Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

[Shade]

With the blindness cone and the stronger offense, I think this might be a CR 4.

Agreed. Good catch.

 

[freyar]

Same here. Looks good.

 

[Shade]

Moving along...

Caterpillar, Giant
AC:7 MV:9 HD:13 hp:65 #AT:1 Dmg:2-12 SA:Spittle (1-6) SD:Camouflage AL:N THAC0:9

While crossing the field by clambering over the leafy tronds and around the translucent hollow stems, the heroes encounter a large green branch that is actually the back of a giant caterpillar. The caterpillar attacks anyone walking across its back. This insect suffers double damage from cold-and fire-based attacks.

Originally appeared in Adventure Pack I (1987).

Similar creatures...

Giant Velvet Worm (H): Str 22, Dex 11, Con 16, Int -, Wis 11, Cha 2
Tenebrous Worm (M): Str 13, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 2

First we'll need to decide on a size, since none is given. At 13 HD, and the fact that multiple creatures can walk on its back, I'm thinking at least Huge. Thoughts?

 

[freyar]

I think Huge. I could go Gargantuan, but the HD might be a touch low. Stats probably closer to the giant velvet worm.

 

[demiurge1138]

Huge is good. But let them advance all the way up to Colossal.

Sing it with me!

Mosura ya Mosura
Dongan kasakuyan
Indo muu
Rusuto uiraadoa
Hanba hanbamuyan
Randa banunradan
Tounjukanraa
Kasaku yaanmu

 

[Shade]

Amen to that!

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

Suggestions for spittle? All we are given was "spittle (1-6)".

Wanna use this?

Caterpillar hair has been known to cause certain health effects. All species have small hairs that can irritate the skin, both through direct contact and from airborne hairs. Often, caterpillars produce venoms that are stored in these hairs as a defense against predators. Caterpillar species from approximately 12 families of moths or butterflies worldwide can inflict serious human injuries ranging from urticarial dermatitis and atopic asthma to osteochondritis, consumption coagulopathy, renal failure, and intracerebral hemorrhage.(Diaz 2005) Skin rashes are the most common, but there have been fatalities.

Caterpillar hairs have also been known to cause kerato-conjunctivitis. The sharp barbs on the end of Caterpillar hairs can get lodged in soft tissues and mucus membranes such as the eyes. Once they enter such tissues, they can be difficult to extract, often exacerbating the problem as they migrate across the membrane.(Patel et. al. 1973)

 

[freyar]

When's Godzilla going to show up?

So, maybe Str 20, Dex 11, Con 16, Int -, Wis 10, Cha 1? Not quite as good as the velvet worm?

 

[Shade]

I'm thinking we can keep the velvet worm's stats...maybe even increase the Strength based on this...

Caterpillars have 4,000 muscles (compare humans, with 629). They move through contraction of the muscles in the rear segments pushing the blood forward into the front segments elongating the torso. The average caterpillar has 248 muscles in the head segment alone.

Imagine all those muscles increased to the size of a house!

 

[freyar]

Think my last post overlapped with your first one today...

Yeah, bump to Str 24? But I'd be fine with dropping Wis a little also as a "compensation."

For the spittle, make it a ranged touch (30ft, no range increments) that does acid. 1d6 might be a little low, maybe 2d6 instead?

Not sure what to do with the hairs. If we upsize them, they'd be like large poison barbs, but you might not walk on it in that case.