Cleon
Legend
Anyhow, let's get on with the nitty-gritty of updating the Giant Ophiuroid (Brittle Star) working draft.
Let's see, you've decided you prefer the common name rather than their taxonomical name so that becomes Giant Brittle Star (Ophiuroid).
Next is type size & alignment.
While they're definitely unaligned beasts, I'm thinking they ought to be Large. Predatory Serpent Stars prey on shrimps and shellfish smaller than themselves after all, and if these monster versions follow that habit we'll want them to be bigger than a Medium humanoid so they can perceive them as prey!
i.e.:
Brittle Star, Giant (Ophiuroid)
Large beast, unaligned
What do you think?
They can still have 3 Hit Dice and be Large since there are monsters that size with lower Hit Points and HD like the 13 (2d10+2) Constrictor Snake), but most have more like the 34 (4d10+12) Brown Bear, 42 (5d10+15) Polar Bear, 39 (6d10+6) Ankheg or even the 52 (7d10+14) Giant Scorpion.
Echinoderms are pretty tough creatures that are able to survive massive injuries, so I'd aim for a low HD high CON approach to whatever target hit points we aim for. Maybe 4 HD and a +3 CON modifier like the Brown Bear?
Although I'm tempted to go for 5 HD and a +3 or +2 CON modifier plus give them a Saving Throw Proficiency in Constitution, just to mix it up a bit.
If you prefer to keep them Medium sized I'd keep them 3d8 but increase the CON mod to +2, for HD, like a Black Bear.
Any preferences?
Let's see, you've decided you prefer the common name rather than their taxonomical name so that becomes Giant Brittle Star (Ophiuroid).
Next is type size & alignment.
While they're definitely unaligned beasts, I'm thinking they ought to be Large. Predatory Serpent Stars prey on shrimps and shellfish smaller than themselves after all, and if these monster versions follow that habit we'll want them to be bigger than a Medium humanoid so they can perceive them as prey!
i.e.:
Brittle Star, Giant (Ophiuroid)
Large beast, unaligned
What do you think?
They can still have 3 Hit Dice and be Large since there are monsters that size with lower Hit Points and HD like the 13 (2d10+2) Constrictor Snake), but most have more like the 34 (4d10+12) Brown Bear, 42 (5d10+15) Polar Bear, 39 (6d10+6) Ankheg or even the 52 (7d10+14) Giant Scorpion.
Echinoderms are pretty tough creatures that are able to survive massive injuries, so I'd aim for a low HD high CON approach to whatever target hit points we aim for. Maybe 4 HD and a +3 CON modifier like the Brown Bear?
Although I'm tempted to go for 5 HD and a +3 or +2 CON modifier plus give them a Saving Throw Proficiency in Constitution, just to mix it up a bit.
If you prefer to keep them Medium sized I'd keep them 3d8 but increase the CON mod to +2, for HD, like a Black Bear.
Any preferences?
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