Dune's Sandworms (3.5)

[Cheiromancer]

What about the whole issue with water? You've not even touched on that as far as I can see...

Well, it does say that "Even small amounts of water are lethal to sandworms. A sandworm that comes in contact with water must succeed on a Fortitude Save (DC 30) to even survive the encounter."

But how much water? A vial full? What if you just spit on it?

I was surprised that the hit dice are so low. I think that stats for Shai-Halud would be better fitted to the standard sandworm. What makes it unkillable, exactly? There isn't even any damage reduction!

[LordErebus12]

Well, it does say that "Even small amounts of water are lethal to sandworms. A sandworm that comes in contact with water must succeed on a Fortitude Save (DC 30) to even survive the encounter."

But how much water? A vial full? What if you just spit on it?

I was surprised that the hit dice are so low. I think that stats for Shai-Halud would be better fitted to the standard sandworm. What makes it unkillable, exactly? There isn't even any damage reduction!

Id like to think it would require a bit more than a single vial of water.

honesty, you really think its too low? lmao.

DR could be rectified. What do you think? DR 20/Bludgeoning?

[Debihuman]

DR 30/epic and electricity for the biggest sandsworms perhaps.

According to the Dune books, even small amounts of water are fatal to sandworm. How small is "small"? We know that even the amount of water in a human is too much, which is why they don't eat people.

At some point, you have to distinguish the sandworms from Arrakis (where there is no magic and spells that create magical effects with water, such as from create food and water or ice storm would be unknown or disallowed), from sandworms that would appear in more generic deserts.

Debby

[DracoDei]

DR 30/epic and electricity for the biggest sandsworms perhaps.

Epic isn't a tag that gets applied to spells though. That would mean that only shocking/shocking burst damage from +6 or better weapons can get past DR... except that DR is usually only applied to weapon damage, not even mundane fire and acid.

[Kane0]

Epic isn't a tag that gets applied to spells though. That would mean that only shocking/shocking burst damage from +6 or better weapons can get past DR... except that DR is usually only applied to weapon damage, not even mundane fire and acid.

Though create water is still very lethal.

[Debihuman]

That spell doesn't work on Arrakis. Magically created water from spells, spell-like abilities, supernatural abilities, and magic items and magically created waster immediately evaporates. Or just make sandworms immune to non-natural sources of water.

Debby

[Debihuman]

Epic isn't a tag that gets applied to spells though. That would mean that only shocking/shocking burst damage from +6 or better weapons can get past DR... except that DR is usually only applied to weapon damage, not even mundane fire and acid.

That sounds about right.

If this mimics Arrakis, then you have to disallow any spells and magical effects that have water in the description or descriptor such. The gods do not grant spells that create water. All magical items, spell-like abilities, supernatural abilities, etc., that would otherwise create water in any form cease to work there. It's like it's own little demiplane in that regard.

If you just want to make these desert worms and ignore the fact that small amounts of water are lethal to them, that works too. You have to decide what you want.

I personally have no problem with saying that only people who can cast spells on Arrakis are the Fremen as they are the only ones able to obtain the water of life. As such, they have to forgo the use of any magical, supernatural or alchemical methods of obtaining water. This, however, goes beyond the scope what the stat block does.

Debby

[LordErebus12]

That sounds about right.

If this mimics Arrakis, then you have to disallow any spells and magical effects that have water in the description or descriptor such. The gods do not grant spells that create water. All magical items, spell-like abilities, supernatural abilities, etc., that would otherwise create water in any form cease to work there. It's like it's own little demiplane in that regard.

If you just want to make these desert worms and ignore the fact that small amounts of water are lethal to them, that works too. You have to decide what you want.

I personally have no problem with saying that only people who can cast spells on Arrakis are the Fremen as they are the only ones able to obtain the water of life. As such, they have to forgo the use of any magical, supernatural or alchemical methods of obtaining water. This, however, goes beyond the scope what the stat block does.

Debby

I agree wholeheartedly. On Arrakis, water cannot be simply summoned, it can only be found.

[Brimstone]

Anyone know if there is a 5e conversion for these?

[rferries]

I don't use 5e, but perhaps you can just adapt the 5e purple worm?