Converting Monsters from Dungeon Magazine

[Shade]

Hold on, it still has a giant constrictor's hit points, It should be:

Hit Dice: 8d8+8 (44 hp)

Hmm, that's not very impressive.

Anyone game for arbitrarily increasing its Constitution by +4?

That would give it Con 17, HD 8d8+24 and 60 hit points, Fort +9, and allow us to swap the racial bonus to poison for Ability Focus (poison) while keeping the DC the same.

EDIT: I also forgot to include its Improved Initiative bonus, its Initiative is +7.

At least its skills worked out when I double checked them!

I'll agree to all that except Ability Focus. Let's just retain a +2 racial bonus to offset the added Con.

Updated.

 

[Cleon]

I'll agree to all that except Ability Focus. Let's just retain a +2 racial bonus to offset the added Con.

Updated.

Yes, I'd rather give them another feat as well.

Alertness, Iron Will, Stealthy, Skill Focus (Hide), Weapon Focus (bite)?

A bit boring, but I find Skill Focus (Hide) or Stealthy are the most tempting of those.

Any preferences?

 

[Shade]

Yes, I'd rather give them another feat as well.

Alertness, Iron Will, Stealthy, Skill Focus (Hide), Weapon Focus (bite)?

A bit boring, but I find Skill Focus (Hide) or Stealthy are the most tempting of those.

Any preferences?

Let's go with Skill Focus (Hide). They'll probably drop down from trees upon prey, and this will improve their chances of ambush.

Updated.

 

[Cleon]

Let's go with Skill Focus (Hide). They'll probably drop down from trees upon prey, and this will improve their chances of ambush.

Updated.

I'm leaning slightly toward Stealthy, since they're faster than regular snakes (30 ft. instead of 20 ft. speed) they might be game for sneaking up to prey as well as attacking from stationary.

Maybe add Move Silently to the "Snake Bonus skills?

Feats: Improved Initiative, Run, Stealthy, Weapon Focus (bite)

Fanged #1: Balance +11, Climb +13, Hide +8, Listen +7, Move Silently +5, Spot +7, Swim +13

Fanged #2: Balance +11, Climb +13, Hide +8, Listen +7, Move Silently +9, Spot +7, Swim +13

Skills: Fanged pythons have a +4 racial bonus on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on Balance and Climb checks. A snake can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened. Snakes use either their Strength modifier or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, whichever is higher. A snake has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.

 

[Cleon]

Let's go with Skill Focus (Hide). They'll probably drop down from trees upon prey, and this will improve their chances of ambush.

Updated.

I'm thinking we should change the Organisation to "Solitary or pair", since the original says they form mated pairs.

 

[Shade]

Agreed to all that. Updated.

 

[Cleon]

Agreed to all that. Updated.

That seems about it for them mechanically, so it's just flavour & tactics for them.

 

[Shade]

Any suggestions? It sounds like they were intended to be "relics of a bygone age", almost like "dire serpents" if you will.

 

[Cleon]

Any suggestions? It sounds like they were intended to be "relics of a bygone age", almost like "dire serpents" if you will.

Well, since you asked...

An enormous python with a body as thick as a small tree. When the snake opens its mouth and hisses, it reveals that its bone-crushing coils are the lesser of its weapons, for the python's gaping jaws have venom-dripping fangs the size of stilettos.

Giant fanged pythons are survivors of an ancient lineage, descended from an age when reptiles ruled the world. These serpents are only found in jungles, where they prey on any living creature small enough for them to swallow (a regular-sized specimen can swallow a tapir or bison, the biggest fanged pythons are said to be able to swallow elephants).

These snakes are easily identified by their eponymous fangs. Their coils are not quite as muscular as an ordinary giant constrictor snake, but the extremely toxic venom in their fangs more than compensates.

Fanged pythons are excellent climbers and powerful swimmers, who will often be found up a tree, or in or near a river. Like any predator, they hunt wherever their prey congregates, so are usually encountered around game trails, drinking holes, and salt licks. These snakes hunt humanoids as readily as animals, even slithering into villages or aboard riverboats to snatch a victim.

One unusual trait of fanged pythons is that they're more social than most snakes. During the breeding season they form mated pairs who cooperate to guard their nest and its eggs. [Do we want to give a number and value for the eggs?].

A typical giant fanged python is between 40 and 50 feet long and weighs about 4000 pounds.

COMBAT

A giant fanged python's favorite tactic is dropping on prey from above, typically from a tree or cliff. They will also ambush opponents by hiding in water or undergrowth. Fanged pythons move fast for a snake, and will often chase after prey who escapes their initial lunge.

A fanged python tries to constrict as many opponents as it can handle, while using its poisonous bite against whichever foe is giving it the most trouble. These snakes are confident in their lethality, so will fight small groups of man-sized opponents simultaneously (such as adventurers). If they face an opponent too strong to easily constrict, such as a rhinoceros, a fanged python tries to inflict a few poisonous bites, then slithers away to wait for their venom to take effect.

Their weapons may be deadly, but fanged pythons are as keen to avoid death or injury as any serpents. They would much rather ambush weaker or unprepared victims than risk a straight-up fight against opponents of matching power. These snakes will readily slither away ff an encounter turns against it, taking whatever route seems the safest. Typically, an escaping giant fanged python will climb a tree, dive into a river, or disappear down a burrow or snake-pit.

 

[freyar]

Well, that looks pretty good to me! I'd say they're about done.

I don't know about a value for the eggs, since snakes aren't usually given info about training, etc.