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Siobharek 
Orc
(11/14/02 7:00:49 am)
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Spider Eater Riders
Okay, in the past month or so there has been quite a bit of posting about our flying psychos and their maginificient steeds. So I thought I'd to a bit of shameless BoB-fishin' and post this. Please post your comments so that we can make this the best entry possible.
Input from the following is from lots o'people.
The Towers, the Spider Eaters, and Their Riders
The lightning towers are way too small to hold 10 people AND 10 10'x40' spider eaters. A suggested way of rectifying this is by having the 'Eaters sleep in hollows, caves, and warrens in the Outer Fane rock face.
The spider eaters are summoned with a whistle. Each tower uses a whistle with a different pitch to avoid calling more than "their" 10 eaters. Assume that a whistle will bring 1d3 eaters every round after 3 rounds have passed.
Each tower has a round, relatively flat area, 40' in diameter in front of it where up to 3 eaters can land and take off.
A Day in the Life of a Spider Eater Rider
The spider eater riders have some of the cushiest jobs in the Temple of All-Consumption. Their main duty is to bring messages, food, and prisoners to and from the outside world and the individual areas of the Temple.
On or about the first of every month, all the riders are extremely active. Merchant wagons come to the south entrance with supplies, which are redistributed by the riders to all Bridge and Temple areas. For approximately 4 hours, the air above Mt. Stalagos is alive with the huge spider eaters and their riders, hauling supplies in huge nets, or carrying vaguely struggling, drugged slaves to the temple leaders and to the lightning towers.
At other times, the riders mostly while away the days with sleeping off druken binges, enjoying the effects of various drugs, or sparring and riding their mounts on smaller missions or just to stay sharp. At any time, only half of the riders are ready to do battle in 6 rounds. The rest take 15+2d6 rounds to get roused, armoured, and ready.
Combat
Despite their personal habits, the riders have been selected because they are the best of the best of the best (Sir!). They are quite organized in battle and make up a superior force. While there are many tactics they can employ (and please post them  ) this one deserves mention:
If your party tries to duke it out with them, be creative. Try snatching them off the bridge and dropping them into the courtyard between the Outer and Inner Fane (you know, where all those Dark Wights are...).
As started off saying in this thread, it is the result of many, many people's postings - I won't mention anyone by name because I'm sure to forget someone and I don't want to offend anyone. And I'm sure I've forgotten some of the best posts about the flying psychos of Mt. Stalagos. You can remedy this! Please post your thoughts below...
Siobharek
...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. |
Grumgarr
Pie
(11/14/02 7:40:34 am)
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Re: Spider Eater Riders
Spider-eater Rider elite tactics
1. The Sorcerors (if you use the straight DMG NPC Sorceror 6) have Thunderstones and Tanglefoot Bags.
These much overlooked alchemical wonders might be better employed by selected Warrior-riders with a better ranged touch attack.
Thunderstones affect a 10-foot burst and resultant deafness is permanent (until cured anyway).
Stats for 2 Sorcerors here:
pub58.ezboard.com/fokayyo...1827.topic
2. The nets used to haul all the supplies around (even if not designed or reinforced for battle) are an excellent way to increase the threat these troops pose.
Suggested mechanics:
Drop net - ranged touch attack (holding trailing ropes)
(Large nets may threaten 2 5-foot squares, or very large nets - between 2 riders? - a 10-foot square area)
Those 'touched' are entangled (use tanglefoot bag specifics, PH, page??)
Now to pick up netted targets (for depositing in the Stalagos/inside the nasty inner crater)? Suggestions?
I was thinking something along the lines of fishing trawler-nets - if you get entangled, you're in the net. The riders fly on, picking you up. Maybe a reflex save to avoid being entangled/picked up?
Are there rules for nets somewhere? Bolas are in MoTW and automatically grapple on a ranged touch...I think...
3. Singly these guys aren't that tough once your PCs are thinking of taking on the Fanes.
BUT Spider-eaters are Huge - area affect spells which might wipe out several riders/mounts are probably going to hit ONE of these beasts (which probably give each other a wide berth in flight).
Grumgarr
Edited by: Grumgarr at: 11/14/02 7:56:13 am
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DM Dan76
Pie
(11/14/02 8:17:22 am)
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Re: Spider Eater Riders
I would also think that Spider Eater Riders would be faily handy with a longbow. Some should have weapon focus longbow and be crack archers.
While some of the force swoops down to entangle their foes with nets and tanglefoot bags, the rest would rain down volley upon volley of arrows on the PC's.
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Siobharek
Orc
(11/15/02 12:17:23 am)
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Re: Spider Eater Riders
Pretty good ideas, all. I've made some lvl 4 warrior stats for the Riders:
Spider Eater Riders, Human War 4: HD 4d8+11; HP 29; Init +2; Spd 20 ft; AC 21 (touch 12, flat footed 19); Atk +9 melee (1d10+3/19-20, mw bastard sword) or +8 ranged (1d8+4/x3, MW mty (Str 16) comp. longbow, +1 arrows); AL: NE; SV Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +2; Str 16, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 8; Skills/feats: Climb +5, Ride (Spider Eater) +12; Swim +5; Exotic Weapon Prof. (bastard sword), Weapon Focus (bastard sword), Toughness. Possessions: Breastplate, lrg steel shield, MW bastard sword, MW mighty (Str 16) longbow, 20 +1 arrows, potion of cure moderate wounds (2d8+5), Exotic (spider eater) military saddle (75% chance of staying in saddle if unconscious).
Toughness could very easily be replaced with Weapon Focus (bow).
Siobharek
...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. |
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