Converting monsters from Dragon magazine (Part Two)

[demiurge1138]

I'm not sure we actually have to make it act like a swarm. It could just do automatic damage plus poison to anything it grapples, and make the hundreds of surging spiders more flavor-text than anything else.

 

[freyar]

Yeah, I agree with demiurge on this. Maybe

Cohabitant Spider Swarm (Ex): A web-spectre houses a number of spiders within its web-filled body. While grappling an opponent, a web-spectre releases these spiders its space to attack its foe. The spiders do 1d6 damage plus poison (injury, 1d3 Str, 1d3 Str, Fortitude save is Charisma-based) each round that the victim is grappled. If the victim escapes the grapple, the spiders return to the web-spectre immediately.

Damage and poison about right or too much?

 

[Shade]

Looks good.

For the web healing, should it work like a mephit's fast healing (conditional fast healing)? For example...

Fast Healing (Ex): A fire mephit heals only if it is touching a flame at least as large as a torch.

Fast Healing (Ex): A dust mephit heals only if in an arid, dusty environment.

 

[demiurge1138]

Conditional fast healing strikes me as right.

 

[freyar]

I also agree with conditional fast healing. We could also give some guidelines as to when there are cobwebs around: indefinitely underground, 2d6 rounds in a clean building or a field, 3d6 rounds in a forest (or something).

 

[Shade]

Something like this?

Web Healing (Ex): A web-spectre absorbs nearby spider webbing and cobwebs to repair its own body. As a result, it has fast healing 2, but it heals only if in an area with webs present. As a general rule, this allows it to utilize its fast healing indefinitely underground, 3d6 rounds in a forest, and 2d6 rounds in a clean building or a field. Areas with monstrous spiders present or otherwise spider-dominant (such as the Demonweb) would also allow indefinite healing, while an area where spiders cannot exist (such as in a vacuum or underwater) would prevent any such healing. The DM should excercise judgement for other situations.

 

[freyar]

I think that gets it just right.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Demiurge mentioned an adhesive ability upthread. Were you thinking something like that we gave the arucha?

Adhesive (Ex): An arucha exudes a sticky slime that holds fast any creature or item touching it. It automatically grapples any creature it hits with its slam attack. Opponents so grappled cannot get free while the ooze is alive. The ooze makes one additional slam attack each round against any creature stuck to it.

A weapon that strikes an arucha sticks fast unless the wielder makes a DC 20 Reflex save. A successful DC 20 Strength check is needed to pry it off. The save and check DCs are both Constitution-based and include a +4 racial bonus.

The adhesive can be weakened by alcohol, but even in such a case the ooze gets a +4 bonus on grapple checks (for a total bonus of +9). The substance breaks down 5 rounds after the ooze dies.

Or would a simple racial bonus on grapple checks suffice?

 

[demiurge1138]

I was thinking something like what you mentioned in the quote box, Shade.

 

[freyar]

Let's give it a +4 racial bonus to grapple checks due to the stickiness of its web body. Edit: I just saw demiurge's reply above. It's not a big deal to me either way, but is there something in the original text that suggests that kind of ability?

Need a rejuvenation ability. Modifying from the ghost:

Rejuvenation (Su): In most cases, it’s difficult to destroy a web-spectre through simple combat: The “destroyed” web-spectre will often restore itself in 1d10 days. A web-spectre that would otherwise be destroyed returns to unlife with a successful level check (1d20 + HD) against DC 16. A remove curse, break enchantment, or similar magic cast on the web-spectre's remains will prevent this rejuvenation if it has not already taken place.

I took the rejuvenation time from the lich and the level check mechanic (rather than a straight 75%) from the gost for uniformity. But I'm open to changing that.