5E: Monstrous Arthropods for Fifth Edition

[Casimir Liber]

ok they look all good to me (but my eye for detail is not great).

So the Mystara dragon flies have the same ascending size/power as corresponding chromatic dragons (I guess we ignore Bergmann's Rule then)

 

[Cleon]

ok they look all good to me (but my eye for detail is not great).

Works for me!

I'll green all the magenta bits and update all the odonatids then.

Might as well put in hyperlinks at the (see "") bits while I'm at it.

So the Mystara dragon flies have the same ascending size/power as corresponding chromatic dragons

They increase in power like Chromatics but not size, as all the colours are listed as being 3 to 4 feet long.

(I guess we ignore Bergmann's Rule then)

Yup!

Normal-sized odonatids appear to ignore it too, since the largest damselflies and dragonflies live in the tropics.

 

[Cleon]

Swarm of Giant Damselflies
Medium swarm of Tiny beasts, unaligned
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 24 (7d8 – 7)
Speed 10 ft., fly 30 ft. (hover)

STR​	DEX​	CON​	INT​	WIS​	CHA​
7 (–2)​	16 (+3)​	8 (–1)​	1 (–5)​	12 (+1)​	5 (–2)​

Saving Throws DEX +6
Skills Perception +3
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, stunned
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages —
Challenge 1 (200 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2

Evasive Flight. A giant odonatid swarm gains advantage on Dexterity saving throws when flying and attackers have disadvantage on attack rolls against it.
 If the giant odonatid is mounted or grappling an opponent, it must make a DC 12 STR check to use Evasive Flight each time it is attacked.

Expert Aerialist. The giant odonatid swarm has advantage on Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks when flying.

Keen Sight. The giant odonatid swarm has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature's space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny insect. The swarm can't regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.

Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 0 ft., one target in the swarm's space. Hit: 10 (4d4) slashing damage, or 5 (2d4) slashing damage if the swarm has half of its hit points or fewer.

Bonus Actions

Dashing Flight. The giant odonatid swarm flies up to 20 feet.


Description

There are great lakes, vast swamps, and broad rivers in the tropics that are ideal habitats for dainty giant damselfly naiads. During the breeding season, these places buzz with hordes of cubit-long damselflies (see Dainty Giant Damselfly for the individual entry). Most are males vying for the attention of females who've come to mate or lay their eggs. The females usually fly elsewhere when they don't want to breed, to avoid being constantly hassled by eager suitors. The giant damselflies can become so numerous and densely packed they become a swarm with the statistics presented above. The best breeding sites can have many such flying swarms.
 Swarms of giant damselflies only attack Small or larger creatures if some outside agency, such as a hostile druid, compels them to fight. The damselflies have other things on their minds than fighting, and if the swarm senses a threat its instinctive response is to flee or scatter.

VARIANT: SWARM OF GIANT DRAGONFLIES
While they're a lot rarer than giant damselfly swarms, giant dragonflies might congregate into swarms if the conditions are just right for dainty giant dragonfly reproduction (see Dainty Giant Damselfly for individual dainty giant dragonflies). A swarm of giant dragonflies has the same statistics as a swarm of giant damselflies, except it is faster (fly 40 ft., Dashing Flight 40 ft., Dodging Flight 20 ft.).

VARIANT: SWARMS OF GIANT TENEBROUS OR UNDERDARK DAMSELFLIES
Swarms of monstrous helicopter damselflies that can see in the dark are almost unheard of on or near the surface, but aren't unusual in the most fertile sunless seas and mushroom forests of the Underdark (see Mammoth Helicopter Damselfly for details, under Tenebrous Helicopter Damselflies and Underdark Helicopter Damselflies). A swarm of these variants has the same statistics as a swarm of giant damselflies, except for having better senses—the tenebrous variety has blindsight 10 ft., darkvision 30 ft.; the underdark variety, popularly called a swarm of lesser ghostwings, has blindsight 20 ft., darkvision 40 ft.

(Monster designed by Casimir Liber and Cleon on Enworld.org's General Monster Talk Creature Catalog Forum; inspired by the giant dragonfly that debuted in EX2 The Land Beyond the Magic Mirror (1983) by Gary Gygax.)

 

[Cleon]

Works for me!

I'll green all the magenta bits and update all the odonatids then.

Might as well put in hyperlinks at the (see "") bits while I'm at it.

Finished!

Updating the Dainty Giant Damselfly.
Updating the Dainty Giant Damselfly Naiad.
Updating the Diminutive Giant Dragonfly.
Updating the Diminutive Giant Dragonfly Nymph.
Updating the Giant Damselfly.
Updating the Giant Damselfly Naiad.
Updating the Giant Dragonfly.
Updating the Giant Dragonfly Nymph.
Updating the Imperial Giant Dragonfly.
Updating the Imperial Giant Dragonfly Nymph.
Updating the Mammoth Helicopter Damselfly.
Updating the Mammoth Damselfly Naiad.
Updating the Titanic Tropical Dragonfly.
Updating the Titanic Dragonfly Nymph.
​

Didn't do the Swarm of Giant Damselflies as doing all those hyperlinks was such a faff I need a break.

Come to think of it, I need some shopping too…

Cheerio for a while!

 

[Cleon]

Didn't do the Swarm of Giant Damselflies as doing all those hyperlinks was such a faff I need a break.

Come to think of it, I need some shopping too…

Cheerio for a while!

Well I'm refreshed and had some idle time, so…

Updating the Swarm of Giant Damselflies.

EDIT: So if you're okay with the above we can start talking about the "Dragon Flies."

I'll do some placeholder posts for the stats.

 

[Cleon]

Mystaran Dragonflies
Small monstrosity, unaligned
Armor Class [see below](natural armor)
Hit Points [see below]
Speed 20 ft., fly 50 ft. (hover)

Dragonflies Statistics Table

Type​	AC​	Hit Points​	STR​	DEX​	CON​	INT​	WIS​	CHA​	Challenge​
Black​	##​	## (#d6+##)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	# (–#)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	# (### XP)​
Blue​	##​	## (#d6+##)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	# (–#)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	# (### XP)​
Gold​	##​	## (#d6+##)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	# (–#)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	# (### XP)​
Green​	##​	## (#d6+##)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	# (–#)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	# (### XP)​
Red​	##​	## (#d6+##)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	# (–#)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	# (### XP)​
White​	##​	## (#d6+##)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	## (+#)​	# (–#)​	## (+#)​	# (–#)​	# (### XP)​

Saving Throws [see below]
Skills proficient in [Skill]
 [SKILL] +# if [NAME] or [NAME]; [SKILL] +# if [NAME], [NAME] or [NAME]
Senses ???vision/sense/sight ## ft., passive Perception ##
Languages —
Challenge CR # (### XP) if [NAME] or [NAME]; # (### XP) if [NAME], [NAME] or [NAME]
Proficiency Bonus +# if [NAME] or [NAME]; +# if [NAME], [NAME] or [NAME]

Special Trait. ???.

Special Trait. ???.

Dragonflies Combat Table

Type​	Saves & Skills²​	Bite​	Breath Weapon​
Black​	##​	+#, # (#d# + #) slashing​	# (#d# + #) acid, DEX save DC ## for ½​
Blue​	##​	+#, # (#d# + #) slashing​	# (#d# + #) lightning, DEX save DC ## for ½​
Gold​	##​	+#, # (#d# + #) slashing​	# (#d# + #) fire or poison, DEX save DC ## for ½​
Green​	##​	+#, # (#d# + #) slashing​	# (#d# + #) poison, DEX save DC ## for ½​
Red​	##​	+#, # (#d# + #) slashing​	# (#d# + #) fire, DEX save DC ## for ½​
White​	##​	+#, # (#d# + #) slashing​	# (#d# + #) cold, DEX save DC ## for ½​

1. Note.
2. Note.

Actions

Multiattack. The dragonfly makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its breath weapon.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +# to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: # (#d# + #) ??? damage.

Breath Weapon. ???.
 ???.

Bonus Actions

Bonus Action. ???.
  Dashing Flight?


Description

Text.
 Text.
 Crunch. Flavor.

 Subentry. ???

(Monster designed by Casimir Liber and Cleon on Enworld.org's General Monster Talk Creature Catalog Forum; based on the Basic/Expert D&D dragonfly that first appeared in XL1 - Quest for the Heartstone (1984) by Michael L. Gray. The gold dragonfly first appeared in Dungeon Magazine #6 (July/August 1987) in the adventure "The Tortles of the Purple Sage—Part 1" by Merle and Jackie Rasmussen.)

 

[Cleon]

Mystaran Black Dragonfly
Small monstrosity, unaligned
Armor Class 1# (natural armor)
Hit Points ## (#d6 + ##)
Speed 20 ft., fly 50 ft. (hover)

STR​	DEX​	CON​	INT​	WIS​	CHA​
## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​

Saving Throws Stat +#
Skills Skill +#, Skill +#
Senses ???vision/sense/sight ## ft., passive Perception ##
Languages ### —
Challenge # (### XP) Proficiency Bonus +#

Special Trait. ???.

Special Trait. ???.

Actions

Multiattack. The dragonfly makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its breath weapon.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +# to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: # (#d# + #) ??? damage.

Breath Weapon. ???.
 ???.

Bonus Actions

Bonus Action. ???.
  Dashing Flight?


Description

???.
 ???.
 Subsection. ???.
 ???.

 Subsection. ???.
 ???.

(Monster designed by Casimir Liber and Cleon on Enworld.org's General Monster Talk Creature Catalog Forum; based on the Basic/Expert D&D dragonfly that first appeared in XL1 - Quest for the Heartstone (1984) by Michael L. Gray.)

 

[Cleon]

Mystaran Blue Dragonfly
Small monstrosity, unaligned
Armor Class 1# (natural armor)
Hit Points ## (#d6 + ##)
Speed 20 ft., fly 50 ft. (hover)

STR​	DEX​	CON​	INT​	WIS​	CHA​
## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​

Saving Throws Stat +#
Skills Skill +#, Skill +#
Senses ???vision/sense/sight ## ft., passive Perception ##
Languages ### —
Challenge # (### XP) Proficiency Bonus +#

Special Trait. ???.

Special Trait. ???.

Actions

Multiattack. The dragonfly makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its breath weapon.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +# to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: # (#d# + #) ??? damage.

Breath Weapon. ???.
 ???.

Bonus Actions

Bonus Action. ???.
  Dashing Flight?


Description

???.
 ???.
 Subsection. ???.
 ???.

 Subsection. ???.
 ???.

(Monster designed by Casimir Liber and Cleon on Enworld.org's General Monster Talk Creature Catalog Forum; based on the Basic/Expert D&D dragonfly that first appeared in XL1 - Quest for the Heartstone (1984) by Michael L. Gray.)

 

[Cleon]

Mystaran Green Dragonfly
Small monstrosity, unaligned
Armor Class 1# (natural armor)
Hit Points ## (#d6 + ##)
Speed 20 ft., fly 50 ft. (hover)

STR​	DEX​	CON​	INT​	WIS​	CHA​
## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​

Saving Throws Stat +#
Skills Skill +#, Skill +#
Senses ???vision/sense/sight ## ft., passive Perception ##
Languages ### —
Challenge # (### XP) Proficiency Bonus +#

Special Trait. ???.

Special Trait. ???.

Actions

Multiattack. The dragonfly makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its breath weapon.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +# to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: # (#d# + #) ??? damage.

Breath Weapon. ???.
 ???.

Bonus Actions

Bonus Action. ???.
  Dashing Flight?


Description

???.
 ???.
 Subsection. ???.
 ???.

 Subsection. ???.
 ???.

(Monster designed by Casimir Liber and Cleon on Enworld.org's General Monster Talk Creature Catalog Forum; based on the Basic/Expert D&D dragonfly that first appeared in XL1 - Quest for the Heartstone (1984) by Michael L. Gray.)

 

[Cleon]

Mystaran Red Dragonfly
Small monstrosity, unaligned
Armor Class 1# (natural armor)
Hit Points ## (#d6 + ##)
Speed 20 ft., fly 50 ft. (hover)

STR​	DEX​	CON​	INT​	WIS​	CHA​
## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​	## (+–#)​

Saving Throws Stat +#
Skills Skill +#, Skill +#
Senses ???vision/sense/sight ## ft., passive Perception ##
Languages ### —
Challenge # (### XP) Proficiency Bonus +#

Special Trait. ???.

Special Trait. ???.

Actions

Multiattack. The dragonfly makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its breath weapon.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +# to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: # (#d# + #) ??? damage.

Breath Weapon. ???.
 ???.

Bonus Actions

Bonus Action. ???.
  Dashing Flight?


Description

???.
 ???.
 Subsection. ???.
 ???.

 Subsection. ???.
 ???.

(Monster designed by Casimir Liber and Cleon on Enworld.org's General Monster Talk Creature Catalog Forum; based on the Basic/Expert D&D dragonfly that first appeared in XL1 - Quest for the Heartstone (1984) by Michael L. Gray.)