5E: Fifth Edition Monsters Inspired by Third Edition Sources

Cleon

Legend
Swarm of Demonic Locusts
Medium swarm of Tiny fiends, chaotic evil
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 33 (6d8 + 6)
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft., fly 30 ft.

STR​
DEX​
CON​
INT​
WIS​
CHA​
3 (–4)​
15 (+2)​
13 (+1)​
6 (–2)​
6 (–2)​
6 (–2)​

Damage Resistances fire, poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, stunned
Senses blindsight 10 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 8
Languages understands Abyssal but can't speak it
Challenge 1 (200 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2

Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature's space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny demonic locust. The swarm can't regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.

Actions

Bites. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 0 ft., one target in the swarm's space. Hit: 14 (4d6) piercing damage, or 7 (2d6) piercing damage if the swarm has half of its hit points or fewer.


Description

A swarm of demonic locusts resembles a cloud of ordinary insects from a distance, but once close enough to distinguish separate members of the swarm it becomes obvious they are unnatural creatures. Demonic locusts look like oversized grasshoppers with a humanoid head twisted into a maniacal expression of rage, hunger and hatred. Some individuals have bizarre chaotic features, such as multiple heads (often of different creatures), a paw, hoof or humanoid hand at the end of one or more feet, wings like a bird or bat instead of an insect, the body of a baby, and some even weirder abnormality. These horrible creatures frequently buzz and chitter sounds that resemble obscenities in Abyssal, but are incapable of coherent speech.
A Plague of Pazuzu. These fiends were originally created by Pazuzu, the Demon Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms, as an entertaining means of causing ruination to mortal kingdoms on the Prime Material Plane. They are frequently summoned by Pazuzu's servants and cultists (see Thrall of Pazuzu for an example). Wild swarms of demonic locusts are now a common nuisance in some areas of the Abyss. Demons consider them trivial but potentially painful annoyances, much like a mortal humanoid regards a nest of wasps.

(Inspired by the locust swarm from the Third Edition Monster Manual (2000).)
 
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Casimir Liber

Adventurer
O this looks good - question is...if Fiendish does it warrant resistance/immunity to poison (leaning yes) and/or fire (mixed feelings as fire is classically what you deal with these things with)
 

Cleon

Legend
O this looks good - question is...if Fiendish does it warrant resistance/immunity to poison (leaning yes) and/or fire (mixed feelings as fire is classically what you deal with these things with)

I'm thinking of these as being insect analogs rather than full demons, like a Hell Hound isn't an actual Devil, so would like to keep the immunities to a minimum.

Would be OK giving it resistance to fire plus immunity to poison/poisoned, but wouldn't go any further than that.

Come to think of it, that means I should drop the (demon) type since that usually comes with at least three resistances (cold, fire, lightning) and two immunities (poison, poisoned).

Also, the MM and SRD use "understands [Language] but can't speak it" so I should use that for the locusts.

Updating the Swarm of Demonic Locusts.
 
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Casimir Liber

Adventurer
ok so all the locusts are waiting on is a description?

additionally, should it do a tad more damage than the normal swarm of locusts?
 
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Cleon

Legend
ok so all the locusts are waiting on is a description?

So were we giving it fire resistance, resistance/immunity to poison damage, and/or immunity to being poisoned?

As for the description, how about:

Description

A swarm of demonic locusts resembles a cloud of ordinary insects from a distance, but once close enough to distinguish separate members of the swarm it becomes obvious they are unnatural creatures. Demonic locusts look like oversized grasshoppers with a humanoid head twisted into a maniacal expression of rage, hunger and hatred. Some individuals have bizarre chaotic features, such as multiple heads (often of different creatures), a paw, hoof or humanoid hand at the end of one or more feet, wings like a bird or bat instead of an insect, the body of a baby, and some even weirder abnormality. These horrible creatures frequently buzz and chitter sounds that resemble obscenities in Abyssal, but are incapable of coherent speech.
A Plague of Pazuzu. These fiends were originally created by Pazuzu, the Demon Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms, as an entertaining means of causing ruination to mortal kingdoms on the Prime Material Plane. Wild swarms of demonic locusts are now a common nuisance in some areas of the Abyss. Demons consider them trivial but potentially painful annoyances, much like a mortal humanoid regards a nest of wasps.​

additionally, should it do a tad more damage than the normal swarm of locusts?

I'm fine making it 4d6 damage like a Swarm of Quippers. That keeps it Challenge 1.

Updating the Swarm of Demonic Locusts.
 


Cleon

Legend

So you'd rather it have immunity to poison damage instead of resistant?

I just thought it'd be interesting since not many creatures have damage resistance to poison.

The immunity to the poisoned condition can stay either way.

There's an error with the size & type line, which should be "Medium swarm of Tiny fiends, chaotic evil".

Also it has Hit Points 33 (6d8 + 6), not the 22 (5d8) of an Insect Swarm.
 




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