Blade Spider: Difference between revisions

From Epic Path
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (Text replacement - " <!-- Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance" --> | Role-Only--Replace-Shooter-Power--Concentration" to " <!-- Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" o...)
No edit summary
 
(16 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 6: Line 6:
   <!-- Value: integer between 1 and 40. -->
   <!-- Value: integer between 1 and 40. -->
   }}</onlyinclude>
   }}</onlyinclude>
| Min-CR = 8
| Max-CR = 16


| MonsterName=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|MonsterName}}}
| MonsterName=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|MonsterName}}}
Line 23: Line 26:
| Role=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Role}}}
| Role=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Role}}}
| Role |  
| Role |  
   <!-- Values: Heavy, Killer, Leader, Legend, Minion, Shooter, Skirmisher, Sneak, Tank, Threat, Villain, or leave blank -->
   <!-- Values: Heavy, Killer, Leader, Legend, Minion, Shooter, Skirmisher, Sneak, Swarm, Tank, Threat, Villain, or leave blank -->


   }}</onlyinclude>
   }}</onlyinclude>
Line 37: Line 40:
| Restrict-Role-Skirmisher =  
| Restrict-Role-Skirmisher =  
| Restrict-Role-Sneak =  
| Restrict-Role-Sneak =  
| Restrict-Role-Swarm =
| Restrict-Role-Tank =  
| Restrict-Role-Tank =  
| Restrict-Role-Threat =  
| Restrict-Role-Threat =  
Line 56: Line 60:
| Description | Blade spiders are monstrous arachnids that lurk in nearly any areas with adequate hiding spaces and enough foot traffic to keep them fed.  This can be forests, mines, inside wells and even along lightly-traveled roads.  Blade spiders have bodies that average about 7 feet in length, and tend to keep their legs tight to their bodies.  These spiders get their name from their blade-like legs, which have a razor-sharp point and a cutting edge along the length of the final joint of the leg.  Blade spiders prefer fresh prey, rarely killing more than they can eat in a single meal.  Humanoids, horses and cattle are their preferred food.   
| Description | Blade spiders are monstrous arachnids that lurk in nearly any areas with adequate hiding spaces and enough foot traffic to keep them fed.  This can be forests, mines, inside wells and even along lightly-traveled roads.  Blade spiders have bodies that average about 7 feet in length, and tend to keep their legs tight to their bodies.  These spiders get their name from their blade-like legs, which have a razor-sharp point and a cutting edge along the length of the final joint of the leg.  Blade spiders prefer fresh prey, rarely killing more than they can eat in a single meal.  Humanoids, horses and cattle are their preferred food.   


:Another aspect of the blade spider is their webs.  Blade spiders can rapidly fill an area with webbing that is full of razor-sharp strands.  These webs serve to both entrap their victims as well as weaken them through blood loss.  These webs are easy to see when seen from an angle, but when seen from straight on, they are nearly invisible.  Blade spiders sometimes litter acres of forest with webs as a way of being alerted to activity in their territory.
Another aspect of the blade spider is their webs.  Blade spiders can rapidly fill an area with webbing that is full of razor-sharp strands.  These webs serve to both entrap their victims as well as weaken them through blood loss.  These webs are easy to see when seen from an angle, but when seen from straight on, they are nearly invisible.  Blade spiders sometimes litter acres of forest with webs as a way of being alerted to activity in their territory.


:A blade spider's venom acts to liquify the insides of a creature over about an hour, whereupon the spider slurps out the gooey center like a juice-box.  The leftover corpse is little more than a hollow suit of skin wrapped in webs.
A blade spider's venom acts to liquify the insides of a creature over about an hour, whereupon the spider slurps out the gooey center like a juice-box.  The leftover corpse is little more than a hollow suit of skin wrapped in webs.




Line 75: Line 79:
| Type=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Type}}}
| Type=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Type}}}
| Type | Vermin
| Type | Vermin
   <!-- Values: Aberration, Animal, Construct, Dragon, Fey, Humanoid, Incorporeal, Magical Beast, Monstrous Humanoid, Ooze, Outsider, Plant, Protean, Swarm, Troop, Undead, Vermin -->
   <!-- Values: Aberration, Animal, Construct, Dragon, Fey, Humanoid, Incorporeal, Magical Beast, Monstrous Humanoid, Ooze, Outsider, Plant, Protean, Undead, Vermin -->
   }}</onlyinclude>
   }}</onlyinclude>


| Subtype=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Subtype}}}
| Subtype=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Subtype}}}
| Subtype |  
| Subtype |  
   <!-- If second monster type (e.g. a swarm of vermin): Aberration, Animal, Construct, Dragon, Fey, Humanoid, Incorporeal, Magical Beast, Monstrous Humanoid, Ooze, Outsider, Plant, Protean, Swarm, Troop, Undead, Vermin -->
   <!-- If second monster type: Aberration, Animal, Construct, Dragon, Fey, Humanoid, Incorporeal, Magical Beast, Monstrous Humanoid, Ooze, Outsider, Plant, Protean, Undead, Vermin -->
   <!-- If Humanoid: Duergar, Giant, Gloom, Gnoll, Human, Kobold, Lizardfolk, Maenad, Norker, Orc, Somber Crool, Troglodyte, Vampire Thrall -->
   <!-- If Humanoid: Duergar, Giant, Gloom, Gnoll, Human, Kobold, Lizardfolk, Maenad, Norker, Orc, Somber Crool, Troglodyte, Vampire Thrall -->
   <!-- If Outsider: Air, Chaotic, Demon, Devil, Earth, Elemental, Evil, Fire, Good, Lawful, Native, Water -->
   <!-- If Outsider: Air, Chaotic, Demon, Devil, Earth, Elemental, Evil, Fire, Good, Lawful, Native, Water -->
Line 186: Line 190:
   <!-- Put any 'immunity' or 'hardened' values here;
   <!-- Put any 'immunity' or 'hardened' values here;
         immunities based on type (e.g. Vermin) or role (e.g. Threat) are automatically added
         immunities based on type (e.g. Vermin) or role (e.g. Threat) are automatically added
           '''''Hardened (damage):'''''
           '''''Hardened (1/2 damage):'''''
           '''''Immune (no effect):'''''                                                                  -->
           '''''Immune (no effect):'''''                                                                  -->


Line 243: Line 247:


| NudgeSpace =  
| NudgeSpace =  
   <!-- Values: any positive or negative number, or leave blank. Max recommended is +/-2. This is number of SQUARES; will be converted to feet.               -->
   <!-- Values: any positive or negative number, or leave blank. Max recommended is +/-2. This is number of SQUARES; will be converted to feet.
  <!-- NOTE: If type or subtype is "Swarm", the space will default to 10 ft.                                                                                 -->
        NOTE: If role is "Swarm", only put the space occupied by the COMPONENT CREATURE, NOT the space of the swarm, troop, or horde.
  <!-- NOTE: If type or subtype is "Troop", the space will default to 15 ft. + the normal space for the component creature size (e.g. 20 ft. for size medium) -->
        NOTE: Swarms default to 10 feet. Troops default to 15 ft. + the normal space for the component creature size (e.g. 20 ft. for size medium) -->


| NudgeReach = -1
| NudgeReach = -1
   <!-- Values: any positive or negative number, or leave blank. Max recommended is +/-2. This is number of SQUARES; will be converted to feet.     -->
   <!-- Values: any positive or negative number, or leave blank. Max recommended is +/-2. This is number of SQUARES; will be converted to feet.
  <!-- NOTE: If type or subtype is "Swarm", the reach will default to 0 ft.                                                                         -->
        NOTE: If role is "Swarm", only put the reach of the COMPONENT CREATURE, NOT the reach of the swarm, troop, or horde.
  <!-- NOTE: If type or subtype is "Troop", the reach will default to the normal reach for the component creature size (e.g. 5 ft. for size medium) -->
        NOTE: Swarms default to 0 ft. Troops default to the normal reach for the component creature size (e.g. 5 ft. for size medium) -->




Line 290: Line 294:


| PriAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
| PriAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone" or "swarm") -->
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone") -->


| NudgePriToHit =  
| NudgePriToHit =  
Line 333: Line 337:


| SecAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
| SecAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone" or "swarm") -->
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone") -->


| NudgeSecToHit =  
| NudgeSecToHit =  
Line 376: Line 380:


| TerAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
| TerAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone" or "swarm") -->
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone") -->


| NudgeTerToHit =  
| NudgeTerToHit =  
Line 419: Line 423:


| QuaAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
| QuaAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone" or "swarm") -->
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone") -->


| NudgeQuaToHit =  
| NudgeQuaToHit =  
Line 471: Line 475:


| RangedAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
| RangedAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone" or "swarm") -->
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone") -->


| NudgeRangedToHit =  
| NudgeRangedToHit =  
Line 576: Line 580:
<!--  SPECIAL ABILITIES  -->
<!--  SPECIAL ABILITIES  -->


<!--  ROLE-BASED SPECIAL ABILITIES -->
| HideRoleReminder1 =
  <!-- Roles only; Values: Y (for yes) or leave blank (to leave reminder (if any) displayed) -->
| HideRoleReminder2 =
  <!-- Roles only; Values: Y (for yes) or leave blank (to leave reminder (if any) displayed) -->
| HideRoleReminder3 =
  <!-- Roles only; Values: Y (for yes) or leave blank (to leave reminder (if any) displayed) -->
| HideRoleReminder4 =
  <!-- Roles only; Values: Y (for yes) or leave blank (to leave reminder (if any) displayed) -->




Line 600: Line 590:
   <!-- Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance" -->
   <!-- Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance" -->


| Ability-1-Action-Required =  
| Ability-1-Action-Required = Standard Action
   <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action, Free Action, Immediate Action
   <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action, Free Action, Immediate Action
                 Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.        -->
                 Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.        -->
Line 609: Line 599:
| Ability-1-Description = As a standard action, the blade spider can fling a web at an enemy creature within 100 feet (range increment 20 feet).  This attack is made as a [[melee touch attack]] at {{Touch-Attack}}.  If the web hits, it explodes in a silent wave of feathery webbing, affecting the target's square and all adjacent squares (if the target is size large or larger, the GM can pick which 3x3 square area is affected).  If the web misses, the glob of webbing scatters per the [[splash weapon]] rules.
| Ability-1-Description = As a standard action, the blade spider can fling a web at an enemy creature within 100 feet (range increment 20 feet).  This attack is made as a [[melee touch attack]] at {{Touch-Attack}}.  If the web hits, it explodes in a silent wave of feathery webbing, affecting the target's square and all adjacent squares (if the target is size large or larger, the GM can pick which 3x3 square area is affected).  If the web misses, the glob of webbing scatters per the [[splash weapon]] rules.


:A creature directly struck by the webbing takes no damage but is [[Entangled]] and [[Immobilized]].  Breaking free requires either a [[Might]] check or an [[Escape Artist]] check, against the Maneuver Defense (DC {{Maneuver-Defense}}) of the attacking spider.  Attempting either check, regardless of success or failure, causes the creature to take {{Special-Swift-Dmg}} points of {{dmg|slashing}} damage, and 3 points of [[Bleed]], each round, at the beginning of their turns, as the razor-edged filaments cut into them.  Successfully breaking free ends the [[Immobilized]] condition, though you remain [[Entangled]] until you leave the area of effect of the web (see below).
A creature directly struck by the webbing takes no damage but is [[Entangled]] and [[Immobilized]].  Breaking free requires either a [[Might]] check or an [[Escape Artist]] check, against the Maneuver Defense (DC {{Maneuver-Defense}}) of the attacking spider.  Attempting either check, regardless of success or failure, causes the creature to take {{Special-Swift-Dmg}} points of {{dmg|slashing}} damage, and 3 points of [[Bleed]], each round, at the beginning of their turns, as the razor-edged filaments cut into them.  Successfully breaking free ends the [[Immobilized]] condition, though you remain [[Entangled]] until you leave the area of effect of the web (see below).


:Creatures who were not directly struck by the webbing (or those who have successfully broken free of the webbing), but are inside the area of effect of the webbing are [[Entangled]].  This status condition ends at the end of any creature's turn in which they are no longer inside a web's area of effect.  Entering any square in which a web exists also inflicts a 3 point [[Bleed]] condition.  Note that bleed conditions do not stack (instead, the worst available bleed is applied and all lesser bleeds are ignored).
Creatures who were not directly struck by the webbing (or those who have successfully broken free of the webbing), but are inside the area of effect of the webbing are [[Entangled]].  This status condition ends at the end of any creature's turn in which they are no longer inside a web's area of effect.  Entering any square in which a web exists also inflicts a 3 point [[Bleed]] condition.  Note that bleed conditions do not stack (instead, the worst available bleed is applied and all lesser bleeds are ignored).


:Webbing thrown in combat is easily spotted by onlookers, requiring no perception checks to notice.  However, webbing woven in an area and left to dry is harder to spot, as it hardens and becomes transparent.  The DC of a perception check to notice webbing in an adjacent square is {{Skill-DC|Challenging}}.  For each 5 above the base DC, the viewer can also perceive webbing at an additional 5 feet of range beyond adjacent, if any exists.  Because moving through this webbing inflicts a bleed condition, this is considered a trap, so bonuses to perception to notice traps apply for this check.
Webbing thrown in combat is easily spotted by onlookers, requiring no perception checks to notice.  However, webbing woven in an area and left to dry is harder to spot, as it hardens and becomes transparent.  The DC of a perception check to notice webbing in an adjacent square is {{Skill-DC|Challenging}}.  For each 5 above the base DC, the viewer can also perceive webbing at an additional 5 feet of range beyond adjacent, if any exists.  Because moving through this webbing inflicts a bleed condition, this is considered a trap, so bonuses to perception to notice traps apply for this check.


:Blade spiders are immune to all of the harmful effects of the web, and can move over and through the web without impediment.  They can even use the webbing to make use of their climb movement, allowing them to ignore rough terrain or gain some elevation if the web is in an area of trees or other vertical attach points.
Blade spiders are immune to all of the harmful effects of the web, and can move over and through the web without impediment.  They can even use the webbing to make use of their climb movement, allowing them to ignore rough terrain or gain some elevation if the web is in an area of trees or other vertical attach points.




Line 652: Line 642:
   <!--Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance"-->
   <!--Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance"-->


| Ability-2-Action-Required =  
| Ability-2-Action-Required = Automatic upon successful attack
   <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action, Free Action, Immediate Action
   <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action, Free Action, Immediate Action
                 Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.        -->
                 Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.        -->
Line 1,312: Line 1,302:
| Role-Only--Add-Skirmisher-Power--Type =  
| Role-Only--Add-Skirmisher-Power--Type =  
     <!-- Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance"    -->
     <!-- Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance"    -->
| Role-Only--Add-Skirmisher-Power--Action-Required =
  <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action, Free Action, Immediate Action
                Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.        -->


| Role-Only--Add-Skirmisher-Power--Concentration =  
| Role-Only--Add-Skirmisher-Power--Concentration =  
Line 1,359: Line 1,353:
| Role-Only--Replace-Sneak-Power--Type =  
| Role-Only--Replace-Sneak-Power--Type =  
     <!-- Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance"    -->
     <!-- Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance"    -->
| Role-Only--Replace-Sneak-Power--Action-Required =
  <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action, Free Action, Immediate Action
                Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.        -->


| Role-Only--Replace-Sneak-Power--Concentration =  
| Role-Only--Replace-Sneak-Power--Concentration =  
Line 1,365: Line 1,363:


| Role-Only--Replace-Sneak-Power--Description =  
| Role-Only--Replace-Sneak-Power--Description =  
    <!-- Insert colons ":" before each paragraph after first; replace any to-hit, damage
        or save DC numbers with variables:
  {{To-Hit}}                {{Skill-DC|Easy}}          {{Special-Standard-Dmg}}
  {{Touch-Attack}}          {{Skill-DC|Average}}        {{Special-Swift-Dmg}}
  {{Save-DC}}              {{Skill-DC|Challenging}}    {{Special-Alpha-Dmg}}
  {{Hit-Points}}            {{Skill-DC|Hard}}          {{Ability-Dmg}}
  {{Bloodied-Hit-Points}}  {{Skill-DC|Impossible}}    {{Siege-Dmg}}
  {{Hit-Dice}}                                          {{Primary-Dmg}}
  {{Maneuver-Offense}}                                  {{Secondary-Dmg}}
  {{Maneuver-Defense}}                                  {{Tertiary-Dmg}}
  {{CR}}                                                {{Quaternary-Dmg}}
                                                        {{Ranged-Dmg}}
  POISON / DISEASE FORMAT
{{Malady
| Name =
| Intensity =
| Save-Type =
| Save-Mod =
| Frequency =
| Effect =
| Fruition =
| F-Duration =
}}
-->
<!--  REPLACE "PERSONAL SPACE ISSUES" OR "DARKEN THE SKY" POWER
      SWARM ROLE ONLY
        This section lets you write a custom power that will only display if this monster
        is given the "Swarm" role. It replaces the default "Personal Space Issues" power
        (or the "Darken The Sky" power, if it is a Troop), which allows swarms to inflict
        the Distracted condition when they damage a foe (or it grants an area of affect
        ranged attack if it is a troop). Leave this blank if you want the "Personal Space
        Issues" or "Darken the Sky" power to appear when this monster is designated as a
        "Swarm" role.                                                                      -->
| Role-Only--Replace-Swarm-Power--Name =
| Role-Only--Replace-Swarm-Power--Type =
    <!-- Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance"    -->
| Role-Only--Replace-Swarm-Power--Action-Required =
  <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action,
        Free Action, Immediate Action, Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At
        Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.                                          -->
| Role-Only--Replace-Swarm-Power--Concentration =
    <!-- Values: "S" for strong caster, "W" for weak caster, leave blank if unneeded; will
        auto-detect Combat Casting and include it                                          -->
| Role-Only--Replace-Swarm-Power--Description =


     <!-- Insert colons ":" before each paragraph after first; replace any to-hit, damage  
     <!-- Insert colons ":" before each paragraph after first; replace any to-hit, damage  
Line 1,398: Line 1,450:
| CombatTactics = Blade spiders can sense prey up to 300 feet away as long as there is a continuous bit of webbing between the spider and its prey.  As a result, blade spiders will sometimes fill an area with webbing, even flat areas such as roadways and fields.  Once dry, the webbing becomes clear and harder to spot (DC {{Skill-DC|Challenging}} perception to notice at a range of 5 feet, +5 DC for each additional 5 feet range).
| CombatTactics = Blade spiders can sense prey up to 300 feet away as long as there is a continuous bit of webbing between the spider and its prey.  As a result, blade spiders will sometimes fill an area with webbing, even flat areas such as roadways and fields.  Once dry, the webbing becomes clear and harder to spot (DC {{Skill-DC|Challenging}} perception to notice at a range of 5 feet, +5 DC for each additional 5 feet range).


:Blade spiders are both ambush predators and roving attackers. They may lay in wait in a vast area with patches of webs scattered about, and dash out on unsuspecting prey who stumble into a web. Or they may be found in roving packs, far from a web, hungrily looking for a meal.  Blade spiders primarily hunt outside their webs during the day, watching from a high vantage point until prey comes in sight, then running it down and devouring it, or roving at high speed until they flush something. They rely on their prodigious speed and their webs to limit their prey's ability to escape in either case.
Blade spiders are both ambush predators and roving attackers. They may lay in wait in a vast area with patches of webs scattered about, and dash out on unsuspecting prey who stumble into a web. Or they may be found in roving packs, far from a web, hungrily looking for a meal.  Blade spiders primarily hunt outside their webs during the day, watching from a high vantage point until prey comes in sight, then running it down and devouring it, or roving at high speed until they flush something. They rely on their prodigious speed and their webs to limit their prey's ability to escape in either case.


:Note that blade spiders are INSANELY fast.  They can skitter across the ground or through their webs or across walls and ceilings at a flickering, jerky, supernatural speed that has to be witnessed to be believed.  They can outrun a galloping horse...while clinging to a vertical wall. They will use this speed to amaze, frighten and confound enemies.
Note that blade spiders are INSANELY fast.  They can skitter across the ground or through their webs or across walls and ceilings at a flickering, jerky, supernatural speed that has to be witnessed to be believed.  They can outrun a galloping horse...while clinging to a vertical wall. They will use this speed to amaze, frighten and confound enemies.


:Once prey is noticed, if the blade spiders think the prey is of adequate size to attempt to eat (and not so big that its too dangerous to approach), they will rapidly approach the prey, use web attacks to cut off escape, and then close in with melee attacks, making use of their venom as much as possible, to kill their opponents. They will use a charge attack to dash into combat from distances that seem almost surreal, especially if they have laid out webs and can dash in from above, through port holes and vents, around corners, etc.
Once prey is noticed, if the blade spiders think the prey is of adequate size to attempt to eat (and not so big that its too dangerous to approach), they will rapidly approach the prey, use web attacks to cut off escape, and then close in with melee attacks, making use of their venom as much as possible, to kill their opponents. They will use a charge attack to dash into combat from distances that seem almost surreal, especially if they have laid out webs and can dash in from above, through port holes and vents, around corners, etc.


:Blade spiders will wait until all nearby prey are incapacitated or dead before feeding.  Blade spiders will flee a fight if their opponents are too strong, but they are not intelligent creatures, acting largely on instinct, so the decision to flee needs to be pretty obvious before it really takes hold.
Blade spiders will wait until all nearby prey are incapacitated or dead before feeding.  Blade spiders will flee a fight if their opponents are too strong, but they are not intelligent creatures, acting largely on instinct, so the decision to flee needs to be pretty obvious before it really takes hold.






<!--  OUT OF COMBAT   -->
<!--  OUT OF COMBAT   -->


| OutOfCombat = Blade Spiders are powerful, dangerous, and utterly untamable, but they can be trained to nest quietly and serve as guards or attack beasts with incentives of food.  As a result, it is not rare to see blade spiders set up as living traps, encouraged to spread their webs through unused tunnels at the 'back' of a more intelligent or organized monsters lair, and then used to keep out the riff-raff.
| OutOfCombat = Blade Spiders are powerful, dangerous, and utterly untamable, but they can be trained to nest quietly and serve as guards or attack beasts with incentives of food.  As a result, it is not rare to see blade spiders set up as living traps, encouraged to spread their webs through unused tunnels at the 'back' of a more intelligent or organized monsters lair, and then used to keep out the riff-raff.

Latest revision as of 21:40, 4 February 2023

Blade Spider (CR 11)

Neutral - Large - Vermin
Lore: Know (Nature)
21 38
Basic DC Full DC
Initiative
Initiative Icon 2.png
18
Perception:
31 +21
Passive Active
Ambush:
10+
on a d20

Senses:

Movement Types:

Defense

AC
Shield Icon 3.png
30
Man Def
Shield Icon 3.png
30
Monster Health
242 121 19
Hit Points Bloodied Hit Dice
Saving Throws
Fort: +13
Refl: +8
Will: +8

Strong Against:

  • Immune (no effect): All effects of Razor Blade Web (See below)
Weak Against:

Offense

Size: Large
10 ft. 5 ft.
Space Reach
To-Hit
+18
Sword Icon 3.png
Man Off
+19
Sword Icon 3.png
Action
0
Points

Standard Attack (Melee):

  • 1x Bladed Bite +18 (3d10+11/x2)
    as piercing (physical, common)
    plus: Poison

Full Attack (Melee):

  • 1x Bladed Bite +18 (3d10+11/x2)
    as piercing (physical, common)
    plus: Poison
  • 2x Bladed Claws +18 (3d6+3/x2)
    as slashing (physical, common)

Standard Attack (Ranged):

Full Attack (Ranged):

Siege Damage: Not siege capable

Statistics

22
STR
18
DEX
15
CON
3
INT
3
WIS
6
CHA

Skills:

Languages:

Feats:

Special Abilities

Razor Blade Web (Ex) Standard Action

As a standard action, the blade spider can fling a web at an enemy creature within 100 feet (range increment 20 feet). This attack is made as a melee touch attack at 1d20 + 22 vs. AC (always hits on a 17+ on the die). If the web hits, it explodes in a silent wave of feathery webbing, affecting the target's square and all adjacent squares (if the target is size large or larger, the GM can pick which 3x3 square area is affected). If the web misses, the glob of webbing scatters per the splash weapon rules.

A creature directly struck by the webbing takes no damage but is Entangled and Immobilized. Breaking free requires either a Might check or an Escape Artist check, against the Maneuver Defense (DC 30) of the attacking spider. Attempting either check, regardless of success or failure, causes the creature to take 3d6+4 points of slashing (physical, common) damage, and 3 points of Bleed, each round, at the beginning of their turns, as the razor-edged filaments cut into them. Successfully breaking free ends the Immobilized condition, though you remain Entangled until you leave the area of effect of the web (see below).

Creatures who were not directly struck by the webbing (or those who have successfully broken free of the webbing), but are inside the area of effect of the webbing are Entangled. This status condition ends at the end of any creature's turn in which they are no longer inside a web's area of effect. Entering any square in which a web exists also inflicts a 3 point Bleed condition. Note that bleed conditions do not stack (instead, the worst available bleed is applied and all lesser bleeds are ignored).

Webbing thrown in combat is easily spotted by onlookers, requiring no perception checks to notice. However, webbing woven in an area and left to dry is harder to spot, as it hardens and becomes transparent. The DC of a perception check to notice webbing in an adjacent square is 30. For each 5 above the base DC, the viewer can also perceive webbing at an additional 5 feet of range beyond adjacent, if any exists. Because moving through this webbing inflicts a bleed condition, this is considered a trap, so bonuses to perception to notice traps apply for this check.

Blade spiders are immune to all of the harmful effects of the web, and can move over and through the web without impediment. They can even use the webbing to make use of their climb movement, allowing them to ignore rough terrain or gain some elevation if the web is in an area of trees or other vertical attach points.

Poison (Ex) Automatic upon successful attack

Any creature successfully bitten by a blade spider also has a chance to become poisoned:

Bladed Venom    (Injury vector; Poisoned intensity)
Save: Fort DC 21;     Frequency: 1/round for 3 rounds
Effect: 1d4 Dex damage and 3d8+7 poison (physical, uncommon) damage per interval
Fruition: Toxic shards infest the target's blood, dealing 3d8+7 points of slashing (physical, common) damage either once per hour out of combat, or once per round in combat. Does not deal damage if the victim is just resting or taking no actions.
Fruition Duration: One day (full night's rest)
Blade Spider

Blade Spider

Blade spiders are monstrous arachnids that lurk in nearly any areas with adequate hiding spaces and enough foot traffic to keep them fed. This can be forests, mines, inside wells and even along lightly-traveled roads. Blade spiders have bodies that average about 7 feet in length, and tend to keep their legs tight to their bodies. These spiders get their name from their blade-like legs, which have a razor-sharp point and a cutting edge along the length of the final joint of the leg. Blade spiders prefer fresh prey, rarely killing more than they can eat in a single meal. Humanoids, horses and cattle are their preferred food.

Another aspect of the blade spider is their webs. Blade spiders can rapidly fill an area with webbing that is full of razor-sharp strands. These webs serve to both entrap their victims as well as weaken them through blood loss. These webs are easy to see when seen from an angle, but when seen from straight on, they are nearly invisible. Blade spiders sometimes litter acres of forest with webs as a way of being alerted to activity in their territory.

A blade spider's venom acts to liquify the insides of a creature over about an hour, whereupon the spider slurps out the gooey center like a juice-box. The leftover corpse is little more than a hollow suit of skin wrapped in webs.

Combat Tactics

Blade spiders can sense prey up to 300 feet away as long as there is a continuous bit of webbing between the spider and its prey. As a result, blade spiders will sometimes fill an area with webbing, even flat areas such as roadways and fields. Once dry, the webbing becomes clear and harder to spot (DC 30 perception to notice at a range of 5 feet, +5 DC for each additional 5 feet range).

Blade spiders are both ambush predators and roving attackers. They may lay in wait in a vast area with patches of webs scattered about, and dash out on unsuspecting prey who stumble into a web. Or they may be found in roving packs, far from a web, hungrily looking for a meal. Blade spiders primarily hunt outside their webs during the day, watching from a high vantage point until prey comes in sight, then running it down and devouring it, or roving at high speed until they flush something. They rely on their prodigious speed and their webs to limit their prey's ability to escape in either case.

Note that blade spiders are INSANELY fast. They can skitter across the ground or through their webs or across walls and ceilings at a flickering, jerky, supernatural speed that has to be witnessed to be believed. They can outrun a galloping horse...while clinging to a vertical wall. They will use this speed to amaze, frighten and confound enemies.

Once prey is noticed, if the blade spiders think the prey is of adequate size to attempt to eat (and not so big that its too dangerous to approach), they will rapidly approach the prey, use web attacks to cut off escape, and then close in with melee attacks, making use of their venom as much as possible, to kill their opponents. They will use a charge attack to dash into combat from distances that seem almost surreal, especially if they have laid out webs and can dash in from above, through port holes and vents, around corners, etc.

Blade spiders will wait until all nearby prey are incapacitated or dead before feeding. Blade spiders will flee a fight if their opponents are too strong, but they are not intelligent creatures, acting largely on instinct, so the decision to flee needs to be pretty obvious before it really takes hold.

Out of Combat

Blade Spiders are powerful, dangerous, and utterly untamable, but they can be trained to nest quietly and serve as guards or attack beasts with incentives of food. As a result, it is not rare to see blade spiders set up as living traps, encouraged to spread their webs through unused tunnels at the 'back' of a more intelligent or organized monsters lair, and then used to keep out the riff-raff.

Rewards

XP: 12,800

Treasure: Sellable Goods worth 9,375 gp.

Weight: 110 lbs.     Volume: 4.4 cu. ft.
  • Dried blade spider web is quite valuable for making fine cutting tools, if hard to harvest, and Bladed Venom is also valuable for...other reasons. Blade spiders also tend to have a lot of conventional treasure in their crops and around their webs.

Optional Treasure Rules: Roll a d20 on Table 1 below once per encounter (NOT per creature). Any items discovered are in addition to the normal treasure for the encounter.

Table 1: Remnant(s) Found
1 - 10 Nothing Found
11 - 14 1 Languid Remnant (tier 1)
15 - 17 1 Pale Remnant (tier 2)
18 - 19 1 Bright Remnant (tier 3)
20 Roll on Table 2
### Nothing to see here!
### Or here. Move along.
Table 2: Remnant(s) Found
1 - 5 3 Languid Remnants (tier 1)
6 - 10 3 Pale Remnants (tier 2)
11 - 14 1 Intense Remnant (tier 4)
15 - 17 1 Blazing Remnant (tier 5)
18 - 19 1 Vital Remnant (tier 6)
20 Roll on Table 3
### Or here. Move along.
Table 3: Remnant(s) Found
1 - 5 3 Bright Remnants (tier 3)
6 - 8 3 Intense Remnants (tier 4)
9 - 11 3 Blazing Remnants (tier 5)
12 - 14 3 Vital Remnants (tier 6)
15 - 17 1 Prime Remnant (tier 7)
18 - 19 1 Mythic Remnant (tier 8)
20 1 Empyrean Remnant (tier 9)