Titanoboa for Labyrinth Lord (all open content)
No. Enc.: 1 (1)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 60' (20')
Swim: 120' (40')
Armour Class: 5
Hit Dice: 10-12
Attacks: 2 (bite, constrict)
Damage: 2d6/4d8
Save: F8
Morale: 8
Hoard Class: None (see below)
XP: 1700/2000
Titanoboas are immense constrictor snakes, measuring 40-50 feet in length, with bodies 2-3 feet in diameter at the widest point (or more if they have just eaten). They live in warm, tropical climates and spend most of their time in the water. On land, their movement is slow, due to their colossal weight (2,500lbs).
In combat, a titanoboa will first use its bite attack and attempt to lock on to prey with its powerful jaws. If successful, it will then throw its coils around the creature and begin to constrict it. Once the prey has been crushed to death, the titanoboa will swallow it whole and digest it. A large meal for a titanoboa would be a 15-foot long, half-ton crocodile, which would take the snake up to a year to fully digest.
A titanoboa, will not have treasure of its own, but there is a chance of finding undigested valuables in the snake's stomach.
The giant snake in the 2e MM is 30 ft. long, making it about the size of the next largest snake yet discovered, Gigantophis.
ReplyDeleteThe record length for a python is 33 feet, which I think is what the giant constrictor snakes in the 1e/2e MMs were based on. However, they are far slimmer than Gigantophis or Titanoboa. On the show last night they said a Titanoboa could crush an animal as big as a rhino.
ReplyDeleteIts interesting that big snakes are missing as they seem to be a recurring Conan theme.
ReplyDeleteYep, old Robert E. certainly had a thing about big snakes...
DeleteVery nice! I think I'd be a bit more mean though, and raise its constricting damage a die or two.
ReplyDeleteYes, especially if its a bigger specimen. I figured it was about right if the damage was ongoing on subsequent rounds. Also I like Crusty's idea below which stops the ongoing constriction meaning almost certain death for the unlucky character that gets bit first.
DeleteSo, it makes a successful bite attack and then, on subsequent rounds it does constricting damage. Does it carry on doing that until it's dead? I think I'd make it roll morale every time it takes damage; if it fails it uncoils and goes for another bite attack starting the cycle again. Of course anyone attacking the snake will hit the victim instead...
ReplyDelete...last bit should read "Of course anyone attacking the snake has a chance of hitting its victim instead... I'm tired.
DeleteI like the idea of a morale roll, sort of fits in with the abstracts of the combat system, and keeps the fight moving. Depending on the individual encounter, I'd also add in some risk of characters attacking the snake being knocked over by its coils if they hit it.
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