Illustrator does not provide a method to "link" or "tie" shapes together.

So, if I understand correctly, you want basically sprites on a spine and when you move the spine you want the sprites to move as well.

If that's correct, one possible way to achieve this would be a blend, but it would be tricky.

• Draw the spine path (tentacle)
• Draw a starting sprite (sucker) and an ending sprite (sucker)
• Select the sprites and choose Object > Blend > Make
• Select Object > Blend > Blend Options and adjust settings. I'd use "Specified Steps" and enter the number of sprints (suckers) I want.
• Copy the spine path (Tentacle path)
• Edit > Paste in front
• With this new path still selected, hold Shift and select the Blend as well (suckers)
• Choose Object > Blend > Replace Spine

Now the pain points.....

• This won't allow you to alter the size of the suckers, which I imagine you want. You can vary their sizes by using more than a start and end sprite before creating the blend. You can set a start sprite to be small, then one a bit larger, then smaller again, then an end sprite to be big. Select them all and create the Blend and the sizes will blend as well. This would take some effort to actual use well though.
• You can't easily "scatter" the sprites (suckers). They will follow a direct path based upon their stacking order. This really limited the variety you can achieve.
• The blend spine is a separate path from the tentacle spine, so you need to edit both paths if editing. It's not as simple as "one path to rule them all".

After playing with it a bit....

I'd abandon it entirely in favor of using Symbols and manually placing the sprites (suckers) where I want them. By using Symbols you can have 1 piece of art used repeatedly and simply editing the Symbol will edit all instances of that art.

Overall, I don't know of an easy way to do what you are asking automatically. Even brushes are terribly limiting and wouldn't be much better than a blend.

The tentacles are easy, just draw a path and use the *Width Tool to vary it's weight (you don't need an art brush). It's the details that, honestly, need manual manipulation.

I completely understand your mindset coming from 3D where objects must move and adjust based on other objects. Unfortunately, Illustrator simply does not work that way.

Illustrator does not provide a method to "link" or "tie" shapes together.

So, if I understand correctly, you want basically sprites on a spine and when you move the spine you want the sprites to move as well.

If that's correct, one possible way to achieve this would be a blend, but it would be tricky.

• Draw the spine path (tentacle)
• Draw a starting sprite (sucker) and an ending sprite (sucker)
• Select the sprites and choose Object > Blend > Make
• Select Object > Blend > Blend Options and adjust settings. I'd use "Specified Steps" and enter the number of sprints (suckers) I want.
• Copy the spine path (Tentacle path)
• Edit > Paste in front
• With this new path still selected, hold Shift and select the Blend as well (suckers)
• Choose Object > Blend > Replace Spine

Now the pain points.....

• This won't allow you to alter the size of the suckers, which I imagine you want. You can vary their sizes by using more than a start and end sprite before creating the blend. You can set a start sprite to be small, then one a bit larger, then smaller again, then an end sprite to be big. Select them all and create the Blend and the sizes will blend as well. This would take some effort to actual use well though.
• You can't easily "scatter" the sprites (suckers). They will follow a direct path based upon their stacking order. This really limited the variety you can achieve.
• The blend spine is a separate path from the tentacle spine, so you need to edit both paths if editing. It's not as simple as "one path to rule them all".

After playing with it a bit....

I'd abandon it entirely in favor of using Symbols and manually placing the sprites (suckers) where I want them. By using Symbols you can have 1 piece of art used repeatedly and simply editing the Symbol will edit all instances of that art.

Overall, I don't know of an easy way to do what you are asking automatically. Even brushes are terribly limiting and wouldn't be much better than a blend.

The tentacles are easy, just draw a path and use the Width Tool to vary it's weight (you don't need an art brush). It's the details that, honestly, need manual manipulation.

I completely understand your mindset coming from 3D where objects must move and adjust based on other objects. Unfortunately, Illustrator simply does not work that way.