Hey, I started a new AW game and one of the things that got generated was that the local marine scary wildlife was mutated smart saltwater crocodiles.
Now, I’ve seen regular salties in Australian wildlife parks so I know they’re already one of the scariest animals there are.
Anyone have any ideas what smart crocodiles could be planning?
I reckon just watch that shark mutated movie and apply the results to the reptiles. Ooooh scary!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LHJxrNLr2g
Nathan Roberts of course, crocodiles also have almost-hands…
Either get away from or get rid of humans, the most invasive species on the planet.
I envision a vicious guerrilla warfare with humans, with crocs encroaching in big city sewers (ok, an overused trope, but still). I’m not ruling out an alliance between human underclass and up-and-coming sentient crocs.
Launching a Space Career, to find a planet with only water so they can live without fearing the earth-walkers
Surely you don’t need to make ‘me very smart to make them really scary? Like, have them set up lures and traps… Or co-ordinate in groups…
Also, Turok’s intelligent raptors could be a good starting point for intelligent reptilian minds. en.wikipedia.org – Turok – Wikipedia
How smart do you want to go? Gonzo alligator civilization? Or just Jurassic Park opening doors, group tactics, pretending-to-be-frozen-in-a-lab “clever girl” level?
I think they present themselves as scholarly. They understand that croctelligence is a new thing, and seek out old human knowledge – books, experts, old technology, etc. They want to improve themselves quickly.
That said, they’re also incredibly violent and don’t have laws or governance beyond “biggest croc rules” and “go ahead and kill other crocs if you can”
They could be just smart enough to get themselves into trouble.
I’m imaging that these crocs wear hats and fake mustaches and try to pawn themselves off as human.
Steffan DelPiano I just happen to have a Beagle Boys comic where their dog helps a sentient crocodile escape from its circus… this way 🙂
If you’ve read Atwood’s MaddAddam trilogy, I suspect her intelligent-and-angry pigs would be a great model.
Croc engineering. I could see them undermining shorelines and bridges.
Expanding underwater passages to gain access to new locations.
Causing flooding to wash out rivers/streams and create new lagoons.
Coordinating in teams, like wolves, to actively hunt instead of waiting on ambush tactics to work.
Coordinating with birds or other creatures to attract prey, or lead them to prey.
Emulating sounds of other creatures to lull/lure passerby.
Developing better armor/camouflage. Perhaps armor through prolonged ritual scarification, leaving their already tough hides even more difficulty to penetrate. Camouflage through use of mud and debris.
Finally – croc-eugenics. They have spent generations breeding for specific castes. Crocs are super fast on land, for short distances. Perhaps they’ve bred long-distance sprinters. Small, strong crocs. Crocs that can stay out of the water longer to cross long distances. Better diggers. Crocs with webbed limbs that can glide short distances.
Current era crocodiles wait until you’re in or near the water to strike. ‘smart’ crocodiles have devised ways to bring the water to you.
I am loving these suggestions. Keep them coming!
They use scraps of clothing and bits from their previous kills to make it look like there’s someone drowning.
Let’s say that inhabitants of the settlement/place/wherever your players live, discover that crocs are sometimes helping them. Driving away dangers, herding in food when settlement is in want, not killing too much people at once despite having occasion – even helping small kid to return home.
Why?
Cause they are breeding people for food. They are treating settlement as their animal farm.
Maciej Starzycki haha, genius!