Beholders - from Tadpoles to Tyrants

Thought it might be cool if Beholders grew in HD and number of eye-stalks as they age; a 1HD Beholder tadpole would be a have one stalk, a 10HD adult would max out at ten stalks.

I've always played Beholders as having Telekinetic powers, not emanating from a single eye-stalk, but as a full-time Special Ability... having no limbs, this only makes sense, to me.  But since a Beholder just wouldn't seem 'right' without ten eye-stalks, I changed the former Telekinesis stalk to be the Random Stalk, and had a table something like this, making an already terrifying Monster even scarier, with the addition of an unknown ability:

1. Magic Missiles (one per 2HD?)                     6. 'Burning Eye' (Burning Hands)
2. Cone o' Cold                                                   7. Lightning Bolt
3. Blinding Flash                                                8. Ray of Enfeeblement
4. Feeblemind                                                     9. Paralysis
5. Withering/Aging                                            10. Polymorph

So, I'm thinking Beholders start out as Groeningesque single-stalked 'tadpoles', and a new stalk is randomly rolled for each additional HD, from the classic Monster Manual description.  To introduce the 'Random Stalk' element, there is a 1 in 10 chance, cumulative, that the newest stalk is instead the Random (10% at 1HD, 20% at 2HD, etc).

Might also be fun if they also advance in Intelligence as well, only attaining 'Exceptional' Intelligence - or greater(?) - at higher HD.  Imagine encountering a 1HD Beholder on the first level of the dungeon!  It says it has a Death Ray...

            

‘Deck of Many Things’/Weird Effects Generator, d6 Version

My attempt at a relatively quick and easy table, based on the classic Deck, using only a d6.

Also makes a handy table to consult for ‘Dungeon Tricks’, like magic statues and forgotten shrines, pulling that rusty lever, etc…

Roll d6 for ea Draw (or use, exposure, etc); 1-2 Gain, 3-4 Loss, 5-6 Fate

Most effects are immediate. All draws Blink back into the Deck!

Option: Prior to drawing, PC must commit to 1d6 draws.

Gain/Loss

1. +/- 1-3 to Ability Score(s); equal chance of:

            1. Highest/Lowest, 50/50 Chance

            2. Any one Random

            3. Distribute among any Abilities, by choice

2. One Experience Level

3. Gain 1d6 items of cool jewelry worth some cash/Lose all gems/jewels/coins

4. Experiences of Momentous Consequence

            1. Get Lucky/Crotch-Blocked (first opportunity)

            2. Messenger avian delivers Treasure Map/Footwear spontaneously combusts

            3. Every Roll during Next Encounter at Advantage/Disadvantage

            4. Automatically Make/Fail next 1d6 Saves

            5. Inherit haunted keep – if you spend a night within…/Random Nipple Migration

            6. Kickass Superhero appears from Nowhere to Help Out/Beat you near to death

5. Gain loyal Henchman from Nowhere/Soon-Fulfilled Prophecy of Doom for current Henchman

6. Gain One Class-Appropriate Magic Item/1d6 Items of choice are ‘safe’, all others automatically lost

Fate (Fulfil task, or 50/50 Chance of Good/Bad)

1. ‘Defeat’ Opponent, solo, for a roll on Gain tbl

1. Avatar of Death (Max possible AC, 100 HP, Immune to all Magic, Automatic hit at end of every rnd for 10 HP damage)

            2. Random Party member

            3. Goateed Duplicate of Self (Play continues, bearded or not, after this fight to the death)

2. Granted 1d6 Random Spells, regardless of Class/1d6 Random Spell cast upon you, possibly others in Area as well

3. Misc Change, equal chance of: Gender swap, Re-roll HP, Pick a new Class (same XP)

4. Favor/Disfavor of Higher/Lower Power; 1d6 instances of relatively minor favors (cast minor Spell on behalf of PC, heal one injury…), or moderately dickish problem causing (ambush, ill fortune…)

5. Grants one Wish/Removal from play (No Save!):

            1. Forlorn Encystment, entombed in eternal stasis, far below the surface of the planet

            2. Immediate Death by Heart Attack (-11 HP)

            3. Swarm of Valkyries haul PC to Valhalla to be Odin’s foot washer for a year and a day

            4. Body Functions, Soul/Mind Trapped Elsewhere

            5. Total Bodily Disintegration, possessions clatter into a shiny pile

            6. Complete Erasure from History (“Who??”)

6. DM determines Special Magical Ability, such as a Spell usable 1/day, or creates fiendish Curse, effective at start of next session.  A particular McGuffin must be sought and obtained to activate/deactivate this effect.

UPDATE: Check this out too, it's pretty cool