Trapper

This information is intended for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.


At a Glance

An aberration.

This monster is featured on Stupid Monsters, which is a fun read.


5e Conversion

I would start by making it an ooze. From the 2e Monstrous Manual description, the trapper digests through its entire upper surface and can excrete across its entire lower surface, implying that it doesn’t have specific organs for these functions. Plus, being an ooze goes a long way toward explaining the ability to change its shape and coloration without giving it a spell ability.

Second, it has 12 HD according to the Monstrous Manual, and it’s gargantuan by 5e sizing (20-30 ft in diameter). I would give it a +5 Con modifier to make it tough enough that PCs will take it somewhat seriously. That’s wide open to interpretation, of course; darkmantles only only have a +1 Con mod, but black puddings have +3. The HD and Con mod gives us the trapper’s hit points, though, and that’s halfway to estimating its CR.

Giant constrictor snakes are huge and do 2d8 damage on a constrict. That should scale up to 4d6 damage for a gargantuan creature. The trapper’s constrict is worse than a snake’s but the damage seems reasonable.

If you want, you can allow rigid metal armor (plate, half-plate, maybe breastplate) to reduce damage taken by 1 point per AC point given by the armor, to reflect the unusual damage calculation of the 2e trapper.

So here’s my rough draft of the trapper.

Trapper

Gargantuan ooze, unaligned

Armor Class 15 (+5 natural)

Hit Points 186 (12d20+60)

Speed 10 ft

Str 20, Dex 10, Con 20, Int 1, Wis 6, Cha 1

Damage Immunities cold, lightning

Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, prone

Senses blindsight 60 ft (blind beyond this radius), passive Perception 8

Languages none

Challenge 5 (1800 XP)

Amorphous (as black pudding)

Spider Climb (as black pudding)

Actions

Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 19 (4d6+5) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 17). Until this grapple ends, the creature is restrained, and the trapper can’t constrict another target.


Sources

Primary Sources
  • Monstrous Manual
  • Monstrous Compendium, Vol 2
  • Monster Manual [2009] (1e) pages 95-96
  • Dragon Magazine #84 — The Ecology of the Trapper
Other Resources
  • Search for Trapper on the FR Wiki

Disclaimer

Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Forgotten Realms, and their logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the United States and other countries. This blog is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC.

Giant Beaver

This information is intended for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.


At a Glance

An animal.

This monster is featured on Stupid Monsters, which is a fun read.


Climitat


Sources

Primary Sources
Passing Mention

Disclaimer

Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Forgotten Realms, and their logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the United States and other countries. This blog is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC.