Chaotic Evil Large Monster (9-ft tall)
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-3 (VII. 1-2)
SURPRISE: 33% — Others +50%
SENSES: infravision
ARMOR CLASS: 0
MOVE: 3"
HIT DICE: 10* (hp 45)
% IN LAIR: 90%
TREASURE TYPE: See description
THAC0: 10
MELEE: bite (5d4)
MISSILE: 6 strands (range 20/30/50) plus weakness and grab
SPECIAL ATTACKS: grab, weakness - Hits As: +3
SPECIAL DEFENSES: amorphous, immune to electricity, poison resistance, resist cold (half)
WEAKNESS: vulnerability to fire (-4 saves)
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 135%
INTELLIGENCE: Exceptional (15-16)
MORALE: +50%
SAVES: Poison 8, Petrify 9, Wand 10, Breath 9, Spell 11
LANGUAGES: Roper (plus additional per Intelligence)
LEVEL: VII (XP 2,760 + 16 per hp)
* Ropers are known to grow to up to 12 HD.
This yellowish gray monster appears to be a mass of foul, festering corruption. The roper is cigar-shaped, about 9-ft long, with a diameter of some 3-ft.
Ropers inhabit subterranean caverns. They prey upon all forms of creatures, but humans are their favorite form of food.
These monsters can stand upright in order to resemble a pillar or stalagmite or flatten themselves at full length upon the floor so as to look like nothing more than a hump.
The roper has six strands of strong, sticky rope-like excretion which it can shoot from 2"-5". A hit causes weakness (50% from Strength in 1-3 melee rounds), and the roper then draws its prey into its toothy maw where it is quickly devoured.
The chance for breaking a strand is the same for opening a door, but every round the roper will drag the victim 10-ft closer.
They are unaffected by lightning, take half damage at most from cold, but are very susceptible to fire (-4 on saving throw).
The roper has a gizzard-like organ which holds 3-18 platinum pieces and can contain 5-20 gems (35% chance).