Skeleton/Zombie Swarm

[Gotterdammerung]

Hello.

The rules for creating a "swarm" of something state that you can use tiny, diminuitive, or fine creatures to make up the swarm. Has anyone gone outside these rules and made up creature stats for a skeleton or zombie swarm? I envision these as a very good use of the swarm subtype but wanted to see if anybody had done it, and how well it worked.

Thanks!

-eric

 

[Grazzt]

havent done a skellie or zombie but there is a grig swarm in Tome of Horrors 2.

 

[Nightchilde-2]

Though not strictly zombies and/or skeletons, check out the All-Consuming Hunger from Underdark. It's an undead swarm. And it's pretty f'n nasty, too.

 

[MarauderX]

I created a swarm of undead limbs to engulf some PCs, but haven't used it yet. It's pretty easy, as I used the Rat Swarm as a base then added the undead subtype to it. I left out the disease, but it would be completely feasible to leave it in.
I also took away the climb movement, as I want my swarm to be at the bottom of a pit, where all the PCs see is a boiling mass of frothing limbs below as they fight with some undead nasties that are on the bridge with them than only want to grapple and pull them down into the pit.
I haven't made a larger swarm for small or medium critters.

 

[Gotterdammerung]

The "pit of undead" pretty much fits my scenario.

I have a couple hundred skeletons and zombies swarming about the PC's destination and I'm looking for the best way to handle them. Individually, they present no challenge at all, but for effect (and a bit of a challenge) I was thinking that grouping them together in assorted swarms would be pretty fun.

Nightchilde, I have "Underdark" but haven't delved into it that much. What's the gist of the "all-consuming hunger", and what makes it nasty?

-eric

 

[Nightchilde-2]

I'll try to remember to look it up when I get home. Off the top of my head, it's made up of diminutive undead bits, so it's immune to attacks from weapons. It also spawns new all-consuming hungers by killing characters.

Delved into Underdark...whoo, boy, that's kinda funny.

 

[MarauderX]

Here you go...

UNDEAD BODY PARTS SWARM
Tiny Animal (Swarm) Hit Dice: 4d8 (16 hp) Initiative: +0 Speed: 15 ft. (3 squares) Armor Class: 14 (+2 size, +2 Dex), touch 14, flat-footed 12 Base Attack/Grapple: +3/— Attack: Swarm (1d6 plus disease) Full Attack: Swarm (1d6 plus disease) Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft. Special Attacks: Disease, distraction Special Qualities: Half damage from slashing and piercing, swarm traits, undead traits Saves: Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +2 Abilities: Str 12, Dex 14, Con -, Int -, Wis 10, Cha 1 Skills: None Feats: Toughness Environment: Any Organization: Solitary, pack (2–4 swarms), or infestation (7–12 swarms) Challenge Rating: 2 Treasure: None Alignment: Always neutral Advancement: None Level Adjustment: —
Combat
The undead swarm seeks to surround and attack any creature it encounters. The swarm deals 1d6 points of damage to any creature whose space it occupies at the end of its move.
Disease (Ex): Filth fever—swarm attack, Fortitude DC 12, incubation period 1d3 days, damage 1d3 Dex and 1d3 Con. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins its turn with a swarm in its square must succeed on a DC 12 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution-based.

I guess I did keep the disease part in there...

For the encounter I ran I used some grease on a rounded bridge to add some more challenge to it, and some things swinging around to knock them off. It's sorta like an obsticle course, and if they fall they get to deal with the swarms.