Not that the Underdark in EfU is not presently dangerous enough.

However...

Here are two small creatures that can have a huge impact.

* Brain Moles I suppose there are already psionic hounds that could be construed as very similar to brain moles. Dire Moles can be quite annoying out in the Low Road and such. What about a single brain mole [creature from 1st ed. MM1] - a creature that glows red, or green, or yellow, with odd psionic powers? Added to random encounter tables. More clarity potions anybody? Brain moles are attracted to areas of psionic energy supposedly. There's a few psionic creatures in the underdark; areas and beings that the brain moles might begin to loiter around to 'feed.' [ie: absorb psionic energy].

* Cranium rats These 'enhanced rats' en masse might be an interesting medium level {4-8?}quest variant on the Mary quest in Lower and the Rat Barricade. Perhaps another part of the Sewers or the Machine or the Mines,, where there is a higher level of 'psionic activity'?

or

Consider this: - 4 cranium rats might be encountered as a random spawn, similar to the way bats are sometimes randomly encountered. 4 cranium rats may not be very strong - each individual rat doing 1 damage magic missile like attacks.[even 4 rats doing 1 dmg consistently every attack round would be deadly to a level 2-6 PC] 20 or so cranium rats, randomly encountered, might become a problem. Ghostly visage potions anyone?

Perhaps these cranium rats with 1 dmg magic missile attacks, would be easy to hit and kill quickly - its just a matter of getting to them before they unleash a number of their ranged attacks. So the rat might be able to bite in melee and perform a 1dmg 'psionic' magic missile at range.

I can see a series of rooms swarming with these rats attacking a party of eight PCs on a quest - it would look like a IGMS each round that the 20 -40 cranium rats executed a co-ordinated attack! Could our monitors handle it? :) Be fun to watch.

I posted the exact same version of this topic while I was not logged in. Could a moderator delete the other post? :)

We have brain rats already. Mrawr!

I don't even want to think about how complicated cranium rat AI would be to write. <.<

20-40 cranium rats at a time - LAG, HERE I COME!

I've had DM spice with all kinds of psionic ability creatures, it's not something I'd consider quest material, meaning that quest wouldn't be done much at all..

Best DM spice creature I ever had was Hook Horror Larvae - dozens of little annoying things per spawn all with DR!

HOWEVER Back on topic,

I like the idea of brain rats or something, but put them further out closer to races that likely would have done experiments on them to create such a thing(sand caves, etc). I also would suggest making them of the creature type abberation, so that the Society has even more things to hate in the Underdark.

Aw.

This topic is misleading.

I pictured Rats doing the Cerebral Bore (Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, FTW).

Cranium Rats sounds like something that burrows into your ear/nose, and feasts on your brain ala intellect Devourer.

Oh well... was just a thought.

There are already at least three scripted abberation quests I can think of.

And yeah:: 20-40 rats with magic missile may become laga-licious. Ice storm spams and IGMS have at times made my entire computer freeze.

Yes, cranium rats are like intellect devourers. AI would be awesome if you can get them moving anything like the rat barricade, but faster.

I think creatures like this should be kept to a minimum in the day to day running of the server! Otherwise, they become boring if they're just crushed every day. A bit like hook horrors, and Umber Hulks. :(