SQUID
Original Animal Characteristics
Description: Squid are a large, diverse group of marine cephalopods. Like all cephalopods, squid are distinguished by having a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms and two tentacles
arranged in pairs.
The main body mass of the squid is enclosed in the mantle, which has two swimming fins along each side. It should be noted that these fins, unlike in other marine organisms, are not the main source of ambulation in most species. At the front
of the mantle cavity lies the siphon, which the squid uses for locomotion via precise jet propulsion. This is done by sucking water into the mantle cavity and quickly expelling it out of the siphon in a fast, strong jet. The direction of the siphon
can be changed in order to suit the direction of travel. The mouth of the squid is equipped with a sharp horny beak mainly made of chitin. The eyes, found on either side of the head, each contain a hard lens. The lens is focused by moving,
much like the lens of a camera or telescope, rather than changing shape like a human eye.Giant squid and some other large squid species maintain neutral buoyancy in seawater thanks to the ammonium chloride solution which flows throughout
their body and is lighter than seawater.
Size Level: Average Squid 2 Giant Squid 20 Colossal Squid 25
Height: Average Squid up to 2 feet (60 cm) long. Giant Squid 33-46 feet (10-14 m) long. Colossal Squid 39-60 feet (12-18) long.
Weight: Average Squid up to 1 pound (453 g). Giant Squid up to 221-606 pounds (100-275 kg). Colossal Squid up to 661-1047 pounds (300-495 kg).
Build: Long
Mutant Changes & Costs
Total BIO-E: Average Squid 80 None for Giant Squid & Colossal Squid
Note: For specific species abilities and vestigial traits listed below, the character must be an average squid for any entry other than giant and/or colossal squid.
Attribute Bonuses: +1 to I.Q., +6 to P.S., Brute Strength
Human Features
Hands: Partial hands are automatic, because the tentacles are the equivalent of partial hands.
5 BIO-E for Full. The tentacles have developed three branches at the end of each which serve as two fingers and a thumb.
15 BIO-E for Full Humanoid arms and Hands (MiO, page 42) Note: must be bought for EACH Extra Pair of Arms for full use.
Biped: None; Crawls along with arms.
2 BIO-E for Four legs for walking (MiO, page 42)
5 BIO-E for Four legs for running (MiO, page 42)
5 BIO-E for Two-legged Biped (MiO, page 42)
10 BIO-E for Two-legged Biped with a second pair of partial limbs used as both arms and legs (MiO, page 42)
15 BIO-E for Two-legged Biped with a third pair of partial limbs used both as arms and legs
20 BIO-E for Two-legged Biped with a fourth pair of partial limbs used as both arms and legs
Speech : 5 BIO-E for Partial or 10 BIO-E for Full.
Looks: None; huge head with elongated, cone-shaped head; large eyes; dark, leathery skin.
5 BIO-E for Partial; Huge head and thick neck; long, flexible body; multiple arms protrude from upper torso, humanoid legs and body form; clearly not human!
Full Human Looks are NOT available.
Natural Weapons:
5 BIO-E for 1D8 damage Beak.
10 Bio-E for 1D6 damage Denticled Suckers (The suckers of all decapods have horny rings. These rings often carry sharp claw-like teeth and in some species these have been modified into hooks. The advantages of hooks are uncertain. They
could be designed for sinking into soft-bodied prey, such as other squid, or they could act as grappling hooks for hard-body spiny prey where suckers would be ineffective)
20 BIO-E for 2D8 damage Tentacle Clubs (these are effectively the widened area at the end of the tentacles).
Mutant Animal Powers:
Automatically gets Breathing: Gills and Swimming: Basic.
5 BIO-E for Advanced Vision
5 BIO-E for Brute Strength
5 BIO-E for Swimming: Master
5 BIO-E for Extra Physical Endurance
5 BIO-E for Extra Physical Prowess
5 BIO-E for Extra Intelligence Quotient
5 BIO-E for Powerful Suction Cups per pair of arms. (RH, 10)
5 BIO-E for Hold Breath (in the air)
10 BIO-E for Breathing: Lungs
10 BIO-E for Black Ink Spray. (RH, 10)
10 BIO-E for Extra Mental Endurance
10 BIO-E for Beastly Strength (and must be at least Size Level 4).
10 BIO-E for Predator Burst
10 BIO-E for Nightvision
10 BIO-E for Camouflage Skin Pattern
10 BIO-E for Neutral Buoyancy
10 BIO-E for Bioluminescent Patches (Glass Squid, Colossal Squid )
10 BIO-E for Extra-Long Arms (Bigfin Squid; doubles length of arms)
15 BIO-E for Multi-Limb Coordination. (RH, 10)
15 BIO-E for Photophores (Armhook Squid, Whip-lash squid)
15 BIO-E for Jet Propulsion (not available to Whip-lash Squid)
15 BIO-E for Large Swimming Fin (Whip-Lash Squid)
20 BIO-E for Swimming: Predator
20 BIO-E for Crushing Strength (and must be at least Size Level 6).
20 BIO-E for Breathing: Dual Breathing
20 BIO-E for Chameleon Camouflage Power. (RH, 10)
20 BIO-E for Chromatophore Communication [Carribean Reef Squid only]
25 BIO-E for Transparency (Glass Squid only) (131)
Vestigial Disadvantages:
-5 BIO-E for Reptile Brain: Prey
-5 BIO-E for Color Blindness
-5 BIO-E for No Gills
-5 BIO-E for Vestigial Tentacles
-10 BIO-E for Diet: Carnivore.
-10 BIO-E for Prey Eyes
-10 BIO-E for Nocturnal
-10 BIO-E for Total Blindness
-10 BIO-E for Vestigial Arms (per pair of arms)
-15 BIO-E for Diet: Cannibalism
-20 BIO-E for Soft Body (� normal S.D.C.)
-20 BIO-E for Dehydration: Extreme
Notes: Don't forget that a Giant Animal can sell [i]I.Q. & M.E.[/i] and/or [i]P.P. & Speed[/i] attribute points to get extra BIO-E points without sacrificing size. See Giant Animals in the creation section of ATB2 under Growth Steps.