Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

[Cleon]

Updated bluebottle fly and horsefly.

Bluebottle:
Challenge Rating: x
Advancement: x
A giant bluebottle fly is 4 to 6 feet long and weighs x pounds.

Horsefly:
Organization: Solitary or swarm (2–4)?
Challenge Rating: x
Advancement: x
A giant horsefly is x to x feet long and weighs x pounds.

Weren't we going to up the giant horsefly's bite attack to 2d8?

Did you not like the idea of giving them Lightning Reflexes as a bonus feat?

Anyway, the stats look fine mechanically.

I'd guess the Giant Bluebottle is probably a strong CR 1 and the nastier giant horsefly is a CR 3 or so, based on the Giant Wasp's Challenge Rating.

For the advancement, a Huge Giant Wasp has 9 HD so I think we might use that as a guide and apply triple Hit Dice to get something like:

Giant Bluebottle 4 HD (Medium); 5-9 HD (Large)
Giant Horsefly 7-9 HD (Large); 10-18 HD (Huge)

For the weight, regular Monstrous vermin aren't usually given weights in the SRD but the Spider eater (10 feet long, 20 foot wingspan, 4000 pounds) is probably a good comparison.

If the Giant Horsefly is about half that length (4-6 feet), leading to a 10 foot wingspan and a 500 pound weight.

A Giant Bluebottle is presumably about half that size - say 3 feet long, 6 foot wingspan, 60 pound weight?

 

[Shade]

Weren't we going to up the giant horsefly's bite attack to 2d8?

Sure, will do.

Did you not like the idea of giving them Lightning Reflexes as a bonus feat?

I fear they're already dangerously close to becoming "uber-vermin", when compared to other flying vermin. Besides, I've always found them just as easy to hit with bug spray as a bee or wasp.

The rest sounds good.

Updated bluebottle fly and horsefly.

Anything left?

 

[freyar]

They look pretty well done.

 

[demiurge1138]

They look good to me!

 

[Cleon]

Sure, will do.

I fear they're already dangerously close to becoming "uber-vermin", when compared to other flying vermin. Besides, I've always found them just as easy to hit with bug spray as a bee or wasp.

The rest sounds good.

OK, I can live with that.

Updated bluebottle fly and horsefly.

Anything left?

They look finished now, except the bluebottle should have a +2 BAB from its three Vermin Hit Dice (although its Grapple is still +1 due to its -1 Strength penalty).

 

[Shade]

Fixed.

Here's the next one...

Bumblebee
#AP 1
AC 5
MV 6, Fl 24 (E)
HD 6+4
THAC0 13
# of Att 1
Dmg/Att 1-6+ poison
Morale Elite (13-14)
XP Value 650

Bumblebee poison causes an additional 1d6 points of damage unless a save vs. poison (with a -1 penalty) is made. If encountered at or near the nest, there will be 1d6+6 bumblebees, and a combative queen. The queen has 8d4 HD and a sting that causes 1d8 points of damage. The poison from her sting causes an additional 2-8 points of damage if a save vs. poison at a -2 penalty is failed. Bumblebees do not lose their stingers after use.

Originally appeared in Monster Manual II (1983). This is the Monstrous Manual version.

 

[freyar]

For the queen, just say that they are advanced to a couple extra HD and a higher size? That should take care of the extra sting damage.

Speaking of size, the numbers listed make me think Medium with a good Con and not-terrible Str. Anyone else?

 

[Shade]

Giant bees are 5' long and Medium. The bumblebees around here are at least 50% larger than honeybees, so I could see them on the high end of Medium or low end of Large.

Also, I forgot to link the Wikipedia entry:
Bumblebee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[freyar]

Why don't we go with Large and Huge, then? We can increase the HD of the queens to fit Huge, too.

 

[demiurge1138]

Large sounds fun. More giant, more better. Although they'd need a lot of pollen...