Stirge questions 748-768


Rules Questions

Scarab Sages

I just want to confirm the following:

1. A stirge deals con damage on the round it succeeds on its touch attack, before the next character gets to go in the initiative order. Example: if the Stirge goes on init 9, he evades the AoO, succeeds in his touch attack, and deals 1 CON. The PC then goes on 8, and then performs a break grapple maneuver and rips it off.

2. Is the target (medium or small) grappled or not? The Universal Attach rule says no. The stirge description says "the grappled target" but I can find no consensus in the forums. Mostly it's important because the PCs have greatswords, and I have difficulty seeing them attack it with a greatsword. Scrape it off sure, but not for full damage of a regular attack. But then I am wondering what RAW is. I am leaning towards the universal rule since it makes sense to me, and who knows when the stirge text was written. But still, a PC swinging a greatsword at himself ...

3. If a PC makes a successful break grapple or escape artist check, and then releases the grapple, is the stirge in the same or an adjacent square. There is this "If you successfully grapple a creature that is not adjacent to you, move that creature to an adjacent open space" I am sure that was intended for reach and pulling, but it fits here too, and I can't imagine the PC wanting to release it in the same square.

4. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a PC?


1. Yes.

2. "grappled target" simply means "The target the stirge is grappling". It does not in any way imply that said target is also considered to be Grappled. So the Universal Rule is correct and so is this bit of text - only the stirge is grappled.

3. Same square. The only combat rule that prevents you from being in the same square with an enemy specifically says "you cannot end your movement in an occupied space". Nobody is ending movement, so it doesn't apply. You cannot force other creatures into specific squares through grappling, unless YOU are the grappler AND you maintain a grapple and choose to move the creature - simply breaking the grapple leaves you and the stirge right where they already are.

3a. You can't throw him away because that is, at best, a Reposition maneuver which is something else entirely.

4. A One... A two-HOO... A tha-three.. CHOMP!!!

(oh, wait, that's only true for Tootsie the Tarrasque...)

Scarab Sages

Sorry i edited while you were typing.
After I wrote that I did find a rule about grappling saying moving the target into an adjacent square, but wasn't sure if it applied since it seems to be about using reach and pulling someone next to you : "If you successfully grapple a creature that is not adjacent to you, move that creature to an adjacent open space"


With all the debate about creatures sharing spaces, I believe the consensus is that your own square is included in "adjacent". Also, I agree, the RAI on moving a non-adjacent creature to an adjacent open space is intended just as you describe.


I agree with DM Blake.

Core Rulebook wrote:
Melee Attacks: With a normal melee weapon, you can strike any opponent within 5 feet. (Opponents within 5 feet are considered adjacent to you.)

The stirge is within 5 feet, and you can hit it with a melee attack, so I think it counts as being adjacent.


Berti Blackfoot wrote:
...I have difficulty seeing them attack it with a greatsword. Scrape it off sure, but not for full damage of a regular attack. But then I am wondering what RAW is. I am leaning towards the universal rule since it makes sense to me, and who knows when the stirge text was written. But still, a PC swinging a greatsword at himself ...

There are lots of ways of using a greatsword, and most of them don't involve a swing. Halfswording (holding the blade with one hand) allows a wide variety of stabs, cuts, holds and whatnot. Sure, it might not really do the full 2d6+15 your barbarian usually kicks out, but it's a stirge with 5 hp so what does it matter?

Scarab Sages

Thanks, that makes sense.

I will just use a bunch more than the module calls for. That way they will succeed at a few touch attacks, and the PCs will only be able to kill so many per round.

*evil laugh*

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