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

[GrayLinnorm]

Don't worry, it's not in Stormwrack.

 

[demiurge1138]

I think the armored head should be reflected by a fortification-like ability, giving a 25% chance to resist critical hits or sneak attacks. Since there's no hit location system in D&D, giving its head a higher natural armor or damage reduction seems a bit off.

Demiurge out.

 

[Mortis]

I think the armored head should be reflected by a fortification-like ability, giving a 25% chance to resist critical hits or sneak attacks. Since there's no hit location system in D&D, giving its head a higher natural armor or damage reduction seems a bit off.

Yeah that could work, I was a bit dubious about natural armour and/or damage reduction (slightly favouring DR).

Regards,
Mortis

 

[BOZ]

OK, aquatic animal it is. It's basically really just a big fish, and most of its attributes are a direct result of the fact that it's a big fish.

I'll give it Improved Grab. When I did my original conversion of the verme, I read "automatically swallows" so I decided to skip that part, but that is not how the rules work anymore.

I'm fine with +2 Dex and –2 Str.

It is indeed a bottom feeder, as alluded to in the description, so Blind-Fight switched for Endurance would be fine.

And emulating Fortification rather than the current ability sounds cool to me.

 

[Shade]

We might also want to give it a bonus on Hide checks when on river bottoms, etc. Catfish, even big ones, are sometimes hard to spot.

 

[demiurge1138]

+4 bonus to Hide checks when underwater? +8?

Demiurge out.

 

[Shade]

+8 sounds good. It will help, but not quite offset, its size penalty to Hide.

 

[BOZ]

Swallowing occurs on any hit if prey is not more than 12 feet tell. Damage (3d8+4) is incurred during the swallowing process. Swallowed creatures receive 2-16 points of additional damage per round. Any swallowed being will be dissolved in 6 rounds.

A verme swallows any opponent under 12 feet tall should it score a hit. It tries to swallow those characters who are attacking its head before maneuvering to reach those beating on its sides. The victim suffers 3d8+4 points of damage upon being swallowed, and an additional 2d8 points of acid damage each round thereafter. No matter how many points of damage a creature inside a verme has suffered, it dies in six rounds and dissolves. A verme is AC 10 when attacked from the inside.

Swallow Whole (Ex): A verme automatically swallows an opponent of Large or smaller size by making a successful bite attack. Once inside, the opponent takes 3d8+4 crushing damage plus 2d8+4 points of acid damage per round from the verme's digestive juices. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by dealing 30 points of damage to the verme's digestive tract (AC 10).
The verme's gullet can hold four Large, eight Medium-size, or sixteen Small or smaller creatures.

So, fill in the blanks:
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a verme must hit with its bite 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 can try to swallow the foe the following round.

Swallow Whole (Ex): A verme can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of (X) or smaller size by making a successful grapple check. The swallowed creature takes X points of crushing damage plus X points of acid damage per round from the verme's gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal X points of damage to the verme's gut (AC 14). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out.


and:
Fortification (Ex): A verme's thick, bony plates protect its vital areas effectively. When a critical hit or sneak attack is scored on the wearer, there is a 25% chance that the critical hit or sneak attack is negated and damage is instead rolled normally.

 

[demiurge1138]

Looks good, but you should probably change "wearer" to "verme" in the fortification text. Also, X should be Huge (the verme is Gargantuan, yes)? How about 30 points of damage to escape? 4d6+Str bludgeoning damage and 12 acid damage?

Demiurge out.

 

[Shade]

3d8+4 crushing/2d8 acid?

Swallow up to two sizes smaller?

30 points to cut out; AC 10 + 1/2 its natural armor bonus, with no modifiers for size or Dexterity

Four Large, eight Medium, or sixteen Small or smaller creatures should work.