Are Spawn smart enough to play dead?


Age of Worms Adventure Path


What are people's thoughts on whether Spawn are smart enough to play dead?

I've had the odd one play dead once or twice when not playing dead would just see them get beaten down. However, in checking their intelligence score (6 IIRC), I'm not sure if I'm entirely playing fair or not?


Zanderias wrote:

What are people's thoughts on whether Spawn are smart enough to play dead?

I've had the odd one play dead once or twice when not playing dead would just see them get beaten down. However, in checking their intelligence score (6 IIRC), I'm not sure if I'm entirely playing fair or not?

Possums do it, and they're just animals. :)


As long as you are making Bluff checks vs. the PC's Sense Motive it should be ok. They'd also have to ready an action to fall at the appropriate time, otherwise the timing will be a give away.

Scarab Sages

'Unlike zombies, spawn of Kyuss are not limited to partial actions, and they are intelligent enough to pretend that they have restricted movement until ready to attack.'

That is a quote from the Spawn of Kyuss entry. I would think that if they are smart enough to pretend to be zombies - they are certainly smart enough to pretend to be corpses.


It works as long as their Bluff beats the PC's Sense Motive Check. And they should be readying an action to drop when hit, otherwise the timing will be off.

Scarab Sages RPG Superstar 2009 Top 4

One of the modifications I made to the spawn in EaBK was to give them the Necrotic Reserve Feat (Libris Mortis)

Summary: An undead creature is not immediately destroyed when reduced to 0 hit points or lower.

This reinforces their reputation as "unkillable zombies" by allowing them to play dead after reaching 0 hit points and let their fast healing restore them to fighting condition.

It ended up playing great, adding significant dread when the Spawn they "killed" a few rounds ago began to claw at the characters' feet after they'd turned their attention elsewhere.

Scarab Sages

Oh, that's very nice <cackle>.

I agree with the Bluff check being required, but I'd be tempted to give them a bonus due to not needing to breathe.


I think they're smart enough, but would never do it. They're undead after all, and exist only to destroy the living. They should never back down from a fight, even against insurmountable odds. They'd just hurl themselves in waves against whatever was doing the beating-down.


Eh, I see the unrelenting wave as par for course with say, undead raised by a cleric of Hextor. Spawn of Kyuss are an undead created by a parasite necro-worm, created by a mad genius who ascended into a god of decay, corruption, and evil. Insidiousness is in their very nature. So I think playing dead is completely on the game plan for them, if it increases their chances of spreading death, terror, and corruption.

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