Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

[Shade]

How's this?

Impaling Constriction (Ex): One half of a saw-edged scaled snake's constrict damage is piercing while the other half is bludgeoning. The sawlike scales are double-barbed, so they cannot be removed easily without harming the victim further. A scale can be removed safely with a DC 20 Heal check as a standard action; otherwise, removing a scale deals 1d6 points of damage. The snake can relax its scales and remove them without dealing damage to its victim, if it so chooses. A slain saw-edged scaled snake's muscles remain taut, so removing it requires a successful grapple check as if it were alive, and removing the scales without harming the victim requires a Heal check as listed above.

 

[demiurge1138]

Looks good to me.

Demiurge out.

 

[freyar]

Looks pretty good to me, too. Though if we go by the original text, it should be 4d6 damage w/o a Heal check and 1d6 with one. But the target CR is probably too low for that kind of damage, so I'm fine with the lower.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Should we combine constrict and impaling constriction into a single ability?

Skills: 9
It looks like other constrictor snakes split their ranks between Climb, Listen, and Spot, and go with just the racial bonuses for the other skills.

Feats: 3
Constrictor Snake Feats: Improved Initiative, Toughness
Giant Constrictor Snake Feats: Alertness, Endurance, Skill Focus (Hide), Toughness

Challenge Rating: 3?

 

[freyar]

We can combine them if you think it's simpler to read.

Let's do the same for the skills.

How about Imp Init, Endurance, and Skill Focus (Hide) for feats? I like Endurance and SF because they're a little unusual, and Toughness seems a little silly at 6HD.

 

[Shade]

On second thought, let's keep constrict separate. That way, if another ability/feat/etc. mentions constrict as a prereq, it can qualify.

Updated.

 

[freyar]

Looks good -- and done!

 

[Shade]

It's about time to give vermin a turn.

POLAR SPIDER
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1 (5% chance of 2-5)
ARMOR CLASS: 3
MOVE: 16"
HIT DICE: 6 + 6
% IN LAIR: 50%
TREASURE TYPE: J-M, Q
NO. OF ATTACK: 1 bite
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 4-10
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Low (see below)
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L (see below)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/XP VALUE: VI/650 + 8/hp

These enormous arachnids inhabit only the coldest and most remote snow-bound regions. They build no webs, but roam in search of anything edible. The great polar spider usually hunts alone, but sometimes travels in a small pack in order to bring down creatures as formidable as frost giants, white dragons, winter wolves, and yeti.

When it comes to combat and hunting techniques, the polar spider is exceptionally clever. The spider usually hides in a deep snowbank where it is 75% undetectable due to coloration, stillness, and experience, and rushes at passing prey, surprising on a 1-4 on a d6. This spider's bite is fatally poisonous, and all saves vs. poison are at -2 against it.

The monster is completely immune to cold-based attacks. Its favorite prey are humans and frost giants. A polar spider's lair is usually in an icy cavern or a large tunnel in the snow, and here will be found the spider's treasure (purely incidental).

The creature appears to be an enormous, heavy-set spider covered by long, shaggy white fur. Its many compound eyes are dull blue, and its curved fangs are ivory white in hue. These monsters are usually 6' high along their backs, and cover a rough circle 8-10' in diameter when standing.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #118 (1987)

 

[Shade]

Although not terribly interesting, I think we could jazz this up a bit.

Perhaps add the white dragon's icewalking ability, and grant it tremorsense, allowing it to essentially treat the ice as its web?

I also thought Improved Bull Rush might be fun. Imagine a horse-sized spider slamming creatures off their feat along the ice (or even off icy cliffs). Good times.

 

[freyar]

There's the real world horse-sized spider? (And I thought the saw-edged snake was a stretch!)

I like with those ideas. Should get a large hide bonus in snow and ice or else some kind of camouflage. The poison should also be quite potent.