Monster in need of rating.

[Xarlen]

How does this look, by the rules?

Trap Door Spider
Large vermin
Hp: 4d8+4
Init +3
Speed: 40 (climb 20)
AC: 14
Bite: +6
Damage: 1d8+5
10/10/5
Poison, Temeresence, Pluck
Fort: +5, Ref: +4, Will +1
Ability: Str 18, Dex 17, Con 12
Skills: Climb +4, Hide +13, spot +10
Cr: 5

Trap Doors often lurk in underground holes, with clotted lumps of web-linked foilage as their trap door.

Combat:
Generally, Trap Doors simply pounce, and snatch their victims.

Tremeresence (ex) Trap Door spiders have tremerescence 30'.
Pluck (ex) At an attack, usually a surprise, a Trap Door Spider may make a grapple wihtout an attack of opportunity. If it wins, it may drag the grappled oponent five feet, usually into it's den.
Poison (Ex) Fort Save (DC 16) or 1d6 str, secondary damage 1d6 str.

I would give it Improved Grab, too, for when it has prey in it's hole, but I wasn't sure if that was over the top.

 

[Crothian]

Okay, for AC you really should list where it comes from. You have AC 14. From what you have I think it is +3 dex, -1 size, +2 natural. Also, you should have stats for Int, Wis, and Cha.

From what you have I'd give it more of a CR 4. Low AC and only 22 hps. How is the bite 1d8 +5? THe strength bonus only gives a +4 damage.

 

[Xarlen]

Yep, basicly took the Large spider stats.

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure where the +5 comes from; Large spiders have 1d8+3 for a bite. I simply added +2 for it's increase in str.

 

[Crothian]

Yep, basicly took the Large spider stats.

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure where the +5 comes from; Large spiders have 1d8+3 for a bite. I simply added +2 for it's increase in str.

Okay, that's honesty for you. The large spider has a damage bonus +2, so +3 is one in an half times damage bonus. So, your bite should be 1d8+6. The attack bonus should be +7. +3 BAB (vermin use cleric table) and +4 strength.

 

[Azlan]

This is a neat monster. I don't know why, but I've always had a penchant for using giant spiders on low- to mid-level player characters. (Perhaps because I have a phobia of spiders in real life? )

You should state what the DC is for a character to spot the unnatural-looking "clotted lumps of web-linked foliage" that this spider uses as its trap door.

A color-blind creature with animal intelligence or less might not notice such a trap door, but a human, demi-human, or humanoid would have a decent chance, I think. How about DC 12? 15?

On the other hand, if the spider itself has a reasonable intelligence (maybe 8?), then it should be crafty enough to make its trap door more natural-looking. Then you could increase the DC to 18 or even 20.

If a character walking by the trap door fails his Spot check, then he should be flat-footed as the spider springs out of its hole and attacks. (That is, unless the character is a class/level not susceptible to being flat-footed.)

 

[Xarlen]

Well, the 'web joined clot' was just a flavor text.

Really, trapdoor spiders make their trap doors very well. Why, they blend in very well with their surroundings. I think the spider's hide check could work for it's spottingness.

I'm also working on a wolf and jumping spider.

My 9th level players will be wandering through forest and roadside, while traveling. And I'm thinking that either a spider, or a praying mantis is going to attack, when someone needs to go use the bathroom. Going off into the woods is bad, but worse when that fern next to you is actually a Big Freakin' Mantis.

 

[Xarlen]

Single bump.

 

[Kershek]

I agree with CR 4. Not sure if I like making it a large creature with a 10x10 foot size footprint, though.

 

[Joker]

(Perhaps because I have a phobia of spiders in real life? )

Nothing to be ashamed of or sadened. I too have a phobia for Large monstrous spiders. They're icky.

Tata.

 

[Grazzt]

Skills are off quite a bit. Vermin only get 10-12 skill points total...regardless of HD.

Also- Large creatures suffer a -4 penalty to Hide checks.