Difference between revisions of "Black Ant (giant)"

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{{Bestiarychart
 
{{Bestiarychart
| name = Ant (giant black)
+
| name = Giant Black Ant
 
| species = insect (lasius niger gargantua)
 
| species = insect (lasius niger gargantua)
 
| noapp = 10-100 (+ warriors & queen nest)
 
| noapp = 10-100 (+ warriors & queen nest)
 
| behaviour = nest
 
| behaviour = nest
| range = jungle, rainforest, savanna, taiga, woodland
+
| range = [[Jungle (range)|jungle]], [[Rainforest (range)|rainforest]], [[Savanna (range)|savanna]], Taiga (range), [[Woodland (range)|woodland]]
 
| size = 2 ft. long
 
| size = 2 ft. long
 
| weight = 17 lbs.
 
| weight = 17 lbs.
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| HD = 2
 
| HD = 2
 
| AP = 5
 
| AP = 5
| THAC0 = 19
+
| THAC0 = 20
 
| hpdie = d2
 
| hpdie = d2
 
| attack = pincers
 
| attack = pincers
 
| dmg = 1–4
 
| dmg = 1–4
| special = none
+
| special = swarm
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
Encounters with giant black ants are likely to start by encountering a forager.  This individual will be located from 75 yards from the nest, up to a quarter of a mile.  Upon contact, the ant will release a pheromone that will quickly spread upon the slightest wind, which is sure to be picked up by nearby ant within 2-5 [[Combat Round|rounds]] — who will release the pheromone in turn.  This will bring a swarm to the initial location.  The time this takes will be one round per 25 yards distance from the next.  If the location of the nest is not known, roll 3-18.
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 +
Soon the party will hear the rustle of ants coming from multiple directions. The swarm will gather, for the first three rounds, at 1-4 giant worker ants per round.  Thereafter, until the ants have killed the intruders or driven them off to a distance of 450 yards, each round will see the arrival of 1-2 warriors and 2-8 workers.  The '''swarming''' nature of the creatures will allow two ants per combat hex when attacking.
 +
 +
It will often require skill at tracking to find the nest and the queen.  Nests in temperate climates will be active only from early April to mid-September.  Add +10 workers in July, +20 in August and +30 in September.  Always allow for 3 warriors remaining in the nest to protect the queen, though she will have no attendants if it is April or early May.
 +
 +
[[Tracking (sage ability)|Tracking]] ability is required to find the nest and the queen. The queen herself will be bloated with eggs and will be unable to fight.  There will be 4-40 eggs in an adjoining [[Chamber|chamber]] when the nest is searched.
  
 
{{Bestiarychart
 
{{Bestiarychart
 
| name = Ant Warrior (giant black)
 
| name = Ant Warrior (giant black)
 
| species = insect (lasius niger gargantua)
 
| species = insect (lasius niger gargantua)
| noapp = 4-16
+
| noapp = 4–16
 
| behaviour = nest
 
| behaviour = nest
 
| range = jungle, rainforest, savanna, taiga, woodland
 
| range = jungle, rainforest, savanna, taiga, woodland
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| HD = 3
 
| HD = 3
 
| AP = 6
 
| AP = 6
| THAC0 = 18
+
| THAC0 = 19
 
| hpdie = d4
 
| hpdie = d4
 
| attack = pincers
 
| attack = pincers
| dmg = 2-8
+
| dmg = 2–8
| special = none
+
| special = swarm
 
}}
 
}}
 +
On a warm day in middle to late September, nests in temperate climates will be full of activity as 3-30 young queens and drones, birthed in late August, will emerge from the nest and mate, flying above the nest.  These queens will fight like warriors if met (6 [[Hit Dice|hit dice]] each, 1d8 per die).  The male drones, able to fight as warriors, will drop to the ground and die within a day or two.  The young queens will bury themselves in random locations up to 3 miles distant, to wait dormant through the winter season before building a new nest in March-April.
  
All initial encounters with giant black ants will be with one individual that is foraging. The distance of first encounter will average 1 yard's distance from the nest per total number of foragers in the lair (10–100). If it is approached within four hexes, the ant will attack, emitting pheromones as it does. This will be a signal for others of its kind to come (the odor will be picked up over a distance of 30 yards).
+
In tropical and subtropical climates, black ant colonies will continue the year around.  Double the number of ants present; mating will occur at the end of the wet season. Some colonies may be as large as ten times in size, with up to a thousand ants.
 
+
<br>
Soon the party will hear the rustle of ants coming from multiple directions. After the first round of combat, a second ant will appear from a random direction to attack in the second round. Thereafter the number of ants will quickly swell, as shown on the right-hand table, until all the ants have been encountered. Due to their size and the intensity of their attack, up to eight individual ants will be able to attack a typical medium-sized target. The ants will fight to the death.
+
<br>
 
+
See [[Bestiary]][[Category: Sensory Intelligence]]
Tracking skill is required to find the nest and the queen. Nests in temperate climates will be active only from early April to mid-September.
 
 
 
If the nest is discovered in April or May, the queen will have no special attendants, though there will likely be 4–16 of the remaining ants that are found in the chamber with her, protecting her with their lives.
 
 
 
Beginning in June and for each month thereafter, 1–4 of these last encountered ants will be warrior ants (2–8 total in July, 3–12 total in August and 4–16 total in September). The queen herself will be bloated with eggs and unable to fight.
 
 
 
On a warm day in mid-September, nests in temperate climates will be full of activity as young queens and drones, birthed in late August, swarm and mate. The drones (treat as ant warriors) will die within a day or two, while the new queens will bury themselves in random locations for the winter season.
 
 
 
In tropical and subtropical climates, black ant colonies will continue the year around; there will always be a full compliment of warrior ants and there will be 2d8 others that will roam astray. Some colonies may be as large as ten times in size, up to a thousand ants. Swarming times will usually be at the end of the wet season.
 
 
 
See [[Bestiary]].
 
 
 
[[Category:Bestiary]]
 

Latest revision as of 23:59, 29 June 2022

Ant (giant black)-image.jpg
Giant Black Ant
Species insect (lasius niger gargantua)
No. Appearing 10-100 (+ warriors & queen nest)
Behaviour nest
Range jungle, rainforest, savanna, Taiga (range), woodland
Size 2 ft. long
Weight 17 lbs.
Intelligence 0
Armour Class 4
Hit Dice 2
Action Points 5
Max. Stride {{{stride}}}
THAC0 20
Hp/Die d2
Attack Forms pincers
Damage 1–4
Special Attacks swarm

Encounters with giant black ants are likely to start by encountering a forager. This individual will be located from 75 yards from the nest, up to a quarter of a mile. Upon contact, the ant will release a pheromone that will quickly spread upon the slightest wind, which is sure to be picked up by nearby ant within 2-5 rounds — who will release the pheromone in turn. This will bring a swarm to the initial location. The time this takes will be one round per 25 yards distance from the next. If the location of the nest is not known, roll 3-18.

Soon the party will hear the rustle of ants coming from multiple directions. The swarm will gather, for the first three rounds, at 1-4 giant worker ants per round. Thereafter, until the ants have killed the intruders or driven them off to a distance of 450 yards, each round will see the arrival of 1-2 warriors and 2-8 workers. The swarming nature of the creatures will allow two ants per combat hex when attacking.

It will often require skill at tracking to find the nest and the queen. Nests in temperate climates will be active only from early April to mid-September. Add +10 workers in July, +20 in August and +30 in September. Always allow for 3 warriors remaining in the nest to protect the queen, though she will have no attendants if it is April or early May.

Tracking ability is required to find the nest and the queen. The queen herself will be bloated with eggs and will be unable to fight. There will be 4-40 eggs in an adjoining chamber when the nest is searched.

Ant Warrior (giant black)
Species insect (lasius niger gargantua)
No. Appearing 4–16
Behaviour nest
Range jungle, rainforest, savanna, taiga, woodland
Size 3 ft. 6 in. long
Weight 60 lbs.
Intelligence 0
Armour Class 4
Hit Dice 3
Action Points 6
Max. Stride {{{stride}}}
THAC0 19
Hp/Die d4
Attack Forms pincers
Damage 2–8
Special Attacks swarm

On a warm day in middle to late September, nests in temperate climates will be full of activity as 3-30 young queens and drones, birthed in late August, will emerge from the nest and mate, flying above the nest. These queens will fight like warriors if met (6 hit dice each, 1d8 per die). The male drones, able to fight as warriors, will drop to the ground and die within a day or two. The young queens will bury themselves in random locations up to 3 miles distant, to wait dormant through the winter season before building a new nest in March-April.

In tropical and subtropical climates, black ant colonies will continue the year around. Double the number of ants present; mating will occur at the end of the wet season. Some colonies may be as large as ten times in size, with up to a thousand ants.

See Bestiary