Shade
Monster Junkie
Spider Cat
http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-monster-talk/258154-converting-monsters-dragon-magazine-36.html
Spider Cat
Large Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 7d10+21 (59 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 60 ft. (12 squares), climb 60 ft.
Armor Class: 21 (–1 size, +6 Dex, +6 natural), touch 15, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +7/+15
Attack: Bite +12 melee (1d8+4 plus poison)
Full Attack: Bite +12 melee (1d8+4 plus poison) and 2 claws +10 melee (1d4+2)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Pounce, web
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 10/magic, darkvision 60 ft., immunity to mind-affecting spells and abilities, immunity to webs, low-light vision, scent, spell resistance 13, tremorsense 60 ft., verminlike
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +11, Will +3
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 23, Con 16, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 7
Skills: Balance +8, Climb +14, Hide +9*, Jump +20, Move Silently +11, Spot +9
Feats: Ability Focus (poison), Multiattack, Weapon Finesse
Environment: Warm plains
Organization: Solitary, pair, or pride (3–12)
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always chaotic neutral
Advancement: 8-13 HD (Large); 14-21 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: —
This creature has the thorax and abdomen of a desert tarantula, while the front half of its body resembles that of a muscular lion. Its leonine appearance is broken by the large, sharpened mandibles that form its mouth. Its entire body is covered in tawny fur
Much like griffons, spider cats are powerful, majestic creatures combining the characteristics of a lion with another creature. Rather than blending with eagles, these creatures blend in the traits of a desert tarantula.
Spider cats form prides similar to lions, and like lions, are generally near the top of the food chain. Spider cats attack all living creatures smaller than themselves. They avoid undead, apparently finding the smell repulsive to their keen olfactory sensors. They collect treasure by accident, though their ravages usually ensure that the remains of many victims and their belongings will be found in their cavern lairs.
Sages speculate that spider cats are the creations of a mad wizard, millenia dead. They breed true, laying eggs like spiders.
A typical spider cat's body is 10 feet long. It weighs 1,200 to 1,500 pounds.
Spider cats cannot speak.
COMBAT
Spider cats hunt much like spiders, using webs to trap prey or to lie in ambush. Once suitable prey is spotted, a spider cat pounces like a lion, sinking its foreclaws and teeth into the victim while injecting an extremely potent venom.
Spider cat webbing is extremely hard to break, gaining tensile strength as its victim struggles.
Immunity to Webs (Ex) A spider cat is unaffected by natural and magical webs.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 18, initial and secondary damage 1d6 Con. The internal organs of victims killed by the spidercat's poison are liquefied, so creatures killed by the poison cannot be returned to life by raise dead. Resurrection or greater magic works as usual, however. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Pounce (Ex): If a spider cat drops upon or charges a foe, it can make a full attack.
Verminlike (Ex): Although a magical beast, spider cats are largely verminlike in nature. As a result, they are vulnerable to any spell that affects vermin, and their immunity to mind-affecting spells and abilities does not apply to spells that specifically target vermin.
Web (Ex): Spider cats often wait in their webs or in trees, then lower themselves silently on silk strands and leap onto prey passing beneath. A single strand is strong enough to support the spider cat and one creature of the same size. Spider cats can throw a web eight times per day. This is similar to an attack with a net but has a maximum range of 50 feet, with a range increment of 10 feet, and is effective against targets up to one size category larger than the spider cat. An entangled creature can escape with a successful DC 20 Escape Artist check or burst it with a DC 24 Strength check. Both are standard actions. The check DCs are Constitution-based, and the Escape Artist check DC includes a +4 racial bonus, while the Strength check DC includes a +8 racial bonus.
Spider cats often create sheets of sticky webbing from 5 to 60 feet square. They usually position these sheets to snare flying creatures but can also try to trap prey on the ground. Approaching creatures must succeed on a DC 20 Spot check to notice a web; otherwise they stumble into it and become trapped as though by a successful web attack. Attempts to escape or burst the webbing gain a +5 bonus if the trapped creature has something to walk on or grab while pulling free. Each 5-foot section has 14 hit points (16 hp for a Huge spider cat), and sheet webs have damage reduction 5/—.
A spider cat can move across its own web at its climb speed and can pinpoint the location of any creature touching its web.
Skills: A spider cat has a +2 racial bonus on Balance and Move Silently checks, a +4 racial bonus on Hide, Jump, and Spot checks, and a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks. Spider cats use either their Strength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, whichever is higher. A spider cat can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened. *In areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth, the Hide bonus improves to +8.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #118 (1987).
http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-monster-talk/258154-converting-monsters-dragon-magazine-36.html
Spider Cat
Large Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 7d10+21 (59 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 60 ft. (12 squares), climb 60 ft.
Armor Class: 21 (–1 size, +6 Dex, +6 natural), touch 15, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +7/+15
Attack: Bite +12 melee (1d8+4 plus poison)
Full Attack: Bite +12 melee (1d8+4 plus poison) and 2 claws +10 melee (1d4+2)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Pounce, web
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 10/magic, darkvision 60 ft., immunity to mind-affecting spells and abilities, immunity to webs, low-light vision, scent, spell resistance 13, tremorsense 60 ft., verminlike
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +11, Will +3
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 23, Con 16, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 7
Skills: Balance +8, Climb +14, Hide +9*, Jump +20, Move Silently +11, Spot +9
Feats: Ability Focus (poison), Multiattack, Weapon Finesse
Environment: Warm plains
Organization: Solitary, pair, or pride (3–12)
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always chaotic neutral
Advancement: 8-13 HD (Large); 14-21 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: —
This creature has the thorax and abdomen of a desert tarantula, while the front half of its body resembles that of a muscular lion. Its leonine appearance is broken by the large, sharpened mandibles that form its mouth. Its entire body is covered in tawny fur
Much like griffons, spider cats are powerful, majestic creatures combining the characteristics of a lion with another creature. Rather than blending with eagles, these creatures blend in the traits of a desert tarantula.
Spider cats form prides similar to lions, and like lions, are generally near the top of the food chain. Spider cats attack all living creatures smaller than themselves. They avoid undead, apparently finding the smell repulsive to their keen olfactory sensors. They collect treasure by accident, though their ravages usually ensure that the remains of many victims and their belongings will be found in their cavern lairs.
Sages speculate that spider cats are the creations of a mad wizard, millenia dead. They breed true, laying eggs like spiders.
A typical spider cat's body is 10 feet long. It weighs 1,200 to 1,500 pounds.
Spider cats cannot speak.
COMBAT
Spider cats hunt much like spiders, using webs to trap prey or to lie in ambush. Once suitable prey is spotted, a spider cat pounces like a lion, sinking its foreclaws and teeth into the victim while injecting an extremely potent venom.
Spider cat webbing is extremely hard to break, gaining tensile strength as its victim struggles.
Immunity to Webs (Ex) A spider cat is unaffected by natural and magical webs.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 18, initial and secondary damage 1d6 Con. The internal organs of victims killed by the spidercat's poison are liquefied, so creatures killed by the poison cannot be returned to life by raise dead. Resurrection or greater magic works as usual, however. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Pounce (Ex): If a spider cat drops upon or charges a foe, it can make a full attack.
Verminlike (Ex): Although a magical beast, spider cats are largely verminlike in nature. As a result, they are vulnerable to any spell that affects vermin, and their immunity to mind-affecting spells and abilities does not apply to spells that specifically target vermin.
Web (Ex): Spider cats often wait in their webs or in trees, then lower themselves silently on silk strands and leap onto prey passing beneath. A single strand is strong enough to support the spider cat and one creature of the same size. Spider cats can throw a web eight times per day. This is similar to an attack with a net but has a maximum range of 50 feet, with a range increment of 10 feet, and is effective against targets up to one size category larger than the spider cat. An entangled creature can escape with a successful DC 20 Escape Artist check or burst it with a DC 24 Strength check. Both are standard actions. The check DCs are Constitution-based, and the Escape Artist check DC includes a +4 racial bonus, while the Strength check DC includes a +8 racial bonus.
Spider cats often create sheets of sticky webbing from 5 to 60 feet square. They usually position these sheets to snare flying creatures but can also try to trap prey on the ground. Approaching creatures must succeed on a DC 20 Spot check to notice a web; otherwise they stumble into it and become trapped as though by a successful web attack. Attempts to escape or burst the webbing gain a +5 bonus if the trapped creature has something to walk on or grab while pulling free. Each 5-foot section has 14 hit points (16 hp for a Huge spider cat), and sheet webs have damage reduction 5/—.
A spider cat can move across its own web at its climb speed and can pinpoint the location of any creature touching its web.
Skills: A spider cat has a +2 racial bonus on Balance and Move Silently checks, a +4 racial bonus on Hide, Jump, and Spot checks, and a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks. Spider cats use either their Strength or Dexterity modifier for Climb checks, whichever is higher. A spider cat can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened. *In areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth, the Hide bonus improves to +8.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #118 (1987).
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