[XPH] Cranium Rats gone WILD!

[EldonG]

Yeah...if what Prariecat suggests is good...these rock. MMmmmmmmm...I wanna test these guys out. I think I have devious uses for 'em! If ya wanna do a swarm of CR 25-28...sweet. If not, I'm diggin' out a template or 2.

 

[Piratecat]

Oh, better yet for my game: any reason I couldn't use these same stats and substitute a different type of vermin? See, one of the PCs in my game is afraid of insects. . .

 

[BOZ]

cranium rats really ought to be (Extraplanar).

 

[Nifft]

Oh, better yet for my game: any reason I couldn't use these same stats and substitute a different type of vermin? See, one of the PCs in my game is afraid of insects. . .

No worries on that front -- I'm using exactly these stats for a "Murderer of Crows" (well, except for the Fly speed).

The only issue might be making them smaller than Tiny -- or you could use really, really big insects... "The fist-sized spiders, with a glowing twisty symetric pattern on the top of their their abdomens, all turn towards you. A web of power crackles between them, and suddenly..." Identifying that the twisty abdomen pattern is a glowing brain requires a DC 15 Heal check, or a Necromancer.

cranium rats really ought to be (Extraplanar).

Depends on how you use them. They don't have to be from Sigil. Of course, you're welcome to make them from there, in which case they are indeed (Extraplanar).

IMC, they're going to be from somewhere on the Prime.

If I'm reading this right, a hyper swarm reduced to 0 hp becomes two greater swarms... but two greater swarms can combine into a hyper swarm. They're unbeatable.

Errr... that's a good point. I should either require that the merging takes 10 minutes, or state that the new lower-order swarms have only 1/2 HP when created, and that only a fully healed swarm can merge. Hmm. I like that 2nd one better.

Thoughts?

-- N

 

[Nifft]

Oh, other ideas for updated swarms:

- Cranium Spider swarms would deal poison damage (like the spider swarm in the MM) instead of disease.

- Cranium Centipede swarms would deal poison damage, as above.

- Cranium Stirge swarms would try to paralyze a foe (via Brain Lock or whatnot), then surround the poor sap and suck him dry -- treat as a Mind Flayer brain eating attack, if you're powerless and they're on you when they start their turn, you're just dead (from blood loss, Con 0). This could be fun... if you survive being pelted with dice.

- Cranium Scarab Beetles -- icky! Another drain-you-dry-quick critter.

- Cranium Tiny Scorpions -- whao. Desert danger.

- Cranium Shocker Lizards -- Pika?

-- N

 

[HellHound]

You have Hyper and Greater having the same number of Psionic Power Points, btw.

PS: is it intentional that the swarm damage doesn't go up from Hyper to Ultra?

 

[Knight Otu]

PS: is it intentional that the swarm damage doesn't go up from Hyper to Ultra?

Most likely yes. As a general rule, swarm damage does not increase past 5d6 for 20 HD, but a swarm could have a special ability that allows it to deal more damage (such as the Umbral Splinter swarm I posted using my Ashardalon account).

 

[Nifft]

You have Hyper and Greater having the same number of Psionic Power Points, btw.

PS: is it intentional that the swarm damage doesn't go up from Hyper to Ultra?

Power points: fixed, thanks!

Damage: intentional. The guidelines specify that they pretty much max out at 5d6. At that level, I figured the swarm's physical damage isn't going to be its main threat.

-- N