Zerg! I can see setting up the pcs thinking this is an ankeg hunt for an armorer, (1) finding a hunting pack instead of lone monster then after barely getting out alive not being payed at first. Not the bugs he wanted. Later the party is sent back to kill the hive boss by the city thinking that will end the threat , getting ankeg equivalents from armorers fame and loot, then yet again having to hunt down every last bug when the city’s leadership thinks they defrauded the city when the things start coming back as every survivor scattered and started new nests.
Thanks for theVideo AJ! I recently started DMing a homebrew campaign that heavily features the underdark. This is just the type of low to mid tier threat to show the party that this isn’t the surface, and there are things down there that have never even heard of the sun.
The way you opened this was AMAZING!!! Make a whole video like that. Just a story so descriptive that I felt like I could see and smell and feel it. You sir have a talent . An amazing one. You are a master of the craft of weaving a story.
PIERCER & ROPER (Continued from Seelie & Unseelie Courts video) _Theme Music Starts_ _Piercer & Roper logo pops on screen_ Announcer: “Last time on Piercer & Roper!” _Flashback montage starts_ “Our harrowed heroes were confronted outside of Liishuh’s bar by a trio of Drow holding the Derro that Horace was escorting hostage. After a brief back and forth, one of the Drow challenged Roper to a gunfight, which Roper won handily. Once they ascertained the location of the warehouse from the Derro, Piercer & Roper headed out to dispense justice to these unruly Drow. While on the way a bulletin came across the MZPD radio, alerting officers of a suspect on the run, when suddenly, a car being driven by a Drow that matched the description came flying past them heading in the opposite direction. Piercer & Roper decided to put the warehouse on hold and chase down the Drow Gem Thief.” _Scene starts with the camera following a red Shelby Cober as it speeds down a street then rounds a corner, tires screeching as they break traction. Behind it we see Yeet!, with single detachable light flashing on top of it. Standing with almost his whole body out of the drivers side window, Roper is firing shots at the car while Piercer steers from the passenger seat. Roper ducks back in and takes the wheel, tossing his pistol to Piercer._ Roper: “RELOAD!!! THIS GUY ISN’T GETTING AWAY THAT EASY!!!” _Roper whips Yeet! around the corner, kicking up a cloud of gravel, dust, and smoke as he attempts to close the distance between him and the suspect’s criminals vehicle. Meanwhile, Piercer ejects the empty clip from Roper’s gun, puts in a loaded one and holds it up for Roper, then begins to reload the spent clip from a pile of loose bullets in the glove compartment. Roper grabs the gun and leans back out of the window, letting Piercer take the wheel, then fires three shots at the Cober. The first shot hits the back window, sending a spiderweb of cracked across it, the second misses over the top of the car, and the third removes the driver’s side mirror. The car begins to swerve back and forth in an attempt to avoid anymore incoming shot and the driver sticks his hand out of the window, flipping the bird to Roper as he lines up another shot._ Drow Gem Thief: “Fuck You, Cop Rock!” _The Drow pulls his hand back in window, then quickly sticks it back out, this time filled with a Gluck Automatic Pistol. The Drow pulls the trigger and sends a spray of bullets back towards Yeet!. One hits Roper as he hangs out of the window, but is sent ricocheting off of his rocky exterior as the Drow turns down a side street. Roper ducks back in the car and turns the corner, we see the Drow’s Cober a ways ahead smashing through a street vendor’s cart, sending bits of vegetation flying into the air. When Yeet! passes we hear in the background the voice of an old man yelling “My Cabbages!!!”. The Drow turns on to another street with Yeet! close behind. Now on a long uncrowded straight away, the Drow floors the accelerator, sending the Cober surging forward with a roar, gaining more and more distance from Yeet! by the second. Suddenly, a dump truck pulls out on to the street causing the Drow to slam on the breaks and come screeching to a halt._ Roper: “GET READY!!! YOU’VE ONLY GOT ONE SHOT AT THIS!!!” Piercer: _Unbuckles seat belt and grabs handcuffs._ _As Yeet! nears the stopped Cober, Roper pulls the handle for Yeet!’s E-Brake, bringing the car to a stop almost instantly. The force of the stop sends Piercer flying out through the windshield, through the cracked rear window of the Cober, between the headrests of the seats, and into the Cober’s dashboard. Upon sticking into the dash, Piercer quickly slaps the cuffs around the Drow’s wrists then draws his Seven-Shot Six-Shooter and holds it against the Drow forehead, as Roper gets out of Yeet! and slowly walks over to the car._ Roper: “GOOD WORK!!! I’LL READ HIM HIS RIGHTS, YOU GO TAKE CARE OF YEET!!!!” _While Roper yanks the Drow out of the car and begins the standard MZPD “Beat and Search” procedure, Piercer dislodges himself from the dashboard and makes his way to Yeet!’s trunk. He gets a wand out of a box with a sticker on it that says “Naga Know How”, taps it on the shattered windshield and tosses it aside as the glass starts to grow back together. A MZPD squad car pulls up beside the Drow’s vehicle and two generic Drow Officers get out and place the Gem Thief in the back, the exchange a few words with Roper. As Piercer walks over we hear the end of Roper’s conversation with the Officers._ Roper: “...AND HAVE A TOW TRUCK COME TAKE THIS DOWN TO THE IMPOUND WHEN YOU’RE DONE WITH THE PAPERWORK!!!” Piercer: _Stares blankly at Roper._ Roper: _Bursts into hysterical laughter for a good 10 seconds before regaining control of himself._ “YOU HAVE THE BEST ONE LINERS!!! COME ON, LETS GET TO THAT WAREHOUSE!!! _The shot changes abruptly to one of Yeet! parked a short distance away from an old, ran down warehouse. Piercer and Roper sit inside, staring out the window at the entrance to the building._ Roper: _Grabs a sawed off shotgun from the backseat floorboard._ “LOOKS LIKE NO ONES HOME!!! LETS TAKE A LOOK INSIDE!!!” Piercer: _Stares blankly at Roper, then looks back at the warehouse._ Roper: “YOU’RE RIGHT!!! MAYBE STEALTH IS THE WAY TO GO ON THIS ONE!!! BUT IM KEEPING MATILDA...” _Shakes shotgun_ “...WITH ME JUST IN CASE!!!” _Scene fades to black_ Announcer: Having apprehend the Gem Thief and turned him over to other officers for processing, our boys in blue are now able to return their attention back to the warehouse. Will they be able to sneak in undetected? What awaits them inside? Will Roper get to use Matilda? Find out next time on...” _Theme music starts_ “...Piercer&Roper!!!” _Credits Roll_
Dude. My rental car broke down and I've been working all morning to get a ride to the airport 1.5h away. This is what I needed...watching it in the cab on the way there. Thank you.
they are gonna be a massive threat a campaign setting I have planned as the blue scourge. They will be a super colony with all kruthik hive lords being telepathically connected only a nation of dwarves holding them off at the northern wall. A gigantic wall that is a 100 feet tall above ground and spans as deep into the underdark as layers of it are known, built in ages past when hopes of pushing them back still existed. Which is why there will be rings of walls before them and even ruins in the territory of the kruthik. But none will be as big as the wall that is currently standing as it has been improved upon by the dwarves to hold them of. And behind those walls nobles of all nations are vying for power. Unseeing of the threat as it was not once present in their lives. But most of all unaware and unprepared for the impending break…
Kudos to you for a video well done!! These creatures remind me of the warrior arachnoids from Starship Troopers, especially with those spike-like claws.
*Figures out a way to communicate to a kruthik, in an attempt to end an all consuming war, only to get a reply of* : "Your individuality! It's insane!?!?" I love the movie version of the starshiptroopers universe.
You can find it in the Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 274. It has a whole section on how to give monsters new traits and even for building your own monsters, like how to give a “miniboss” version of any monster traits like Legendary Resistance. It’s super useful!
I really, really like your videos on more bestial creatures. D&D’s predators are a lot of fun because they really allow for that primal sense of fighting for your life in a way that, despite the monster, feels realistic. It’s really nice to have non malicious enemies like this. They’re animals, like the players, who kill to thrive, also like the player characters. Very cool!
2:45 Now THIS is the drawing i want to see. I think this version is the most fully realized, at least in the sense of, it looks like its own unique monster, it doesnt look like a composite of other monsters thrown together (even though its basic compounds are two animals combined). This is the one im using for my Dark Sun Campaign. Awesome videos, only just found this channel
Great video AJ. I just thought of a scenario. Do you think that Underdark races who feel threatened by these creatures ever made a baited tunnel connection between hives of these? They seem to sort of behave like a semi-sentient version of army ants that have no qualms about eating each other. So, bait the colonies to meet, let them fight until one gets wiped out, go in and mop up the survivors.
AJ, thank you. The chart you’ve put in toward the end of the video covering stats at particular CRs is immeasurably helpful. I’ve probably given this video 50-100 views so far as I’ve used it as a reference when home brewing beasties since the video’s release.
@@Im-Not-a-Dog Lol. You didn't hear this from me, but you can get an illicit PDF by just googling it. You can make up for it by purchasing their stuff later, when you have money, if that's the main reason.
I love these things. Something about them tickles my fancy as they remind me of a mix of XCOM's Chrysalids, and WH40K's Tyranids. They are a great addition to any large scale conflict as a 3rd party that is neutral and only wants to feed and breed. Not caring about either of thier opponents. You just need enough of these things. ^_^ my players are very glad I dont have time to add them to the current campaign as its almost over. Otherwise they would be telling the npc's "LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE TYRANIDS!" -lone guardsman giving dissertation while fighting off a horde of tyranids.
Getting a serious starship troopers(movie verse) vibe from these things. All they'd need is a beak like scissor vertical mandibles(vorpal weapon, to get those amptations.), and an extra set of "scything tallons" for antenna, and a disturbing axe crazy aggression level that rivals their fear response, so they're virtually fearless incombat. 🪓😡🪓 And insect wings, because hoppers are merely "specialised" arachnid warriors who only conveniently decapitate you... By circumstance... Oh and a nerve stem, because that's abit too brutal when the H.P. is appropriate. And a breeding queen in every hive that can adapt the D.N.A. of successive generations to each new environment or threat the hive encounters. And ofcourse a vibrant "natures warning" colour sckeme. And a kingdom of kruthicocidal half elves that using exclusively fire fight tactics with automatic crossbows in mass infantry formations. That'd definitely make for some serious DnD horror, given just how much damage even one baddly injured arachnid warrior can do. Being able to go through rock - is seriously underestimated... Where your fortress of presumed safety and it's occupants are "the rocks". And alot of scenes where soldiers are being dragged down tunnels... Can the party save them? If not they know what happens next, definitely not a public game, when eusocial insectoid strength and suicidal aggression is scalled up to this level, "intact"... 🐝🐝🐝🪓😡🪓 Half a galaxy away? The Kruthic warriors breed a living spell jammer ship, to travel the crystal shperes just to butcher or inslave you to the etenal geas of the hive. Because safety is illegal. 😵🤠🌌🌍🚀🌏
Thank you for this, I am planning on using them in an opening series of encounters to pull my players into the world. This video gave me the information I needed to close off the remaining holes in the scenario I have set up for them. That last bit about them splitting off into new hives as they encounter abundant food sources will allow me to keep them as a background threat through the first act, and maybe further depending on the players.
Now all I can see is the spider like creature that Obi Wan had to deal with in the colosseum in Star Wars episode 2 but with more biological weapons and armor plating.
Fantastic video as usual. If you ever run out of monsters, you could do reviews on old D&D manuals, adventures (especially) and even old computer games (I would love to see you review the original Pool of Radiance - Gold Box edition). Most people can't buy the old material without paying a huge price, but might love, for example, to see a narration of some of the original D&D adventures (before even AD&D). You might even work out a deal with WoC where you review old adventures (like Temple of Elemental Evil) before they are republished in their near original form, just updated to the latest rules (though I think Temple of EE has already been republished).
ok so. high level druid of the moon wild shapes into one of these. and makes a new hive. has levels in beastmaster ranger and brings back one of its pets to help in making a new hive. and the hive is trained to know both forms of the Queen Druid lol.
@@vadaritis sweet. I came up with that in about 30 seconds. while the video was playing. lol I like the idea of the druid being lawful neutral. he/she is just following their heart. yes doing evil for a good cause. all in their mind set. the best villains are the ones that think their the hero. lol lawful evil would work. or a transition from LN to LE. eh I have more ideas and concepts scattered across AJs videos. and some other places. lol.
Yup, stealing this one too. With a queen myrrah from gears of war wanton savage philosophy theme too, but with a starship trooper arachnid version. Telepathic aswell, so you can't not hear the speeches. 😈🧠♻😵🐜🍖
Love the content. Gonna put some of these bad boys in my duergar city as attack dogs. It'll really terrify the party when one duergar gets mamed by its own companion then turns for them.
I've been preparing a D&D world with several potential threats that can become a world threatening danger, largely to give myself several different campaigns. My favorite is a Kruthik super hive which threatens to burrow up into the dwarven megalopolis of Vondergaard, and will eventually require an expert strike team to fight in and end the threat created by a great Kruthrik hive empress.
Just had an interesting thought for you fellow dungeon masters. If your players manage to wound but not kill a kruthik. Why not in the midst of combat, would the wounded kruthik's former allies turn and finish it off? Slaying it before dragging its corpse away for food then its defense against the intruders would be immediately replaced by a fresh warrior kruthik. I think it would sell the brutal and savage nature of these things and freak out your players, while still giving them a chance to breath in combat.
Kruthik team up with kython what would that be like if a hive of kython and a hive of kruthik met up become allies and breed . What unholy abomination would that create . What would you call such a creature . And would there be anything that could stop this new threat ?
This is cool. I guess ai need to read the books I have better. 🤪 I hombrewed a species very similar to this one, mine chewed down trees, and built hives like termites though. They would spit there building material at enemies slowing them down and doing acid damage........ I was a bit proud.... oh well better balancing ahead.
Kruthik are one of those critters I first encountered through those damn mini blind boxes... Though unlike some of the silliness like the half-illithid Lizardfolk (common) the Kruthik were actually a cool idea and saw a lot of use... Though it was hard to get enough to properly swarm. :p
Nice vid AJ,i'm curious,would a lvl 1 Exterminate spell from the Necromancers guide or even the Exterminate cantrip wipe out eggs or the "helpless" hatchlings?
"Oh neat, one of the fun in-lore intros. The comments make it seem like this will be a neat video too, I wonde -@2:50 AGH HOLY HELL WHAT NO." I REMEMBER that thing. I passed by it in a book ages and ages ago. I don't think I read the entry enough to remember it, but that *image* sure as hell burrows its own little place into the mind.
@Under Bridge Idiot! Yeah. I can't believe that someone did not waste tons ov their time to learn about the difference between similar creatures from games! I mean, Wow! What a loser. Lets call people names for not knowing the cool stuff that you & I know, am I right?!
@Under Bridge You had to go and check to make sure first?! Wow, what a idiotic loser you are! I already knew all ov that. So yeah, my mom thinks I am cool too.
Hmm I do have a question..What if A Hive lord defeats the threat that invaded the hive? Would the Kruthik accept that hive lord back, or would they not since seeing as the Hive lord is the brains they failed to keep the invaders out with their planning, and orders.
Unless the new Kruthik has gone through the change, they would accept the old one back. It just depends on who is the alpha. If the old lord meets the new one, they would fight to the death with the strongest ruling the hive.
if the hive lord managed to kill the invader he didn't do any errors when planning. also kruthiks are pretty loyal, like more intelligent ants to their queen.
Same, fond memories. Loved the terror missions, every civ(human) they kill, they zombie - then hatch from. The whale mission was crazy too. They're such a perfect bioweapon.
They can't remind me into the tyranids from Warhammer 40K these fat well they look reptilian it insect like that's what for my reminds me of the tyranids
What if you made a insectoid monster playlist so we can find our bugs.still a little heavy on your s.any word that ends in s is like sssss sssssst ssssssst
D&D has the most complex, jumbled and expansive mythology of virtually any franchise. I wouldn't be surprised if there thousands of monsters. This is because it has attempted to incorporate the mythology of every world (Krynn, Greyhawk, Forgotten Realms...) into its mythology, as well as the mythology of all the novels written about these worlds, as well as mythology created for every edition, as well as numerous monster manuals and additional monsters, gods, adventures and myths from hundreds of Dragon and Dungeon magazines. It is pretty awesome, but sometimes borders on ridiculous. There isn't enough biomass to support significant populations of every kind of dragon, not even considering the hundreds (if not thousands) of different species of monsters, nearly all preying on mortals in some way.
Agreed, I'd be the first to tell you all about the details of how things can and can't work, in that level of biological science realism... however, we have elemental planes, outer planes, magic, gods... and dragons who spend most of their time sleeping.
@@AJPickett Plus, DM's don't have to incorporate every monster into their world. It is like having a color pallet with thousands of colors. You don't have to use all of them in one painting. I love your series on dragons, by the way.
D&D monsters most part of the time or are monstruous, fascinating or stupid. Actually a great idea: Let yourself have fun analysing these stupid creatures from the D&D universe. -signed Rody Dactyl
Zerg! I can see setting up the pcs thinking this is an ankeg hunt for an armorer, (1) finding a hunting pack instead of lone monster then after barely getting out alive not being payed at first. Not the bugs he wanted. Later the party is sent back to kill the hive boss by the city thinking that will end the threat , getting ankeg equivalents from armorers fame and loot, then yet again having to hunt down every last bug when the city’s leadership thinks they defrauded the city when the things start coming back as every survivor scattered and started new nests.
Thanks for theVideo AJ! I recently started DMing a homebrew campaign that heavily features the underdark. This is just the type of low to mid tier threat to show the party that this isn’t the surface, and there are things down there that have never even heard of the sun.
The way you opened this was AMAZING!!! Make a whole video like that. Just a story so descriptive that I felt like I could see and smell and feel it. You sir have a talent . An amazing one. You are a master of the craft of weaving a story.
@Burak C Check out His Demogorgon video. Gives me shivvers
The Underdark: Truly the home to all that crawls, creeps and skitters. They remind me of the Brood from the Marvel Universe
PIERCER & ROPER
(Continued from Seelie & Unseelie Courts video)
_Theme Music Starts_
_Piercer & Roper logo pops on screen_
Announcer: “Last time on Piercer & Roper!” _Flashback montage starts_ “Our harrowed heroes were confronted outside of Liishuh’s bar by a trio of Drow holding the Derro that Horace was escorting hostage. After a brief back and forth, one of the Drow challenged Roper to a gunfight, which Roper won handily.
Once they ascertained the location of the warehouse from the Derro, Piercer & Roper headed out to dispense justice to these unruly Drow. While on the way a bulletin came across the MZPD radio, alerting officers of a suspect on the run, when suddenly, a car being driven by a Drow that matched the description came flying past them heading in the opposite direction. Piercer & Roper decided to put the warehouse on hold and chase down the Drow Gem Thief.”
_Scene starts with the camera following a red Shelby Cober as it speeds down a street then rounds a corner, tires screeching as they break traction. Behind it we see Yeet!, with single detachable light flashing on top of it. Standing with almost his whole body out of the drivers side window, Roper is firing shots at the car while Piercer steers from the passenger seat. Roper ducks back in and takes the wheel, tossing his pistol to Piercer._
Roper: “RELOAD!!! THIS GUY ISN’T GETTING AWAY THAT EASY!!!”
_Roper whips Yeet! around the corner, kicking up a cloud of gravel, dust, and smoke as he attempts to close the distance between him and the suspect’s criminals vehicle. Meanwhile, Piercer ejects the empty clip from Roper’s gun, puts in a loaded one and holds it up for Roper, then begins to reload the spent clip from a pile of loose bullets in the glove compartment. Roper grabs the gun and leans back out of the window, letting Piercer take the wheel, then fires three shots at the Cober. The first shot hits the back window, sending a spiderweb of cracked across it, the second misses over the top of the car, and the third removes the driver’s side mirror. The car begins to swerve back and forth in an attempt to avoid anymore incoming shot and the driver sticks his hand out of the window, flipping the bird to Roper as he lines up another shot._
Drow Gem Thief: “Fuck You, Cop Rock!”
_The Drow pulls his hand back in window, then quickly sticks it back out, this time filled with a Gluck Automatic Pistol. The Drow pulls the trigger and sends a spray of bullets back towards Yeet!. One hits Roper as he hangs out of the window, but is sent ricocheting off of his rocky exterior as the Drow turns down a side street. Roper ducks back in the car and turns the corner, we see the Drow’s Cober a ways ahead smashing through a street vendor’s cart, sending bits of vegetation flying into the air. When Yeet! passes we hear in the background the voice of an old man yelling “My Cabbages!!!”. The Drow turns on to another street with Yeet! close behind. Now on a long uncrowded straight away, the Drow floors the accelerator, sending the Cober surging forward with a roar, gaining more and more distance from Yeet! by the second. Suddenly, a dump truck pulls out on to the street causing the Drow to slam on the breaks and come screeching to a halt._
Roper: “GET READY!!! YOU’VE ONLY GOT ONE SHOT AT THIS!!!”
Piercer: _Unbuckles seat belt and grabs handcuffs._
_As Yeet! nears the stopped Cober, Roper pulls the handle for Yeet!’s E-Brake, bringing the car to a stop almost instantly. The force of the stop sends Piercer flying out through the windshield, through the cracked rear window of the Cober, between the headrests of the seats, and into the Cober’s dashboard. Upon sticking into the dash, Piercer quickly slaps the cuffs around the Drow’s wrists then draws his Seven-Shot Six-Shooter and holds it against the Drow forehead, as Roper gets out of Yeet! and slowly walks over to the car._
Roper: “GOOD WORK!!! I’LL READ HIM HIS RIGHTS, YOU GO TAKE CARE OF YEET!!!!”
_While Roper yanks the Drow out of the car and begins the standard MZPD “Beat and Search” procedure, Piercer dislodges himself from the dashboard and makes his way to Yeet!’s trunk. He gets a wand out of a box with a sticker on it that says “Naga Know How”, taps it on the shattered windshield and tosses it aside as the glass starts to grow back together. A MZPD squad car pulls up beside the Drow’s vehicle and two generic Drow Officers get out and place the Gem Thief in the back, the exchange a few words with Roper. As Piercer walks over we hear the end of Roper’s conversation with the Officers._
Roper: “...AND HAVE A TOW TRUCK COME TAKE THIS DOWN TO THE IMPOUND WHEN YOU’RE DONE WITH THE PAPERWORK!!!”
Piercer: _Stares blankly at Roper._
Roper: _Bursts into hysterical laughter for a good 10 seconds before regaining control of himself._ “YOU HAVE THE BEST ONE LINERS!!! COME ON, LETS GET TO THAT WAREHOUSE!!!
_The shot changes abruptly to one of Yeet! parked a short distance away from an old, ran down warehouse. Piercer and Roper sit inside, staring out the window at the entrance to the building._
Roper: _Grabs a sawed off shotgun from the backseat floorboard._ “LOOKS LIKE NO ONES HOME!!! LETS TAKE A LOOK INSIDE!!!”
Piercer: _Stares blankly at Roper, then looks back at the warehouse._
Roper: “YOU’RE RIGHT!!! MAYBE STEALTH IS THE WAY TO GO ON THIS ONE!!! BUT IM KEEPING MATILDA...” _Shakes shotgun_ “...WITH ME JUST IN CASE!!!”
_Scene fades to black_
Announcer: Having apprehend the Gem Thief and turned him over to other officers for processing, our boys in blue are now able to return their attention back to the warehouse. Will they be able to sneak in undetected? What awaits them inside? Will Roper get to use Matilda? Find out next time on...” _Theme music starts_ “...Piercer&Roper!!!”
_Credits Roll_
Young Kruthik: *sneezes*
Brothers and sister: - lick lips and salivate -
Young Kruthik: O_O . . .
If you ever wanted a template for a Tyrannid gaunt, here you go
Dude. My rental car broke down and I've been working all morning to get a ride to the airport 1.5h away. This is what I needed...watching it in the cab on the way there. Thank you.
Emergency Upload!
they are gonna be a massive threat a campaign setting I have planned as the blue scourge. They will be a super colony with all kruthik hive lords being telepathically connected only a nation of dwarves holding them off at the northern wall. A gigantic wall that is a 100 feet tall above ground and spans as deep into the underdark as layers of it are known, built in ages past when hopes of pushing them back still existed. Which is why there will be rings of walls before them and even ruins in the territory of the kruthik. But none will be as big as the wall that is currently standing as it has been improved upon by the dwarves to hold them of. And behind those walls nobles of all nations are vying for power. Unseeing of the threat as it was not once present in their lives. But most of all unaware and unprepared for the impending break…
Kudos to you for a video well done!! These creatures remind me of the warrior arachnoids from Starship Troopers, especially with those spike-like claws.
*Figures out a way to communicate to a kruthik, in an attempt to end an all consuming war, only to get a reply of* : "Your individuality! It's insane!?!?" I love the movie version of the starshiptroopers universe.
12:55 DUDE! Thank you so much!!
Didn't realize a chart like this existed.
This will be extremely helpful in the
game I'm running.
YOU ARE AWESOME!!!
You can find it in the Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 274. It has a whole section on how to give monsters new traits and even for building your own monsters, like how to give a “miniboss” version of any monster traits like Legendary Resistance. It’s super useful!
*is starting to brainstorm some ideas of some hybrids of these things likely made by some mad scientist or illithid*
I could totally see these as a set of illithid excavators they engineered but got out of control and are now loose in the wild.
If you see this, I'd love to know what you ended up inventing.
I'm using a lot of kruthiks right now and would love some inspiration.
Great ideas
D&D Aliens? Coming out the of the walls!
I really, really like your videos on more bestial creatures. D&D’s predators are a lot of fun because they really allow for that primal sense of fighting for your life in a way that, despite the monster, feels realistic. It’s really nice to have non malicious enemies like this. They’re animals, like the players, who kill to thrive, also like the player characters. Very cool!
*clears throat* Tyranid
beat me to it!
Currently working on my Abyssal Lexicon, so glad you added the Kruthik.
Will have them stated out in the end of the abyssal lexicon
2:45 Now THIS is the drawing i want to see. I think this version is the most fully realized, at least in the sense of, it looks like its own unique monster, it doesnt look like a composite of other monsters thrown together (even though its basic compounds are two animals combined). This is the one im using for my Dark Sun Campaign. Awesome videos, only just found this channel
Great video AJ. I just thought of a scenario. Do you think that Underdark races who feel threatened by these creatures ever made a baited tunnel connection between hives of these? They seem to sort of behave like a semi-sentient version of army ants that have no qualms about eating each other. So, bait the colonies to meet, let them fight until one gets wiped out, go in and mop up the survivors.
Underdark people are exceptionally resourceful, so, yes.
@@AJPickett Why Underdark people are still alive 101.
according to Kurzgesagt, hyper-militaristic army ants don't fight each other. they might just join forces against their common enemy
AJ, thank you.
The chart you’ve put in toward the end of the video covering stats at particular CRs is immeasurably helpful.
I’ve probably given this video 50-100 views so far as I’ve used it as a reference when home brewing beasties since the video’s release.
Great to hear! I use it all the time as well.
It's page 274 of the DMG.
@@Menzobarrenza lol silly person...assuming I own a book.
@@Im-Not-a-Dog Lol.
You didn't hear this from me, but you can get an illicit PDF by just googling it.
You can make up for it by purchasing their stuff later, when you have money, if that's the main reason.
@@Menzobarrenza Thats what I do, but I find it quicker to open this video and jump to the chart.
I love these things. Something about them tickles my fancy as they remind me of a mix of XCOM's Chrysalids, and WH40K's Tyranids.
They are a great addition to any large scale conflict as a 3rd party that is neutral and only wants to feed and breed. Not caring about either of thier opponents. You just need enough of these things.
^_^ my players are very glad I dont have time to add them to the current campaign as its almost over. Otherwise they would be telling the npc's "LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE TYRANIDS!" -lone guardsman giving dissertation while fighting off a horde of tyranids.
im actually using theses guys and making a large hive for the area.
Getting a serious starship troopers(movie verse) vibe from these things. All they'd need is a beak like scissor vertical mandibles(vorpal weapon, to get those amptations.), and an extra set of "scything tallons" for antenna, and a disturbing axe crazy aggression level that rivals their fear response, so they're virtually fearless incombat. 🪓😡🪓 And insect wings, because hoppers are merely "specialised" arachnid warriors who only conveniently decapitate you... By circumstance... Oh and a nerve stem, because that's abit too brutal when the H.P. is appropriate. And a breeding queen in every hive that can adapt the D.N.A. of successive generations to each new environment or threat the hive encounters. And ofcourse a vibrant "natures warning" colour sckeme. And a kingdom of kruthicocidal half elves that using exclusively fire fight tactics with automatic crossbows in mass infantry formations. That'd definitely make for some serious DnD horror, given just how much damage even one baddly injured arachnid warrior can do. Being able to go through rock - is seriously underestimated... Where your fortress of presumed safety and it's occupants are "the rocks". And alot of scenes where soldiers are being dragged down tunnels... Can the party save them? If not they know what happens next, definitely not a public game, when eusocial insectoid strength and suicidal aggression is scalled up to this level, "intact"... 🐝🐝🐝🪓😡🪓 Half a galaxy away? The Kruthic warriors breed a living spell jammer ship, to travel the crystal shperes just to butcher or inslave you to the etenal geas of the hive. Because safety is illegal. 😵🤠🌌🌍🚀🌏
That's beautiful
Thank you for this, I am planning on using them in an opening series of encounters to pull my players into the world. This video gave me the information I needed to close off the remaining holes in the scenario I have set up for them. That last bit about them splitting off into new hives as they encounter abundant food sources will allow me to keep them as a background threat through the first act, and maybe further depending on the players.
Now all I can see is the spider like creature that Obi Wan had to deal with in the colosseum in Star Wars episode 2 but with more biological weapons and armor plating.
They look identical. Glad i scrolled down to find you’re text. Did D&D download this monster into Mordenkainen’s Tome?
Fantastic video as usual. If you ever run out of monsters, you could do reviews on old D&D manuals, adventures (especially) and even old computer games (I would love to see you review the original Pool of Radiance - Gold Box edition). Most people can't buy the old material without paying a huge price, but might love, for example, to see a narration of some of the original D&D adventures (before even AD&D). You might even work out a deal with WoC where you review old adventures (like Temple of Elemental Evil) before they are republished in their near original form, just updated to the latest rules (though I think Temple of EE has already been republished).
Who doesn’t love nasty, swarming monsters? Great video as always, AJ! You always produce the best lore videos packed full of content and artwork
You know, kruthik are like what I imagine insects might be if they developed an active respiratory system instead of a passive one.
ok so. high level druid of the moon wild shapes into one of these. and makes a new hive. has levels in beastmaster ranger and brings back one of its pets to help in making a new hive.
and the hive is trained to know both forms of the Queen Druid lol.
Dont mind me, just pilfering that villain idea... and done. Thank you for your cooperation in these troubled times. *tips hat to you* good day sir.
@@vadaritis your welcome, glad I could contribute to the cause. just let me know how it works out in game. lol
@@DracosDiabolis oh its in a long catalog, so it may be a while, but i certainly plan on using it. ^_^
@@vadaritis sweet. I came up with that in about 30 seconds. while the video was playing. lol I like the idea of the druid being lawful neutral. he/she is just following their heart. yes doing evil for a good cause. all in their mind set. the best villains are the ones that think their the hero. lol lawful evil would work. or a transition from LN to LE. eh I have more ideas and concepts scattered across AJs videos. and some other places. lol.
Yup, stealing this one too. With a queen myrrah from gears of war wanton savage philosophy theme too, but with a starship trooper arachnid version. Telepathic aswell, so you can't not hear the speeches. 😈🧠♻😵🐜🍖
Love the content. Gonna put some of these bad boys in my duergar city as attack dogs. It'll really terrify the party when one duergar gets mamed by its own companion then turns for them.
I've been preparing a D&D world with several potential threats that can become a world threatening danger, largely to give myself several different campaigns.
My favorite is a Kruthik super hive which threatens to burrow up into the dwarven megalopolis of Vondergaard, and will eventually require an expert strike team to fight in and end the threat created by a great Kruthrik hive empress.
Kruthik are a lot like glyphids from Deep Rock Galactic
"Did I hear a Rock and stone?"
Just had an interesting thought for you fellow dungeon masters. If your players manage to wound but not kill a kruthik. Why not in the midst of combat, would the wounded kruthik's former allies turn and finish it off? Slaying it before dragging its corpse away for food then its defense against the intruders would be immediately replaced by a fresh warrior kruthik.
I think it would sell the brutal and savage nature of these things and freak out your players, while still giving them a chance to breath in combat.
Awesome idea. That is a hell of a great way to sell the brutality of these horrible beasts. very very nice
If not straight out, rip it apart/eat it alive.
good video AJ
Insect monsters from the underdark just in case the underdark wasn't scary enough!😳
Great video! I had an idea of a similar creature for my homebrew, you saved me a lot of reading. Thx!
thanks for the morning gift, Sir
You're most welcome
Made me think of neogi once I saw them.
Kruthik team up with kython what would that be like if a hive of kython and a hive of kruthik met up become allies and breed . What unholy abomination would that create . What would you call such a creature . And would there be anything that could stop this new threat ?
This is cool. I guess ai need to read the books I have better. 🤪 I hombrewed a species very similar to this one, mine chewed down trees, and built hives like termites though. They would spit there building material at enemies slowing them down and doing acid damage........ I was a bit proud.... oh well better balancing ahead.
Sounds like a fun twist regardless. ;^)
Nice start of the day!
Early morning is the best time to get deeply nerdy
Where's the art from 13:47 from?
I kinda want it, bigger, on my wall...
www.deviantart.com/diegogisbertllorens/art/Hudson-Bug-Defiance-Games-342824823
@@AJPickett thanks! :D
These insect like creatures remind me of the chorus from skyrim
a carrion crawler comes closer to the chaurus :) or an ankheg, given that both spit acid
but are they related to the Neogi? they look so much alike!
Glory to the Swarm!
I started off my current campaign having a town infested with these things.
Kruthik are one of those critters I first encountered through those damn mini blind boxes... Though unlike some of the silliness like the half-illithid Lizardfolk (common) the Kruthik were actually a cool idea and saw a lot of use... Though it was hard to get enough to properly swarm. :p
what are the peck mentioned at the beginning? also arnt the PHARGION related to the kruthik?
Awsome, new video on yet another interesting monster.
Nice vid AJ,i'm curious,would a lvl 1 Exterminate spell from the Necromancers guide or even the Exterminate cantrip wipe out eggs or the "helpless" hatchlings?
yes
@@AJPickett cool!
How many would usually be in a hive or colony?
looks like a zerg lurker
Just my daily ATHAS comment like I said I'll comment every video till we get one sir
Noted :)
these things would fit well in Athas, btw
im thinking of having a dragon use these as a buffer for its lair and simple minions. thoughts?
Entirely feasible, the dragon keeping the queen hostage would work perfectly.
"Oh neat, one of the fun in-lore intros. The comments make it seem like this will be a neat video too, I wonde -@2:50 AGH HOLY HELL WHAT NO."
I REMEMBER that thing. I passed by it in a book ages and ages ago. I don't think I read the entry enough to remember it, but that *image* sure as hell burrows its own little place into the mind.
Plus, they smell really bad.
Nice vid bud
Tyranids!!! SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHhit!
I so agree this is a tryanid ripoff.
@Under Bridge Idiot! Yeah. I can't believe that someone did not waste tons ov their time to learn about the difference between similar creatures from games! I mean, Wow! What a loser. Lets call people names for not knowing the cool stuff that you & I know, am I right?!
@Under Bridge You had to go and check to make sure first?! Wow, what a idiotic loser you are! I already knew all ov that. So yeah, my mom thinks I am cool too.
... Aliens
Story time again at beginning
Hmmm with the Kruthiks tremorsense, burrow ability, and use of elementals. Does the book mention anything about them being from the plane of Earth?
AJ have you done a video on the Fey'ri?
Hmm I do have a question..What if A Hive lord defeats the threat that invaded the hive? Would the Kruthik accept that hive lord back, or would they not since seeing as the Hive lord is the brains they failed to keep the invaders out with their planning, and orders.
Unless the new Kruthik has gone through the change, they would accept the old one back. It just depends on who is the alpha. If the old lord meets the new one, they would fight to the death with the strongest ruling the hive.
if the hive lord managed to kill the invader he didn't do any errors when planning. also kruthiks are pretty loyal, like more intelligent ants to their queen.
these things remind me of Chryssalids from XCOM. *shudders*
Same, fond memories. Loved the terror missions, every civ(human) they kill, they zombie - then hatch from. The whale mission was crazy too. They're such a perfect bioweapon.
hey an can you do jazirian & ahriman ??
They can't remind me into the tyranids from Warhammer 40K these fat well they look reptilian it insect like that's what for my reminds me of the tyranids
What if you made a insectoid monster playlist so we can find our bugs.still a little heavy on your s.any word that ends in s is like sssss sssssst ssssssst
these look like monsters from x-com...
D&D has the most complex, jumbled and expansive mythology of virtually any franchise. I wouldn't be surprised if there thousands of monsters. This is because it has attempted to incorporate the mythology of every world (Krynn, Greyhawk, Forgotten Realms...) into its mythology, as well as the mythology of all the novels written about these worlds, as well as mythology created for every edition, as well as numerous monster manuals and additional monsters, gods, adventures and myths from hundreds of Dragon and Dungeon magazines. It is pretty awesome, but sometimes borders on ridiculous. There isn't enough biomass to support significant populations of every kind of dragon, not even considering the hundreds (if not thousands) of different species of monsters, nearly all preying on mortals in some way.
Agreed, I'd be the first to tell you all about the details of how things can and can't work, in that level of biological science realism... however, we have elemental planes, outer planes, magic, gods... and dragons who spend most of their time sleeping.
@@AJPickett Plus, DM's don't have to incorporate every monster into their world. It is like having a color pallet with thousands of colors. You don't have to use all of them in one painting. I love your series on dragons, by the way.
Why kite-in instead of chit-in?
Greek roots so the ch is like chaos or chemical
Have you guys heard of the Sandy Peterson's Cthulhu mythos Kickstarter yet? HIGHLY recommend,(#not sponsored)
hahaha level 9 burning hands go *fwoosh*
antlions
So what happens when two cruthik colonies encounter each other?
Mayhem
I would assume they would fight and eat the other colony for the territory. It only makes sense since they eat thier young and infirmed.
Nice
NGL my name is Kruthik
good morning sir AJ
Morning!
@@AJPickett what time is it in new Zealand anyhow?
@@Scortch-lo3xy as I type this, it is 2.48am
@@AJPickett yeesh you're up late
@@Scortch-lo3xy Not by my standards :)
By the way my name is kruthik
D&D monsters most part of the time or are monstruous, fascinating or stupid.
Actually a great idea:
Let yourself have fun analysing these stupid creatures from the D&D universe.
-signed Rody Dactyl
Morning Rody
@@AJPickett good morning
и снова накрутка просмотра и комментария для алгоритмов ;) ! лайк прилагается 3 !
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