D&D 5E MM Ankheg Design

[Kobold Avenger]

There's an blog entry from artist on the subject of designing the Ankheg with a bunch of concept drawings.

 

[Scorpio616]

ONETWOTHREE DEATH!!!

Sadly the acid is just another attack now, with even a recharge so using it sooner rather than later is beneficial. I've always liked the notion of some monsters having desperation moves.

There's an blog entry from artist on the subject of designing the Ankheg with a bunch of concept drawings.

Anybody else reminded of the mantis shrimp's claws?

 

[jadrax]

I am quite tempted to work out a Ankheg with working rear-mandible things. They look pretty awesome.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Sadly the acid is just another attack now, with even a recharge so using it sooner rather than later is beneficial. I've always liked the notion of some monsters having desperation moves.


Anybody else reminded of the mantis shrimp's claws?

Also the Mole Cricket.

One of my issues with any monster manuals in general, they do not provide tactics. An acid attack should be last ditch attack as it using proteins and energy to produce and should not be something wasted. An Ankheg would be an ambush hunter, waiting for a creature to pass in range of an attack, then surprise, grapple, bite, eat.

 

[Sacrosanct]

This is one creature they really didn't need to do concept work on. Why not just keep it based off the real life creature (ant lion)? Real life is some times creepier than fiction

 

[Hand of Evil]

This is one creature they really didn't need to do concept work on. Why not just keep it based off the real life creature (ant lion)? Real life is some times creepier than fiction

View attachment 63900

Remember being a kid and taking a stick and spinning it around in a ant lion trap, just to look at the beast.

Another yard bug is the Tiger Beetle larvae, it would sit in its hole, with its back as a trap door, some thing walk across it, snatch! We use to use a pine needle down the hole to pull them out and look at.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I seem to remember the Ankheg once being based on the Ant Lion.

But I guess for the new design with those claws it has something that looks more likely to be used for borrowing.

 

[Wrathamon]

This is one creature they really didn't need to do concept work on. Why not just keep it based off the real life creature (ant lion)? Real life is some times creepier than fiction

View attachment 63900

When I read Ant Lion I thought you meant this ...

 

[MarkB]

When I read Ant Lion I thought you meant this ...

View attachment 63932

Whereas, without the image, I might have thought you meant this:

 

[Hand of Evil]

Oh, did you see this in the NEWS today?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...-florida-fish-wildlife-conservation/15114939/