Need some ideas for warm/hot savannah terrain encounters

[NewJeffCT]

I posted this under Plots & Places a few days ago and got only 1 response, so I'm reposting here...

>>>
The players in my party (level 9/10) will soon be on a trek through a vast & dry savannah, and will eventually be arriving in a jungle.

I'm looking for a good encounter that will challenge the party - which is D&D 3.5. So, something that would be a CR: 11-13 range, maybe a bit higher. I could also use a few minor encounters as well - maybe just to give them a feel of the different terrain (they've come from a more temperate/forest-y type location)

The party makeup will be: human cleric, human rogue, elf fighter/paladin, dwarf fighter and halfling psion. All will be level 9 or 10 when they get there. There will be a 3rd level elf scout apprentice along as well, who may be 4th by then.

The territory that is inhabited that they will be traveling through is inhabited by nearly 20 or so warlords who are competing with each other for rulership of the region as a whole...the warlords are fairly hostile to outsiders, but some are good-hearted, and some are not. (Later on, I intend to have the players confront the most vicious warlord, a blackguard/anti-paladin type, but not just yet)

However, there are plenty of areas that are not inhabited and not civilized that could be home to a few good monsters.

Any ideas? Spawn of Tiamat, followed by a blue dragon?



Thanks

 

[Rechan]

Ankhegs. Lots and lots of ankhegs.

To make it interesting, the ankhegs have built a giant burrow (think inside of an ant colony) close to the surface. One of the PCs steps on a weak spot, and is dropped into the small tunnels.

 

[Snapdragyn]

I don't recall the CR (at work), but I liked the flavor of wemics. Forget which MM they're in.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Ankhegs. Lots and lots of ankhegs.

To make it interesting, the ankhegs have built a giant burrow (think inside of an ant colony) close to the surface. One of the PCs steps on a weak spot, and is dropped into the small tunnels.

Interesting idea - not sure I've ever used an ankheg before in 30 years of gaming. might be time for one...

 

[Woas]

How about dire elephants and/or rhinos? Or a Dire Rhinophant. Or perhaps a Elephinos?

 

[Quantarum]

Instead of just ankhegs you could use/describe them as giant termites, a nest could make an interesting surprise dungeon. A stampede of grazing animals along with the predators that caused it could also be good for a short encounter. The last time I did something like this it was in 8' high grass with a pack of Utahraptors. The cover from the grass made things quite tense.
-Q.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

I'm looking for a good encounter that will challenge the party - which is D&D 3.5. So, something that would be a CR: 11-13 range, maybe a bit higher. I could also use a few minor encounters as well - maybe just to give them a feel of the different terrain (they've come from a more temperate/forest-y type location)

Do you have access to Wildscape {legends and Lairs}?
That book has excellent material for terrain features and hazards that make the encounters and session more 'different'.

You could use terrain hazards lie 'Dustbowl' or 'towering grass'.
In combat, use the 'broken ground' terrain feature

The book suggests a number of different monsters, with reasoning:
Ankheg, Blink Dogs, Cockatrice, Gnolls, Goblins, Gorgons...

 

[NewJeffCT]

Do you have access to Wildscape {legends and Lairs}?
That book has excellent material for terrain features and hazards that make the encounters and session more 'different'.

You could use terrain hazards lie 'Dustbowl' or 'towering grass'.
In combat, use the 'broken ground' terrain feature

The book suggests a number of different monsters, with reasoning:
Ankheg, Blink Dogs, Cockatrice, Gnolls, Goblins, Gorgons...

sounds good, - just realized, I do have Wildscape. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[NewJeffCT]

kicking up for hopefully a few more ideas. thanks

 

[darjr]

Mud.

It is the wild untracked plains? Close to a growing rain forest? A quick, blinding, almost drowning downpoor, followed by the parched plains muddying up to knee or waist deep.

The bad guys could take advantage of the rain, or the mud, or if the rain goes on long enough both. Or maybe there are flash floods? Like what happens in the tall grasslands in many places. Instant swamp for scores of miles.