1]

Stats [-114] Ads [71] Disads [-70] Quirks [-1] Skills [0] = Total [-114]

Giant Fire Beetles are around 2 feet in length and are known for having a very powerful bite for their size. They will attack anything that they identify as food (sleeping adventurers qualify), although their glowing glands will often alert their prey. The glands are prized by wizards and alchemists, plus they are useful as they will continue to provide light (-5 vision rolls) for several days after removal.




Giant Praying Mantis (36 Points)

Attributes [-36]
ST 16 [54]; DX 9 [-20]; IQ 1 [-180]; HT 12 [20]

Damage 1d+1/2d+2; Basic Lift 97 lbs.; HP 20 [8]; Will 10 [45]; Per 10 [45]; FP 11 [-3]; Siz Mod +1
Basic Speed 5.25; Basic Move 4 [-5]; Air Move 8; Ground Move 4

Block 0; Dodge 8; Parry 0
DR: 2

Bite (skill 9; 1d cut)
Grapple (effective DX 12; effective ST 22)

Advantages [118]
Arm DX 3 (Two arms; One Attack Only (Grappling), -60%) [20]
Damage Resistance 2 (Shell; Can't Wear Armor, -40%) [6]
Dark Vision [25]
Extra Legs (4 Legs; Cannot Kick, -50%) [3]
Flight (Cannot Hover, -15%; Winged, -25%) [24]
High Pain Threshold [10]
Injury Tolerance (No Vitals) [5]
Lifting ST 6 (Size, -10%) [17]
Racial Skill Bonus 1 (Stealth) [2]
Single-Minded [5]
Teeth (Sharp Teeth) [1]

Disadvantages [-54]
Bestial [-10]
Cannot Speak [-15]
Ham-Fisted (-2) [-10]
Hidebound [-5]
Loner (6 or less) [-10]
Reduced Air Move -2 [-4]
Taboo Trait (Fixed IQ) [0]

Skills [8]
Stealth DX/A - DX+3 12 [8]
includes: +1 from 'Racial Skill Bonus (Stealth)'

Stats [-36] Ads [118] Disads [-54] Quirks [0] Skills [8] = Total [36]

Giant Praying Mantis' are around 9 feet in length and are excellent solitary predators. They stand perfectly still until prey comes within range, at which point they grapple (usually for the torso), after which the prey is attacked with the bite (often aimed at the neck). They can also carry off anyone of ST 11 or less or anyone they have managed to pin (pg 371). They can also attempt to crush the torso of anyone of Size 0 or less (see Choke, pg 371).




Giant Wasp (132 Points)

Attributes [-10]
ST 15 [45]; DX 11 [20]; IQ 1 [-180]; HT 12 [20]

Damage 1d+1/2d+1; Basic Lift 58 lbs.; HP 15; Will 10 [45]; Per 10 [45]; FP 12; Siz Mod +1
Basic Speed 5.75; Basic Move 4 [-5]; Air Move 11; Ground Move 4

Block 0; Dodge 8; Parry 0
DR: 2

Grapple (effective DX 11 + 4 from extra arms; effective ST 17)
Bite (skill 11; 1d cut)
Stinger (skill 11; 1d+1 imp + Poison)
Poison (roll vs HT-2; causes Severe Pain (pg 428) that lasts 5 hours per point HT roll failed by; if HT roll is failed by more than 5, then Paralysis (pg 429) also occurs)

Advantages [210]
3D Spatial Sense [10]
Affliction 3 (Poison Sting; Follow-Up (Stinger); Extended Duration (×300), +100%; Paralysis (Secondary), +30%; Severe Pain, +40%) [81]
Clinging [20]
Damage Resistance 2 (Can't Wear Armor, -40%) [6]
Dark Vision [25]
Extra Arms 2 (Foot Manipulators, -30%) [14]
Flight (Winged, -25%) [30]
High Pain Threshold [10]
Injury Tolerance (No Vitals) [5]
Lifting ST 2 (Size, -10%) [6]
Striker (Stinger - Impaling; Cannot Parry, -40%; Weak, -50%) [2]
Teeth (Sharp Teeth) [1]

Disadvantages [-70]
Bestial [-10]
Bloodlust (6 or less) [-20]
Cannot Speak [-15]
Ham-Fisted (-2) [-10]
Hidebound [-5]
Horizontal [-10]
Taboo Trait (Fixed IQ) [0]

Skills [1]
Aerobatics DX/H - DX+0 12 [2]
includes: +2 from '3D Spatial Sense'

Stats [-10] Ads [210] Disads [-70] Quirks [0] Skills [2] = Total [132]

Giant Wasps are will attack anything that looks even remotely like food. They are known to be very aggressive, often continuing to sting prey long after it has stopped moving. Their usual method of attack is to grapple their prey (preferably from above and by surprise) and then repeatedly stabbing with their stinger. If they can carry their foe into the air, they will (pg 371).