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Description
"When the Great War was waging on across the world, the many factions struggled to find new ways to best their opponents. At first, loyal soldiers and armed forces were enough to tip the scales, but as the bloody years went on, it was no longer enough. Then came the planes and the tanks, followed by the rockets and the bombs, all before spilling into robotics and genetic engineering. As machines rolled onto the battlefields, simple men were becoming useless. Bigger guns and stronger armor were added to the arsenals, but these things were expensive, and easily scavenged by the opposing forces. A better soldier was needed, a unit that was a weapon in itself. The scientists turned to genetic engineering to create that perfect soldier, one who could tear through the battlefield and vanquish their foes. One who did not give into the fear that men felt in battle, but rather, it would spread terror into the hearts of all who saw it. At first, man was the template for their experiments, trying to find a way to enhance the common soldier. In time, though, they expanded to many different species. Man was too complex, too emotional. What came out from the labs were often insane and erratic, their minds unable to comprehend what they had now become. So simple animals were used instead. Many were fed into these bloody labs, and many failed to meet their expectations. One species, however, showed promise. Enhancements and alterations worked well on these beasts, and it seemed that the perfect soldier was ready to be born. Their victory came too late, though, as the bombs rained from above and brought an end to both the war and the world.

While the creators perished in the labs below, their creations lived on in the resulting wasteland. Altered by man and radiation, these monstrosities have now become legends across the dead landscape. The survivors refer to them as "Deathclaws," and the name is quite fitting. Their hulking mass is a sight to behold, right before they rip you in half. Their clamp-like claws can crush skulls in their grip, and their sharp blades can slice through armor without pause. The horns adorning their head are perfect for barreling through opponents, able to knock even those in power armor aside. Their tough hide and numerous spikes make them a heavily armored foe, requiring dozens of bullets and lasers to even slow the beasts down. The myths and stories treat them like demons and dragons, but they were not always that way. Scavengers and prospectors have found data files on these "Deathclaws" and have discovered what these monstrosities really are. While they may be dragons of the wasteland now, they were once just simple chameleons.

Apparently the experiments done during the Great War had found that the Jackson's Chameleon was a perfect specimen. While others species rejected their enhancements or failed to survive the experiments, these chameleons thrived. Why this species was successful while others failed is unknown. Some think that their DNA had some secret locked within, that allowed them to accept these torturous manipulations. Others believe that the scientists had just happened to finally figure out how the process worked, and the Jackson's Chameleon was just the first one they tested on after this breakthrough. Regardless of how they came to be, the result was lethal. What was once an animal, had now come out as a monster, or at least in appearance. Knowledge of their origin has explained some of the odd behaviors that Deathclaws exhibit. It sure explains why their colors seem to redden when angered. It also does explain why they prefer giant insects over other prey throughout the wastelands. The radiation had done just as much to the bugs of the world as it did to the Deathclaws. The giant radroaches, bloatflies and radscorpions are reminiscent of prey they once devoured, so Deathclaws eagerly hunt down these insects. Their horns are perfect for knocking over prey, allowing them to clamp their claws down on the struggling insect. These giant insects have been gifted thick armor through their mutations, but the Deathclaw has a way to penetrate it. While their old tongues were best used for snaring prey and pulling them into their mouths, this appendage is now more suitable for punching through thick carapaces. It is shorter in range, but it can launch out of the Deathclaw's mouth with explosive force, shattering through chitin and armor alike. Once their thick armor is broken, the Deathclaw can then pull them into delicious meaty pieces. They will eat any other living thing they come across, but giant insects are clearly their favorite. This preference of theirs may explain why they are so eager to hunt down humans and machines. In such a hostile world, one needs to be properly protected by both the elements and other survivors. Armor and metal is often used to cover oneself, which Deathclaws may mistake as exoskeletons. The sight of an armored human or metal covered robot may cause them to interpret the being as an insect, which they love to eat. The Deathclaw will charge towards the mistaken prey, whipped into a hungered frenzy. Power armor is penetrated by their powerful tongues, and the wearers are often devoured in bloody chunks. Robots are ripped apart until they are scrap, at which point, the disappointed Deathclaw will stomp away from the inedible remains."

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The result of when I was playing Fallout New Vegas. It was my first Fallout game, which I quite enjoyed, despite the endless amounts of garbage I had to deal with (I was playing the PS3 version, which functions as well as an underwater toaster). The game was still fun despite failing graphics and routine crashes. During my travels I came across the famous Deathclaws and found them quite neat. I later looked up more about these monsters and came upon a bizarre bit of trivia about them. Apparently Deathclaws are supposed to be altered/mutated Jackson's Chameleons. While hardly a game changing piece of info, it makes absolutely zero sense to me. Deathclaws, while cool in their own right, look absolutely nothing like chameleons. Yes, I know they were also altered by other genes and animals, but at that point, why not just call them chimeras? Why pick one animal out of the entire stew that made them? Why mention this specific species when it has almost nothing to do with the appearance of the monster? They maybe threw it in because it would explain the horns, but they don't even get that right! The animal has three, not two! Their genus name literally translates to three horn! And where are the zygodactyl feet? The crazy eyes? The long tongue or the curly tail? Why not throw those in to justify calling this monster a chameleon?

So in short, I drew this re-imagining of a Deathclaw to create a beast that better matched its origins. A Deathclaw that actually looked like a chameleon, and not some demon dragon beast. Like I said before, I still like the design of Deathclaws and am in no way saying they are bad, I am just saying that the whole "mutated from Jackson's Chameleon" is kinda dumb.

Description
"When the Great War was waging on across the world, the many factions struggled to find new ways to best their opponents. At first, loyal soldiers and armed forces were enough to tip the scales, but as the bloody years went on, it was no longer enough. Then came the planes and the tanks, followed by the rockets and the bombs, all before spilling into robotics and genetic engineering. As machines rolled onto the battlefields, simple men were becoming useless. Bigger guns and stronger armor were added to the arsenals, but these things were expensive, and easily scavenged by the opposing forces. A better soldier was needed, a unit that was a weapon in itself. The scientists turned to genetic engineering to create that perfect soldier, one who could tear through the battlefield and vanquish their foes. One who did not give into the fear that men felt in battle, but rather, it would spread terror into the hearts of all who saw it. At first, man was the template for their experiments, trying to find a way to enhance the common soldier. In time, though, they expanded to many different species. Man was too complex, too emotional. What came out from the labs were often insane and erratic, their minds unable to comprehend what they had now become. So simple animals were used instead. Many were fed into these bloody labs, and many failed to meet their expectations. One species, however, showed promise. Enhancements and alterations worked well on these beasts, and it seemed that the perfect soldier was ready to be born. Their victory came too late, though, as the bombs rained from above and brought an end to both the war and the world.

While the creators perished in the labs below, their creations lived on in the resulting wasteland. Altered by man and radiation, these monstrosities have now become legends across the dead landscape. The survivors refer to them as "Deathclaws," and the name is quite fitting. Their hulking mass is a sight to behold, right before they rip you in half. Their clamp-like claws can crush skulls in their grip, and their sharp blades can slice through armor without pause. The horns adorning their head are perfect for barreling through opponents, able to knock even those in power armor aside. Their tough hide and numerous spikes make them a heavily armored foe, requiring dozens of bullets and lasers to even slow the beasts down. The myths and stories treat them like demons and dragons, but they were not always that way. Scavengers and prospectors have found data files on these "Deathclaws" and have discovered what these monstrosities really are. While they may be dragons of the wasteland now, they were once just simple chameleons.

Apparently the experiments done during the Great War had found that the Jackson's Chameleon was a perfect specimen. While others species rejected their enhancements or failed to survive the experiments, these chameleons thrived. Why this species was successful while others failed is unknown. Some think that their DNA had some secret locked within, that allowed them to accept these torturous manipulations. Others believe that the scientists had just happened to finally figure out how the process worked, and the Jackson's Chameleon was just the first one they tested on after this breakthrough. Regardless of how they came to be, the result was lethal. What was once an animal, had now come out as a monster, or at least in appearance. Knowledge of their origin has explained some of the odd behaviors that Deathclaws exhibit. It sure explains why their colors seem to redden when angered. It also does explain why they prefer giant insects over other prey throughout the wastelands. The radiation had done just as much to the bugs of the world as it did to the Deathclaws. The giant radroaches, bloatflies and radscorpions are reminiscent of prey they once devoured, so Deathclaws eagerly hunt down these insects. Their horns are perfect for knocking over prey, allowing them to clamp their claws down on the struggling insect. These giant insects have been gifted thick armor through their mutations, but the Deathclaw has a way to penetrate it. While their old tongues were best used for snaring prey and pulling them into their mouths, this appendage is now more suitable for punching through thick carapaces. It is shorter in range, but it can launch out of the Deathclaw's mouth with explosive force, shattering through chitin and armor alike. Once their thick armor is broken, the Deathclaw can then pull them into delicious meaty pieces. They will eat any other living thing they come across, but giant insects are clearly their favorite. This preference of theirs may explain why they are so eager to hunt down humans and machines. In such a hostile world, one needs to be properly protected by both the elements and other survivors. Armor and metal is often used to cover oneself, which Deathclaws may mistake as exoskeletons. The sight of an armored human or metal covered robot may cause them to interpret the being as an insect, which they love to eat. The Deathclaw will charge towards the mistaken prey, whipped into a hungered frenzy. Power armor is penetrated by their powerful tongues, and the wearers are often devoured in bloody chunks. Robots are ripped apart until they are scrap, at which point, the disappointed Deathclaw will stomp away from the inedible remains."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The result of when I was playing Fallout New Vegas. It was my first Fallout game, which I quite enjoyed, despite the endless amounts of garbage I had to deal with (I was playing the PS3 version, which functions as well as an underwater toaster). The game was still fun despite failing graphics and routine crashes. During my travels I came across the famous Deathclaws and found them quite neat. I later looked up more about these monsters and came upon a bizarre bit of trivia about them. Apparently Deathclaws are supposed to be altered/mutated Jackson's Chameleons. While hardly a game changing piece of info, it makes absolutely zero sense to me. Deathclaws, while cool in their own right, look absolutely nothing like chameleons. Yes, I know they were also altered by other genes and animals, but at that point, why not just call them chimeras? Why pick one animal out of the entire stew that made them? Why mention this specific species when it has almost nothing to do with the appearance of the monster? They maybe threw it in because it would explain the horns, but they don't even get that right! The animal has three, not two! Their genus name literally translates to three horn! And where are the zygodactyl feet? The crazy eyes? The long tongue or the curly tail? Why not throw those in to justify calling this monster a chameleon?

So in short, I drew this re-imagining of a Deathclaw to create a beast that better matched its origins. A Deathclaw that actually looked like a chameleon, and not some demon dragon beast. Like I said before, I still like the design of Deathclaws and am in no way saying they are bad, I am just saying that the whole "mutated from Jackson's Chameleon" is kinda dumb.