Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

[Cleon]

A few other things from the main entry that we may want to address before moving on...

Second, all of them have two sexes, unlike earthworms. Consequently, the mad mage who would establish a breeding population in his coastal moat has to bring back more than one giant worm. And how does said mage tell what sex of worm he has? Easily: By waiting until the breeding season, cutting open one segment from the middle region of the worm, and seeing what sort of reproductive organs are inside (perhaps a good job for the local druid).

Probably just flavor text.

I agree with it just being flavour text.

Finally, those worms that live in tubes or burrows have a giant nerve cell which runs the length of their bodies. This cell triggers the escape response, enabling the worm to withdraw in a flash at the first hint of danger. In general, worms are alarmed by looming shapes that are larger than they are.

To me that looks more like a version of a rogue's Evasion (i.e. Reflex save to duck into its burrow and entirely avoid an attack).

I'm reluctant to pile more special qualities on it thought, especially as IIRC a Nereis isn't a tube-dweller with a lightning-fast sheltering reflex.

So I'd like to call the Nereis done and go on to the next worm.

EDIT: Oh, except I did notice one little quibble with the write-up. I'd say "weighing 100 pounds or more" Rather than "weighing about 100 pounds", since the listed weight is probably a minimum.

 

[freyar]

No need for evasion on the Nereis, I think.

Agreed to improved grab and chew for diopatra. The parapodia might just give a bonus to grapple checks, or they could also constrict along with chewing.

 

[Cleon]

No need for evasion on the Nereis, I think.

Agreed to improved grab and chew for diopatra. The parapodia might just give a bonus to grapple checks, or they could also constrict along with chewing.

Good, enworld is up and running again!

I think the Nereis is done with unless we change our minds on the 'Escape Response'. I couldn't see anything to niggle about apart from the weight.

As for the Diopatra, I agree with the Improved Grab/Chew mechanism. We could just swap some nouns in the octopus's version of the ability:

Improved Grab (Ex)
To use this ability, an octopus must hit an opponent of any size with its arms attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and automatically deals bite damage.

Improved Grab (Ex)
To use this ability, a diopatra must hit an opponent of any size with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity, with a +4[?] racial bonus to its grapple check. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and automatically deals bite damage.
​

Oh, and I think we need a lunge attack, something like:

Lunge (Ex)
A Diopatra can lunge out of its burrow as a full-round action, stretching up to twice its reach (10 feet, 20 feet for Huge worms, 30 ft. for Gargantuan) and then making a bite attack with a +4 circumstance bonus. This counts as a charge.
​

I'm starting to reconsider the Escape Response, it may be worth giving to the Nereis and Diopatra. Something like:

Escape Response (Ex)
A Nereis can duck inside its burrow with lightning speed to avoid attacks. This is an immediate action. The attacker must succeed on a DC15 Reflex save to hit a Nereis using its escape response with a weapon attack.

A Nereis retreats whenever it is threatened by a creature with a size category larger than itself. This is an automatic reflex over which the Nereis has no control, but it can also trigger its escape response whenever it chooses.

To use its Escape Response ability, the Nereis must have part of its body within its burrow. The worm automatically releases any opponent held in its jaws if its escape response is triggered.

After triggering its escape response, the nereis will have moved 10 feet inside its tunnel. Thus, it must make a burrow move action to return to the entrance of its lair before it can attack any creatures outside.

The saving throw DC check is Dexterity based and includes a +4 racial bonus.
​

The Diopatra presumably could have the same ability, since its a burrow dweller as well.

If we do give the Nereis this Special Ability I think it should bump its CR up a bit, since it considerably improves its defenses.

EDIT: How about we keep the Nereis as is and just give Diopatra the Escape Response, it's got the ability to lunge out of its burrow with lightning speed, so having it be able to retreat with similar alacrity has a pleasing symmetry.

 

[Cleon]

Shall we start on the stats?

Medium or Large? Its considerably longer than Nereis (12'+ vs 5'+) and thicker (2'+ vs 1'+), which would argue for Large, but I'm thinking 2HD since a 2HD Nereis is medium sized. If it is Large, we may not need to add that racial bonus to grapple.

Hit Dice: 2d8

Armour Class: AC8 is one better than a Nereis, and it may have a size penalty, so I guess it needs a higher natural armour. +2 or +3?

Speed: swim 20 ft., burrow 10 ft. [same as Nereis]

Attack: Bite +? melee (1d6+?)

Special Attacks: Improved grab, lunge
Special Qualities: Accelerated healing, darkvision 60 ft., escape response, split, tremorsense 60 ft., vermin traits

Advancement: 3-4 HD (Large); 5-8 (Huge); 9-16 (Gargantuan) [to include its bigger relative Eunice]

 

[demiurge1138]

I feel no need for a Lunge or Escape Response ability.

Giving the parapodia a +4 bonus to grapple checks strikes me as an elegant mechanic.

 

[Cleon]

I feel no need for a Lunge or Escape Response ability.

Giving the parapodia a +4 bonus to grapple checks strikes me as an elegant mechanic.

Well, I'm not bothered about the Lunge ability, I just stuck that in as a suggestion in case we wanted to model the original's +4 to hit on its initial attack.

I would like to have some form of Escape Response, though.

 

[freyar]

Well, it strikes me that the morale is pretty low for these worms. What if the tactics just include using a lot of withdrawal actions?

 

[demiurge1138]

What if the tactics just include using a lot of withdrawal actions?

I agree. Much less paperwork.

 

[Cleon]

I agree. Much less paperwork.

Sorry, since we're still talking 3rd edition I thought you liked lots of paperwork.

Well, if no-one else fancies a Lunge or Escape Action mechanism we can just do without. A standard charge attack is a fair approximation of a Lunge, but if we only have it using the SRD's basic movement rules to withdraw it won't be able to duck into its burrow and avoid attacks on an opponent's initiative. (Well I suppose it could Ready an action to move when attacked, but then it wouldn't be able to attack itself.)

So long as everyone's alright with that, I'm fine with going on to the stats. I can always bolt my Lunge / Escape mechanism onto the final monster.

 

[Shade]

Medium or Large? Its considerably longer than Nereis (12'+ vs 5'+) and thicker (2'+ vs 1'+), which would argue for Large, but I'm thinking 2HD since a 2HD Nereis is medium sized. If it is Large, we may not need to add that racial bonus to grapple.

I'm torn, here. My gut says "Large", but I can definitely see justification for Medium.

Does anyone have a strong preference?