d20 Ronin Arts Six Swarms.pdf

Requires the use of the Dungeons & Dragons ® Player’s Handbook, Third Edition, published by Wizards of the Coast. ®

Six Swarms

by Michael Hammes

Introduction

Some of my favorite monsters to use against the PCs in my

campaign are swarms. Why? Because, especially in the low-

magic/low-power campaigns I run, swarms represent a signifi-

cant challenge because of their many unique qualities.

Given this predilection for swarms, I felt it was only nat-

ural to write a PDF about them. So, this PDF introduces

six swarms for the DM to inflict on his or her players (or

for players to have the DM inflict upon them).

Before we take a look at the actual swarms, how-

ever, it is valuable to look at some of the qualities that

swarms possess which make them such an interesting

and useful monster (the full summary of swarm attrib-

utes and abilities are found in the SRD):

S HAPEABLE

Unlike other creatures with a 10-foot space, a

swarm is shapeable. It can occupy any four contigu-

ous squares, and it can squeeze through any space

large enough to contain one of its component crea-

tures. That means that there is very little a party can

do to get away from a determined swarm; even the

space under a locked door or a gap in the wood is

enough to allow the swarm through.

H ARD TO H URT

Swarms are not subject to critical hits or flanking.

A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage

from slashing and piercing weapons while a swarm

composed of Fine or Diminutive creatures is immune to all weapon

damage (yes, most of my swarms are made of Fine or Diminutive

creatures). Swarms cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed.

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tribute this PDF without permission of the author. Dungeons & Dragons® and Wizards of the

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In essence, unless wielding a flaming or frost

sword or other such weapon, fighters and other

melee-concentrated PCs have trouble dealing with

swarms. While spellcasters can fare a little better,

they had better have some evocation spells read-

ied.

Distraction (Ex): Any living creature

vulnerable to a swarm’s damage that

begins its turn with a swarm in its square

is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save

(DC 10 + 1/2 swarm’s HD + swarm’s

Con modifier; the exact DC is given in a

swarm’s description) negates the effect.

Spellcasting or concentrating on spells

within the area of a swarm requires a

Concentration check (DC 20 + spell

level). Using skills that involve patience

and concentration requires a DC 20

Concentration check.

A swarm is immune to any spell or effect that

targets a specific number of creatures (including

single-target spells such as disintegrate ), with the

exception of mind-affecting effects (charms, com-

pulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects)

if the swarm has an Intelligence score and a hive

mind. A swarm takes half again as much damage

(+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area,

such as splash weapons and many evocation

spells.

This last part can be troublesome as a fireball

can wreak havoc with a swarm. The solution?

Make the swarm invulnerable to the most common

kinds of evocation spells (see the Fire Moth

Swarm for a handy example). Also, gust of wind

can be bothersome, but as long as the swarm has

enough hit points, it will come through unscathed.

And how many spellcasters ready gust of wind in

any case?

I RRITATING

No matter what type of swarm it is, the dis-

traction special ability is a swarm’s greatest asset:

Keep in mind that nauseated is a rather detri-

mental condition since nauseated creatures are

unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells,

or do anything else requiring attention. The only

action such a character can take is a single move

action per turn (and who says the swarm won’t fol-

low?).

Even if not nauseated, spellcasters will have a

difficult time pulling off spells. Also, unless they

were really prepared, will they be willing to drop

the fireball on themselves?

Also, nothing says that a swarm has to appear

alone; if a single swarm is bad for the PCs, one

swarm per PC is absolutely brutal.

The Swarms

Here you will find the six swarms promised in

the introduction. Each swarm’s entry follows the

listed format:

Name: The name of the swarm followed by a

brief description.

Origin: Where the swarm might be found. In

the case of extraplanar swarms, this section includes

where the swarm comes from and how it comes to

the Material Plane.

Appearance: What an individual member, as

well as the whole swarm, looks like. Also includes

other information pertaining to the senses such as a

swarm’s smell or special traits.

Diet: What the swarm eats; most swarms are not

out for blood.

Reproduction: The swarm’s reproductive cycle

including where it lays its eggs or rears its young;

simply getting rid of a swarm is not enough if the

next generation is already on its way.

Behavior: How the swarm acts. Most swarms

have no intelligence and simply follow their

instincts, but some possess the ability of a hive mind

and are capable of surprisingly intelligent behavior.

Combat: How the swarm acts in combat. Since

most swarms have no intelligence, they are not

capable of any tactics and usually simply react to

threats; many encounters with swarms can be avoid-

ed or controlled by remembering this fact.

Encountering a Swarm: This section details

the likely location and circumstances of an

encounter with the swarm.

Swarm Statistics: The swarm’s statblock.

These have been presented at the end of the PDF for

ease of use.

Corroder Swarm

A corroder swarm is made up of thousands of

beetle-like creatures from the Elemental Plane of

Earth that, although harmless to living creatures,

are destructive to metal of all kinds.

O RIGIN

Corroder swarms are native to the Elemental

Plane of Earth, where they spend their time roam-

ing through the endless rock (using their earth

glide special ability) in search of metals, but are

frequently found on other earth-dominant planes.

They usually appear on the Material Plane only

as a result of summoning (the DM can substitute

corroder swarms of appropriate HD for Earth ele-

mentals in summon monster spells) or by blun-

dering through an unattended gate.

A PPEARANCE

An individual corroder appears much like a

very angular scarab beetle. However, where a

scarab’s carapace, head, legs, etc. betray its natu-

ral and organic origin, the corroder’s features are

full of hard lines and pointy edges suggesting that

it was shaped from the very rock itself.

The carapace of the corroder, which has the

color and texture of flecked and pitted granite, is

as hard as its appearance would suggest and

resists cutting and piercing rather well.

Furthermore, much like a rock itself, the creature

is little affected by heat, cold, or electricity. The

corroder has no discernible mandibles, teeth,

claws, or any other sort of physical feature that

would enable it to cause harm to other creatures.

The creature does have a small mouth surround-

ed by numerous tiny hairs, and it is these hairs

that the corroder uses to corrode metal it comes in

contact with, inhaling the rust flecks so produced

through its mouth.

An on-rushing corroder swarm looks like an

avalanche of rocks and pebbles rolling toward its

target.

D IET

Corroders are fond of any kind of metal, from

precious to base, and they have quite a healthy

appetite relative to their size. While a single cor-

roder might be satisfied with a coin or two, noth-

ing but an ore vein or dragon’s hoard has a

chance of satisfying an entire swarm.

R EPRODUCTION

Corroders are self-fertilizing, being neither

male nor female. Once per year a corroder lays a

clutch of 50 to 100 eggs within a nearby rock and

abandons them. Corroder larvae hatch within one

month and begin to eat the surrounding rock.

After two months of solid feeding the larvae form

pupae that are easily mistaken for rocks. After an

additional two months, the adult corroders hatch.

B EHAVIOR

Corroders have no intelligence to speak of

and act in all ways like insects of the Material

Plane. Corroders follow their instincts and

respond to stimuli only in the most rudimentary

fashion; they congregate in swarms for the safety

sheer numbers offer.

The primary purpose of a corroder swarm is

to obtain food, and it goes about this in the most

direct manner. This generally means burrowing

through the terrain in search of metal; corroders

prefer the familiarity and safety of rock and will

never travel above ground.

Unfortunately, on the Material Plane, metal is

scarcer than in the planes usually frequented by

corroder swarms. As a result, corroder swarms

are forced to seek sustenance more aggressively,

a fact that leads to their inevitable encounters

with the Material Plane’s metal-using denizens;

dwarves especially view corroder swarms as dan-

gerous pests and do everything in their power to

be rid of them.

C OMBAT

Corroders do not initiate combat as they are

neither interested in flesh nor do they have any

means of physically inflicting injury on living

beings. In fact, corroder swarms ignore other liv-

ing creatures unless they are in possession of a lot

of metal (and even then they are only interested

in the metal, not the creature), or those creatures

hurt the corroder swarm.

Like most mindless creatures, corroders flee

from pain or discomfort. Unfortunately, corroder

swarms are difficult to damage. They are not only

immune to weapon damage and highly resistant

to other sorts of damage, but are also immune to

the energy summoned by the more common evo-

cation spells; especially on the Material Plane,

corroder swarms have little to fear from the

inhabitants.

As a result, corroder swarms have no hesita-

tion about swarming over metal-bearing crea-

tures. These creatures usually end up flailing use-

lessly away until the corroders have eaten every

last scrap of metal and moved on, leaving the

befuddled creatures unharmed.

Should the corroder swarm be damaged,

however, it quickly retreats back from whence it

came, melding into the rock and gliding on until

it can find some easier source of food.

E NCOUNTERING A

C ORRODER S WARM

An encounter with a corroder swarm usually

occurs without warning as the creatures travel

exclusively underground (or in the walls, the ceil-

ing, etc.). Once they detect metal, they seek it

out, emerging from the rocks if necessary to

swarm all over the source; unless the creatures

have some means of detecting a corroder swarm’s

movement through the rock, the corroder swarm

always gains surprise.

C LICK H ERE FOR

G AME S TATISTICS

Filth Maggot Swarm

A filth maggot swarm is made up of thousands

of voracious gray grub-like worms that, although it

prefers to eat dead and decaying matter, has been

known to attack living creatures.

O RIGIN

Filth maggot swarms were originally found

only in the deepest jungles where there was plenty

of decaying matter for the swarms to feast upon.

Inevitably, however, thanks to exploration into

these regions and increased trade, filth maggot

swarms have since spread across the world and can

be found in all but the coldest climates. Because of

their need for large amounts of decaying matter for

feeding, living, and breeding, filth maggot swarms

are usually found only in larger cities and other

areas where large amounts of refuse abound.

A PPEARANCE

An individual filth maggot appears much a

gray, thumb-sized maggot. Its tiny maw is filled

with rows of saw-like teeth that are capable of

delivering a pinch-like bite to an individual.

Although a single or even multiple bites are noth-

ing more than irritating to an individual, when

thousands of bites are delivered at once, the situa-

tion can quickly turn deadly. Furthermore, these

bites often become infected with disease, making

even a single bite from a filth maggot potentially

dangerous.

As unpleasant as a filth maggot’s appearance

is, its smell is even worse. While a person may not

notice the smell of a single filth maggot unless he

held it right under his nose, the odor of a filth mag-

got swarm is eye-wateringly powerful.

A filth maggot swarm is a disgusting vision, a

roiling, squishing mass of sickly gray grubs slow-

ly oozing across the ground.

D IET

Filth maggots are scavengers and usually limit

their diet to dead and decaying matter.

Unfortunately, when not enough of its preferred

food is available, a filth maggot swarm will attack

anything edible it comes across (i.e. living plants

and creatures) to ensure its survival.

R EPRODUCTION

Although they look like maggots, a filth mag-

got is not the larval stage of some other creature

but a worm-like creature unto itself. Filth maggots

possess both male and female organs, but must

mate to reproduce. Eggs are formed in a slime tube

that builds up over the filth maggot’s tail, which

then hardens into a cocoon; on average, a filth

maggot produces between 10 to 15 eggs once per

month. It takes about two weeks for the eggs to

hatch and another three months for the filth mag-

gots to reach maturity and begin their own breed-

ing cycle.

B EHAVIOR

Filth maggots have no intelligence to speak of

and, like other worms, rely on their instincts to

react to the environment around them. Their pri-

mary motivation is hunger and their primary goals

are survival and reproduction (survival so that they

can reproduce); as a result, a filth maggot swarm is

concerned only with obtaining enough food for its

members. As long as there is enough food avail-

able in the local area, a filth maggot swarm is quite

content to remain where it is. It is only when the

local food supply runs out (and given the rate of

reproduction, this can be quite quickly achieved)

that filth maggots go on the move.

C OMBAT

Like other mindless creatures, a filth maggot

swarm is not aggressive by nature; the swarm will

flee from anything it perceives as a threat as long

as it is able. The only time that a filth maggot

swarm becomes dangerous to other creatures is if

it is attacked and cannot flee, or it is hungry and

there is no other food available.

Once it has chosen to attack, however, a filth

maggot swarm continues to attack until it kills a

creature, at which point the swarm begins to feast

upon the slain (see Bon Appetit! boxed text).

Once the feasting has begun, the swarm will not

move from its current position until it has finished

its meal; it will still attack any creatures that enter

its space (an action that interrupts the feeding for

as long as it takes to either drive or kill off the

creature).

As a filth maggot swarm is mindless, it does

not employ any tactics in combat other than

attempting to overwhelm its foes by swarming

over them. A sated swarm always attempts to flee.

B ON A PPETIT !

A filth maggot swarm that has managed

to kill a creature (reduced it to -10 hit points

or less) immediately begins to feed on the

corpse, reducing the entirety of it to its

skeleton within the following time spans:

Size Time

Fine 1 round

Diminutive 2 rounds

Tiny 5 rounds

Small 10 rounds

Medium 20 rounds

Large 40 rounds

Huge 80 rounds*

Gargantuan 160 rounds*

Colossal 320 rounds*

*A single filth maggot swarm is capable

of devouring no more than one size Large

creature (or two Medium size creatures, four

Small size creatures, etc.) before it becomes

sated; the rates listed require multiple

swarms.

Once sated, a filth maggot swarm will

not need to eat for 24 hours and, if attacked,

will simply attempt to flee.

E NCOUNTERING A F ILTH

M AGGOT S WARM

Filth maggot swarms are usually only encoun-

tered in areas filled with large supplies of decaying

animal and vegetable matter that allow the mag-

gots to build up sufficient numbers, i.e. garbage

dumps, filthy dungeons, city alleys, battlefields

where the dead have not been removed, etc.

Unfortunately, at some point the food supply

runs out and the swarm has to find another food

source; it is at this point that a filth maggot swarm

may be encountered almost anywhere as it goes in

search of food.

C LICK H ERE FOR

G AME S TATISTICS

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