Converting Monsters from D&D Official Video Games

[freyar]

You and all the rest of the D&D designers!

I sort of like Large to make them just be tough, but I can also see the argument for Huge.

Abilities seem ok, but I wouldn't mind boosting the AC just a teeny bit.

 

[demiurge1138]

I'd be in favor of boosting AC, keeping them Large, but let them advance to Huge pretty quickly, like a wyvern.

 

[Cleon]

I'd be in favor of boosting AC, keeping them Large, but let them advance to Huge pretty quickly, like a wyvern.

What would you like to boost the Armour Class too? If we leave them with Dex 17 and NA +8 and shrink them to Large they'd get AC20, is that enough?

I'd be happy making them at the upper end of Large, but would like to knock a couple of points off Strength and Constitution.

i.e. Str 22, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 13, Cha 16.

That way they've got the same Con as a Large Phase Spider, but a Strength 5 points higher.

Do you fancy the same advancement scheme as a Wyvern? (100-150% HD size, 150-300% HD size+1)

That would make them:

Advancement 9-13 HD (Large); 14-27 HD (Huge)

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

Should they be hunting spiders, or give 'em webs as well?

Give 'em all the usual monstrous spider racial skill bonuses?

Do we want to boost the venom? Currently, it has the phase spider's venom as a placeholder.

Suggested level for rebuke/command? Equal to Hit Dice?

 

[freyar]

Looking good. In answer to the questions:

Webs also.
Yes to skill bonuses.
Wyverns get 2d6 Con primary/secondary, so we can definitely increase a bit. Perhaps add Str or Dex instead of just bumping Con to be interesting.
HD sounds good for effective rebuking level.

 

[demiurge1138]

I like damage to multiple ability scores for this poison--Str and Con? I agree that these guys should get webs.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

 

[Cleon]

Added to Homebrews.

Should they be hunting spiders, or give 'em webs as well?

Give 'em all the usual monstrous spider racial skill bonuses?

Do we want to boost the venom? Currently, it has the phase spider's venom as a placeholder.

Suggested level for rebuke/command? Equal to Hit Dice?

Definitely yes to all of the above.

I like the idea of Spider Queens being able to speak. Maybe Abyssal and Undercommon?

I like damage to multiple ability scores for this poison--Str and Con? I agree that these guys should get webs.

The idea of increasing the damage and/or number of abilities damaged sounds fine to me.

I was thinking Con and Dex damage for the venom, but Con and Str is just as good.

 

[demiurge1138]

Abyssal and Undercommon as languages totally make sense. I'm definitely getting a Shelob vibe from these.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Borrowing from the lycanthrope...

Spider Empathy (Ex): Spider queens can communicate and empathize with any spider or arachnoid creature. This gives them a +4 racial bonus on checks when influencing the creature's attitude and allows the communication of simple concepts and (if the creature is friendly) commands, such as "friend," "foe," "flee," and "attack."

And how about this?

Venom-Bolstering Aura (Su): A spider queen continuously emanates a supernatural aura that increases the toxicity of venom. The save DCs of all poison attacks made within 60 feet of a spider queen increase by +2. The spider queen benefits from her own aura.

Should we make her immune to poison, to avoid this backfiring against her?