Monstrous Caterpillar

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link: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-6911-RPG-Examiner~y2009m8d16-Bizarre-Beasts-Monstrous-Caterpillar

 

Monster Madness: Monstrous Caterpillar

August 16, 7:42 AMRPG ExaminerMichael Tresca

Courtesy Bill Mull

Monster Madness looks at forgotten monsters from the early days of gaming, when creativity ran rampant, game balance was an afterthought, and critters with little rhyme or reason plagued dungeons for the sole purpose of brutally murdering adventurers. Today's Monster Madness is from White Dwarf #2, the Giant Caterpillar, by Ian Livingstone.

 

I am astounded?ASTOUNDED!?that the Giant Caterpillar has not yet been converted to the latest versions of Dungeons & Dragons. It's almost as if someone was afraid they wouldn't be taken seriously. Or that they would make really ineffectual monsters. Or ? hey you, stop laughing!

 

There's actually a carnivorous caterpillar that lives in Hawaii, known as the Eupethecia Staurophragma. And it eats other bugs, including fruit flies and snails. So if your players start laughing at being eaten by the worm-like larvae of what will one day be a beautiful butterfly (or ugly moth) remind them that there are tiny one-inch bad mofos chewing the heads off of flies somewhere in Hawaii.

 

"However, they are often hunted as their skins are highly sought after, especially by Hill People."

Say whaaat? Skins? Skins worth up to 200 gold pieces?

 

Anyway, the real carnivorous caterpillars are actually more dangerous than this thing. So improved grab seems appropriate given that the carnivorous former leaf-munchers attack with six legs to hold prey.

 

Monsrous Vermin (Caterpillar)          (CR 3, HD 2d8+4)

N Large Vermin

Init +6 Spd 30 or Climb 15

Senses Darkvision (Ex): 60 ft.; | Listen +4, Spot +8

 

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AC 13 (FF 11, Touch 11)

hp 13 (Disabled -2/Dying -14/Injury 13)

Saves: Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +5

Immunity: Mind-Affecting Attacks (Ex),

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Atk +2 base melee, +2 base ranged; Grapple +7; Face 10'x10';

        +2 Melee (Bite 1d4+3/crit 20/x2);

SA: Poison Bite (Ex) , Improved Grab (Ex)

SQ: Mindless (Ex)

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Abilities STR 14, DEX 15, CON 14, INT 1, WIS 15, CHA 6

Feats: Alertness, Improved Initiative.

Skills: Climb + 10, Hide + 11, Listen + 4, Spot + 8.

 

 

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Poison (Ex): A monstrous caterpillar's bite inflicts a Fort (DC 11) save or suffer 1d4 Dexterity damage initially and secondary.

 

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a monstrous caterpillar must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.