V is for Vermin
Technically the rule book lists them as a Swarm, but I'm going to use the term vermin*.
The vermin in today's post are small, swarming creatures such as ants, bats, beetles, frogs, lizards, rats, scorpions, snakes, spiders, or ticks. Of these, I have only really used a swarm of rats, and then only when called for by The Oldenhaller Contract, an adventure from the 1e rule book.
Really, though, a swarm is something that should scare the crap out of most characters. When hundreds of scorpions rush at you, things can look pretty grim. You know you can stomp a handful or two at a time, but many are going to get past your defenses, through your armor like it's not even there, and into your unprotected skin.
A large group of bats can distract a party who is trying to track or trying to fight. A swarm of spiders is even more uncanny, because the creatures don't usually behave with such a hive-mind. There must be something controlling them. And, you never know which ones are poisonous.
On a little less freaky note, one other time I can remember using a swarm is actually for a magical item I gave a PC. You can check it out here, the Staff of the Stinging Sphere.
*Note: Vermin can be used to talk of ratmen, too, though the Skaven are not small creatures.
The vermin in today's post are small, swarming creatures such as ants, bats, beetles, frogs, lizards, rats, scorpions, snakes, spiders, or ticks. Of these, I have only really used a swarm of rats, and then only when called for by The Oldenhaller Contract, an adventure from the 1e rule book.
Really, though, a swarm is something that should scare the crap out of most characters. When hundreds of scorpions rush at you, things can look pretty grim. You know you can stomp a handful or two at a time, but many are going to get past your defenses, through your armor like it's not even there, and into your unprotected skin.
A large group of bats can distract a party who is trying to track or trying to fight. A swarm of spiders is even more uncanny, because the creatures don't usually behave with such a hive-mind. There must be something controlling them. And, you never know which ones are poisonous.
On a little less freaky note, one other time I can remember using a swarm is actually for a magical item I gave a PC. You can check it out here, the Staff of the Stinging Sphere.
*Note: Vermin can be used to talk of ratmen, too, though the Skaven are not small creatures.