Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

[freyar]

I think the bebelith's is closest in spirit, if not mechanics. But let's reduce the damage a bit once we have a base statblock for these.

Normal monstrous spider abilities?

 

[Cleon]

I can't locate a "barrel spider" in Wikipedia or via a quick Google search (beyond those that have appeared in videogames). Any ideas upon what this is based?

Yes I do.

When I was doing my own take on that Dragon article's spiders trying to figure out what arachnid the author was talking about caused me considerable puzzlement, but after a lot of Googling I came across an article that used the name "Barrel Spider" for a Solifugid (aka sun spider, camel spider, wind scorpion).

Once I saw that everything else clicked - the long pedipalps, the powerful jaws, the yellow body with sensitive hairs, the hissing and the lack of any mention of poison (since Solifugae are non-venomous*).

*Well like most things in nature there may be a few exceptions, since there's a study that claims one species has venom glands.
​

Now Solifugae are arachnids but are not true spiders, those of you with access to Dragon #67 will notice that the "Souping Up The Spider" article included several definite non-spider arachnids, the "Daddy Longlegs" harvestman (Opiliones) and the "Whip Spider" (Amblypygi), which makes it more likely the "Barrel Spider" is another one.

All in all, I'm pretty certain the "Barrel Spider" is a Solifugid.

Although what really puzzles me is why it's at the start of the "Weavers" entry, since there's no mention of it producing silk in its entry and sun spiders don't spin webs.

Incidentally, I vaguely recall seeing some or all three of these spider-kin an official WotC 3E product, but I can't remember which one - maybe a Drow supplement? Failing that, Necromancer Games' Tome of Horrors has 3rd edition conversions of them.

 

[Shade]

If it is indeed the solifugid, then we can skip 'em, for they are well represented in D&D products throughout the years.

1e - AD&D MM2, Queen of the Demonweb Pits (Q1)
2e - Drow of the Underdark
3e - Lost Empires of Faerûn, Tome of Horrors

Ditto for the whip spider and whip scorpion.

 

[Cleon]

If it is indeed the solifugid, then we can skip 'em, for they are well represented in D&D products throughout the years.

1e - AD&D MM2, Queen of the Demonweb Pits (Q1)
2e - Drow of the Underdark
3e - Lost Empires of Faerûn, Tome of Horrors

Ditto for the whip spider and whip scorpion.

Ah yes, it was Lost Empires of Faerûn I saw the Solifugid in.

I don't own that book, but from what I remember of the Giant Sun Spider's stats it was nothing special, and it certainly don't remember it having the special abilities of the "Souping Up the Spider" version, so I'd be game for us statting up a new take on it.

 

[freyar]

I think the rending ability might be enough to warrant a new conversion, if none of the others have anything like that.

 

[Shade]

I'm OK with doing our own, as long as we stick with "barrel spider" to avoid confusion with the solifugids. We can mention they are related, though.

 

[freyar]

That works for me.

 

[Shade]

Here are the LEoF stats if we want to use any of it for inspiration...

Large Vermin
Hit Dice: 6d8+8+12 (39 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 16 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +5 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+11
Attack: Bite +6 melee (2d6+3)
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (2d6+3) and 2 claws +1 melee (1d4+1)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, squeeze
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., vermin traits
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +2
Abilities: Str 17, Dex 15, Con 14, Int --, Wis 10, Cha 2
Skills: Climb +7, Hide +2, Spot +4
Feats: --
Environment: Any land and underground
Organization: Solitary, pair, or pack (3-5)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 7-9 HD (Large); 10-18 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: --

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a giant arachnid must hit an opponent that is at least one size category smaller than itself with a claw attack.

Squeeze (Ex): A giant arachnid that gets a hold on an opponent of its own size category or smaller automatically deals damage with both claws and can make a bite attack at its highest attack bonus.

Skills: A giant arachnid receives a +4 racial bonus on Climb, Hide, and Spot checks.

 

[freyar]

What on earth are those hp? 6d8+8+12?? Anyway, I'm not sure I see these quite doing what we want. I'd probably use chew if we wanted to go with an imp grab/constrict type routine.

 

[Shade]

The +8 was probably a typo when I typed 'em up for my files.