Ultralisk

(Version 1.00 - Last Modified: 07/12/2002)

History

Ultralisks form the brute strength of the Zerg Swarms and function as tanks for the swarm. Armed with monomolecular edged mandibles and armored with incredibly thick Chitinous Plating, even a small number of Ultalisks are dangerous. The Ultralisks are considered to be the pinnacle of current Zerg evolutionary abilities, taking many strong genetic traits and laying them on the foundation of the original creature. Little is known about the original creatures, except that the Zerg absorbed them only a few decades before their invasion of Aiur and that they were simple herbivores. Their original planet must have been filled with either dangerous predators or strong elements, otherwise why would such a creature evolve with such strong armor plating.

Ultralisks usually operate independently or in large groups. Typically a strong attack force will have up to 10 Ultralisks with a large force of Hydralisks and Zerglings to support it. These creatures are tough to kill and although they are relatively slow moving, they are fast enough to chase down most ground units. The Ultralisks only real problem is their lack of long range attacks. The Ultralisks have only their mandibles and their body to damage their opponents, but once they close with the enemy, it is usually more than enough.

As with the Zerglings and the Hydralisks, the Overmind devised a new breed of Ultralisks that was even stronger, faster, and more heavily armed, but it had not fully completed its experiments to determine if the mutation was stable. Without time to experiment, the Overmind decided that it would be too risky to use an untested strain during the invasion, so it went unused. Following the invasion of Aiur and the death of the Overmind, Kerrigan gained access to sections of the Overmind’s memories, including its new breed of Ultralisks. Kerrigan tested the creatures and introduced them in her portion of the Swarm, greatly enhancing her army.

Racial Statistics

• Alignment: None, considered to be an evil animal.
• Attributes:
  
  • I.Q.: Medium Animal Intelligence, considered an IQ of 5.
  • M.E.: 13 (10+1D6)
  • M.A.: 3 (1D6)
  • P.S.: 35 * (30+2D4)
  • P.P.: 10 (8+1D4)
  • P.E.: 25 (20+2D4)
  • P.B.: 3 (1D6)
  • Spd: 30 mph (48.3 km/h)
  • * PS and PE are considered supernatural
• Size: 8’ (2.4 m) high, 12’ (3.7 m) wide, and 20’ (6.1 m) in length.
• Weight: 2 tons (1.8 metric tons)
• M.D.C.: 550 in magic rich areas (PE attribute x10 +1D4x100)
• M.D.C. Armor Rating: See ability number 3, Armor, under the Natural Abilities section.
• S.D.C.: 500 in non-magic rich areas (2D4x100)
• Hit Points: 250 in non-magic rich areas (PE attribute x10)
• Armor Rating: See ability number 3, Armor, under the Natural Abilities section.
• Average Life Span: 100 years after transforming from a Larva.
• Horror Factor: 12
• P.P.E.: 40 (1D6x10+10)
• Magic Powers: None
• Natural Abilities:
  
  1. Improved Ultralisk Upgrade:
     
     It will take 12 hours to transform a standard Ultralisk into an improved Ultralisk. During this time, the Ultralisk enters into a period of deep hibernation, from which it cannot be disturbed even by the Overmind. During this hibernation period, the creature’s body changes subtly: its mandibles become sharper, its armor will become thicker, and it will grow several new internal organs that increase its speed. After the transformation is concluded, the Ultralisk will have the following bonuses: +15 to PS, +20 mph (+32.2 km/h) to Spd, +100 M.D.C. / S.D.C., +1 attack per melee, +5 M.D. to mandible jab, +10 M.D. to mandible slash, +3 M.D. to bite attack, +5 to damage reduction and +1 to M.D.C. Armor Rating (see natural ability #3), and regenerates at an increased rate of +5 M.D.C. per melee. This improvement causes the Ultralisk to lose 90% of its PPE, reduces its life span by 80%, and gives it a penalty of -3 to initiative.
  2. Armor:
     
     All Zerg creatures have incredibly tough exoskeletons that reduce the damage that they receive from any incoming attacks. Reduce all damage, either from normal or magical attacks, by 15 points. For example, if a volley of mini-missiles inflicted 66 points of damage, it would be reduced to 51 points of damage. Damage cannot be reduced below zero. The creature has an M.D.C. Armor Rating of 9 in magic-rich environments.
  3. Regeneration:
     
     A feature from the original Zerg creature, the Ultralisk can regenerate at an amazing rate, and can regenerate whole limbs and body parts. The creature regenerates at a rate of 5 M.D.C. per melee. It will take five minutes to regenerate a leg, ten minutes to regenerate an eye, and ten minutes to regenerate a mandible (needs only one to perform a mandible attack of any type and does not need either to perform a bite attack).
  4. Hive Mind Immunities:
     
     From the fact that at a basic level all Zerg share the same mind as the Overmind, individual Zerg creatures are very resilient to mental attacks. Any mind altering or mind affecting spells or psionic powers such as sleep, possession, or hypnotic suggestion will not work on a Zerg creature. This also functions as a permanent Mind Block on all Zerg creatures.
  5. Survival Instincts and Immunities:
     
     From the ingrained survival instincts that were developed by evolution and the Xel’Naga, and incorporated by the Overmind, all Zerg creatures are immune to diseases, toxins, poisons, and gases, both normal and supernatural. The Zerg are also unaffected by Horror Factor and Awe Factor and any attempts to intimidate them. With the assimilation of several space borne creatures, all Zerg can function completely normally in space, in an atmosphere, or underwater, with no maximum depth, with no penalties. Zerg creatures can survive temperatures between -200 to 500 degrees Celsius. Land based Zerg creatures have no way of propelling themselves in space besides pushing off from solid structures.


• Combat Skills: 3 attacks per melee, +5 to strike, +5 to parry, and +3 to dodge.
• Damage: A Mandible Jab inflicts 5D6 M.D. with a W.R. (Weapon Rating) of 13, a Mandible Slash inflicts 1D4x10 M.D. with a W.R. of 13, a Bite inflicts 3D6 M.D. with a W.R. of 13, a Stomp Attack inflicts 2D6 M.D. with a W.R. of 12 (only effective against targets shorter then 7' (2.1 m)) and a Ram Attack inflicts 3D4 M.D. with a W.R. of 12. Increase W.R. of all attacks by +1 for every four points of supernatural PS above 34 (at values 38, 42, 46, etc.). In non magic-rich environments, attacks inflict S.D.C. damage, but normal PS damage bonuses apply.
• Bonuses: +3 to save vs. all types of magic and +5 to save vs. psionics (counts as a non-psychic).
• Penalties: Ultralisks have no long range attacks and will often ignore threats from airborne attackers. For example, it will consider an area that has several enemy fighters flying above it to be free of danger unless directly controlled by the Overmind, a Cerebrate, or an Overlord.
• Natural Skills:
  
  • Land Navigation (80%)
  • Prowl (30%)
• Allies: The Zerg have no real allies, but since the death of the Overmind, several independent Cerebrates have banded together and given each other aid.
• Enemies: The Zerg have made many enemies over the millennia that they have been traveling throughout the galaxy.