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<blockquote data-quote="Cleon" data-source="post: 8468596" data-attributes="member: 57383"><p>Okay, on to the comments.</p><p></p><p>That AC and Dexterity seem a bit high. Presumably it's one of the "heavily armored with spines and tubercles" species as mentioned on Wikipedia's <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigonotarbida" target="_blank">Trigonotarbida</a></strong>, but still I think they should be less agile than a Spider.</p><p></p><p>I'd go for maybe AC 15 and either Dex 13 (+1) like a <strong><a href="https://www.5esrd.com/database/creature/animal-scorpion-giant/" target="_blank">Giant Scorpion</a></strong> (similarly body type, Large size and decent chitin armor, although it's faster) or at most Dex 15 (+2) like a <strong><a href="https://www.5esrd.com/database/creature/animal-crab-giant/" target="_blank"><strong>Giant Crab</strong></a></strong> (which has the same 30 ft. speed but is Medium).</p><p></p><p>Would be willing to accept AC 16 like the recent <a href="https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/2137123-giant-solifugid" target="_blank"><strong>Giant Solifugid</strong></a> conversion.</p><p></p><p>Compared to a Giant Solifugid or Scorpion, this critter is a lot slower but has a thicker shell, so it could have the same AC but it's more due to thick chitin than reflexes.</p><p></p><p>The Bite should have "<em>Hit:</em> 10 (2d6 + 3)" - presumably the +3 got left out when calculating its average damage.</p><p></p><p>Apart from that, the "Body Rush" is the only bit I have major issue with.</p><p></p><p>For a start, to me "Rush" implies it, well, rushes towards a target and runs into them. That doesn't appear to be the case here. Maybe change that to "Slam?"</p><p></p><p>Don't much care for the phrase "spiny rear" either - I'd prefer "abdomen" to "rear", and it could presumably kick them with a spiny leg instead. Maybe mention both? Actually, that implies it could do piercing or bludgeoning damage, depending on whether the slam was with a spiky bit of its body. Come to think of it, I like the ring of "tubercles" and might work them into the description too.</p><p></p><p>As a Reaction, the mechanical explanation should start with a triggering condition.</p><p></p><p>Also, "<em>Melee Reaction</em>" doesn't appear to be a 5E rule term, it should have a "<em>Melee Weapon Attack</em>" in there somewhere instead.</p><p></p><p>I'd think the damage should include its Strength bonus - it is whacking the enemy after all.</p><p></p><p>It also needs to say what kind of check that "DC 10 or fall over" is made against - I'd guess Strength, like the Bite action of a 5E <strong><a href="https://www.5esrd.com/database/creature/animal-wolf/" target="_blank"><strong>Wolf</strong></a></strong>?</p><p></p><p>Actually, it is basically a Reaction version of a wolf's bite attack.</p><p></p><p>Putting that together:</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 22px"><strong>Reactions</strong></span></p><p></p><p><strong>Body-Slam</strong>. If the trigonotarbid has a target at its flank or rear, it can use its reaction to strike that target with its tubercle-covered abdomen or a spiny leg. <em>Melee Weapon Attack</em>: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. <em>Hit</em>: 4 (1d4 + 2) bludgeoning damage or 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 12 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.</p><p></p><p>[EDIT]refined the Body-Slam wording with "target" instead of "enemy" in the trigger. Polished the Armour Class musings.[ENDEDIT]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Cleon, post: 8468596, member: 57383"] Okay, on to the comments. That AC and Dexterity seem a bit high. Presumably it's one of the "heavily armored with spines and tubercles" species as mentioned on Wikipedia's [B][URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigonotarbida']Trigonotarbida[/URL][/B], but still I think they should be less agile than a Spider. I'd go for maybe AC 15 and either Dex 13 (+1) like a [B][URL='https://www.5esrd.com/database/creature/animal-scorpion-giant/']Giant Scorpion[/URL][/B] (similarly body type, Large size and decent chitin armor, although it's faster) or at most Dex 15 (+2) like a [B][URL='https://www.5esrd.com/database/creature/animal-crab-giant/'][B]Giant Crab[/B][/URL][/B] (which has the same 30 ft. speed but is Medium). Would be willing to accept AC 16 like the recent [URL='https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/2137123-giant-solifugid'][B]Giant Solifugid[/B][/URL] conversion. Compared to a Giant Solifugid or Scorpion, this critter is a lot slower but has a thicker shell, so it could have the same AC but it's more due to thick chitin than reflexes. The Bite should have "[I]Hit:[/I] 10 (2d6 + 3)" - presumably the +3 got left out when calculating its average damage. Apart from that, the "Body Rush" is the only bit I have major issue with. For a start, to me "Rush" implies it, well, rushes towards a target and runs into them. That doesn't appear to be the case here. Maybe change that to "Slam?" Don't much care for the phrase "spiny rear" either - I'd prefer "abdomen" to "rear", and it could presumably kick them with a spiny leg instead. Maybe mention both? Actually, that implies it could do piercing or bludgeoning damage, depending on whether the slam was with a spiky bit of its body. Come to think of it, I like the ring of "tubercles" and might work them into the description too. As a Reaction, the mechanical explanation should start with a triggering condition. Also, "[I]Melee Reaction[/I]" doesn't appear to be a 5E rule term, it should have a "[I]Melee Weapon Attack[/I]" in there somewhere instead. I'd think the damage should include its Strength bonus - it is whacking the enemy after all. It also needs to say what kind of check that "DC 10 or fall over" is made against - I'd guess Strength, like the Bite action of a 5E [B][URL='https://www.5esrd.com/database/creature/animal-wolf/'][B]Wolf[/B][/URL][/B]? Actually, it is basically a Reaction version of a wolf's bite attack. Putting that together: [SIZE=6][B]Reactions[/B][/SIZE] [B]Body-Slam[/B]. If the trigonotarbid has a target at its flank or rear, it can use its reaction to strike that target with its tubercle-covered abdomen or a spiny leg. [I]Melee Weapon Attack[/I]: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. [I]Hit[/I]: 4 (1d4 + 2) bludgeoning damage or 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 12 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. [EDIT]refined the Body-Slam wording with "target" instead of "enemy" in the trigger. Polished the Armour Class musings.[ENDEDIT] [/QUOTE]
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