Description

The gelatinous cube is one of the scavengers not uncommon in dungeons (and the primary reason why dungeon corridors are 10' wide). Its cubic form is ideal for cleaning all living organisms, as well as carrion, from the floor and walls of underground passageways. Certain very large cubes are taller so as to be able to garner mosses and the like from ceilings as well.

Gelatinous cubes are nearly transparent and are difficult to see (thus surprise 50 percent of the time). As these monsters travel. As these monsters travel about they sweep up metallic and other items which are "indigestible" to them. This includes treasure and weapons. Such material will remain in the body of a gelatinous cube for several weeks before being cast out (thus deposited somewhere on the floor).

If a gelatinous cube touches (hits) an opponent, the latter must make a Formidable: Constitution check or be paralyzed for a number of minutes equal to 20 - CON. The cube then surrounds the victim, secretes digestive fluids, and digests a meal. The victim takes one hit (to a randomly chosen body part) per 5-second turn due to the digestive secretions. Individuals fully enclosed in sealed, rigid armors such as combat armor or battle dress are not affected by either the touch or the digestive secretions of the cube. Vacc suits and combat environment suits will be compromised by the cube's secretions within a number of turns equal to the armor value of the suit.

Gelatinous cubes can be hit by all forms of weapons, and attacks by fire have normal effects. Cold will have no effect on these monsters half the time. The other half they will be slowed by 50 percent, the paralysis of their touch can be avoided by a Difficult: Constitution test, and they will do one hit of damage per every two 5-second turns. Electricity has no effect on gelatinous cubes.

Associated Games/Campaigns

Name: Gelatinous Cube
Encounter Type: Animal
Category: Scavenger
Type: Reducer
Special Attributes: None
Weight: 19000 kg (size 15.58)
Size:  3×3 (1-meter grid squares)
Hits: 101/202
Reaction: Ap F—

Homeworld Data

World Size:  Large (8)
Atmosphere:  Standard (6)

Terrain	Frequency	Quantity
Subterranean	Uncommon (4-)	1

Weaponry

Initiative:  1

Weapon	To Hit	Dam	Pen	Range	Attack Type
Pseudopod (Acid)	7	1Dp1D	Nil	Short	Armed Melee Attack

Armor

Head	Chest	Abdomen	Forequarters	Hindquarters
—	—	—	—	—

Move

Ground	Water	Air	Tunneling
1/2/4	—	—	—

Meat:  5,700 kg
Price (for food):  §38,000 at market
Price (for working):  §76,000
Price (for pet):  §190,000 
Load:  6,333 kg
Pull Power (MW):  0.0095

Hit Record