Ankheg Egg [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Ankheg Egg [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Riznar
04-19-04, 03:29 PM So, one of my players grabbed the egg of an Ankheg while they were in it's lair. (Thanks Chaotic God for those tactics!) And I'm pretty sure he forgot that it is sitting in his pack.

So I have a couple of questions:
1) How long should it be until the egg hatches?
2) What should happen then?
Wickerbull
04-19-04, 04:17 PM Well, you're the DM right? You decide. But if I were running the game, I'd say:

1. The egg probably shouldn't hatch, since it's out of the nest. If you want it to hatch, then you can have it do so whenever you want, but probably no more than 1 game month from now.

2. If and when it hatches, it should break through the egg, and then start ripping through the character's pack, either biting into his back or the air. When this occurs, you'll want the hatchling and the character to roll for initiative, so that you can treat it like a battle. Depending on what you want to do, you could have the ahnkeg win initiative and begin to run, or begin to crawl up to the character and expect him to feed it(Mommy!).

If the player wins intiative, he'll either want to keep it, kill it, or drive off, so if you're fine with any of those outcomes, then go ahead and let him win initiative.

I think it'd be hilarious if you saddled the player with the burden of having to raise the ahnkeg. But you have to know what your player is going to do when the Initiative is rolled. So, I'd let the ahnkeg win it.
incarnadine
04-19-04, 04:26 PM Originally posted by Wickerbull
1. The egg probably shouldn't hatch, since it's out of the nest. If you want it to hatch, then you can have it do so whenever you want, but probably no more than 1 game month from now.
most insects don't need nests for their eggs. A big carnivore insect like that would probably lay it's egg next to a carcass so that the new born would have food. Otherwise the new born would be born ready to hunt and then yes would eat any rations in the bag and tear it up pretty bad.
moosekickedmysisterstoof
04-19-04, 05:52 PM I think that the PC should have to raise the infant ankheg. That should make for a very interesting companion.
Riznar
04-19-04, 06:46 PM Don't insects hatch fully functional? I don't think their would be any raising involved...
Ogre4Hire
04-19-04, 07:44 PM Strictly speaking, Ankhegs aren't insects, or they would be vermin instead of Magical Beasts. Therefore, it is quite possible that they could care for their young. Arms & Equipment has some rules for raising and training a creature (though not much).
NightScreamer20
04-19-04, 07:51 PM Ankhegs are burrowing insects...
During the night whilst they are laying by a fire it should hatch. He'll get a listen checks to hear it crawl out sure...but prolly won't. The creature should then burrow into the nearest creature possible. Coup De Grace attack on that character...

Never forget what's in your backpack...

Oh and the MM 3.5 even says it's an Insect whilst describing the creature.
Wickerbull
04-19-04, 08:59 PM Originally posted by incarnadine
most insects don't need nests for their eggs.

Right. Sorry, Draconomicon on the brain.

Anyway, I personally think that Ankhegs shoud be vermin. They've got nothing that says they shouldn't be. I was looking at the stats today, and I saw nothing so outrageous that would make them magical beasts. Spitting acid is pretty weird, but this is a fantasy game, so I see no reason why ankhegs can't be included into the vermin type with 10 ft. tall spiders.
moosekickedmysisterstoof
04-19-04, 10:12 PM Ankhegs are magical beasts because they are more powerful and more intelligent (not by much) than normal vermin. I love 'em!
incarnadine
04-20-04, 10:49 AM Originally posted by NightScreamer20
Ankhegs are burrowing insects...
During the night whilst they are laying by a fire it should hatch. He'll get a listen checks to hear it crawl out sure...but prolly won't. The creature should then burrow into the nearest creature possible. Coup De Grace attack on that character...

Never forget what's in your backpack...

Oh and the MM 3.5 even says it's an Insect whilst describing the creature. Coup de Grace?! I don't think blindly stabbing at a guy would do that.

I'd suggest an automatic success at a grapple, i'd deal some dammage and the rest could solve it's self. But a Coupe de Grace is pushing it.
NightScreamer20
04-20-04, 12:37 PM Yes it's harsh...but forgetting about a Magical Beast in your backpack deserves punishment...

For 1 the Ankheg wouldn't be blindly 'stabbing', it would definatly go for the softest spot on the creatures, or the most accessable spot.

The Ankheg baby would by of tiny size or maybe pushing small...

He gets a fort save and the damage wouldn't be that severe...

If he survives he wakes up...if not the Ankheg crawls into his body and eats...yummy nice warm place to sleep...
user name
04-20-04, 12:55 PM I think it would be really funny if it regarded the character as its mother and they had to raise it.
incarnadine
04-20-04, 02:05 PM Originally posted by user name
I think it would be really funny if it regarded the character as its mother and they had to raise it. That’d be cool, but not easy. Though the Ankheg would not kill it's collective dads/moms it would probably attack any other human if they ever brought it to a town and have a very low morale when fighting (i'd probably run away all the time because the adventurers fed it all it's life and it has no idea how to hunt or fight).

Some sort of animal empathy (they changed it in 3.5) check would be needed to train it. Probably dc15? Or you can make it a baby Ankheg familiar or a grown animal companion.
Toric
04-21-04, 08:41 PM Its all up to the DM, he can say that is a primal form of old dragon race if he wants to. Think about if you want your PCs to have it as a pet or to kill it.
R.M.G.C.L.F.
04-21-04, 08:45 PM Originally posted by Toric
Its all up to the DM, he can say that is a primal form of old dragon race if he wants to. Think about if you want your PCs to have it as a pet or to kill it.
Seeing as the person asking is the DM he obviously wants suggestions and quotes from any relevant published works.

Also, asking the player to roll for initiative generally makes one think they are in combat so they will out of habit kill it. Such a course of action would not be fun.
R.M.G.C.L.F.
04-21-04, 08:47 PM stupid double post
R.M.G.C.L.F.
04-21-04, 08:58 PM Wickerbull: Ankhegs are magical beasts because in 3.0 they were beasts (intelligence prevented them from being vermin, non-existance in real life made them not animals) and in 3.5 they were stupidly shoved into magical beast along with every other 3.0 beast except dinosaurs.
Wickerbull
04-22-04, 11:47 AM Right, I know that. But my point was that Ankhegs just don't really qualify to be magical beasts, they should be vermin, except for their Int score. The Int score is really the only thing keeping them from being vermin. And I see no point in giving them an Int score. They act just like any other giant insects.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Riznar 04-19-04, 03:29 PM	So, one of my players grabbed the egg of an Ankheg while they were in it's lair. (Thanks Chaotic God for those tactics!) And I'm pretty sure he forgot that it is sitting in his pack. So I have a couple of questions: 1) How long should it be until the egg hatches? 2) What should happen then?
Wickerbull 04-19-04, 04:17 PM	Well, you're the DM right? You decide. But if I were running the game, I'd say: 1. The egg probably shouldn't hatch, since it's out of the nest. If you want it to hatch, then you can have it do so whenever you want, but probably no more than 1 game month from now. 2. If and when it hatches, it should break through the egg, and then start ripping through the character's pack, either biting into his back or the air. When this occurs, you'll want the hatchling and the character to roll for initiative, so that you can treat it like a battle. Depending on what you want to do, you could have the ahnkeg win initiative and begin to run, or begin to crawl up to the character and expect him to feed it(Mommy!). If the player wins intiative, he'll either want to keep it, kill it, or drive off, so if you're fine with any of those outcomes, then go ahead and let him win initiative. I think it'd be hilarious if you saddled the player with the burden of having to raise the ahnkeg. But you have to know what your player is going to do when the Initiative is rolled. So, I'd let the ahnkeg win it.
incarnadine 04-19-04, 04:26 PM	Originally posted by Wickerbull 1. The egg probably shouldn't hatch, since it's out of the nest. If you want it to hatch, then you can have it do so whenever you want, but probably no more than 1 game month from now. most insects don't need nests for their eggs. A big carnivore insect like that would probably lay it's egg next to a carcass so that the new born would have food. Otherwise the new born would be born ready to hunt and then yes would eat any rations in the bag and tear it up pretty bad.
moosekickedmysisterstoof 04-19-04, 05:52 PM	I think that the PC should have to raise the infant ankheg. That should make for a very interesting companion.
Riznar 04-19-04, 06:46 PM	Don't insects hatch fully functional? I don't think their would be any raising involved...
Ogre4Hire 04-19-04, 07:44 PM	Strictly speaking, Ankhegs aren't insects, or they would be vermin instead of Magical Beasts. Therefore, it is quite possible that they could care for their young. Arms & Equipment has some rules for raising and training a creature (though not much).
NightScreamer20 04-19-04, 07:51 PM	Ankhegs are burrowing insects... During the night whilst they are laying by a fire it should hatch. He'll get a listen checks to hear it crawl out sure...but prolly won't. The creature should then burrow into the nearest creature possible. Coup De Grace attack on that character... Never forget what's in your backpack... Oh and the MM 3.5 even says it's an Insect whilst describing the creature.
Wickerbull 04-19-04, 08:59 PM	Originally posted by incarnadine most insects don't need nests for their eggs. Right. Sorry, Draconomicon on the brain. Anyway, I personally think that Ankhegs shoud be vermin. They've got nothing that says they shouldn't be. I was looking at the stats today, and I saw nothing so outrageous that would make them magical beasts. Spitting acid is pretty weird, but this is a fantasy game, so I see no reason why ankhegs can't be included into the vermin type with 10 ft. tall spiders.
moosekickedmysisterstoof 04-19-04, 10:12 PM	Ankhegs are magical beasts because they are more powerful and more intelligent (not by much) than normal vermin. I love 'em!
incarnadine 04-20-04, 10:49 AM	Originally posted by NightScreamer20 Ankhegs are burrowing insects... During the night whilst they are laying by a fire it should hatch. He'll get a listen checks to hear it crawl out sure...but prolly won't. The creature should then burrow into the nearest creature possible. Coup De Grace attack on that character... Never forget what's in your backpack... Oh and the MM 3.5 even says it's an Insect whilst describing the creature. Coup de Grace?! I don't think blindly stabbing at a guy would do that. I'd suggest an automatic success at a grapple, i'd deal some dammage and the rest could solve it's self. But a Coupe de Grace is pushing it.
NightScreamer20 04-20-04, 12:37 PM	Yes it's harsh...but forgetting about a Magical Beast in your backpack deserves punishment... For 1 the Ankheg wouldn't be blindly 'stabbing', it would definatly go for the softest spot on the creatures, or the most accessable spot. The Ankheg baby would by of tiny size or maybe pushing small... He gets a fort save and the damage wouldn't be that severe... If he survives he wakes up...if not the Ankheg crawls into his body and eats...yummy nice warm place to sleep...
user name 04-20-04, 12:55 PM	I think it would be really funny if it regarded the character as its mother and they had to raise it.
incarnadine 04-20-04, 02:05 PM	Originally posted by user name I think it would be really funny if it regarded the character as its mother and they had to raise it. That’d be cool, but not easy. Though the Ankheg would not kill it's collective dads/moms it would probably attack any other human if they ever brought it to a town and have a very low morale when fighting (i'd probably run away all the time because the adventurers fed it all it's life and it has no idea how to hunt or fight). Some sort of animal empathy (they changed it in 3.5) check would be needed to train it. Probably dc15? Or you can make it a baby Ankheg familiar or a grown animal companion.
Toric 04-21-04, 08:41 PM	Its all up to the DM, he can say that is a primal form of old dragon race if he wants to. Think about if you want your PCs to have it as a pet or to kill it.
R.M.G.C.L.F. 04-21-04, 08:45 PM	Originally posted by Toric Its all up to the DM, he can say that is a primal form of old dragon race if he wants to. Think about if you want your PCs to have it as a pet or to kill it. Seeing as the person asking is the DM he obviously wants suggestions and quotes from any relevant published works. Also, asking the player to roll for initiative generally makes one think they are in combat so they will out of habit kill it. Such a course of action would not be fun.
R.M.G.C.L.F. 04-21-04, 08:47 PM	stupid double post
R.M.G.C.L.F. 04-21-04, 08:58 PM	Wickerbull: Ankhegs are magical beasts because in 3.0 they were beasts (intelligence prevented them from being vermin, non-existance in real life made them not animals) and in 3.5 they were stupidly shoved into magical beast along with every other 3.0 beast except dinosaurs.
Wickerbull 04-22-04, 11:47 AM	Right, I know that. But my point was that Ankhegs just don't really qualify to be magical beasts, they should be vermin, except for their Int score. The Int score is really the only thing keeping them from being vermin. And I see no point in giving them an Int score. They act just like any other giant insects.