Stirges.. Most broken monster ever.

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Improved Grab
Unless otherwise noted, improved grab works only against opponents at least one size category smaller than the creature.

Emphasis Mine. So the solution should work fine.

If the dragon is sleeping, having 50 ranks in spot is just as good as having 0.

It 50 ranks in Listen might help, though. And why is the Dragon sleeping in an area with Stirges? Doesn't he have a proper lair?

 

[Stalker0]

Striges are one of those creatures whose CR doesn't scale normally when you put them in groups.

1 Strige is nothing usually, 10 striges can kill several members of a decently leveled party. But its not the only creatures that are like that.

Shadows are another creature that's similar, a decent group of shadows can really knock out a strong party if the rolls go badly.

This is one of those times when the DM has to adjust the CR based on common sense.

 

[Piratecat]

Deem "with boilerplate text revisions as necessary to fend off anal-retentive types" inserted.

Boilerplate? I barely know her, and you want me to secondguess her dish-cleaning skills?

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Stirges are scarier than they look.

I used Stirges against my 1st-level party in a previous campaign. There were four PCs, and two waves of about 10 Stirges. Each round, 4 Stirges would get killed attempting to close into attack range (they draw an AoO for being Tiny). Then 4 Stirges would attempt to attach. Some of them would succeed, but that was hardly guaranteed. Regardless of this, they'd all be killed the next round before they could drain blood. More Stirges would get close enough to attack, 4 would die trying to close, etc. etc.

I think I managed to actually drain blood twice in the entire combat. It was enough, though. Not enough to kill them. But enough to scare the bejesus out of them. And that's pretty much what Stirges are good for.

 

[Izerath]

If the dragon is sleeping, having 50 ranks in spot is just as good as having 0.

Yes, once it's awake, it can take them off, but, if it loses initiative...

Last I checked, Hide doesn't make you silent, and Listen works while you are sleeping....

The Very Old Red Dragon listed in the MM has a +37 Listen check. I doubt those stirges get further than 5 ft within breath weapon distance before they are summarily killed.

 

[Izerath]

Here's a really funny trick for said Great Wyrm dragon to play:

1. Stirges attack, and attach.
2. Dragon flies up in the air about 30 feet, and drops like a stone (stops flying) straight to the ground.
3. Dragon takes 3d6 damage, and easily lives, stirges take 3d6 damage, and die.
4. Dragon complains about "damned pests..."

HA! I love it! I'll have to try that one to pesky PCs!

 

[ForceUser]

Is it just me, or is this critter begging to have a swarm version?

 

[satori01]

How about Ghost Brute Swarm Version :} >

 

[Felix]

Is it just me, or is this critter begging to have a swarm version?

My DM reads these boards so if my PC runs into a Stirge swarm at my next game I'm going to find you and give you a sound drubbing.

 

[Herobizkit]

Striges are one of those creatures whose CR doesn't scale normally when you put them in groups.

1 Strige is nothing usually, 10 striges can kill several members of a decently leveled party. But its not the only creatures that are like that.

The CR of a group of 10 stirges would be CR 5... a challenge for a party of four 5th-level PC's. Ten stirges COULD take out the whole party in a few rounds if the dice go badly, but they probably won't.