Converting Monsters from D&D Official Video Games

[demiurge1138]

With their magical beast intelligence, we should also give them some sort of spider empathy or rebuke/command spiders, so they can lead armies of their fellow spiders.

 

[Shade]

Excellent idea.

We might even consider an aura that bolsters the venom of its minions, or maybe something similar to animal growth that works on vermin.

 

[freyar]

Perhaps all of the above. I could potentially also see a HD boost. Tie these to the other "animal lords" like the sabu and snake lord?

 

[Shade]

We could do that. I wouldn't make 'em too tough, though, or they'll need really big spider minions. Smaller monstrous spiders would pose little threat and perish quickly.

 

[demiurge1138]

Aim for CR 4-5, perhaps?

 

[freyar]

That seems very reasonable.

 

[Shade]

That would place them on par with phase spiders, which are 5 HD and Large. Do we want to downgrade their HD, or settle for a CR closer to 7?

 

[demiurge1138]

CR 7 works for me. At that level, Small, Medium and Large monstrous spiders will all still give XP to those fighting them.

 

[freyar]

That's fine here too.

 

[Cleon]

CR 7 works for me. At that level, Small, Medium and Large monstrous spiders will all still give XP to those fighting them.

Ooh goody, another spider! I love spider monsters.

I agree with aiming for a Challenge Rating of 6-7.

Right. Since they're 9 HD shall we make them Huge Magical Beasts, since a phase spider is a 5HD Large Magical Beast and a Large Monstrous Spider is a 4 HD Vermin? That also fits its 2d8 bite damage, since a Huge Monstrous Spider has a 2d6 bite, which is pretty close.

Ability score wise, here's a Huge Phase Spider and a Huge Monstrous Spider for comparison:

Huge Phase Spider: Str 25, Dex 15, Con 20, Int 7, Wis 13, Cha 10
Huge Monstrous Spider: Str 19, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 0, Wis 10, Cha 2

The phase spider seems the most suitable model, although since we're modelling these as spider "royalty" which command other spiders I'm thinking they should have a higher Charisma and lower Constitution. Since they have good AC for a spider, I'd give them the Monstrous Spider's Dexterity. Maybe something like:

Spider Queen: Str 24, Dex 17, Con 18, Int 7, Wis 13, Cha 16

Since the original's got AC1, that works out as AC19 in 3E, so I'm thinking Dex 17 and +8 natural armour.