Special Conversion Thread: Microscopic Monsters

[freyar]

Indeed. Hmm...what if it gets a bonus on attack rolls equal to the opponent's armor check penalty? Is that still too fiddly?

That might work, but it does seem a bit fiddly (not impossibly so, though). Besides, why can't it penetrate joints in any armor? Why doesn't it instinctively hit creatures in vulnerable spots? I can't quite see the logic. I think I'd like something along the lines of precise strike better, and I have an idea we've used that before for a similar ability.

 

[Shade]

The more I think about this, the more I think we should just write this off as a legacy ability. I mean, why don't other creatures with pseudopods/tentacles get similar benefits?

 

[Cleon]

The more I think about this, the more I think we should just write this off as a legacy ability. I mean, why don't other creatures with pseudopods/tentacles get similar benefits?

I agree it's easier to just drop it.

If it were a more interesting Special Attack I'd be happy to argue about it for days (as usual ), but it doesn't seem worth it in this case.

 

[freyar]

Fair enough.

Ok, then. We have "The shell of the cell remains relatively stationary, while the threadlike lobes pull food particles back to it." Make the threads into roper-like strands with drag?

 

[Cleon]

Fair enough.

Ok, then. We have "The shell of the cell remains relatively stationary, while the threadlike lobes pull food particles back to it." Make the threads into roper-like strands with drag?

The original monster didn't have any special attack to pull victims towards it, nor does it have a close-in attack to use against opponent once they're drawn in. It also can damage creatures out to its full reach as easily as it can in a clinch.

That suggests the drawing in food is just flavour - e.g. once it kills an opponent it positions the oppenent's remains close to its own body so it's at a convenient distance for digestion. Presumably if it senses any edible flotsam or jetsam it pulls that food in close in the same fashion.

 

[freyar]

Fair enough. Is there anything else to this, then?

 

[Cleon]

Fair enough. Is there anything else to this, then?

Maybe Improved Grab, since they seize food in their sticky tendrils?

 

[Shade]

Maybe Improved Grab, since they seize food in their sticky tendrils?

I'd go for that.

 

[Cleon]

I'd go for that.

Fine.

I wouldn't bother with a racial bonus to increase the Grapple modifier, since they use it for collecting "food particles" which are presumably pretty little and don't struggle much!

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.