D&D 3E/3.5 Creature Catalog 3.5 Overhaul Project

[BOZ]

if you insist. this one should be fairly simple and quick.

Oil Beetle
Small Vermin
Hit Dice: 2d8+4 (13 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 40 ft
AC: 16 (+1 size, +5 natural)
Attacks: Bite +3 melee
Damage: Bite 1d6+1
Face/Reach: 5 ft by 5 ft/5 ft
Special Attacks: Oil
Special Qualities: Vermin
Saves: Fort +5 Ref +0 Will +0
Abilities: Str 13 Dex 10 Con 14 Int - Wis 10 Cha 9
Skills: Listen +5, Spot +5
Feats:

Climate: Any warm land and underground
Organization: Solitary or swarm (2-12)
Challenge Rating: 01
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 3-4 HD (Small); 5-6 HD (Medium-size)

Oil beetles are large brown beetles with slick carapaces. They feed on offal and refuse, and are able to consume nearly any organic material.

Combat
When attacked, an oil beetle releases a foul stream of oily liquid that irritates the skin of any living creature it hits.

Oil (Ex): Line of acid 5 ft. long and 1 ft. wide; Fortitude save (DC 12) or suffer from painful blisters. Those affected receive a -2 circumstance modifier to attack rolls for 1 day. Curative magic heals the blisters and removes the penalty.

Vermin: Immune to mind-influencing effects.

1977 Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
Originally found in D&D Basic Rules

 

[BOZ]

here are the original sources that i was able to find. as usual, they are fairly similar, but there are a few differences therein.

D&D Basic Rules (1981):
Beetle, Giant
Oil
Armor Class: 4
Hit Dice: 2*
Move: 120' (40')
Attacks: 1 bite + special
Damage: 1-6 + special
No. Appearing: 1-8 (2-12)
Save As: Fighter: 1
Morale: 8
Treasure Type: Nil
Alignment: Neutral

Oil Beetle: Oil beetles are 3' long giant beetles that sometimes burrow underground. When attacked, they will squirt an oily fluid at one of their attackers (a "to hit" roll is needed; the range is 5'). If the oil hits it will raise painful blisters, causing the victim to fight with a penalty of -2 on his or her "to hit" rolls until a cure light wounds spell is used or until 24 hours have passed. If the spell is used to cure blisters, it will not also cure points of damage. Oil beetles can also attack with their mandibles (horned jaws).


D&D Basic Set (1983):
Beetle, Giant
Oil
Armor Class: 3
Hit Dice: 3+ 1
Move: 150' (50')
Attacks: 1 bite
Damage: 2-12
No. Appearing: 1-6 (2-8)
Save As: Fighter: 2
Morale: 9
Treasure Type: U
Alignment: Neutral
XP value: 50

Oil Beetle: Oil beetles are 3' long giant beetles that sometimes burrow underground. When attacked, an oil beetle squirts an oily fluid at one of its attackers (a Hit Roll is needed; the range is 5’). If the oil hits it raises painful blisters, causing a - 2 penalty on the victim’s Hit Rolls until cured by a Cure Light Wounds spell or until 24 hours have passed. If the spell is used to cure blisters, it will not also cure damage. Oil beetles can also attack with their mandibles (horned jaws).


D&D Rules Cyclopedia (1991):
Beetle, Giant
Oil
Armor Class: 4
Hit Dice: 2* (M)
Move: 120' (40')
Attacks: 1 bite + special
Damage: 1d6 + special
No. Appearing: 1d8 (2d6)
Save As: Fl
Morale: 8
Treasure Type: Nil
Intelligence: 0
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 25

Monster Type: Lowlife (Common)
Oil Beetle: Oil beetles are 3'-long giant beetles that sometimes burrow underground. When attacked, an oil beetle squirts an oily fluid at one attacker (an attack roll is needed; the range is 5'). The oil raises painful blisters, causing a - 2 penalty on the victim's attack rolls until cured by a cure light wounds spell or until 24 hours have passed

 

[demiurge1138]

They shouldn't have any skill points, should they? Unless you give them some racial bonuses, that is.

Demiurge out.

 

[BOZ]

nope, no skill points. 3.0 vermin got a few skill points for free, which is what you see above.

 

[GrayLinnorm]

I think the D&D Basic Set (second one) mixed up the stats for the oil beetle and tiger beetle; that's why the stats differ from other sources (They admitted this in "Sage Advice", Dragon #134). They also mixed up the normal and giant bats.

 

[demiurge1138]

So, beyond getting rid of the skill points, what remains to be done?

Demiurge out.

 

[Mortis]

So, beyond getting rid of the skill points, what remains to be done?

Not a lot.

However, re-reading the original description of the oil attack, it reads more like a ranged (touch) attack rather than a line.

Regards,
Mortis

 

[Shade]

Agreed on the range touch attack rather than line.

Should we allow a high-DC Heal check to cure the blisters as well?

Add darkvision 60 ft. to SQ line.

It does get a Jump modifier of +5 due to its speed and Str, but that doesn't necessarily have to be on the skills line.

 

[demiurge1138]

I agree with Shade. A (DC 20, perhaps?) Heal check would be good to remove the blisters. Possibly also a neutralize poison spell, or something like that.

Demiurge out.

 

[BOZ]

i was also thinking that ranged touch and heal check would be good ideas.