Haystack

[alsih2o]

here i volunteer a baddie used to good effect on my party:

Haystack (based on shambling mound)
Large Plant
Hit Dice: 8d8+24 (60 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 20 ft.
AC: 20 (-1 size, +11 natural)
Attacks: 1 engulf(similar to swallow whole) +10 melee
Damage: asphyxiation 2d8+7
Face/Reach: 5 ft by 5 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: engulf; hayfever burst
Special Qualities: Plant, immune to blunt weapon dmg
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +2, Will +2
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 9
Skills: Hide +15*, Listen +4, Move Silently +4

Climate/Terrain: Temperate and warm plains, farms, near stables
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: 1/10th coins; 50% goods; 50% items
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 9-12 HD (Large); 13-24 HD (Huge)

Combat

Engulf: similar to swallow whole, a haystack may engulf 1 opponent of large or smaller size within 10 ft dealing 2d8+7 dmg from asphyxiation

Hayfever Burst: a haystack can release a massive cloud of pollen 2d4 times per day, filling a 30x30 area around the plant. all caught within the cloud must make a fort save (dc15) or suffer a -4 to all attacks from sneezing and coughing

Plant: Immune to mind-influencing effects, poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, and polymorphing. Not subject to critical hits.

Blunt weapon immunity (Ex): haystacks take no damage from blunt weapons.

Skills: Haystacks receive a +4 racial bonus to Hide, Listen, and Move Silently checks. *They receive a +15 bonus to Hide checks when in the company of other haystacks(normal ones).


Haystacks are soemtimes used to gaurd the stables of important evil n.p.c.'s..lying in wait until adveturers try to remove somehting fromthe stable, at which time they attack.

 

[Mark]

Looks interesting...

Since Engulf is like Swallow Whole, and Swallow Whole is a Special Attack, why not make Engulf a Special Attack to avoid confusion (remove the reference from the regular "Attacks" section, that is).

Since, you are in essence giving an extra Special Attack (Shams have two, yours has three with that Burst) and some bonus hiding abilitiy for the Haystack (but seem to want to keep it CR6) then as a regular Attack maybe give just one Alam (as opposed to the two given the Shambling Mound).

Allow Engulf to be the second successful attack after a successful Grapple, like Swallow Whole, and it should feel closer to balanced. Do the size restrictions of Engulf work the same as Swallow Whole? Maybe Engulf should be written out more fully, as an addendum?

Negating one Slam to give it the extra Hide and Special Attack may not quite be enough to balance at CR6 (if we're using the Shambling Mound as a guide). Are these things also more susceptible to fire? Maybe something along those lines should be added to Special Qualities. *shrug*

Great concept! Just my two cents and I'm sure the real experts will come along and give you better advice.

 

[alsih2o]

good points all!

removed improved grab...that was an err, and am currently tryimng to come up with a fire dmgf bonus.
thanks for the crit!

 

[Mark]

You may want to read my post again. I made a couple of edits after the fact that might clarify my thought process. As I say, I'm no critic, but I glad if it helps you out.

 

[Conaill]

Here's a cruel idea: every round that an opponent has been engulfed, roll a d100 and smile evilly. Nothing happens unless you roll a 1 (but it will make your players *really* edgy). On a 1, tell the person who's engulfed "You find a needle"

Phear the haystack!

 

[Mark]

Here's a cruel idea: every round that an opponent has been engulfed, roll a d100 and smile evilly. Nothing happens unless you roll a 1 (but it will make your players *really* edgy). On a 1, tell the person who's engulfed "You find a needle"

Phear the haystack!

You almost have to do that now, eh?

 

[alsih2o]

reduced attacks to 2, the engulf, and the hayfever burst.

as for engulf, i see it as being lust like having the haystack dumped on you, i will review my info and post as an addendum if i find it dissimilar enuf from swallow...may just change it to a swallow whole thing