Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Tako

[@AJPickett]

Agh! It's TAKO... Dammit, sorry all. I typo'ed the Tako.

[@caseyspark2019]

Worry not! It's an improvement lol

[@AJPickett]

@@caseyspark2019 No no, Tako is Japanese for Octopus, getting that wrong is quite insulting! I certainly don't intend to insult anyone.

[@caseyspark2019]

@@AJPickett Oh no no of course not! It was an honest mistake. (I also didn't know Tako was octopus in Japanese so that's cool!) But I just assumed it was a non-malicious typo (although one that led to many laughs :D)

[@ajmeyers5661]

@@AJPickett I didn't think it was insulting, just seemed sort of funny. I don't think you'll find anyone who speaks Japanese honestly insulted, though some might try to take the piss for it :)

[@DCdabest]

That explains a lot haha I still want my Octopus Bard playing Marracas but.

[@danielnevill3076]

Writer 1: What should we name this new race of octopus people? Writer 2 doing a line an of cocaine and not paying attention to the conversation: TACOS! Writer 1: Eh, good enough.

[@That80sGuy1972]

That's pretty much what I imagined too... and I imagined it years ago. So, it *must* be true!

[@dhaenir]

I rather like the idea of a tako necromancer who is just fascinated by the concept of a skeleton; maybe even obsessed with the idea of having its own.

[@AJPickett]

*Looks at an octopus, then at a spider, and back to an octopus... starts screaming*

[@maxxor-overworldhero6730]

I immediately thought of a Tako Voltron.

[@camramaster]

​@@AJPickett Bone power armor...

[@Gauldame]

The Tako also speak of a great enemy of their kind. An elf, obsessed with breaking pots and cutting grass with his sword, has been a bane to their kind for generations. All attempts at communication with this monster fail, as he seems to only be able to communicate in grunts and screams.

[@AJPickett]

Seeking the legendary three energy and the clay flute of the fourth dimension...

[@bjarnivalur6330]

Fun little fact about irl octopodes: The "can fit through any gap larger than its beak" isn't universal, there are some structures within the octopus that are larger than the beak that can tear or break if strained, f.ex, the cartilage between their eyes.

[@AmigoRoberto]

AS A BONUS ACTION THE TAKO(taco) CAN TAKE A BITE OUT OF A CREATURE. we are never coming back to this restaurant again

[@AmaryInkawult]

Tako Bell

[@gerdawg1996]

next time: tree squids that live in swamps called the Guac.

[@jakebaczik7785]

And have servants called the molé

[@reeceandben4876]

I may need to use this...

[@maxx8362]

Your party is traveling through an exceptionally shady forest. (Party fails perception check) Tako fall, everyone dies.

[@theapexsurvivor9538]

God damn, first dropbears, now droptopi.

[@chappywilkerson2777]

"A colony of riled up Tacos" what a wonderful world we live in. As a side note, I believe the Japanese word for octopus is "tako" so the name isn't as ridiculous as it sounds at first.

[@AJPickett]

Thanks Chappy, you are correct, I made a terrible Typo!

[@chappywilkerson2777]

@@AJPickett I assumed you were correct, then I remembered (successful int check) that it's only Monday.. it couldn't be Taco if it weren't Tuesday.

[@Weirdoid]

Is a female Tako a tako belle.

[@hya2in8]

I didn't expect them to be this chill I thought they were yet another gross monster

[@kevinbarber2795]

Pennyworth, the Tako adventurer/explorer. With his translator gem in its fancy “necklace”, monocle, and pitch helmet, speaking in his British accent, he travels the world exploring the most remote locations for the thrill of adventure and discovery. He often finds himself being helped/rescued by the same group of plucky adventurers, who sometimes join in his adventures (or vice versa). His published stories and findings would be legendary and can be found world wide (if only more than a handful of people could actually understand what he wrote, as its mostly in squiggly colorful lines). “I say good chap, that was a most brilliant throw!” -Pennyworth, to an adventurer who’d just pinned a monster to a wall with a single trident throw, killing it

[@theapexsurvivor9538]

Oh gods, he'd get along great with the esteemed Lord Blackwood, he may look a -sea snail- but he's a true English gentleman.

[@gazzmaz8830]

Im wating to see one with a sombrero

[@MrBracey100]

The only thing lacking from the home brew is an extra attack if you ask me. Given all those arms they should really start with a bonus action melee attack. I think I'd play one as a druid or a mystic. As a mystic you could stay camouflaged and attack psionically. It would drive enemies crazy trying to figure out what was going on.

[@sagesheahan6732]

Yup, alright. After reading that idea? That sold me. Takos are allowed in my game. Tacos too.

[@kordelshorgar122]

in one of the first sessions of tabletop RPG that I ever played, there was a conflict in which tako were going extinct because of human were overhunting them and driving them into extinction (playing with expectations is good ) for that and many other reasons TAKO have a very special place in my heart

[@strykerten560]

Man, an encounter with these things in a rainforest would be fucking amazing. You just see a bunch of massive octopuses with spears swinging through the trees hunting giant spiders

[@SpidermanandhisAmazingFriends]

Knowing all the crazy shape shifting shenanigans real life octopi are capable of boggles the mind. These would be great rogues in so many different roles. The scariest goon squad a dock side gang could have. The elite warriors of these tribes wouldn't be fighters, but arcane tricksters. I'd give these things some kind of invisibility as a recharge or something

[@HenriFaust]

I suspect that first picture is a subtle innuendo alluding to _The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife._

[@KikinCh1kin]

I still cant get over this amazing intro

[@confuseddullahan5046]

This may be a "that guy" type character but I can't see going anywhere other then full anime with this... Ninja sushi chef

[@leadstomach9397]

As long as its not sexualized

[@MsGhoulz]

Lure some fool into the sea for tacos? Not even someone with 10 intelligence is falling for that trick.

[@mikewaterfield3599]

The name unless im crazy is literally japanese for octopus.

[@michaelkelligan7931]

Tako Water Elementalists are a force to be reckoned with! 🌊🌊🌊

[@TheMimiSard]

So I wonder if a player Tako would appreciate a Fishbowl of Holding?

[@HumbleMemeFarmer]

Quit makin' me hungry, AJ. You wouldn't like me when I'm hungry.

[@korinthian7313]

Wah

[@cheeseymacky7061]

Wah[translation: greetings fellow takodachi.]

[@evankurasu3190]

We Are Here

[@professorsponge1554]

A favorite marine monster of mine was the Undead Lake Monster. Undead nessie with a breath weapon. The idea was that there was a benevolent lake monster that protected a heavily trafficked lake and rivers, chasing off other marine monsters while not bothering boats and swimmers. Suddenly it disappeared for a month then reappeared as undead abomination, now protecting monsters while attacking boats and even river/lakeside towns. the party had to find out what had happened and slay Nessie.

[@That80sGuy1972]

Great video AJ. This is an underappreciated creature. I had a home-brew player character version too. I created it because a new player insisted on playing one. Over my many years of DM'ing, he was the only one who played one. Fun but quirky player, always wanted to play a strange character. He had to depend upon his "dry erase" tablet and his own ink to communicate with most. Fortunately, we had two telepaths in the party to help him "talk" with others. Outside of other aquatic life, for some reason, nobody but some sages "speak" Taco. I could have sworn these creatures were named something else. Meh... I probably renamed them for my campaign world. Probably something like "Takko" or "Tayko"... it's been years.

[@AJPickett]

Remember the Galaxy Quest movie? Now picture the Bard of the party rolling to win over an NPC Taco, gets a Nat 20 "By the way, that is a female Taco, and yes, those patterns she is displaying mean exactly what you think they mean, I'm going to need you to roll vs her grapple, you know... if you want to".

[@That80sGuy1972]

@@AJPickett OH! AJ for the win! Now I have a far better image of a Taco and what they would do in my head!

[@Greenscyth22]

The very fact that they aren't beholden to the water for long periods of time is part of what makes them scary. I'm use to aquatic monsters staying in the water for the most part. I could see one befriending a good aligned Dread Pirate and joining his crew though. Let it play as the Swashbuckler class with a rapier in each tentacle.

[@DCdabest]

Give him one peg leg tentacle for thematics

[@AJPickett]

Peg leg! And a fake eye patch! Bwahahaha!!

[@FloppeyPyro]

I'm gonna take a gander at that character build info and see how well a Tako Rouge will be haha

[@MouseMask-p1z]

I’m now very, very, tempted. Would certainly be a wtf moment for the DM and other players. Nice video! Also, I’m sorry to bug you, AJ, but that video on the Derro would be greatly appreciated.

[@SeraphimKnight]

Tako warlock with a great old one patron... Would make for a great player character. Make your tako "wear" some robes to blend in with humanoid, flawless disguise lol. Could use minor illusion cantrip to fake having a voice. EDIT: WAIT! What about a tako lich??

[@AJPickett]

Tako lich appears like a dried octopus headdress on an ornately decorated skeleton. Yesssss

[@theapexsurvivor9538]

Takolichs look similar to death tyrants, but with a nasty habit of draining your Int through your skull like they're some sort of mind flayer... They're only slightly less terrifying than an Illichthid.

[@joshuazane3210]

Just to be clear: if I ask for tacos, this is *not* what I want.

[@tatsusama3192]

Imagine a party taking a ship to a new location. While on the journey in open water one of them gets bored and wants to explore the ship. They come across a locked door which they promptly pick, because murder hobos don't understand personal privacy, and find a stairway to a lower deck. They get to the bottom of the stairs and find several eyes looking at them seemingly as surprised as they are😂 Ps. This seems like the perfect opportunity to make your players feel extremely guilty for wiping out a small colony of Tako immigrants because they weren't diplomatic enough to ask questions

[@jacobwilson8579]

Well now I want some Tako’s now. Jokes aside I do enjoy more possible races, aquatic are always welcomed now if only I was in an aquatic campaign.

[@masonabbey6353]

The tiny cyclopes octopi - IM SO EXCITED /(Glad I could Inspire you) !

[@dicorockhimself]

Oh you made the homebrew?

[@masonabbey6353]

@@dicorockhimself yes

[@dicorockhimself]

@@masonabbey6353 awesome it will help a lot with a underwater style cainpagine I'm building

[@AJPickett]

Nice work Mason 🤠 *tips hat* did you check out the cosmic creation netbook on Beyond Heroes? 😎

[@masonabbey6353]

@@AJPickett i will now thanx

[@AmigoRoberto]

Be me. Wake up. See AJ posted video. Double take on title. "Yeah ok I'm in."

[@dogle9258]

AmigoRoberto literally same thing.

[@damianmorningstar3150]

Tako? I found Ina’s people

[@fnerXVI]

Wah!

[@zzfrute]

Not typically spellcasters, but could one likely be a druid?

[@AJPickett]

Sure 👍

[@adriaanadriaan123]

I thought you mistyped Thaco, but it's also good to know these are creatures. quite interesting.

[@caseyspark2019]

This had nothing to do with tacos! Those are calamari!

[@clockworkpanda8]

Going to sent my party to find tacos and not explain what i mean untill they are completely lost.

[@zmishiymishi5349]

They look like their tentacles would pass boiled quickly with provence herbs; then fried with garlic, butter, soy sauce; simmer with rice and broth. Sprinkled with fresh parsley.

[@Iguana5k]

Imagine one of these becoming a monk xD

[@Blaze-the-snake]

Oh yeah, by the way, could I request the wendigo as a video in the future? I wondered if it existed in d&d already, and if not I would love to see what you could do with it in terms of lore and abilities. I really liked your video about the alien radiance, and I’d love to see how you would implement the wendigo into one of the d&d worlds.

[@dragonlord498]

seems like would be a unique race too play as

[@joshchandler13]

Tako Tuesday!!!

[@ernestlam5632]

That homebrew Tako player has one thing that bothers me. A 6 foot tall octopus would weight way more than 100 pounds. They have the weight as 50 to 100 pounds. Sea creatures typically weight more than land creatures bc they don't have to support their weight on their limbs. I dislike that every sea creature breath on land just because it's easier that way. But no land creatures are the same way.

[@AJPickett]

They are barely 4ft tall, they have a 6ft diameter

[@Weirdoid]

Wonderfully strange culture. I like it.

[@JohnA...]

An unexpected encounter with a pack of Tako's could certainly ruin one's day, especially if you happen across them somewhere less than reputable such a TakoBell. Its better to just avoid those interactions, it never comes out good in the end.

[@nickh3205]

Fear the tako

[@nullvoid4063]

Thanks for another great video AJ.

[@DG-qq6gz]

Takos are instrumental as allies in any underwater environment.

[@PaRRaPWNaGe]

Totally watching this later (I watch all of your vids, excellent job sir!) but I had to make the joke: I bet the Tako's land-based counterpart would be the... BURRING'DO?? I'm sorry...

[@zeeviz]

Tacomonday

[@florenmage]

I like to try and get into the head of an intelligent non humanoid species.Think about how they live and how difficult it would be to have peace with them.Humans have difficulty getting along with other humanoids.Add the alien aspect in and they become disconnected even further.

[@antwan1357]

Seven attacks? Can pin both your arms and still attack you? Fights to the death! Not a good encounter.

[@AmaryInkawult]

I hate the DM that shouts "Commence Hentai" when combat starts whenever our Tako Rogue player character rolls the highest initiative.

[@zohawn4398]

A group of 20 Tako that are "heavily armed"...lol

[@JohnA...]

Could be a very spicy interaction

[@InternetSupervillain]

That first picture: paddle away!!!

[@AJPickett]

Tako says "Ewww, Dog.. blegh"

[@nanettegrimm1075]

you should make a video on the Kitsune

[@AJPickett]

Catering to the furry market? 😉

[@nanettegrimm1075]

@@AJPickett oh not evennn just an interesting race altogether and there is not alot of definite sources and your vids just make it easier to understand.

[@AJPickett]

@@nanettegrimm1075 well in that case...

[@nanettegrimm1075]

@@AJPickett you are a god my friend! let the gods of old praise you

[@dreammirrorbrony1240]

I second this request!

[@seamusfish7009]

Here wuz Seamus! Seamus has been up for 24 hours making a movie. Seamus goes to bed listening to this now.

[@FD-lo8xr]

sweet dreams seamus

[@carloss3499]

Oh if only you uploaded this on Tuesday

[@beastwarsFTW]

Can a tako's limbs fight if they are severed? Octopuses limps can move independent of the main body.

[@AJPickett]

No leverage, best they can do is entangle

[@frankalphonso268]

I’d love to meet them

[@adamwelch4336]

It's Tako Tuesday lol!

[@tatsusama3192]

Fun fact: Talk (tah-koh) is literally just the Japanese word for octopus, haha. Nothing clever here Ps. Haha, I'm imagining a Tako/Tortle traveling duo. The Tortle plays a lute and sings while the Tako changes beautiful doors and moves in beautiful motions moving with the atmosphere of the story

[@JohnA...]

And if all goes well it might also make for an interesting, if not colorful, soup. Well for the other group that is.

[@michaelkelligan7931]

Great video AJ,love the tako.....but i love burritos too!

[@danieldeihl8237]

Good stuff AJ

[@snorgonofborkkad]

You’re the first person I’ve ever heard pronounce the plural of octopus properly. Well done.

[@metalk1tt3n]

Taco flavoured kisses?

[@rita6355]

TAKKO like from TV?!?!

[@BigDictator5335]

If I made a Tako character, his name would be Beef.

[@jgr7487]

Tako: "do you like oysters?" me, with the 4th one already in my mouth: "I kinda like it. give more!"

[@AJPickett]

After a while, the Tako would have to make saving throws to resist freaking out at how many oysters I can eat.

[@alostsol]

@@AJPickett but do the 2 of you actually eat them raw? I couldn't even eat clam chowder, I would starve in their underwater world.

[@jgr7487]

@@alostsol is there any other way to eat them but raw?

[@lucasdurham-styles3169]

oh cool! i was actually thinking of using these in a campaign of mine

[@Aquamentus11]

I needed this. Sometimes the 2nd ed MM drawings just can't be beat. Many other times, just hilarious. Personally, I still think the 2nd ed bronze dragon looks better.

[@bluetoad6138]

Nice to see the tako getting a video. Another intelligent race of octopi are the blue-ring octopus from ad&d, not to be mistaken for Australia's blue ringed octopus. They are a race of intelligent octopi that live in the underdark and occasionally are used as slaves by aboleth and other sea living underdark races. They communicate similar to the tako and when blue-ring octopi live near surface waters they are often allies to the tako but tend to keep themselves hidden since they are shyer and weaker than most under dark races. It'd be neat if you made a follow up video about them to compliment their surface dwelling cousins. web.archive.org/web/20180828061414/www.lomion.de/cmm/octoblri.php

[@jayteepodcast]

Taco and not even Tuesday

[@xBallisticxIdeax]

Hey AJ I have been watching your videos for about a year now and was wondering if you could do a video on IO

[@kota86]

Seconded!

[@mikemccoy5092]

Have u done the astral dreadnought yet always thought it looked awesome

[@kota86]

Web DM has a video on them!

[@adrenalineunlimited]

He's got one now

[@chriscalvin5083]

good video AJ

[@ericbondeson3614]

I came here to say its "tako" but I see that's been covered.

[@AJPickett]

Thanks Eric, much appreciated!

[@ericbondeson3614]

@@AJPickett I'm glad you saw the humor in this. Some people go absolutely ape shit if you dare correct them. Great video though. I love when you do obscure creatures most dont know/remember.

[@jetstrike28]

shit now you got me hungry.

[@matthewlaw3763]

I'm Tako, you know from TV

[@mikeoxlong1395]

I've seen enough hentai to know where this is going.

[@youtubestudiosucks978]

Why does it always have to be a girl? Why cant it be a man for once? What's the fun in already knowing the answer all the time without a suprise or two just so that you dont get bored by it? Sometimes it's fun to be suprised

[@mikeoxlong1395]

@@youtubestudiosucks978 Surprised like an anime girl when she realizes where the tentacle is going.

[@youtubestudiosucks978]

@@mikeoxlong1395 after 10 pages of the same thing you've pretty much seen them all, most things get boring after an few minutes or so. Everything just seems so freaking boring after a short while. Idk why :/

[@mikeoxlong1395]

@@youtubestudiosucks978 I dunno man, whenever i see those tentacles i feel... things... no matter how many times i've seen them before.

[@gasmonkey1000]

Me when I saw the monster's name: Ah yes the dreaded taco. A horror rivaled only by the foul quesadilla and the diabolical chimichanga in terms of evil. Rumor has it they were spawned by the foul Demon Lord Chipotle. Dreaded is the creature, especially on tuesday's, or as the cultists of Chipolte call it "Taco Tuesday." Me after the video: Oh. They're actually intelligent and tough. Still who the fuck named them that?

[@sangheilijedi]

Do Meenlocks!

[@AJPickett]

Ok!

[@christianadams211]

The name clearly comes from the Japanese word for Octopus Tako.

[@Janshevik]

why no that sea intro for this creature?

[@AJPickett]

Hmmm good point

[@jgr7487]

because AJ is Chaotic

[@AJPickett]

@@jgr7487 Quite.

[@baddragon7057]

can a ancient red dragon fight a the legendary pfheonix

[@AJPickett]

Yes.

[@baddragon7057]

tx so much

[@bjarnivalur6330]

I missed the typo, did you call it a taco?

[@3dagalathor]

AJ, how about a video on the nearly forgotten Grell?

[@AJPickett]

Grell? kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5aQaqSOaNSbhNE protect your ears, this is one of my older videos!

[@GringatTheRepugnant]

How about a video on the phaerlock? I remember asking this a long time ago and since then still haven’t been able to find any info on them besides what people said in the comments. EDIT: The only thing I've seen them appear in is the Daggerdale game that released a handful of years ago. No explanation given in the game as far as I could tell.

[@AJPickett]

You shall have it this week, sorry for the delay.

[@GringatTheRepugnant]

@@AJPickett You absolute legend

[@LjeytlKrue]

Octodad in dnd >_>

[@Nildread]

Was I the only one expecting a wizard from the adventure zone?

[@glorbojibbins2485]

Somehow I missed this one lol 😅

[@Blaze-the-snake]

How would you go about making a playable tako race?

[@ciarfah]

Blaze Step 1: homebrew Step 2: ????? Step 3: profit

[@AJPickett]

Did you check the pdf link?

[@AmaryInkawult]

@@ciarfah *S T O N K S*

[@mrpages6384]

Now I want a seafood taco

[@AJPickett]

Who doesn't? Prawn and thousand island sauce with a hint of cheese and some shredded iceberg lettuce and mizuna.

[@baddragon7057]

The takos worship the krakens

[@AJPickett]

Probably not

[@baddragon7057]

off.is ok tx

[@fate4gg142]

My favorite animal is the octopus, and D&D went and named it the “TACO”....😂

[@DASBIGUN]

DUDE I read that AS Taco and was excited/confused to learn of it

[@lordsubziro2824]

I believe its pronounced TA-ko, not like the Mexican food.

[@doubletragus]

It's the Japanese word for octopus.

[@sagesheahan6732]

@@lordsubziro2824 so it's pronounced "tay-koh"?