Converting prehistoric creatures

[Shade]

Updated.

I added "A cheirolepis swarm uses its Dexterity modifier instead of its Strength modifier for Swim checks" like some other low-Strength creatures.

For the remaining 3 feats, are we borrowing from the piranha swarm (Alertness, Improved Initiative, Toughness)? If so, I'd prefer to drop Toughness, since it's worthless at its HD. Maybe Stealthy or Skill Focus (swim)?

 

[freyar]

Alertness, Imp Init, Stealthy would be my choice, I think.

 

[demiurge1138]

How about Imp. Initiative, Dodge and Mobility? After all, swarms have to enter a creature's space to attack, and Tiny swarms actually fear weapon damage?

The Alertness and Stealthy option works too, but I wanted to offer it for consideration.

 

[freyar]

Dodge and Mobility works; depends on whether these are ambushers or not, I guess.

 

[Rappy]

I'd go with Dodge and Mobility myself. In spite of their size and good speed (for the period), if cheirolepis were to swarm they wouldn't be subtle or stealthy. They'd want to weave in and nip at your heels while you fumble in a vain attempt to get them away.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

CR 5? They are slightly deadlier than a piranha swarm (CR 4), and about on par with a jellyfish swarm (CR 5).

Would anyone familiar with these creatures care to writeup description and flavor text?

 

[freyar]

Let's go for CR 5, then.

 

[Rappy]

CR 5 sounds good, and I can supply this as a potential fluff entry.

Rushing toward you is a mass of gnashing needle-like teeth in the mouths of creatures vaguely resembling armored herring.

Cheirolepis are distant basal relations to the herring and gar, among other fish. Ranging from just under 2 feet to 3 feet in length, their swarming colonies prod and snap around the rocks and weeds of the shallow coastal oceans in search of crayfish and small placoderms, which they promptly snap into with their needle-sharp teeth. Larger colonies can even threaten large eurypterids (sea scorpions) or monstrous crabs.

Humanoids are not within the typical dietary range of a cheirolepis but are a perfect target for an ankle-biting warning swarm. In spite of this, there is danger of potential consumption if someone is foolish enough to let their guard down while bleeding in the water; as such, the most common encounters with cheirolepis an adventurer will have is right after fighting a larger creature and flooding the scent of blood into the water around them. Their jaws can stretch into a wide arc to allow for chunks of flesh at least as large as they are to be ripped out by their labyrinth of teeth, causing heavy bleeding and potential arterial cuts.

Combat
Cheirolepis attack by swarming over their opponents and letting their wide-hinging jaws grasp over as much exposed flesh as possible as their needle-sharp teeth sink in and rake along the body.

 

[demiurge1138]

Looks good!

 

[Shade]

Fantastic!

Updated.

Ready for the next one?