Monster Monday: Lightning Bug, An Electric Insect

Today's Monster Monday is the lightning bug, a flashy magical insect that fires bolts of electricity at its enemies.  It's basically a living bug zapper.

Lightning bugs are surrounded by a field of electric energy that grows stronger the more of them there are in close proximity, allowing each lighting bug to draw on the electric fields of their neighbors to deliver a powerful jolt.  In combat, this means that each individual lightning bug does more damage when it is near multiple other lightning bugs.  This novel game mechanic makes fighting lightning bugs interesting and engaging for the players as they work out how the ability functions and how best to counter it.

Modified from a photo of Photinus pyralis taken by antfarmer, via Wikimedia

In addition, lightning bugs can deliver a blinding flash which dazzles nearby opponents, at the cost of draining its electrical energy for a few rounds.  Engaging these creatures in melee also has its risks, as any hit on the bug has a chance of delivering an electric shock to the attacker.

The following text in gold is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2017 Jonah Bomgaars.

A mottled red and black beetle hovers in the air, its abdomen glowing blue and crackling with electricity

Lightning Bug         CR 2

XP 600

N Small magical beast

Init +2; Senses low-light vision, darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +2

DEFENSE

AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+3 natural, +2 Dex, +1 size)

hp 17 (2d10+4)

Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +2

Immune electricity

Defensive Abilities conductive body

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft., fly 30 ft. (poor)

Melee bite +4 (1d4+1 plus 1d6 electricity)

Ranged static charge +4 (1d6 electricity; see below) 10ft.

Special Attacks flash

STATISTICS

Str 13, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 1, Wis 14, Cha 14

Base Atk +2; CMB +2; CMD 14

Feats Toughness

Skills Fly +5

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Conductive Body (Ex)

Any creature attacking a lightning bug with a natural attack or a metal melee weapon has a 50% chance of taking 1d6 points of electricity damage with each successful hit.  Any creature grappling a lighting bug automatically takes 1d6 points of electricity damage per round. 

Flash (Ex)

A lightning bug can create a bright flash of light as a standard action once per hour.  All creatures in a 20 foot burst must make a DC 13 Fortitude save or be dazzled for 1d3 rounds.  The save DC is Constitution-based.  A lightning bug that uses its flash ability cannot deal electricity damage or contribute to another lightning bug’s static charge ability until the beginning of its next turn. 

Static Charge (Ex)

As a standard action, a lightning bug can draw on its own electrical charge and those of other nearby lightning bugs to unleash a bolt of lightning at its enemies.  This does 1d6 points of electricity damage plus an additional 1d6 for every lightning bug within 10 feet, up to a maximum of four other lightning bugs for a total of 5d6 points of damage.  This is a touch attack with a range of 10 feet that does not provoke an attack of opportunity.  The lightning bug has an additional +3 circumstance bonus to hit enemies that are wearing metal armor, carrying a metal weapon, or made of metal. 

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate and warm plains, forests, and marshes/swamps

Organization solitary, pair, swarm (3-12)

Treasure none

This flying beetle has a mottled red and black carapace and a transparent abdomen that glows with magically generated electricity.  Three hairs protruding from the end of the abdomen allow the beetle to share electrical charge with other nearby lightning bugs and to discharge an arc of energy at its foes.  These creatures make their homes in rotting wood, emerging at night to hunt and breed.  They use their glowing abdomens to signal to each other, attract mates, and lure in prey.  They feed mostly on smaller bugs which are attracted to their glow.  Lightning bugs band together for defense against larger predators, sharing electricity to build up deadly charge of lightning.  

-your photic d20 despot