Palanan
2013-02-12, 05:18 PM
First, this is a DM-only thread, so my players should buzz off. :smalltongue:
So, I really need input on a new type of swarm I've just put together, which I'm hoping to use in our next session this weekend.
I've never done much with swarms, and I only have the shakiest notion of homebrewing creature stats. Everything that follows has been very roughly eyeballed, following the basic outline of the swarms in the Monster Manual. (I've also borrowed slightly from the shimmerling swarm in MM3.)
This is my very first swarm, and my first homebrewed creature in quite a while, so please tell me how it looks, where I've gone wrong and what it needs to make it right. So, without further ado:
Butterfly Swarm
Fine Vermin (Swarm)
Hit Dice: 3d8 (13 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: Fly 50 (good)
Armor Class: 22 (+8 size, +4 Dex)
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/ -
Attack: Swarm (1d6)
Full Attack: Swarm (1d6)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Distraction, kaleidoscopic dazzle, dust
Special Qualities: Blindsense 10 ft., immune to weapon damage, swarm traits
Saves: Fort +0, Ref +4, Will +0
Abilities: Str 1, Dex 19, Con 5, Int -, Wis 10, Cha 12
Skills: -
Feats: -
Environment: warm tropical forests (continuous), warm temperate forests (warm months), cold temperate forests (summer)
Organization:
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: none
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: None
Level Adjustment: -
A butterfly swarm is a whirling cloud of thousands of butterflies, usually congregating around rich resources such as dense flowers or mineral-rich puddles. A butterfly swarm rarely if ever attacks.
Blindsense (Ex): A butterfly swarm notices and locates creatures within 10 feet; the swarm's typical reaction is to flee. Opponents still have total concealment against the butterfly swarm, but swarm attacks ignore concealment.
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins its turn with a swarm in its square must succeed on a DC 8 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. The save is Constitution-based.
Kaleidoscopic Dazzle (Ex): Each butterfly in a swarm contributes to a mesmerizing swirl of brilliant colors and iridescent hues. Any creature within 100 ft. must succeed on a DC 12 Will save or be fascinated for as long as the swarm is in sight. Any potential threat allows another save against the effect, and vigorous intervention or an imminent threat automatically frees the fascinated creature from the effect. The save is Charisma-based.
A butterfly swarm cannot deactivate this effect while flying, and a flying butterfly swarm automatically fails Hide checks. By contrast, a roosting swarm in a natural forest environment is difficult to detect.
Dust (Ex): The fluttering agitation of a butterfly swarm raises a glittering haze of near-microscopic wing scales, which has two effects. Any creature spending 2 or more rounds within a butterfly swarm must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or take 1d3 points of nonlethal damage for each subsequent round spent within the swarm. (Failing this save also provokes a fit of coughing which compromises any attempts to move silently.) The save is Dexterity-based.
In addition, any creature spending 3 or more rounds within a butterfly swarm is coated with fine glittering scales, conferring a -10 penalty on Hide checks until the creature is thoroughly brushed down. A thorough brushing is a full-round action.
changelog:
2-13-13
- changed HD from d4 to d8, adjusted hp from 7 to 13
- adjusted initiative bonus from +3 to +4
- clarified Dust is an Ex ability
- pondered removing Kaleidoscopic Dazzle (despite really liking the name)
2-16-13
- changed Int to -, Cha to 12, and CR to 2
- upgraded swarm damage to 1d6
- specified Blindsense as Ex
- changed Distraction DC to 8, K-Dazzle DC to 12, Dust DC to 15; added clarifying text per Debi
- defined a "thorough brushing" as a full-round action
- filled out text in a couple of places
- generally did what Debi said I should :smalltongue:
2-17-13
- removed skills
.
So, I really need input on a new type of swarm I've just put together, which I'm hoping to use in our next session this weekend.
I've never done much with swarms, and I only have the shakiest notion of homebrewing creature stats. Everything that follows has been very roughly eyeballed, following the basic outline of the swarms in the Monster Manual. (I've also borrowed slightly from the shimmerling swarm in MM3.)
This is my very first swarm, and my first homebrewed creature in quite a while, so please tell me how it looks, where I've gone wrong and what it needs to make it right. So, without further ado:
Butterfly Swarm
Fine Vermin (Swarm)
Hit Dice: 3d8 (13 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: Fly 50 (good)
Armor Class: 22 (+8 size, +4 Dex)
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/ -
Attack: Swarm (1d6)
Full Attack: Swarm (1d6)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Distraction, kaleidoscopic dazzle, dust
Special Qualities: Blindsense 10 ft., immune to weapon damage, swarm traits
Saves: Fort +0, Ref +4, Will +0
Abilities: Str 1, Dex 19, Con 5, Int -, Wis 10, Cha 12
Skills: -
Feats: -
Environment: warm tropical forests (continuous), warm temperate forests (warm months), cold temperate forests (summer)
Organization:
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: none
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: None
Level Adjustment: -
A butterfly swarm is a whirling cloud of thousands of butterflies, usually congregating around rich resources such as dense flowers or mineral-rich puddles. A butterfly swarm rarely if ever attacks.
Blindsense (Ex): A butterfly swarm notices and locates creatures within 10 feet; the swarm's typical reaction is to flee. Opponents still have total concealment against the butterfly swarm, but swarm attacks ignore concealment.
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins its turn with a swarm in its square must succeed on a DC 8 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. The save is Constitution-based.
Kaleidoscopic Dazzle (Ex): Each butterfly in a swarm contributes to a mesmerizing swirl of brilliant colors and iridescent hues. Any creature within 100 ft. must succeed on a DC 12 Will save or be fascinated for as long as the swarm is in sight. Any potential threat allows another save against the effect, and vigorous intervention or an imminent threat automatically frees the fascinated creature from the effect. The save is Charisma-based.
A butterfly swarm cannot deactivate this effect while flying, and a flying butterfly swarm automatically fails Hide checks. By contrast, a roosting swarm in a natural forest environment is difficult to detect.
Dust (Ex): The fluttering agitation of a butterfly swarm raises a glittering haze of near-microscopic wing scales, which has two effects. Any creature spending 2 or more rounds within a butterfly swarm must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or take 1d3 points of nonlethal damage for each subsequent round spent within the swarm. (Failing this save also provokes a fit of coughing which compromises any attempts to move silently.) The save is Dexterity-based.
In addition, any creature spending 3 or more rounds within a butterfly swarm is coated with fine glittering scales, conferring a -10 penalty on Hide checks until the creature is thoroughly brushed down. A thorough brushing is a full-round action.
changelog:
2-13-13
- changed HD from d4 to d8, adjusted hp from 7 to 13
- adjusted initiative bonus from +3 to +4
- clarified Dust is an Ex ability
- pondered removing Kaleidoscopic Dazzle (despite really liking the name)
2-16-13
- changed Int to -, Cha to 12, and CR to 2
- upgraded swarm damage to 1d6
- specified Blindsense as Ex
- changed Distraction DC to 8, K-Dazzle DC to 12, Dust DC to 15; added clarifying text per Debi
- defined a "thorough brushing" as a full-round action
- filled out text in a couple of places
- generally did what Debi said I should :smalltongue:
2-17-13
- removed skills
.