Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

[demiurge1138]

I like pack spider and the Track feat.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Challenge Rating: 1?

Advancement: 3 HD (Medium); 4–7 HD (Large); 8–15 HD (Huge)?

Anything else?

 

[Cleon]

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"?

No objections to that.

They look about done.

Challenge Rating 1 seems about right, they're roughly as nasty as the SRD Wolf or Medium Monstrous Spider.

The only addition I can think of is the description's "Fur coloration matches its normal surroundings" suggests they may have a higher racial bonus to Hide checks when in their native terrain. Shall we add "*A pack spider's racial bonus to Hide checks increases to +8 in terrain that matches it's native terrain, due to the camouflage patterns of its fur." to the Skill subentry?

 

[Cleon]

Updated.

Challenge Rating: 1?

Advancement: 3 HD (Medium); 4–7 HD (Large); 8–15 HD (Huge)?

Anything else?

I'm not sure about advancing them to Huge, I'd prefer the standard triple Hit Dice for 3 HD (Medium); 4-6 HD (Large).

Oh, and since they're Magical Beasts now they should not have the Vermin traits SQ. We could easily give them a "vermin-like" SQ with the same effects, if you really wanted them to have those immunities.

 

[demiurge1138]

I don't think they need the immunities, but I do like them eventually getting Huge.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

I believe we're finished.

 

[Shade]

Since we've run out of unconverted "real world" spiders, here are a couple of giant flies.

Insect #AP AC MV HD THAC0 # of Att Dmg/Att Morale XP Value
Fly, Bluebottle 1-10 6 9, Fl 30 (D) 3 19 1 1-8 Unsteady (5-7) 65
Fly, Horsefly 1-4 5 6, Fl 27 (D) 6 17 1 2-16 Unsteady (5-7) 270

Fly, Giant Bluebottle

This breed of giant fly prefers carrion, offal, and the like. They are, however, attracted to sweet odors, and creatures covered with blood or open wounds.

Fly, Giant Horsefly
The largest of all giant flies, the giant horsefly alights on any creature to attack for blood with its tuberous mouth. After biting, the giant horsefly causes an equal amount of damage the next round by drawing blood, unless driven off.

Originally appeared in Monster Manual II (1983). These are the Monstrous Manual versions.

Blue bottle fly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Horse-fly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WotC's 3e giant fly:
Dead Life

 

[freyar]

I'm guessing these are both quite a bit larger than the 3.0 giant fly you linked.

It almost looks to me like they got the HD reversed on the bluebottle vs horsefly there.

 

[demiurge1138]

So, which first? Or shall the horsefly be a mod of the bluebottle with attach and blood drain?

 

[freyar]

I'm fine with either doing them separately or as an underbar.