How do I build a giant bee?

[Morgenstern]

I think it cold probably be written (and costed) as a trick. A trick that inflicts a bit of extra damage on the target (say +1d6) and 1 point of damage that cannot be reduced or resisted on the attacker. Combined with mook that's instant death when they us it, but my have more general aplications.

[Sletchman]

I think it cold probably be written (and costed) as a trick. A trick that inflicts a bit of extra damage on the target (say +1d6) and 1 point of damage that cannot be reduced or resisted on the attacker. Combined with mook that's instant death when they us it, but my have more general aplications.

Oh I like this.  So many delightful implications, and different ways to structure and use it, too.

[pawsplay]

I think it cold probably be written (and costed) as a trick. A trick that inflicts a bit of extra damage on the target (say +1d6) and 1 point of damage that cannot be reduced or resisted on the attacker. Combined with mook that's instant death when they us it, but my have more general aplications.

I think you are onto something here. However, in the bee's case, I need to find a way to force it to use the trick.

NPC Qualities
Compelled tactic (+0 XP): The NPC either must always use a certain quality, feat, or trick in some situation, or cannot use it in certain situations. This quality may be selected multiple times. The NPC cannot voluntarily or under any compulsion overcome this quality.

[Morgenstern]

That's easy. Build the trick into their attack - Gore I w/"clever name here"

Ok, lets give this some sting.

NEW TRICKS
To the Hilt (melee or unarmed attack trick): This attack inflicts and additional +1d6 damage. However, you take 2 points of the same damage type that cannot be reduced or resisted.

Pyrric Attack (melee or unarmed attack trick): This attack inflicts and additional +1d12 damage. However, you take 5 points of the same damage type that cannot be reduced or resisted.

(in each case, you take the average damage minus 1.5, in other words is quite similar to paying a proficiency for a +1.5 damage bonus)

[Gentry]

How do you force it to use the trick? You're the GM, that's how. Come on, Paws.   

[pawsplay]

How do you force it to use the trick? You're the GM, that's how. Come on, Paws.   

That's right I'm the GM, which means I can write up my own qualities! If I hash out my B4 adaptation, I am totally going to share my bestiary, and I'd like my kamikaze bees to be really simple.

Morgenstern, that's a lot of "sting." What about making it +1d6 and 2? That's closer to what I need for my bees, and would keep the numbers humbler for powerful characters.

[Goodlun]

Just curious you going to throw the Swarm Quality on to them?

[pawsplay]

Just curious you going to throw the Swarm Quality on to them?

That might interact strangely with the death sting thing.

[foproy]

actually the swarm ability may help it, having the swarm take damage instead of dying would represent induvidual soldiers dying as they sting.

[pawsplay]

actually the swarm ability may help it, having the swarm take damage instead of dying would represent induvidual soldiers dying as they sting.

That does raise an interesting question as to how swarm attacks would interect with To the Hilt! or Triumphant Swing. Do all the critters receive the effect, or just one? Should it be divided among them?

[Morgenstern]

Morgenstern, that's a lot of "sting." What about making it +1d6 and 2? That's closer to what I need for my bees, and would keep the numbers humbler for powerful characters.

Yup. Thats a good balance point to my eye. Added a second trick to the post above.

[Sletchman]

actually the swarm ability may help it, having the swarm take damage instead of dying would represent induvidual soldiers dying as they sting.

That does raise an interesting question as to how swarm attacks would interect with To the Hilt! or Triumphant Swing. Do all the critters receive the effect, or just one? Should it be divided among them?

For something like a swarm I'd give a creature several grades of Tough, and link the number of attacks they can make to the number of Tough remaining.  So as they sting (and individual bees die) they get less attacks.  Might be overly complex for a simple creature though?

[pawsplay]

The thing about swam is that the FC version doesn't turn the creatures into one big blob o'critter, it's basically just a variant on aiding attacks.

[Sletchman]

Sorry, should have been clearer - what I meant was in this instance I wouldn't use Swarm and a bunch of lower xp creatures, but rather make a blog-o-critter.  Mostly because of weird interactions between suicide attacks and the way the quality works.  Otherwise, I'd use Swarm (quality).

[pawsplay]

How would that work? Large creature, immune to crits, Reach 6?