Armor Class
12
(natural armor)
Hit Points
90
(12d12 + 12)
Speed
0 ft., swim 60 ft.
STR
19
(+4)
DEX
10
(+0)
CON
13
(+1)
INT
3
(-4)
WIS
12
(+1)
CHA
7
(-2)
Skills
Perception +3
Senses
Blindsight 120 ft., Passive Perception 13
Languages
--
Challenge
3 (700 XP)
Proficiency Bonus
+2
Echolocation. The whale can't use its blindsight while deafened.
Hold Breath. The whale can hold its breath for 30 minutes.
Keen Hearing. The whale has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (5d6 + 4) piercing damage.
So.
Rules as written. Admittedly, this is a killer whale rather than a sperm whale, but assuming the whale were to suddenly be summoned into existence several miles above the surface of the world by an unfortunate twist of fate, then using the average HP of 90 and the average damage of a fall from a great height maxing out at 20d6 (which works out to about 70), then the whale should have survived the fall to Magrathea!
As a nerd who thought they were gonna grow up to be a marine biologist, it would be awfully nice if 'Orca' also pinged this result in the search...
Why is it’s intelligence so low? All cetaceans are damn smart. I mean in the real world orca pods have individual languages so it should be way higher.
Yeah. 3 is kinda the max for nonmagical beast in D&D though.
Dolphins have an intelligence of 6, I would say Orcas would have the same or even higher... 7?
most animals in D&D are very... weird. many of the normal animal stats are nerfed, elephants are also very smart but they got nerfed too. I don't think the creators of D&D know much about animals and focus more on magical creatures. its unfortunate but just homebrew a more accurate representation.
Apes are 6, as are dolphins
Their intelligence is not of the same type as humanoids. The smartest orca still just isn’t wired for speech as we know it, and assumedly that extends to things like spell casting.
A more personified/magical sub-race would be cool though.
These guys should also have pack tactics.
Can you change the name to "Orca" to help rid the Stigma behind "killer whale"?
General agreement that orcas have been significantly underestimated. Of course this is what homebrew is for.
People are so obsessed with dolphins these days, but they don't consider killer whales are just as intelligent. I would give them a 5-7.
Agreed. "Killer whale" is tacky at best, & Orca would be more acceptable.
Given the short visibility distances, lower than Earth falling speed, lower fall damage cap, & the presence of large flying beasts (not just magical monstrosities), I must conclude that the atmosphere on Toril is much denser than on Earth. Likely the gravity is lower as well; but it could all be extra drag & buoyancy, slowing 5e falls.
I personally make it exponential so 200d6, but love the reference.
I wish I could upvote this. What about the Plant?
Apes have int of 6, giant apes have int of 7.
ya!
love it ( :
Think this is the best creature to polymorph an enemy into. No movement speed so it can be easily avoided, plenty of hitpoints to soak up accidental hits, breaths air so it won't drown.