I decided to give myself a challenge to choose a few underground monsters to make enemies out of, and then draw. Although I haven't begun drawing, these are my personal favorite enemies I've come up with that are 'Strong Versions' to the currently present underground vermin and enemies.
- Quaking Maggot
The Quaking Maggot is an upgraded, powerful version of the normal Purring Maggot, and is only found in groups of one or two in the third cavern layer. It tracks a trail of thick, putrid milk behind itself as it slides by. It is docile until attacked, whereas it has a unique method of attack.
It will now begin to shake the fuck out. It will just move in random directions erratically, slamming their entire force into their attackers and potentially even knocking others or themselves into pits and water. In adventure mode, this attack causes an insane amount of noise.
- Shagging Rutherer
A rutherer that’s the size of a size of a cyclops, almost three times the size of a normal rutherer. Its entire body is covered in thick, long, red fur. Even as it steps, small clouds of dust will appear below it. Unlike its smaller, normally docile counterpart, it will attack anything that directly gets in it's way of food; Plump Helmets and other small plants. As long as you stay out of it's way, though, you'll be fine.
- Outstretcher
An Outstretcher is a rare, extremely violent form of the Reacher. It is twice as large as a Reacher, with large claws and a sharp, pointed tongue that it can use like a retractable spear. It is also very intelligent compared to its more common counterpart.
Outstretchers live in small hives of up to four more reachers, usually being the only of its kind. It is seen by Reachers as an alpha or leader, and as such, will typically command them like a small army.
Periodically, an Outstretcher will send a few Reachers out of their hive to search for food. The key with determining if a Reacher is wild or in cahoots with an Outstretcher is able to be determined by their behavior. If it sees a dwarf or adventurer, it will flee if it is in cahoots, and attack if it is not.
When it receives word of the presence of some dwarves, the Outstretcher will take two or three of its allies and begin to stalk you or your dwarves. If it is spotted while stalking, it will flee as soon as possible with the other reachers. If it is able to stalk you for long enough, then it will attack.
A message similar to the alert of a Gremlin’s presence will be announced when it is noticed, either when stalking or attacking. If it is attacking, then prepare to fight back fast. An Outstretcher’s goal is not to kill, but similar to a goblin snatcher, to kidnap any dwarves that it can. It will fight any dwarves it encounters, and when they are knocked unconscious, a reacher will take said dwarf and attempt to book it to the edge of the map. When a dwarf reaches the map’s edge, the outstretcher and its remaining allies will then flee as well.
If you have an outstretcher hive in your map, they will move in to the hive instead of the edge of the map. The dwarf will then be devoured while inside of the hive, and their equipment and bones can be thrown at you if you attack them, or they attack you.
An outstretcher will, if it attacks twice, also throw your dwarf’s equipment at your dwarves as ammunition, no matter what it is. Including their bones.
How are these ideas? Please, tell me what you all think!