Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 bengeldorn Jul 19, 2004 14:13:27	I was looking for some alternatives for the summon swarm spell and now I've some questions to the ones of ToA. Locust Swarm, Athasian I guess Improved Natural Weapon should be Improved Natural Attack!? Wouldn't Improved Natural Attack (swarm) fit better than (bite)? As a 8 HD swarm, Locust Swarm would normally deal 2d6 points of damage, but with three Improved Natural Attack feats, the damage increases by three steps. The feat description of the MM notes the steps as followed: ...1d6, 1d8, 2d6, 3d6, 4d6, 6d6,.... Shouldn't be the damage 6d6 rather than 5d6? Is there any reason why the athasian locust swarm are faster than the one presented in the MM and why they have avarage maneuverability? Mini-Kank Swarm Fly 50 ft. (average).....that's pretty fast for a swarm with fine vernims...with the run action they would be able to move 200 ft., right? 4 HD swarms would deal 1d6 damage, with one Improved Natural Attack the damage would increase to 1d8. Where does the other two steps come from? Challange Rate: 2 I think that's pretty low for a monster with 4HD, 3d6 damage and the blood drain ability that deals 1d6 Constituion damage against a DC 17. Has anyone tested it yet? General: I guess Locust Swarm, Athasian could be summoned with insect plaque, but what about the Mini-Kank Swarm? Summon swarm or insect plaque?
#2 Kamelion Jul 19, 2004 14:57:56	Thanks for the feedback always welcome Wouldn't Improved Natural Attack (swarm) fit better than (bite)? Yes - this one was caught during the last round of editing. Speed: Athasian swarms were fast and maneuverable in 2e so the 3e stats were set to reflect this. Actually, the speeds are reversed. The locust swarm should have Fly 50 ft. (average) and the kanks should have Fly 40 ft (average). The swarms had Perfect maneuverability in 2e, but we scaled this back for 3e. Swarm damage: You're right, the damage is off for both of them. However, as vermin, they shouldn't really have those feats either, unless they are bonus. In hindsight, the damage should be 4d6 for the locusts (give them a bonus Improved Natural Attack (swarm) feat to represent their bone-picking ferocity from 2e) and only 1d6 for the kanks. This should also bring the kanks more in line with the CR. We weren't able to test the CR of each creature in ToA of course, so this is one area where we are specifically looking for hard feedback. With the above adjustments, I would say that you could use the locusts with insect plague and the minikanks with summon swarm. Thanks again for the input Bengeldorn
#3 bengeldorn Jul 19, 2004 15:05:04	Thanks for the fast reply! Speed: Athasian swarms were fast and maneuverable in 2e so the 3e stats were set to reflect this. Actually, the speeds are reversed. The locust swarm should have Fly 50 ft. (average) and the kanks should have Fly 40 ft (average). The swarms had Perfect maneuverability in 2e, but we scaled this back for 3e. Can you tell me in which book 2e swarms are described, can't remember I've ever seen them before in any book
#4 Kamelion Jul 19, 2004 15:11:29	They are in the 1st MC for Dark Sun under Insect Swarm .
#5 bengeldorn Jul 19, 2004 15:24:33	Thanks! Maybe I should get me one glasses...