Stirges.. Most broken monster ever.

[ForceUser]

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.

LOL

 

[airwalkrr]

There are numerous reasons not to fear stirges. Most have already been mentioned, but here is a brief summary.

1) Tiny size. They provoke AoOs when they attach.
2) Round one, attach. Round two, con damage. Even if you lose initiative you should have one round to beat them down. If they all swarm the same character one good blast with burning hands should take them out, leaving you scorched but still full of con.
3) Not grapplers. This is a benefit in the sense that you can easily attack them while they are attached to you. Rogues get sneak attack because they are denied Dex, and ranged attackers don't have a chance to hit you (technically, although some DMs may overrule the latter).
4) 5 hp, low AC. 'Nuff said.
5) 4 Con damage max per stirge so a character with average con can give drinks to at least three before death. At CR 1/2 you are unlikely to run into more than three or four at 1st level unless your DM is mean.

 

[hong]

There are numerous reasons not to fear stirges.

Hang on a sec. Aren't you also the guy who said the CW samurai was a powerhouse?

 

[Plane Sailing]

There are numerous reasons not to fear stirges. Most have already been mentioned, but here is a brief summary.

1) Tiny size. They provoke AoOs when they attach.
2) Round one, attach. Round two, con damage. Even if you lose initiative you should have one round to beat them down. If they all swarm the same character one good blast with burning hands should take them out, leaving you scorched but still full of con.
3) Not grapplers. This is a benefit in the sense that you can easily attack them while they are attached to you. Rogues get sneak attack because they are denied Dex, and ranged attackers don't have a chance to hit you (technically, although some DMs may overrule the latter).
4) 5 hp, low AC. 'Nuff said.
5) 4 Con damage max per stirge so a character with average con can give drinks to at least three before death. At CR 1/2 you are unlikely to run into more than three or four at 1st level unless your DM is mean.

6) Great Cleave (since nobody has mentioned it yet)

 

[Drowbane]

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

I award you one Dark Side point...





poor, poor Nathos... I was only 5 minutes late too!

 

[shilsen]

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

*hides the stat block he was preparing for his next session*

Yes, yes - it's just you!

 

[Dr_Rictus]

3. Dragon takes 3d6 damage, and easily lives, stirges take 3d6 damage, and die.

No need. The dragon can direct its breath weapon in "a direction of the dragon's choice," from any intersection adjacent to it. Which means it can breathe on itself.

Boom. No stirges. Dragon takes no damage.

 

[Dr_Rictus]

6) Great Cleave (since nobody has mentioned it yet)

7) scroll of color spray, 25 gp.

 

[Felix]

3) Not grapplers. This is a benefit in the sense that you can easily attack them while they are attached to you. Rogues get sneak attack because they are denied Dex, and ranged attackers don't have a chance to hit you (technically, although some DMs may overrule the latter).

Grapplers loose their Dex bonus to AC to everyone except the person they're grappling with. So if the stirge is grappling the wizard, ok, the rogue can SA. But if they're grappling the rogue, then no dice.

 

[ForceUser]

5) 4 Con damage max per stirge so a character with average con can give drinks to at least three before death. At CR 1/2 you are unlikely to run into more than three or four at 1st level unless your DM is mean.

Guess that makes me mean. At 2nd level, the warlock alone had three or four on him. Technically, there were hundreds of stirges in that chamber. They were probably attacked by 18 or so. Of course, they had every opportunity to avoid that encounter, so I don't feel bad.

Man, stirges are fun. Sluuuurrrrrrpppppppp!