They're back: Return of the Slivers. [Updated 24/8-2005: Beware the Overlord!]

[demiurge1138]

I think a DC 22 2d8 Con/death poison is really, really powerful for a CR 8. Way too powerful. Of course, it's not like a party would ever be fighting only one of these at a time, but I still think it's too much.

Demiurge out.

 

[zinderel]

Krishnath, you say three types, one of which you won't be converting? Which one is that?

 

[Solarious]

First, your 'of' should be 'off' in the combat description.
Second, wouldn't Spring Attack suit the Toxin Sliver more? A snipe with a True Strike at a low-Fort char, then move out and wait for 'em to drop dead while the sliver picks out a new target.
Third, the fact it shares the poison ability around is just darn creepy. o,o;
Fourth, how will it make out with this... ancient gold dragon?

 

[Krishnath]

First, your 'of' should be 'off' in the combat description.

Thanks for the catch of the misspelling.

Second, wouldn't Spring Attack suit the Toxin Sliver more? A snipe with a True Strike at a low-Fort char, then move out and wait for 'em to drop dead while the sliver picks out a new target.

Thought about it when I created it, then decided that 1, Ability Focus: Poison is more in line with what the sliver needs. And 2, it can't have Spring Attack without Dodge and Mobility, and it doesn't have that many feats to begin with.

Third, the fact it shares the poison ability around is just darn creepy. o,o;

Yes, isn't it.

Fourth, how will it make out with this... ancient gold dragon?

Well, unless the Dragon rolls a 1 on it's save, the sliver will bite the dust every time.

Krishnath, you say three types, one of which you won't be converting? Which one is that?

The hibernation sliver, as it is allready covered in the evolution cycle of the slivers.

I think a DC 22 2d8 Con/death poison is really, really powerful for a CR 8. Way too powerful. Of course, it's not like a party would ever be fighting only one of these at a time, but I still think it's too much.

Demiurge out.

I understand your concern, but you need to be aware of two facts: 1, Other slivers will have a way lower DC on the poison. And 2, Ability Focus increases the DC by 2, without it, the DC would be 20. Now, when you compare that save DC to that of a CR 6 creature such as the wyvern (DC 17), it ain't that much of a difference when you don't factor in the Feat. Also, good fort save characters such as fighters and clerics should be able to make the save approx 50% of the time at level 8, now when you factor in that most characters won't actually meet the Toxin Sliver until they are epic, it ain't really an issue any more.

 

[Mithral Silverwave]

... now when you factor in that most characters won't actually meet the Toxin Sliver until they are epic, it ain't really an issue any more.

And the poison wouldn't be a threat at all, except that it's going to be coming in nearly continuously, because I seriously doubt that these things will travel alone.

 

[Krishnath]

And the poison wouldn't be a threat at all, except that it's going to be coming in nearly continuously, because I seriously doubt that these things will travel alone.

Bingo, thus an epic challenge.

Toxin Sliver + multiple Muscle Sliver's = Dead just about anything.

Yeah, I know, I'm evil.

And interresting note though, a ninth level (or higher) druid is immune to the Toxin slivers posion.

 

[Krishnath]

Here comes the queen! Bow down mere mortals and worship your new goddess!.

-

Sliver Queen
Gargantuan Aberration (Extraplanar, Psionic, Sliver)
Hit Dice: 36d8+360 (522 hp)
Initiative: +9
Speed: 60’ (12 squares); Climb 60’
Armor Class: 33 (-4 size, +1 Dex, +36 natural)
Base Attack/Grapple: +24/+51
Attack: Claw +36 melee (3d6+15)
Full Attack: 2 claws +36 melee (3d6+15) and bite +31 melee (2d6+7) and 2 tail stings +31 melee (1d8+7 plus poison)
Space/Reach: 20’/15’
Special Attacks: Frightful presence, poison, psionic abilities, spell-like abilities,
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 15/epic, resistance to acid 15, cold 15, electricity 15, and fire 15, spawn sliver, spell resistance 37, telepathy,
Saves: Fort +24, Ref +15, Will +30
Abilities: Str 41, Dex 13, Con 31, Int 20, Wis 26, Cha 22,
Skills: Balance +21, Climb +21, Concentration +21, Escape Artist +21, Jump +21, Knowledge: Arcana +21, Knowledge: The Planes +21, Knowledge: Psionics +21, Listen +23, Move Silently +21, Spot +23, Swim +21, Tumble +21,
Feats: Ability Focus (Posion), Alertness, Agile, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Epic Prowess, Great Cleave, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack (-24/+24), Superior Initiative,
Environment: Any
Organization: Hive (several thousand slivers of various types and one queen)
Challenge Rating: 22
Treasure: Quadruple standard
Alignment: Always Neutral
Advancement: -

‘Her children are ever part of her.’

The sliver queen is the inevitable center of every sliver hive, from where she rules her multi-facetted progeny.
A sliver queen is an immense creature, easily dwarfing most giants and dragons in size. Her skin is the color of molten gold on her side and back, while it is a deep rose color on her underside. Unlike most of her spawn, the sliver queen has two scythe like claws, each at the end of a powerful arm. Her back is covered in powerful and sharp spikes, and her tentacles each end in a powerful stinger filled with a deadly venom. The sliver queen has an immensely well-developed cranium and brain, giving here immense intelligence, wisdom, and powerful psionic and spell-like abilities.
The floor of her lair is covered in a thick layer of sand, which is filled with the treasures her progeny brings her. Ranging from worthless pieces of colored rock, to ancient spell-books worth a fortune. The sand protects the treasures from the passages of time. The walls of the sliver queens lair, as well as the sliver queen herself is adorned with multicolored slivers of all types, lending her their abilities, and making her a nightmare to fight.
No sliver hive has ever had more than one queen.

Combat:
In combat the sliver queen lashes out with heir spell-like and psionic abilities. Attempting to strike her foes dead as fast as possible, if pressed into melee, she will use her powerful natural weapons to rip her opponents to shreds. She will not fight a loosing battle however, and will flee using her superior speed and her planeshift ability to leave the battlefield.
The sliver queen’s natural weapons are treated as epic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
Frightful Presence (Ex): A sliver queen can unsettle foes by her mere presence; the ability takes effect automatically whenever she attacks or charges, and affects all non-slivers within a 360’ radius of the sliver queen with less HD than her. A potentially affected creature that makes a will save (DC 34) remains immune to her frightful presence for one day. On a failure, an affected creature becomes panicked for 4d6 rounds if it has 4 or fewer HD, while creatures with 5 or more HD become shaken for 4d6 rounds.
Poison (Ex): Tail sting, fortitude negates, DC 40, primary damage 2d6 Int, 2d6 Wis, 2d6 Cha, secondary damage: death.
Psionic Abilities (Ps): At will – conceal thoughts, detect hostile intent, detect psionics, dispel psionics* (+20 on check), empathy* (115’ radius, 20 hours), ego whip* (5d4 Cha damage, DC 26), empty mind* (+11 to will saves), id insinuation* (DC 26, 9 targets), mental barrier* (+7 deflection bonus to AC, 4 rounds), mind thrust* (20d10, DC 26), psionic blast* (DC 19, 8 rounds); 3/day – anchored navigation* (20 hours, extends across all planar boundaries), aura sight* (90’), mind probe (DC 21), intellect fortress* (14 rounds), shatter mind blank (DC 21), suspend life; 1/day – divert teleport (DC 23), true metabolism; These are as manifested by a 20th level psion. The save DC’s are Cha based.
* This is an augmented power.
Spell-like abilities: At will – comprehend languages, darkness (200 minutes), detect magic, detect thoughts, dispel magic, haste, identify, protection from arrows, slow (DC 19), water breathing; 3/day – death ward, dimension door, discern lies (20 rounds, DC 20), freedom of movement, greater dispel magic, greater heroism, passwall, planeshift, true seeing (20 minutes); 1/day – earthquake (100’ radius, DC 24), foresight, greater teleport, mind blank, spell turning;
These are as the spells cast by a 20th level sorcerer. The save DC’s are Charisma-based.
Telepathy (Su): A sliver queen can communicate mentally with any sliver from her hive at any distance as long as they are both on the same plane. A sliver queen can also communicate mentally with any creature within 1000’ that has a language and that she is aware of. That creature must however, make a DC 10 intelligence check to understand the sliver queen’s intentions. (Slivers do not need to make this check)
Spawn Sliver (Ex): Once per round as a free action, the sliver queen can birth forth a proto sliver. The newborn sliver has all the statistics of a proto sliver, and immediately gains the benefits of all the shared abilities of the slivers within 60’ of itself.

-

Comments? Critique? Questions? Snackrifices?

 

[Cheiromancer]

Is this the only psionic sliver?

I don't remember any others, and I probably would have, since I dislike psionics, and don't use that set of rules. It's a pity a different rulebook would be needed to run (only) the queen. What SLAs would you suggest for a sliver in a campaign without psionics (and a DM without the books)?

Oh, I notice that the queen has knowledge skills! Good stuff.

 

[Krishnath]

Is this the only psionic sliver?

I don't remember any others, and I probably would have, since I dislike psionics, and don't use that set of rules. It's a pity a different rulebook would be needed to run (only) the queen. What SLAs would you suggest for a sliver in a campaign without psionics (and a DM without the books)?

Oh, I notice that the queen has knowledge skills! Good stuff.

The mnemonic, mind whip, and synapse slivers are all psionic. Most of the sliver queens psionic abilities can be exchanged for spells of similar level and power.

mental barrier for example could easily be exchanged for greater mage armor (from Complete Arcane).

 

[Solarious]

And here she is, in all her terrible glory!

Bow before your Queen!

Can't wait for you to get that Sliver Overlord up and running... Or custom slivers for that matter. She is as nasty as she was in the old edition threads.