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Help me stat Disembodied brains/heads

Started by GeekyBugle, March 14, 2023, 01:41:35 PM

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GeekyBugle

March 14, 2023, 01:41:35 PM
Disembodied brains/heads, either floating, slithering or on a jar, as seen on films such as:

The Brain From The Planet Arous (1957)
Fiend Without A Face (1958) 
The Thing That Couldn't Die (1958)
They Saved Hitler's Brain (1968)

I think they make for perfect Pulp monsters.

Has anyone tried using them as monsters in their games?
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

Effete

#1
March 14, 2023, 02:00:56 PM
This is probably something that better implemented as a Plot Device, rather than a typical monster. I'm presuming the brain has very strong psionics (or equivalent), so the "threat" would be the minions under its control.

GeekyBugle

#2
March 14, 2023, 02:09:32 PM
Quote from: Effete on March 14, 2023, 02:00:56 PM
This is probably something that better implemented as a Plot Device, rather than a typical monster. I'm presuming the brain has very strong psionics (or equivalent), so the "threat" would be the minions under its control.

You need to stat it or else how are the PCs going to defeat it? Kill all the minions? And when it gets more? Keep killing them?

Plus not all are psionic, for instance Hitler's head isn't, it's just a brain in a jar.

Plus not all NEED to be psionic, the fiend was but it could work without being psionic, imagine an alien race that looks like it and feeds by eating brains, the smarter the better.

That last one I imagine as a kind of facehugger but without the laying eggs inside you bit.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

Armchair Gamer

#3
March 14, 2023, 03:03:15 PM
One of Ravenloft's most famous non-darklord villains is the Living Brain of Rudolph von Aubrecker, introduced in Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium II .

GeekyBugle

#4
March 14, 2023, 03:15:16 PM
Quote from: Armchair Gamer on March 14, 2023, 03:03:15 PM
One of Ravenloft's most famous non-darklord villains is the Living Brain of Rudolph von Aubrecker, introduced in Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium II .

Thanks, never played Ravenloft so I missed it, but I DO have the Monstruous Compendium II.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

Mishihari

#5
March 14, 2023, 03:33:34 PM
You could look at the grell, though it has a few things added on to the floating brain

GeekyBugle

#6
March 14, 2023, 03:48:48 PM
Quote from: Mishihari on March 14, 2023, 03:33:34 PM
You could look at the grell, though it has a few things added on to the floating brain

Thanks, another one I overlooked, I think it'll be easy to modify it to fit my idea.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

Effete

#7
March 15, 2023, 07:21:58 AM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on March 14, 2023, 02:09:32 PM
Quote from: Effete on March 14, 2023, 02:00:56 PM
This is probably something that better implemented as a Plot Device, rather than a typical monster. I'm presuming the brain has very strong psionics (or equivalent), so the "threat" would be the minions under its control.

You need to stat it or else how are the PCs going to defeat it? Kill all the minions? And when it gets more? Keep killing them?

Plus not all are psionic, for instance Hitler's head isn't, it's just a brain in a jar.

Plus not all NEED to be psionic, the fiend was but it could work without being psionic, imagine an alien race that looks like it and feeds by eating brains, the smarter the better.

That last one I imagine as a kind of facehugger but without the laying eggs inside you bit.

A "Brain in a Jar" is essentially an inanimate object. Break the jar, stomp the brain. </shrug>

As for giving it mobility, the OP is overly general in what you want to achieve. "Floating or slithering" is not helpful unless you want a dozen or so different builds. Is it fast or slow? You didn't say. It is psionic or not? You didn't say. I just gave you one example of what you literally asked for (a brain in a jar), yet you dismiss it without discussion. Maybe be more precise with what you actually want.

Banjo Destructo

#8
March 15, 2023, 09:22:00 AM
I bid ten quatloos that this works out!

Ghostmaker

#9
March 15, 2023, 09:53:33 AM
There's a brain in a jar monster in the old 3.5E book Libris Mortis.

Pathfinder has the alchemical golem, which is a golem animated with a brain in a jar.

Effete

#10
March 15, 2023, 10:27:47 AM
Intellect Devourer is basically a brain with legs.

GeekyBugle

#11
March 15, 2023, 12:25:02 PM
Quote from: Effete on March 15, 2023, 07:21:58 AM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on March 14, 2023, 02:09:32 PM
Quote from: Effete on March 14, 2023, 02:00:56 PM
This is probably something that better implemented as a Plot Device, rather than a typical monster. I'm presuming the brain has very strong psionics (or equivalent), so the "threat" would be the minions under its control.

You need to stat it or else how are the PCs going to defeat it? Kill all the minions? And when it gets more? Keep killing them?

Plus not all are psionic, for instance Hitler's head isn't, it's just a brain in a jar.

Plus not all NEED to be psionic, the fiend was but it could work without being psionic, imagine an alien race that looks like it and feeds by eating brains, the smarter the better.

That last one I imagine as a kind of facehugger but without the laying eggs inside you bit.

A "Brain in a Jar" is essentially an inanimate object. Break the jar, stomp the brain. </shrug>

As for giving it mobility, the OP is overly general in what you want to achieve. "Floating or slithering" is not helpful unless you want a dozen or so different builds. Is it fast or slow? You didn't say. It is psionic or not? You didn't say. I just gave you one example of what you literally asked for (a brain in a jar), yet you dismiss it without discussion. Maybe be more precise with what you actually want.

I "dismiss it without discussion" huh? So what is it that you're quoting?

The OP is overly general BECAUSE I want several different builds indeed.

Floating, could be slow or fast, slithering on the other hand...

Can be psionic, doesn't HAVE TO tho.

My guess is you're just salty I didn't like your solution.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

GeekyBugle

#12
March 15, 2023, 12:26:23 PM
Quote from: Ghostmaker on March 15, 2023, 09:53:33 AM
There's a brain in a jar monster in the old 3.5E book Libris Mortis.

Pathfinder has the alchemical golem, which is a golem animated with a brain in a jar.

Thanks!

Don't have "Libris Mortis" will see if I can get it.

In the main PF book?
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

GeekyBugle

#13
March 15, 2023, 12:26:50 PM
Quote from: Effete on March 15, 2023, 10:27:47 AM
Intellect Devourer is basically a brain with legs.

Another one I overlooked, thanks.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

Effete

#14
March 15, 2023, 01:16:29 PM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on March 15, 2023, 12:25:02 PM
I "dismiss it without discussion" huh? So what is it that you're quoting?

The OP is overly general BECAUSE I want several different builds indeed.

Floating, could be slow or fast, slithering on the other hand...

Can be psionic, doesn't HAVE TO tho.

My guess is you're just salty I didn't like your solution.

No, not salty. Just confused about what you wanted.

And, yes, you dismissed my suggestion without discussion. All you did was rattle off things against it. I suggested handling a brain in a jar as a plot device, you said "but muh stats!" I said it would probably be psionic, you said "doesn't have to be." How is that discussing what I suggested and not dismissing it?

Don't like the suggestion? Fine. I don't care. But it's not my fault for making it when you left the question so open ended.
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