Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
I have an issue with swarms
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="robus" data-source="post: 7599085" data-attributes="member: 6801558"><p>I find swarms to be generally underpowered in their attacks. Here, for example, is the stat block for a swarm of bats:<p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span></span>[HR][/HR]<span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'">Swarm Of Bats</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span></span><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><em>Medium swarm of tiny beasts, unaligned</em></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><strong>Armor Class</strong> 12</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><strong>Hit Points</strong> 22 (5d8)</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><strong>Speed</strong> 0 ft., fly 30 ft.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span>[HR][/HR]</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><strong>STR</strong>: 5 (-3) <strong>DEX</strong>: 15 (+2) <strong>CON</strong>: 10 (+0)</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><strong>INT</strong>: 2 (-4) <strong>WIS</strong>: 12 (+1) <strong>CHA</strong>: 4 (-3)</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span>[HR][/HR]<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><strong>Damage Resistance</strong> Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><strong>Condition Immunities</strong> Charmed, Frightened, Grappled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Prone, Restrained, Stunned</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><strong>Senses</strong> Blindsight 60 Ft., passive Perception 11</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><strong>Challenge</strong> 1/4 (50 XP)</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span>[HR][/HR]</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><em><strong>Echolocation</strong></em>. The swarm can't use its blindsight while deafened.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><em><strong>Keen Hearing</strong></em>. The swarm has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><em><strong>Swarm</strong></em>. The swarm can occupy another creature's space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny bat. The swarm can't regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span>[HR][/HR]</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><strong><span style="font-size: 12px">Actions</span></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><em><strong>Bites (swarm has more than half HP)</strong></em>. <em>Melee Weapon Attack</em>: +4 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature in the swarm's space. Hit: (2d4) piercing damage.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"><em><strong>Bites (swarm has half HP or less).</strong></em> <em>Melee Weapon Attack</em>: +4 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature in the swarm's space. Hit: (1d4) piercing damage.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span>[HR][/HR]<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span></p><p>It seems to me that a swarm should at least have something akin to pack tactics, i.e. advantage on their attacks (because of the sheer number, the odds must be ever in their favor?!) and I would even hazard that they should have multi-attack (at least while above 50% HP).</p><p></p><p>So I would add this additional trait:</p><p><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span>And I would modify their actions thusly:</p><p><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'"></span>Thoughts? And does anyone else have ideas for enhancing swarms?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="robus, post: 7599085, member: 6801558"] I find swarms to be generally underpowered in their attacks. Here, for example, is the stat block for a swarm of bats:[INDENT][SIZE=4][FONT=book antiqua] [/FONT][/SIZE][HR][/HR][SIZE=4][FONT=book antiqua]Swarm Of Bats [/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=book antiqua][I]Medium swarm of tiny beasts, unaligned[/I] [B]Armor Class[/B] 12 [B]Hit Points[/B] 22 (5d8) [B]Speed[/B] 0 ft., fly 30 ft. [/FONT][HR][/HR][/INDENT] [INDENT][FONT=book antiqua][B]STR[/B]: 5 (-3) [B]DEX[/B]: 15 (+2) [B]CON[/B]: 10 (+0) [B]INT[/B]: 2 (-4) [B]WIS[/B]: 12 (+1) [B]CHA[/B]: 4 (-3) [/FONT][HR][/HR][FONT=book antiqua][B]Damage Resistance[/B] Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing[/FONT][/INDENT] [INDENT][FONT=book antiqua][B]Condition Immunities[/B] Charmed, Frightened, Grappled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Prone, Restrained, Stunned [B]Senses[/B] Blindsight 60 Ft., passive Perception 11 [B]Challenge[/B] 1/4 (50 XP) [/FONT][HR][/HR][/INDENT] [INDENT][FONT=book antiqua][I][B]Echolocation[/B][/I]. The swarm can't use its blindsight while deafened. [I][B]Keen Hearing[/B][/I]. The swarm has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing. [I][B]Swarm[/B][/I]. The swarm can occupy another creature's space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny bat. The swarm can't regain hit points or gain temporary hit points. [/FONT][HR][/HR][/INDENT] [INDENT][FONT=book antiqua][B][SIZE=3]Actions[/SIZE][/B] [I][B]Bites (swarm has more than half HP)[/B][/I]. [I]Melee Weapon Attack[/I]: +4 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature in the swarm's space. Hit: (2d4) piercing damage. [I][B]Bites (swarm has half HP or less).[/B][/I] [I]Melee Weapon Attack[/I]: +4 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature in the swarm's space. Hit: (1d4) piercing damage. [/FONT][HR][/HR][FONT=book antiqua] [/FONT][/INDENT] It seems to me that a swarm should at least have something akin to pack tactics, i.e. advantage on their attacks (because of the sheer number, the odds must be ever in their favor?!) and I would even hazard that they should have multi-attack (at least while above 50% HP). So I would add this additional trait: [FONT=book antiqua] [/FONT][FONT=book antiqua] [/FONT]And I would modify their actions thusly: [FONT=book antiqua] [/FONT][FONT=book antiqua] [/FONT][FONT=book antiqua] [/FONT]Thoughts? And does anyone else have ideas for enhancing swarms? [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
I have an issue with swarms
Top