Astral Projections - Tardigrades for Mutants & Masterminds 3e

Since Ant-man and the Wasp was pretty popular this summer, I can see a lot of M&M groups wanting to pay a visit to what Marvel calls the Quantum Realm. Well, GMs wanting their groups to visit, anyway. To get you started on that little trip, here are stats for Quantum Realm tardigrades.

QUANTUM REALM TARDIGRADE
Concept: Quantum Realm Animal Minion Power Level 8/26PP

Combat: Attack +4 [Unarmed +4], Attack +4 [Feeding]; Init -2
Defenses: Dodge -8, Parry -2, Toughness +10, Fortitude +14 [4pp], Willpower +1

Abilities: STR 12; STA 10 [-8pp]; AGI -2; DEX -2; FIG 4; INT -4; AWE 1; PRE 0 [-14pp]

Advantages: Fast Grab, Improved Grab, Improved Hold [3 pp]

Skills: Intimidation +6, Stealth -14 [0 pp]

Powers
Growth: 12 ranks. Permanent (+0) Innate (+1 flat), [25 points] (+12 strength, +12 Stamina, +12 Mass Ranks, +6 Intimidation bonus, +1 Speed, -12 penalty to stealth, -6 penalty to Dodge, -6 Penalty to Parry. Size Rank 1)
Feeding: Affliction 5 (Impaired/Stunned/Incapacitated), Grab-based (-1/rank) [5pp]
Movement: Running -1, Swimming 3 [4pp]

Abilities (-14) + Defenses 4 + Advantages 3 + Skills 0 (Ranks) + 34 Powers = 26pp

Design and Play Notes: These mini-sub sized creatures, which aren’t nearly as adorable as they might appear, if you believe Janet van Dyne, are based on the real world Tardigrades (phylum Tardigrada), often called “water bears” or even “moss piglets.” Adults range from 0.1 – 1.5 mm in length–somewhat larger than Quantum realm size, I think. The real ones’ feeding habits aren’t adorable either–via stylets, they suck the liquids out of plants or other animalcules. Including other tardigrades in some species.

Note that the Growth power represents their size relative to other Quantum Realm “natives” or visitors (such as PCs with the Atomic extra on their, or their device’s, Shrinking power). This also allows them to be used “as is” for adventures set elsewhere, since they will be in scale.

Make them some sort of sea monster, perhaps an unnatural one created by a mad wizard or scientist. Maybe wildlife on another planet–or a primeval world. As the nickname moss piglet suggests, some species do live in damp mossy places on land. And one of my gaming friends (Empty Bacta Tank on the d20 forums) suggested the real world tardigrade “would be a great thing to build as a summon for a hero that can ‘enlarge’ objects. He could enlarge a [real life] tardigrade and send it rampaging into your enemies.” That sounds like some Silver Age fun to me.

Credits: Thanks to Empty Bacta Tank for technical editing, and build suggestions.

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Linda Whitson

Contributing Writer & Copy Editor at D20 Radio

Linda Whitson is a long-time RPGer, amateur musician & artist, & an officer in the Rebel Legion Star Wars costuming club. Linda met her husband in an AD&D game and they have 2 teenagers, an anime fangirl daughter and a son who plays on his university's quidditch team. She is the Lead Mod of D20 Radio's forums and Copy Editor for the blog. Linda can be reached at GMLinda@d20radio.com