Stirge touch attack?

[ThomasBJJ]

Let me see if I'm doing this right.

Stirge attacks a PC. PC gets an attack of opportunity for the stirge entering his square (or leaving his threatened square, however you look at it).

If the stirge survives the AoO, it makes a MELEE TOUCH attack. If it hits, it deals 1d4 CON damage, no save. After it drains 4 CON points, it is full and will try to escape.

Stirge is a 1/2 CR (If I remember correctly), seemed like the Melee touch attack for 1d4 con damage was kinda powerful. My 3rd-4th level PCs were getting whooped by about 12 stirges (who attacked in waves of 4 or so at a time, not concentrated on one PC).

How would a PC free itself from an attached stirge?

 

[Xarlen]

It doesn't drain the con when it stabs him. It drains him the following round.

 

[ThomasBJJ]

ahhh! Ok, that makes sense.

 

[baradtgnome]

The player wouldn't get a AoO from the stirges attack, it is a real attack, just with the advantage of ignoring armor.

Also the Stirge will do a point of damage with the attack.

And as was pointed out, the con damage starts the next round.

There is another post on this forum where we discussed how you might adjucate trying to tear a stirge off as opposed killing it attached to yourself (which you can also do).

 

[CRGreathouse]

Re: Re: Stirge touch attack?

The player wouldn't get a AoO from the stirges attack, it is a real attack, just with the advantage of ignoring armor.

Correct, but since the stirge has no reach, it will provoke an AoO when it moves into the character's square (presuming the character has reach).

 

[baradtgnome]

Stirge touch attack? - 0 reach!

Correct, but since the stirge has no reach, it will provoke an AoO when it moves into the character's square (presuming the character has reach).

I overlooked that. So does every creature then with 0 reach generate an AoO from a creature/charater with any reach?

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Most of them. The stirge is Tiny, has no reach, does not threaten an area, and provokes an AoO when it attacks.

 

[baradtgnome]

learn something new everyday

So, there goes another nuance of the rules that we overlooked.

Looking too hard at the difference between those with 10' reach vs 5' reach. Forgot all about the little buggers!

Thanks!

 

[Dr. Zoom]

No problem. There are some exceptions, though, like Tiny dragons. But that is usually spelled out in the description in the MM.

 

[the Jester]

About that attack of opportunity...

Keep in mind that if the stirge only moves 5' there's no aoo.

Usually they're too stupid, but maybe if there's some crazy wizard stirge-keeper who casts fox's cunning on them... or if they only need to move 5' when the pcs enter the room...