Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

[Shade]

Here are precedents for swarmfighting...

Swarmfighting (Ex): Illithocytes can coordinate melee attacks against a single target and are adept at fighting side by side in close quarters. An illithocyte can occupy the same 5-foot square in combat with any other illithocyte at no penalty. When an illithocyte engages a Medium or larger creature in melee, and at least one other illithocyte threatens the target, it gains a +1 morale bonus on the attack roll. This bonus increases by +1 for each additional illithocyte beyond the first that threatens the same target.

Swarmfighting (Ex): Dragon beetles can coordinate melee attacks against a single target and are adept at fighting side by side in close quarters. When a dragon beetle engages a Small or larger creature in melee, and at least one other dragon beetle occupies the target's space, it gains a +1 morale bonus on the attack roll. This bonus increases by +1 for each additional dragon beetle beyond the first that occupies the target's space.

 

[Cleon]

Here are precedents for swarmfighting...

Swarmfighting (Ex): Illithocytes can coordinate melee attacks against a single target and are adept at fighting side by side in close quarters. An illithocyte can occupy the same 5-foot square in combat with any other illithocyte at no penalty. When an illithocyte engages a Medium or larger creature in melee, and at least one other illithocyte threatens the target, it gains a +1 morale bonus on the attack roll. This bonus increases by +1 for each additional illithocyte beyond the first that threatens the same target.

Swarmfighting (Ex): Dragon beetles can coordinate melee attacks against a single target and are adept at fighting side by side in close quarters. When a dragon beetle engages a Small or larger creature in melee, and at least one other dragon beetle occupies the target's space, it gains a +1 morale bonus on the attack roll. This bonus increases by +1 for each additional dragon beetle beyond the first that occupies the target's space.

The illithocyte one is closer to what I was thinking. Not sure why it would be a morale bonus though.

Having +1 per additional spider could quickly add up, since up to sixteen hunting spiders could fit around a single Medium or Small-sized foe for a +15 to all their attacks. Should we apply a cap to the bonus?

 

[demiurge1138]

The original Swarmfighting feat from Complete Warrior does include a cap--the Dex bonus of the swarmfighters.

 

[freyar]

Dex bonus cap and illithocyte swarmfighting agrees to me.

 

[Cleon]

Dex bonus cap and illithocyte swarmfighting agrees to me.

Sounds good, so something like:

Swarmfighting (Ex): Giant hunting spiders can coordinate melee attacks against a single target and are adept at fighting side by side in close quarters. A giant hunting spider can occupy the same 5-foot square in combat with any other giant hunting spider at no penalty. When a giant hunting spider engages a Medium or larger creature in melee, and at least one other giant hunting spider threatens the target, it gains a +1 morale bonus on the attack roll. This bonus increases by +1 for each additional giant hunting spider beyond the first that threatens the same target. The swarmfighting bonus can not exceed the giant hunting spider's Dexterity bonus.
​

 

[freyar]

How about changing the red sentence to "The swarmfighting bonus can not exceed the Dexterity bonus of the swarmfighting giant hunting spider with the lowest Dexterity" just to be concrete.

 

[Cleon]

How about changing the red sentence to "The swarmfighting bonus can not exceed the Dexterity bonus of the swarmfighting giant hunting spider with the lowest Dexterity" just to be concrete.

I'd prefer the more dexterous hunting spider to get a bigger cap and not be restricted by their clumsier colleagues. Would changing it to "The swarmfighting bonus can not exceed the Dexterity bonus of the giant hunting spider making the attack" make it clearer?

 

[freyar]

Oh, that's fine, not a big deal to me.

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

How about Track rather than Weapon Focus for the feat? And then give 'em some ranks in Survival?

Should we rename these to avoid confusion with monstrous hunting spiders? Maybe "pack spider" or "hound spider"?

 

[freyar]

I'll agree to all that.