Converting Oriental Adventures creatures
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Cleon
Legend
Carnivorous Beetle Swarm
Tiny Vermin (Swarm)
Hit Dice: d8+ ( hp)
Initiative: +–
Speed: ft. ( squares)
Armor Class: 1 (+– size, Dex, + natural), touch 1, flat-footed 1
Base Attack/Grapple: +/—
Attack: Swarm (#d#)
Full Attack: Swarm (#d#)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: half damage from slashing and piercing, swarm traits, vermin traits
Saves: Fort +, Ref +, Will +
Abilities: Str , Dex , Con , Int , Wis , Cha
Skills: Skill
Feats: —
Environment: Any/Temperate/Cold/Warm aquatic/plains/deserts/forests//hills/marshes/mountains/tundra/underground/[A Plane]
e.g. Cold or temperate plains and forests
Organization: Solitary, (swarms), or (swarms)
Challenge Rating: #
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: None
Level Adjustment: —
Description.
Background.
Combat
Tactics.
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins its turn with a beetle swarm in its space must succeed on a DC 1# Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Skills: .
(Originally appeared in OA2 Night of the Seven Swords (1986).
Tiny Vermin (Swarm)
Hit Dice: d8+ ( hp)
Initiative: +–
Speed: ft. ( squares)
Armor Class: 1 (+– size, Dex, + natural), touch 1, flat-footed 1
Base Attack/Grapple: +/—
Attack: Swarm (#d#)
Full Attack: Swarm (#d#)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: half damage from slashing and piercing, swarm traits, vermin traits
Saves: Fort +, Ref +, Will +
Abilities: Str , Dex , Con , Int , Wis , Cha
Skills: Skill
Feats: —
Environment: Any/Temperate/Cold/Warm aquatic/plains/deserts/forests//hills/marshes/mountains/tundra/underground/[A Plane]
e.g. Cold or temperate plains and forests
Organization: Solitary, (swarms), or (swarms)
Challenge Rating: #
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: None
Level Adjustment: —
Description.
Background.
Combat
Tactics.
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins its turn with a beetle swarm in its space must succeed on a DC 1# Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Skills: .
(Originally appeared in OA2 Night of the Seven Swords (1986).
Cleon
Legend
Unless you can see anything wrong with it!
Updating The Keeper of the Key Working Draft.
Well "buggy" about says it since there are three encounters with swarming beetles in OA2 and they all had different stats!
I don't recall posting them and it'd be handy having the text near the conversion anyway, so I'll put the stats here.
First off, there's an entry on a random encounter table as follows:
Beetle swarm: This approaches from the rear at a speed of 60’ per round and trails the PCs for a whole turn. The swarm does 1 point of damage per round to each character in a 10’ radius. Each character attacking the swarm in melee inflicts 1-2 points of damage (AC 7); the swarm is dispersed after taking 15 points of damage. Fire or smoke disperses the swarm in 1 round.
12. Ornamental Garden
Anyone who steps off the path is swarmed by small beetles, which collectively bite for 1 point of damage per round. Removing the beetles by brushing, swatting, etc. takes 1-6 rounds after leaving the area, during which time they continue to inflict damage.
The shrine bears red prayer cloths hanging on the walls, their lettering faded by the sunlight. Upon the marble altar is a small katana-shaped charm which fits into the medallion. The altar has a secret catch on either side that allows it to slide forward.
With two people manipulating the secret catches on either side of the altar, it may be slid forward on the dais. Beneath is a four foot shallow pit. The pit is alive with a swarm of carnivorous beetles.
Sliding back the block immediately cuts off the beetles. Otherwise, they swarm out, attacking characters in a 10’ radius for 1-4 points per round. The swarm is AC 7 and has 40 hit points: edged weapons do 1 point, blunt weapons/swatting do 1-4, fire damage is double normal.
Suspended on two cross wires two feet from the base of the pit is a wire basket holding 8 pieces of tarnished jewelry valued at 800 taels.
The base of the pit is a concealed trapdoor that leads to the Inner Path.
Cleon
Legend
We could do them as two swarms, a weaker "beetle swarm" based on the Random Encounter Table's 15 hit point version and a stronger "carnivorous beetle swarm" based on Encounter 42's 40 hit point version.
Similar to the approach we took for the Tales of the Infinite Staircase's worm swarms, which we converted as a CR 2 Carnivorous Worm Swarm plus a CR 4 Deadly Worm Swarm.
Either way, they'll be pretty simple mechanically.
Cleon
Legend
Come to think of it, if we do them as two separate swarms we can give the weaker one some kind of vulnerability to smoke and fire like the original monster had.
Cleon
Legend
Works for me.
Will post a couple of blank Working Drafts and then we can start
Cleon
Legend
Beetle Swarm
Tiny Vermin (Swarm)
Hit Dice: 3d8+3 (16 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 13 (+2 size, +1 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/—
Attack: Swarm (1d6)
Full Attack: Swarm (1d6)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Distraction
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., half damage from slashing and piercing, terrified by smoke and flames, swarm traits, vermin traits
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +1
Abilities: Str 3, Dex 10, Con 12, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2
Skills: —
Feats: —
Environment: Any warm or temperate land and underground [?]
Organization: Solitary, mass (2–4 swarms) or colony (5–10 swarms)
Challenge Rating: 1
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: None
Level Adjustment: —
Hundreds of beetles scuttle together, each roughly the size of a rat.
While significantly larger than normal insects, these monstrous beetles are far smaller than most giant beetles such as the halfling-sized giant fire beetle. While dangerous in a swarm, each individual beetle is relatively harmless (see below for statistics).
Combat
A beetle swarm seeks to surround and attack any living prey it encounters. A swarm deals 1d6 points of damage to any creature whose space it occupies at the end of its move.
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins its turn with a beetle swarm in its space must succeed on a DC 12 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Terrified by Smoke and Flames (Ex): If exposed to fire or smoke, a beetle swarm must succeed at a Will save (DC 15 or the DC of the fire or smoke special attack, whichever is higher). On a failure, the beetles become panicked for 1 round and flee in all directions, dispersing the swarm. The scattered beetles are frightened for 4d6 rounds, after which they may regather into a swarm.
Tiny Monstrous Beetle
Tiny Vermin
Hit Dice: ¼d8+1 (2 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 13 (+2 size, +1 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–12
Attack: Bite +2 melee (1d4–4)
Full Attack: Bite +2 melee (1d4–4)
Space/Reach: 2½ ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., terrified by smoke and flames, vermin traits
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +0, Will +0
Abilities: Str 3, Dex 10, Con 12, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2
Skills: —
Feats: —
Environment: Any warm or temperate land and underground [?]
Organization: Solitary, cluster (2–12) or ball (10–100)
Challenge Rating: 1/10
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: None
Level Adjustment: —
A round-bodied beetle of slightly unusual size, roughly as big as a human's fist.
These insects come in countless species, most resemble scarab beetles and common ground beetle species such as oil beetles. In general they are nondescript in appearance with dull, earthy colors, but some tiny monstrous beetles are strikingly colorful and the wing cases of the most beautiful have been used to make cheap jewelry. Tiny monstrous beetles are omnivorous but mainly eat plants, or dung for some of the scarab beetles. They tend to focus on specific plants their digestive systems are adapted for but can eat almost anything if pressed, even carrion. A starving tiny monstrous beetle will hunt other living creatures to sustain itself. If hundreds of beetles gather into a swarm (see above) they become far bolder and will pursue and attack creatures far larger than they are, including humanoids.
Combat
Tiny monstrous beetles usually run away. They bite only as a last resort.
Terrified by Smoke and Flames (Ex): If exposed to fire or smoke, a tiny monstrous beetle must succeed at a Will save (DC 15 or the DC of the fire or smoke special attack, whichever is higher). On a failure, the beetle become panicked for 1 round and flees in a random direction, after which it is frightened for 4d6 rounds.
Originally from OA2 - Night of the Seven Swords (1986)
Tiny Vermin (Swarm)
Hit Dice: 3d8+3 (16 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 13 (+2 size, +1 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/—
Attack: Swarm (1d6)
Full Attack: Swarm (1d6)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Distraction
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., half damage from slashing and piercing, terrified by smoke and flames, swarm traits, vermin traits
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +1
Abilities: Str 3, Dex 10, Con 12, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2
Skills: —
Feats: —
Environment: Any warm or temperate land and underground [?]
Organization: Solitary, mass (2–4 swarms) or colony (5–10 swarms)
Challenge Rating: 1
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: None
Level Adjustment: —
Hundreds of beetles scuttle together, each roughly the size of a rat.
While significantly larger than normal insects, these monstrous beetles are far smaller than most giant beetles such as the halfling-sized giant fire beetle. While dangerous in a swarm, each individual beetle is relatively harmless (see below for statistics).
Combat
A beetle swarm seeks to surround and attack any living prey it encounters. A swarm deals 1d6 points of damage to any creature whose space it occupies at the end of its move.
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins its turn with a beetle swarm in its space must succeed on a DC 12 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Terrified by Smoke and Flames (Ex): If exposed to fire or smoke, a beetle swarm must succeed at a Will save (DC 15 or the DC of the fire or smoke special attack, whichever is higher). On a failure, the beetles become panicked for 1 round and flee in all directions, dispersing the swarm. The scattered beetles are frightened for 4d6 rounds, after which they may regather into a swarm.
Tiny Monstrous Beetle
Tiny Vermin
Hit Dice: ¼d8+1 (2 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 13 (+2 size, +1 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–12
Attack: Bite +2 melee (1d4–4)
Full Attack: Bite +2 melee (1d4–4)
Space/Reach: 2½ ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., terrified by smoke and flames, vermin traits
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +0, Will +0
Abilities: Str 3, Dex 10, Con 12, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2
Skills: —
Feats: —
Environment: Any warm or temperate land and underground [?]
Organization: Solitary, cluster (2–12) or ball (10–100)
Challenge Rating: 1/10
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: None
Level Adjustment: —
A round-bodied beetle of slightly unusual size, roughly as big as a human's fist.
These insects come in countless species, most resemble scarab beetles and common ground beetle species such as oil beetles. In general they are nondescript in appearance with dull, earthy colors, but some tiny monstrous beetles are strikingly colorful and the wing cases of the most beautiful have been used to make cheap jewelry. Tiny monstrous beetles are omnivorous but mainly eat plants, or dung for some of the scarab beetles. They tend to focus on specific plants their digestive systems are adapted for but can eat almost anything if pressed, even carrion. A starving tiny monstrous beetle will hunt other living creatures to sustain itself. If hundreds of beetles gather into a swarm (see above) they become far bolder and will pursue and attack creatures far larger than they are, including humanoids.
Combat
Tiny monstrous beetles usually run away. They bite only as a last resort.
Terrified by Smoke and Flames (Ex): If exposed to fire or smoke, a tiny monstrous beetle must succeed at a Will save (DC 15 or the DC of the fire or smoke special attack, whichever is higher). On a failure, the beetle become panicked for 1 round and flees in a random direction, after which it is frightened for 4d6 rounds.
Originally from OA2 - Night of the Seven Swords (1986)
Last edited:
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