Housecat-sized octopus vs. SCUBA-equipped commoner

[vicky_molokh]

Greetings, all!

Based on some campaign-related tinkering, I realised that octopodes are surprisingly nasty in close combat. Possibly much nastier than housecats. Even if picks a housecat-sizes octopus, reducing SM to -4 and ST to perhaps 4, they still have many traits in their favour that compensate for the weakness of the cat. The cat's weakness is mostly the fact that commoners get +4 to their Grappling actions due to SM.

The octopus compensates for it to some extent: having 8 arms results in a +12 modifier to its grappling actions (including strangling!), on top of a base DX13, though penalised by -2 due to Bad Grip 1. Even with ST4, that's a roll against 14 for strangulation. Then there's the beak which may contain serious poison depending on species.

While all this isn't a guaranteed victory, it does seem like it makes octopodes very serious threats if somehow angered. I now think that our encounter with a much smarter and larger astropus actually went with extreme amounts of good luck, considering what these fellas can do.

Anyone ever used them as opponents? Other interesting observations?

Thanks in advance!

[Nereidalbel]

Don't forget, those suckers are smart. If they REALLY want your SCUBA-equipped buddy dead, it doesn't take them long to figure out what happens when you remove the SCUBA mask and respirator.

[Walrus]

Actually, there are some nasty octopi species which posess poison strong enough to kill a human.

Grappling by single octopus might be not an issue because humans aren't their usual prey so they don't know that it's their neck which should be grappled. And they don't usually fight larger targets anyway - they use poison, ink cloud or some other means to escape.

But if you have intelligent and aggressive one or have a lot of them or any other reason for them to actually attack humans (or whatever specie your PCs belong to) like protecting roe or spawn then it may be an issue.

[Flyndaran]

The best human divers in the world are still clumsy aliens under water. Not to mention that even accomplished divers may panic when something starts messing with their lifeline.

As to house cats, have you ever tried to hold a truly bat-**** insane feral cat? I thought my huge panicking fatties went ballistic when I tried to put them in carriers. But there is just a huge world of difference between that and true over the top insanity. Admittedly, I have no grappling experience what so ever.

[ericthered]

Sometimes I wonder if an octopus having eight arms isn't one of those "Use the advantage name, not the advantage description" cases.

Of course, you're cinematic octopus can wield a weapon in each arm while easily grappling the damsel in two more.

but you're non-cinematic octopus? even if highly intelligent (or driven by a human), I somehow doubt it can effectively use all those arms to wield weapons and so on. And should the octopus really have +12 to grapple?

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by ericthered

...

but you're non-cinematic octopus? even if highly intelligent (or driven by a human), I somehow doubt it can effectively use all those arms to wield weapons and so on. And should the octopus really have +12 to grapple?

Grappling doesn't mean it can do anything afterward. Kittens can grapple my ankles all they want. It won't really affect me in any way other than making me squee like a little girl.

[lwcamp]

Originally Posted by ericthered

And should the octopus really have +12 to grapple?

Once an octopus has stuck on to you, it is very difficult to get it off until it decides to let you go (or, presumably, if you kill it). I really doubt a +12 to strangulation is justified, but I can see +12 to maintain a grapple.

Of course, the real reason for this is the suckers, not the extra arms.

Luke

[Jovus]

Bring a main-gauche and sever the arms with Parrying Unarmed Attacks since God was silly and didn't build them as Strikers.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Jovus

Bring a main-gauche and sever the arms with Parrying Unarmed Attacks since God was silly and didn't build them as Strikers.

Taking out your mouth piece merely exposes your primate teeth... calamari-time!
Gulliver rules gives invertebrates lowered resistance to limb severing.

[Anaraxes]

Originally Posted by Walrus

But if you have intelligent and aggressive one or have a lot of them or any other reason for them to actually attack humans...

Stop giving the SyFy channel ideas. Wasn't Sharknado enough for you?