Converting Epic Level Creatures

[Cleon]

6d12 or 8d12. Just to give the d12 some use. I also think it shouldn't be possible to escape by escaping the grapple, since the swallow presumably pushes the victim a really long distance each round.

You mean like the "climbing out of the mouth" option of 3.0's Swallow Whole? Not sure about that, I'm OK sticking to the standard "cutting their way out" version.

 

[freyar]

"Climbing out of the mouth" is a standard option in 3.5 too. Per the SRD:

Swallow Whole (Ex): If a creature with this special attack begins its turn with an opponent held in its mouth (see Improved Grab), it can attempt a new grapple check (as though attempting to pin the opponent). If it succeeds, it swallows its prey, and the opponent takes bite damage. Unless otherwise noted, the opponent can be up to one size category smaller than the swallowing creature. Being swallowed has various consequences, depending on the creature doing the swallowing. A swallowed creature is considered to be grappled, while the creature that did the swallowing is not. A swallowed creature can try to cut its way free with any light slashing or piercing weapon (the amount of cutting damage required to get free is noted in the creature description), or it can just try to escape the grapple. The Armor Class of the interior of a creature that swallows whole is normally 10 + 1/2 its natural armor bonus, with no modifiers for size or Dexterity. If the swallowed creature escapes the grapple, success puts it back in the attacker’s mouth, where it may be bitten or swallowed again.

 

[Mortis]

You mean like the "climbing out of the mouth" option of 3.0's Swallow Whole? Not sure about that, I'm OK sticking to the standard "cutting their way out" version.

I can see what you mean, but if something mangages to beat this thing in a grapple it deserves to get (all the way) out

Mortis

 

[Cleon]

"Climbing out of the mouth" is a standard option in 3.5 too. Per the SRD:

Curious, I remember the 3.0 Monster Manual including the "climbing out of the mouth" text in all the monsters' Swallow Whole description, but the 3.0 SRD I've got uses the same unclimbing descriptions as the 3.5 SRD.

Is my memory playing me tricks, or did they change it?

I suppose I could pull out my 3.0 Monster Manual to check, but that would require effort.

Anyhow, Draedens have awfully long throats, which is probably why the original had a 1 round delay before swallowed foes took full "gizzard damage".

We could make it so there's a "throat stage" between the mouth and the stomach, I suppose, and require a separate grapple check to traverse each. Do we really want to go to the trouble?

I'd be more inclined to go for Freyar's proposal of no climbing out, since the throat is too long (and/or too transdimensional).

 

[freyar]

Mortis has a point, but I think this is getting a bit fiddly. Even the throat should have multiple stages. I say we just add text to say you can't climb out because you go down too far each round.

Unless you're another draeden, maybe.

 

[Cleon]

Mortis has a point, but I think this is getting a bit fiddly. Even the throat should have multiple stages. I say we just add text to say you can't climb out because you go down too far each round.

I'm fine saying swallowed victims cannot grapple their way out.

Unless you're another draeden, maybe.

Wouldn't another Draeden be too big to swallow, making that moot?

 

[Shade]

I'm fine saying swallowed victims cannot grapple their way out.

I suppose so, although a xixecal or devastation vermin could probably have a fighting chance.

Wouldn't another Draeden be too big to swallow, making that moot?

Oh, the visual. I imagine if that scenario began to play out, it would be easiest to roll d4 and consult the following table:

1) Universe implodes. Roll new characters.
2) Universe explodes. Roll new characters.
3) The timestream collapses. Roll new characters.
4) Roll twice on this table and apply both results.

 

[Cleon]

I suppose so, although a xixecal or devastation vermin could probably have a fighting chance.

Oh, the visual. I imagine if that scenario began to play out, it would be easiest to roll d4 and consult the following table:

1) Universe implodes. Roll new characters.
2) Universe explodes. Roll new characters.
3) The timestream collapses. Roll new characters.
4) Roll twice on this table and apply both results.

Well at least you only destroyed the one universe. D&D has plenty of other planes of existence...

 

[freyar]

No, no, no, he meant all the planes....

Any other thoughts on the "lots" of acid damage? I suggested 6 or 8d12.

 

[Cleon]

No, no, no, he meant all the planes....

That's not what he said, you can fit a universe in just one Material Plane.

Any other thoughts on the "lots" of acid damage? I suggested 6 or 8d12.

Either would suit me. Shall we call it 8d12, for the sake of argument?