[Starcraft Stats] Zergling

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Individually, a Zergling isn't that big a threat. It is a warped creature about the size of a large dog with sharp fangs and claws. They are noted for their speed, and for their numbers. They are part of a larger Hive Mind, which is the Swarm. Used mostly for reconnisance in force in small packs, but can overrun even fortified defenses in large groups.

{table]Zergling
Size/Type:Medium Aberration [Zerg]
Hit Dice:4d8 (22 hp)
Initiative:+3
Speed:40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class:16 (+3 Dex, +3 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple:+3/-1
Attack:Bite +4 melee (1d6+1), Claw +4 melee (1d4+1)
Full Attack:Bite +4 melee (1d6+1) and two Claw +2 melee (1d4+1)Space/Reach:5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks:—
Special Qualities:darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Hive Mind, Burrow
Saves:Fort +4, Ref +7, Will +8
Abilities:Str 12, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 11
Skills:Hide +7, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +4
Feats:Run, Multiattack
Environment:Anywhere the Zerg are
Organization:Scouting Pair, Recon Pack (6-12), Combat Swarm (36-48)
Challenge Rating:2
Treasure:None
Alignment:Lawful Evil
Advancement:See Notes
Level Adjustment:-[/table]

Hive Mind (Ex)

All Zerg are in constant communication via Overlords, and Cerebrates. If one is aware of a particular danger, they all are. If one in a group is not flat-footed, none of them are. Zerg units are highly resistant to any form of mind-affecting abilities due to the Overmind being present in their mind already. This gives them a +4 to their Will Saves, and any mind-affecting spell, power, or ability needs to overcome a SR/PR 25.

Burrow (Ex)

As a full-round action which provokes an attack of opportunity, most Zerg ground units, including Zerglings, may burrow into the ground. While so burrowed, Zerglings may not attack, however their presence is nearly impossible to detect. He may pop out as a move action which provokes an attack of opportunity if the opponent is not flat-footed or surprised.

Advancement

At 6hd, Zerglings are considered to be Advanced Zerglings. They gain the following benefits: Unarmed attacks have +1 Enhancement Bonus to attack and damage, and are considered to be both Magic and Adamantine for the purposes of overcomming DR (Hey, they have to be able to tear through Siege Tank armor, right?). They also have Evasion, +2 Natural Armor, and are considered to be Hasted as well. +2 LA.

[Gralamin]

Yeah Zerglings!

[Archonic Energy]

Woohoo...

now to make my pet Zergling "fluffy"

[Nebo_]

I would say they are medium, not small

[ShneekeyTheLost]

I would say they are medium, not small

I am taking a Marine, Firebat, and Ghost to be the definition of 'Medium' in Starcraft, as these are all humans.

A zergling is about half the size of a human. In the Starcraft game, during a cutscene, someone runs over one with a truck. The Zergling is about the size of a halfling or a gnome... Small size.

[Gralamin]

Umm they don't run over it, they hit it, and its about chest high on a human and double their width at least, their medium

[Demented]

It's the size of a pony, moves like a jackrabbit, and has the body of a cat/armadillo crossbreed.

[averagejoe]

It seems like advanced 'lings should have their movement speed increased. Or even the normal ones. Them's some fast critters.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

It seems like advanced 'lings should have their movement speed increased. Or even the normal ones. Them's some fast critters.

Haste increases it's move by 30/rd, effectively doubling it's land speed. I figured that ought to do well enough. It also gives 'em an extra attack per round, which is in keeping with the max-upgraded zergling's faster attack speed.

[elliott20]

I also think it would be appropriate for some of the more special breeds to have feats to denote such, like stronger armor or an adrenaline gland upgrade.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

I also think it would be appropriate for some of the more special breeds to have feats to denote such, like stronger armor or an adrenaline gland upgrade.

Well, I kind of inserted the adremaline gland upgrade in with the 6 hd package, with the Haste. Giving them a +1 to hit and damage, and more importantly, giving them the ability to bypass magic/adamantine DR is a real boon as well, I figured that was worth the +3 max to zergling damage.

I really hadn't thought about upgrading their natural armor... but it does seem logical, anyways.

[Behold_the_Void]

They should probably move at 40 ft. per round, standard zerglings are faster than Terran units, as I recall. Unless you want to say that's because of Terran Heavy Armor, which I don't really think is the case for ghosts, who zerglings I'm pretty sure can still outrun.

[The Orange Zergling]

Yeah, them zerg's are fast lil buggers. I'd also say they're medium size, but whatever.

[CockroachTeaParty]

As an aberration, shouldn't it have d8's for HD instead of d10's?

edit: also, you need to add in the size bonus to AC.

[Icewalker]

I love it! Making a whole starcraft dnd setting would be awesome...

As to comments on it being medium, in the scene where they hit the zergling with the truck, one of them comments "looks like you mashed some old fellers dog, sarge" So the zergling is apparently about the size of a (probably very large) dog. I'd say thats size small.

That Hive Mind ability is really really powerful, and it brings up some problems with the CR. Alone, CR is probably 2. In a group of two, CR is probably whatever 2 CR 2s would be. In a group of 6-12, the CR would probably be more than the amount 6-12 normal CR2s would have, as they are practically immune to flanking and being flatfooted. I dunno. (however, those immunities may not be enough to bring up the CR of each individual to 3 when in groups, so maybe it is best to just keep it where it is.)

[elliott20]

not being flat footed I can understand. After all, the mind link essentially means that it would be harder to surprise them unless you get the entire group. Not being able to be flanked? that makes no sense what so ever.

Just because it is aware of you presence doesn't mean that it can ignore how difficult it is to fight against two foes at the same time. If anything, zerg disposition is to simply let the flanking happen while they simply focus on creature.

The mindlink really works more like the players sitting at the table discussing tactics while their characters never once speak to each other about tactics and yet somehow come out working together perfectly. That's what the mind link should do. It allows the zerglings to have perfect synchronization and so their attack will always be coordinated in some fashion.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Size increased to Medium, although I still think they're not bigger than a halfer. Removed INA to keep damage the same (individual hits are the weakest in the game, after all). This increased their base speed automatically to faster than a human.

And I had copied the Hive Mind ability from the Formian Worker in the SRD since they were about the only thing I could think of off hand which acted like a hive mind.

[mikeejimbo]

Isn't there a Starcraft RPG?

Edit: Wikipedia has a little to say, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarCraft_Adventures

Anyway, could be useful for inspiration at least.

[Yakk]

They should get tremor sense when they burrow.

Note that Zerglings are weak compared to very high-tech space marines.

[Eighth_Seraph]

This is awesome. If you're planning on statting out more, it would be a good idea to start compiling the individual units and maybe have a full-scale war between two conflicting...whatever the Overmind's lesser controllers were coalled.

[mikeejimbo]

Cerebrates, weren't they?

And yes, I agree.

[Icewalker]

Running a starcraft campaign could be one of the coolest things ever. Except how could you have PCs? Someone else recently made the Protoss as a race, and terran are simple enough (except for the gear). Zerg wouldn't be easy to do as a race...

The biggest problem would probably be classes. Protoss could have stuff like Zealot, Templar, Dark Templar, or some such...

It could work with Terran not even having a class. Just the same progression and maybe bonuses to certain gear as they level...I dunno, just brainstorming ideas, as I think this would be reeeeally fun to DM.

[elliott20]

well, a starcraft game would essentially be run with some kind of D20 or even starwars variant.

[mikeejimbo]

I believe there's a post on the Wizards board somewhere about converting Alternity: Starcraft into d20. Might be old, though.

I think the Terran could have a few classes, like Marine, Ghost, Medic, and Firebat.

To handle the Zerg, I'd make a Zerg template, and then a variety of "races" for the different types, and apply the Zerg template. Of course, this makes them more like monsters and less viable as PCs, which is a shame because I love the Zerg. Still, it's fitting due to their lack of individuality.

[elliott20]

well, I think Marine and Firebat would actually be very similar in terms of class since they're both basically GIs with different equipment. If you were to take D20 modern, this would all fix itself.

[Ajikozau]

I think Advanced Zerglings should be Devouring Ones :D
And a normal terran unit (civilians and ghosts) is like 1/3rd slower than a ling... Giving a ling 90ft movement would create an issue but I think that 60 is more than adequate
I mean.. lings with ups are almost as fast as bats and rines with stims!

[ShneekeyTheLost]

I think Advanced Zerglings should be Devouring Ones :D
And a normal terran unit (civilians and ghosts) is like 1/3rd slower than a ling... Giving a ling 90ft movement would create an issue but I think that 60 is more than adequate
I mean.. lings with ups are almost as fast as bats and rines with stims!

Advanced Zerglings are not hero units, they are simply upgraded Zerglings. You can upgrade their run speed and their attack speed at the Spawning Pool, and can increase their attack damage and armor at the Evolution Chamber. This is what the Advanced Zergling is attempting to emulate.

A Devouring One would likely have Improved Natural Attack to do D8 bite, and D6 claws, and have actual class levels (probably Warrior or even Fighter, or perchance Rogue).

Next on my list: Mutalisks..

[mikeejimbo]

well, I think Marine and Firebat would actually be very similar in terms of class since they're both basically GIs with different equipment. If you were to take D20 modern, this would all fix itself.

True, the different training they'd have would just be a slightly different Weapon Proficiency.

I suppose you could do it with d20 Modern and a bit of customization.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

True, the different training they'd have would just be a slightly different Weapon Proficiency.

I suppose you could do it with d20 Modern and a bit of customization.

Star Wars D20 also has a good Soldier class which has access to lots of good feats, and is cinimatic enough for our purposes. The problem with D20 Modern is a lack of cinimatic elements which Starcraft thrives on.

[mikeejimbo]

Star Wars D20 also has a good Soldier class which has access to lots of good feats, and is cinimatic enough for our purposes. The problem with D20 Modern is a lack of cinimatic elements which Starcraft thrives on.

I guess you're more-or-less forging a new thing anyway, so taking from various places wouldn't be out of the question.